BELGIAN RESPONSE TO ISRAEL AT UNGA DEMARCHE --

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 .