ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS CALL FOR "LIFTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 006839 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV MEPN KPAL UNSC UNGA ARABL EG IS SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS CALL FOR "LIFTING SIEGE" AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS CLASSIFIED BY MINISTER COUNSELOR FOR ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS WILLIAM R. STEWART FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) FOLLOWING A NOVEMBER 12 EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS HELD IN CAIRO, THE GROUP ISSUED A STATEMENT (TEXT BELOW) PLEDGING TO "BREAK THE SIEGE" AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, CALLING FOR AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION OF THE BEIT HANOUN ATTACK, THE SENDING OF INTERNATIONAL FORCES TO PROTECT THE PALESTINIANS, AND AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO RESOLVE THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT. THE STATEMENT MARKS A BREAK FROM THE QUARTETS FUNDING BLOCKADE ON THE HAMAS GOVERNMENT. IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHETHER ANY ARAB STATES OR THE LEAGUE HAVE RELEASED ANY NEW FUNDS TO THE PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT IN RESPONSE TO THIS CALL. ACCORDING TO A PALESTINIAN EMBASSY CONTACT IN CAIRO, PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AL ZAHAR DEPARTED SHORTLY AFTER THE MEETING FOR TEHRAN. ¶2. (C) ON NOVEMBER 13, TWO SENIOR ARAB LEAGUE STAFF MEMBERS DESCRIBED TO POLOFF A COLLECTIVE SENSE OF ARAB FRUSTRATION AND ANGER OVER THE USG DECISION TO VETO THE ARAB GROUP'S DRAFT RESOLUTION ON GAZA, PRESENTED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL LAST WEEK. THE U.S. VETO, THEY SAID, PROVIDES POLITICAL COVER FOR ISRAEL TO CONTINUE ITS PRACTICE OF COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT AGAINST PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES. ARAB GOVERNMENTS, THEY ADDED, WILL CONTINUE PRESSING THE ISSUE IN THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PRESS FOR PROGRESS ON THE REGIONAL PEACE TRACK. ¶3. (U) UNOFFICIAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION OF THE NOVEMBER 12 ARAB LEAGUE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS STATEMENT. BEGIN TEXT: "ISRAEL,S CONTINUED AGGRESSIONS AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND METHODS OF DEALING WITH THEM:" THE LEAGUE COUNCIL, AT THE LEVEL OF MINISTERS, HELD AN EMERGENCY MEETING ON NOVEMBER 12, 2006. AFTER REVIEWING: THE ARAB LEAGUE GENERAL SECRETARIAT,S MEMORANDUM AND THE REPORT ON THE ISRAELI MASSACRE IN BEIT HANOUN; THE AL COMMUNIQU ISSUED AT ITS NOVEMBER 6, 2006 EMERGENCY SESSION; THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL'S DRAFT RESOLUTION ON THE SITUATION IN GAZA, BLOCKED BY THE AMERICAN VETO ON NOVEMBER 11, 2006; THE PRESENTATION OF THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE OF PALESTINE; AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE AL SECRETARY GENERAL,S PRESENTATION �00A;AND DISCUSSIONS BY MINISTERS AND HEADS OF DELEGATIONS; AND IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ARAB CONSENSUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE AND THE NEED FOR A PEACEFUL AND FAIR SOLUTION TO THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT FOR THE SAKE OF THE SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE REGION; AND AFTER PRAISING THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE,S STEADFASTNESS IN FACE OF THE ISRAELI AGGRESSION AND ASSURING THEIR RIGHT TO LEGITIMATE STRUGGLE TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE ON ALL THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES OCCUPIED IN 1967, AND AFTER STRESSING THE NEED TO REACH A COMPREHENSIVE AND JUST SOLUTION TO THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT ON THE BASIS OF THE RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL RESOLUTIONS AND THE ARAB PEACE INITIATIVE; THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO: -- (1) CONDEMN THE CONTINUOUS ISRAELI AGGRESSION AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, AND DENOUNCE THE ISRAELI CRIMES, THE LATEST OF WHICH IS THE BEIT HANOUN CRIME WHICH TARGETED UNARMED CIVILIANS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN AND WOMEN. REGARD THESE CRIMES AS WAR CRIMES AS STATED BY THE RULES OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW. -- (2) EXPRESS EXTREME DISSATISFACTION AT THE UNITED STATES, USE OF THE VETO AGAINST THE ARAB DRAFT RESOLUTION AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL, WHICH CONSTITUTES AN UNFRIENDLY STANCE TOWARDS THE ARAB STATES AND PEOPLES, AND WHICH PREVENTS THE SECURITY COUNCIL FROM CARRYING OUT ITS ROLE AND SHOULDERING ITS RESPONSIBILITIES, THUS ENCOURAGING ISRAEL TO PROCEED WITH ITS AGGRESSION. MOREOVER, ITS VETO DOES NOT HELP ESTABLISH PEACE IN THE REGION AND IT AFFECTS THE CREDIBILITY OF THE UNITED STATES IN PLAYING A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE IN THE REGION. -- (3) BREAK THE BLOCKADE IMPOSED ON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY, AND CALL UPON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO LIFT ALL FORMS OF BLOCKADE IMPOSED ON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. -- (4) CALL UPON ALL PALESTINIAN FACTIONS TO EXPEDITE THE FORMATION OF A NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT TO CONFRONT THE DANGEROUS CHALLENGES FACING THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. -- (5) CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, THE ELDERLY, AND CHILDREN. -- (6) CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT MEMBERS AND OFFICIALS, AND THE RELEASE OF THE ISRAELI SOLDIER. -- (7) CALL FOR A HALT TO ALL ISRAELI MILITARY OPERATIONS AND ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIANS. -- (8) EXPRESS EXTREME DISSATISFACTION AT THE VETO FOR HAMPERING THE SECURITY COUNCIL ROLE IN DEALING WITH THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT, AND ALSO AT THE SILENCE OF THE QUARTET AND ITS FAILURE TO SHOULDER ITS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR REVIVING THE PEACE PROCESS. -- (9) IN LIGHT OF IMPEDING THE SECURITY COUNCIL FROM CARRYING OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES: TAKE UP THE ISSUE IN AN EMERGENCY SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF "UNITY FOR PEACE." CALL FOR AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE BEIT HANOUN MASSACRE AND THE ISRAELI VIOLATIONS AGAINST PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, AND FOR SENDING INTERNATIONAL FORCES TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. CALL FOR AN EMERGENCY SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THE ISRAELI VIOLATIONS AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS. -- (10) CALL FOR HOLDING A PEACE CONFERENCE TO BE ATTENDED BY ARAB PARTIES, ISRAEL, AND THE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL, TO REACH A JUST AND COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT ON ALL TRACKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL RESOLUTIONS AND THE PRINCIPLE OF "LAND FOR PEACE." -- (11) FORM AN ARAB MINISTERIAL DELEGATION OF THE CURRENT PRESIDENCY OF THE LEAGUE, THE ARAB MEMBER ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL, AND THE AL SECRETARY GENERAL TO CONDUCT THE NECESSARY CONSULTATIONS AND CONTACTS WITH VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL PARTIES, ESPECIALLY THE MEMBERS OF THE QUARTET AND PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE UNSC, TO FOLLOW UP ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RESOLUTION AND CONTINUE EFFORTS TO REACTIVATE THE PEACE PROCESS AND MAKE SURE THAT EACH PARTY SHOULDERS ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. -- (12) CALL UPON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO SHOULDER ITS RESPONSIBILITIES AND RESUME SENDING ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND THEIR NATIONAL AUTHORITY, AND CALL UPON ISRAEL TO IMMEDIATELY RELEASE THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL AUTHORITY,S TAXATION DUES. -- (13) CALL UPON THE ARAB COUNTRIES, ORGANIZATIONS, PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES, AND CIVIL SOCIETY INSTITUTIONS TO LAUNCH AN IMMEDIATE CAMPAIGN TO RECONSTRUCT WHAT THE RECENT ISRAELI AGGRESSION HAS DESTROYED IN BEIT HANOUN AND OTHER PALESTINIAN CITIES. -- (14) STRESS THE ARAB COUNTRIES, COMMITMENT TO CONTINUING PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL AUTHORITY,S BUDGET IN ACCORDANCE TO THE RELEVANT ARAB LEAGUE RESOLUTIONS, THE LATEST OF WHICH IS THE 2006 KHARTOUM SUMMIT RESOLUTION. -- (15) KEEP THE COUNCIL IN SESSION TO FOLLOW UP ON LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON THE ISSUE. 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