DUTCH/EU ON ARAB RESOLUTION ON ISRAELI SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001823 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2014 TAGS: PREL NL EU IS UNGA SUBJECT: DUTCH/EU ON ARAB RESOLUTION ON ISRAELI SECURITY BARRIER REF: A. A) SCHOFER-HOLLIDAY TELCON 7/9/04 ¶B. B) SECSTATE 152014 ¶C. C) PARIS 5294 Classified By: AMBASSADOR CLIFFORD SOBEL; REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) On July 9, Ambassador Sobel discussed the anticipated ICJ decision on the Israeli Security Barrier with Hugo Siblesz, the Dutch MFA's Director General for Political Affairs (ref a). At that time, Siblesz said that while elements of the substance of the decision were expected to be close to the Dutch national position, the Dutch were uncomfortable with the Arab strategy of forcing a debate in the General Assembly. Siblesz felt that it would be impossible to keep the Arabs from putting their resolution forward, but suggested that the EU might -- at best -- be able to agree to abstain. He stressed that, as EU president, the Dutch would seek to develop a coordinated EU position. . ¶2. (C) On July 13, Poloff delivered ref b points to Peter Ramaer, Head of the Political and Legal Affairs Division in the UN Department at the MFA. Ramaer was aware of the EU FM's discussion of the issue in Brussels on July 12, but claimed that it was still "too early" to talk about a coordinated EU reaction to subject resolution. Ramaer relayed what he characterized as "positive notes on the opinion itself" from EU colleagues, but stressed that the EU Foreign Ministers' had basically moved the discussion to New York without reaching agreement. SOBEL