URGENT DEMARCHE: UN ACTION ON THE MIDDLE EAST

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007400 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2013 TAGS: PREL KPAL IS TU SUBJECT: URGENT DEMARCHE: UN ACTION ON THE MIDDLE EAST REF: A. STATE 325119 ¶B. STATE 326258 (U) Classified by Political Counselor John Kunstadter, e.o. 12958, reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) As the Turkish MFA was closed for the prolonged Seker Bayram holiday, we presented reftel B demarche to MFA Middle East Head Kemal Tuzun December 2. We noted that the Palestinians were rethinking their request to have the International Court of Justice adjudicate the legality of the Israeli fence. Tuzun said the MFA would consult internally and with its UN Mission before confirming a position. ¶2. (C) Tuzun predicted Turkey would vote in line with prior UN votes. He said Turkey continues to value its unique position of having close ties with both Israel and the Palestinians. However, in order to maintain its "credibility" with the Palestinians, Tuzun believed Turkey would not vote against the ICJ resolution if it came up, and would not oppose resolutions authorizing the Division of Palestinian Rights or the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. ¶3. (C) Tuzun viewed Israel's fence construction as counterproductive, making it more difficult to achieve a solution. Tuzun said the barrier would degrade living conditions for the Palestinians, serve as a catalyst for radical activity, and be counterproductive for Israeli security. Tuzun said that UN decisions may carry moral weight, but are not binding. On the subject of the Geneva agreement, Tuzun said any effort to advance peace was welcome, but he worried this would take the focus off the Road Map, which he said was the most crucial and viable means of achieving a lasting settlement. DEUTSCH