BAHRAIN CONDEMNS BEIT HANOUN DEATHS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001926

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL BA IS REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN CONDEMNS BEIT HANOUN DEATHS

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM T. MONROE FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D) .


1. (U) THE BAHRAINI CABINET ISSUED A STATEMENT DURING ITS
REGULAR WEEKLY MEETING NOVEMBER 12 STRONGLY DENOUNCING "THE
BRUTAL MASSACRES COMMITTED BY ISRAELI FORCES IN BEIT HANOUN"
LAST WEEK. THE CABINET WARNED OF GRAVE REPERCUSSIONS FROM
"SUCH HORRIBLE CARNAGE THAT CONFLICTS WITH HUMAN VALUES AND
RELIGIONS AND IMPEDES THE PEACE PROCESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST."
THE CABINET CALLED ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE
THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WITH NEEDED PROTECTION FROM "THESE
BARBARIAN PRACTICES."


2. (U) IN HIS ROLE AS ROTATING CHAIR OF THE ARAB LEAGUE,
FOREIGN MINISTER SHAIKH KHALID BIN AHMED AL KHALIFA WAS
WIDELY QUOTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS NOVEMBER 12 SAYING
THAT ARAB MINISTERS HAD DECIDED TO END THEIR SUPPORT FOR
RESTRICTIONS ON PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, IN RESPONSE TO THE U.S. VETO OF A UN
SECURITY COUNCIL DRAFT RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ISRAEL'S
OFFENSIVE IN GAZA. HE SAID, "WE DECIDED NOT TO COOPERATE
WITH IT (THE FINANCIAL RESTRICTIONS). THERE WILL NO LONGER
BE AN INTERNATIONAL SIEGE."


3. (C) IN A NOVEMBER 13 MEETING COVERING SEVERAL SUBJECTS
(SEPTELS),MFA ASSISTANT UNDER SECRETARY FOR COORDINATION AND
FOLLOW UP SHAIKH ABDUL AZIZ BIN MUBARAK AL KHALIFA TOLD
POL/ECON CHIEF THAT THE U.S. VETO OF THE DRAFT SECURITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTION "FRUSTRATED AND ANGERED" ARAB COUNTRIES.
HE SAID HE WAS SICKENED BY FOOTAGE OF ISRAELI TROOPS SHOOTING
WOMEN OUTSIDE A GAZA MOSQUE. HE RECALLED THAT UNDER
SECRETARY HUGHES, DURING HER NOVEMBER 1 VISIT TO BAHRAIN, HAD

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ASKED ABOUT THE REASONS WHY MANY ARABS LOOK AT THE U.S.
UNFAVORABLY. "HOW CAN WE WORK TO CHANGE POPULAR OPINION WHEN
THE U.S. VETOES RESOLUTIONS LIKE THIS?," HE ASKED. HE
SUGGESTED THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR THE U.S. TO
ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE, LIKE FOUR OTHER COUNTRIES DID. WITH
ACTIONS LIKE THE VETO, "PEOPLE LOSE HOPE." THE BAHRAINI
PEOPLE WILL NOT STAND WITH THE UNITED STATES EVEN IF THE GOB
DOES, HE SAID.


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