ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN CAIRO

UNCLAS CAIRO 006822

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL MEPN PTER ARABL EG IS
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN CAIRO
NOVEMBER 12 TO DISCUSS GAZA CRISIS


1. (SBU) FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES (AL)
WILL GATHER AT AL HEADQUARTERS IN CAIRO ON NOVEMBER 12, TO
DISCUSS THE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN THE GAZA STRIP. THE
MINISTERIAL FOLLOWS A NOVEMBER 6 MEETING OF AL PERMREPS ON
THE SAME ISSUE, AND WAS CALLED FOR IN THE WAKE OF THE
NOVEMBER 8 CIVILIAN DEATHS IN BEIT HANUN, GAZA. AL STAFF
TOLD POLOFF THAT THE MEETING WAS CALLED FOR BY THE LEBANESE
AND THE PALESTINIAN DELEGATIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE CAIRO
MEETINGS, LEAGUE MEMBERS ARE PUSHING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION OF
THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TO ADDRESS ISRAELS
INCURSIONS INTO GAZA. THE LEAGUE IS CALLING FOR AN
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER FORCE TO GUARANTEE PROTECTION FOR THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.


2. (U) TEXT OF ARAB LEAGUE STATEMENT ON GAZA FOLLOWS:

BEGIN TEXT (UNOFFICIAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION):

STATEMENT ON THE ONGOING ISRAELI AGGRESSION AGAINST GAZA

AN EMERGENCY AL MEETING AT THE LEVEL OF PERMANENT DELEGATES
WAS HELD ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006 TO DISCUSS THE DANGEROUS
SITUATION IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES RESULTING FROM THE
WIDE-SCALE ISRAELI AGGRESSION AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
AND THE ISRAELI FORCES, OPPRESSIVE INVASION OF THE GAZA
STRIP WHICH RENDERED A LARGE NUMBER OF INNOCENT CIVILIAN
PALESTINIAN VICTIMS DEAD AND DESTROYED THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND
VITAL UTILITIES SUCH AS ELECTRICITY, WATER, ETC. THE MEETING
WAS HEADED BY THE PERMANENT DELEGATE OF BAHRAIN AND ATTENDED
BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE SECRETARY GENERAL AND PALESTINIAN
FOREIGN MINISTER DR. MAHMOUD AL-ZAHAR.

IN LIGHT OF THE REVIEW PRESENTED BY THE PALESTINIAN
DELEGATION REGARDING THE AGGRESSION AND REPLIES PRESENTED BY
THE SECRETARY GENERAL AND HEADS OF DELEGATIONS, THE COUNCIL:

STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE ONGOING ISRAELI AGGRESSION AGAINST THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND THE CRIMINAL PRACTICES COMMITTED UNDER
THE WORLD,S NOSE BY THE ISRAELI FORCES IN THE GAZA STRIP
THAT RENDERED MANY PALESTINIANS DEAD, IN ADDITION TO THE
OPPRESSIVE INVADING FORCES, CONTINUED SHOOTING OF
PALESTINIAN WOMEN DURING THEIR PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS IN
BEIT HANOUN, WHICH LED TO THE MARTYRDOM OF SEVERAL OF THEM.
THE COUNCIL ALSO CONDEMNS THE USE OF INTERNATIONALLY BANNED
WEAPONS AGAINST PALESTINIAN CITIZENS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF
VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES, AND CONSIDERS THAT THIS
CONTINUOUS AGGRESSION AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WILL
FURTHER COMPLICATE THE CRITICAL SITUATION IN THE REGION AREA
AND WILL UNDERMINE ANY EFFORTS EXERTED TO ACHIEVE CALM AND
FIND PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS.

PRAISED THE STEADFASTNESS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IN FACE
OF THE ISRAELI OPPRESSIVE AGGRESSION IN THE REGION WHICH
NECESSITATES THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE
SECURITY COUNCIL IN PARTICULAR SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE
ARAB REQUEST REGARDING THE REACTIVATION OF THE PEACE PROCESS
UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL.

INSTRUCTED THE ARAB GROUP IN NEW YORK TO WORK WITH UNSC
MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST OF THE STATE OF PALESTINE TO
HOLD AN URGENT SECURITY COUNCIL SESSION TO ADOPT A FIRM STAND
AIMED AT IMMEDIATELY HALTING ISRAELI AGGRESSION, IN ADDITION
TO HAVING THE SECURITY COUNCIL SHOULDER ITS RESPONSIBILITY
FOR OBLIGING ISRAEL TO IMPLEMENT THE INTERNATIONAL
RESOLUTIONS PERTAINING TO THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT, LIFTING
THE SIEGE IMPOSED ON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, REACTIVATING THE
1949 FOURTH GENEVA CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS
DURING TIMES OF CONFLICT, AND WORKING TO SEND AN
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER FORCE TO GUARANTEE PROTECTION FOR THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

EXPRESSED ASTONISHMENT AT THE ABSENCE OF THE QUARTET,S ROLE
IN FOLLOWING UP ON THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE, AND CALLED
UPON THE QUARTET TO SHOULDER ITS RESPECTIVE ROLE IN THE PEACE
PROCESS.

CALLED ON THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL TO PRESENT A REPORT TO THE
SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE CONDITIONS RESULTING FROM THE
CONTINUOUS ISRAELI AGGRESSION AGAINST THE OCCUPIED
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES.

EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE EFFORTS OF THE PALESTINIAN
LEADERSHIP AND ALL PALESTINIAN FACTIONS TO PROVIDE A NATIONAL
SOLIDARITY ATMOSPHERE TO ENHANCE THE INTERNAL FRONT AND
EXPEDITE THE FORMATION OF A NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT TO
CONFRONT THE SERIOUS CHALLENGES FACING THE PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE.

URGED ALL ARAB COUNTRIES TO FULFILL THEIR FINANCIAL
COMMITMENTS STIPULATED BY ARAB SUMMIT RESOLUTIONS FOR THE
SAKE OF SUPPORTING THE STEADFASTNESS OF THE PALESTINIAN

PEOPLE AND THEIR NATIONAL AUTHORITY. WELCOME MEMBER STATE
ACTIONS TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

PROVIDED SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE CITIZENS OF THE AFFLICTED
AREAS IN GAZA, ESPECIALLY BEIT HANOUN CITY, TO REBUILD THE
VITAL UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE TARGETED BY THE ISRAELI
AGGRESSION.

WILL KEEP THE COUNCIL IN SESSION TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS ISSUE.

END TEXT.
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