Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BRUSSELS3664
2006-10-27 15:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIAN RESPONSE TO ISRAEL AT UNGA DEMARCHE --
how-toVZCZCXYZ0025 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #3664 3001510 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 271510Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3451 INFO RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 4135 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0160
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003664
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2011
TAGS: PREL
SUBJECT: BELGIAN RESPONSE TO ISRAEL AT UNGA DEMARCHE --
"YES, BUT ..."
REF: SECSTATE 178061
Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Andrews, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003664
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2011
TAGS: PREL
SUBJECT: BELGIAN RESPONSE TO ISRAEL AT UNGA DEMARCHE --
"YES, BUT ..."
REF: SECSTATE 178061
Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Andrews, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (SBU) Polcouns delivered reftel demarche to Bndicte
Frankinet, the Director (A/S-equivalent) of the MFA's
International Organizations Division. She said the Belgian
government generally shared U.S. views on both the
resolutions discussed in reftel, and on the broader issue of
fighting anti-Israel bias at the UN. Unfortunately, she
emphasized, translating this opinion into votes at the UNGA
was not as easy as it looks.
2. (SBU) In addition to the various pressures of running
foreign policy in a four party coalition, Belgium's foreign
policy leadership also took broader opinions inside the EU
into account. Middle East issues remained among the most
contentious subjects within EU councils, she argued. The
Belgians also attempted to determine whether any of the
principal backers of a particular anti-Israel resolution is
willing to demonstrate flexibility.
3. (SBU) In Frankinet's opinion, the U.S. and Israel need to
take two steps. The first is to work closely with the EU
troika states in New York, where positions on UNGA
resolutions are often cobbled together on an informal basis.
Second, she urged the U.S. to look diligently in the ranks of
those supporting the anti-Israel resolutions for states that
may just "be going along for the ride." Under most
circumstances, such countries were persuadable toward a more
moderate stance. The current situation in the Middle East
sadly made this action difficult to accomplish, she admitted.
Imbrie
.
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2011
TAGS: PREL
SUBJECT: BELGIAN RESPONSE TO ISRAEL AT UNGA DEMARCHE --
"YES, BUT ..."
REF: SECSTATE 178061
Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Andrews, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (SBU) Polcouns delivered reftel demarche to Bndicte
Frankinet, the Director (A/S-equivalent) of the MFA's
International Organizations Division. She said the Belgian
government generally shared U.S. views on both the
resolutions discussed in reftel, and on the broader issue of
fighting anti-Israel bias at the UN. Unfortunately, she
emphasized, translating this opinion into votes at the UNGA
was not as easy as it looks.
2. (SBU) In addition to the various pressures of running
foreign policy in a four party coalition, Belgium's foreign
policy leadership also took broader opinions inside the EU
into account. Middle East issues remained among the most
contentious subjects within EU councils, she argued. The
Belgians also attempted to determine whether any of the
principal backers of a particular anti-Israel resolution is
willing to demonstrate flexibility.
3. (SBU) In Frankinet's opinion, the U.S. and Israel need to
take two steps. The first is to work closely with the EU
troika states in New York, where positions on UNGA
resolutions are often cobbled together on an informal basis.
Second, she urged the U.S. to look diligently in the ranks of
those supporting the anti-Israel resolutions for states that
may just "be going along for the ride." Under most
circumstances, such countries were persuadable toward a more
moderate stance. The current situation in the Middle East
sadly made this action difficult to accomplish, she admitted.
Imbrie
.