SAG STATEMENT TALKS OF UNIFYING ARAB POSITION

S E C R E T RIYADH 006153 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2016 TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL LE SA SUBJECT: SAG STATEMENT TALKS OF UNIFYING ARAB POSITION AGAINST ISRAEL AND NEED FOR IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE REF: A. A) RIYADH 5601 ¶B. B) RIYADH 5839 ¶C. C) RIYADH 5952. Classified By: Political Military Counselor Joe Fishbein for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: The SAG cabinet issued a statement on the Lebanese and Palestinian crisis July 31 following a meeting chaired by King Abdullah. The statement called for a joint Arab and Islamic stand against Israel and reiterated the need for an immediate cease fire. It also urged collaboration with other allies in favor of an immediate cease-fire, including Russia, China and Europe. The July 31 statement follows a series of SAG statements on this crisis (Ref A, Ref B, Ref C). The statements increasingly stress the need for an immediate cease fire and for Arab and Muslim unity against Israel. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) According to press reports, during the weekly Cabinet meeting, King Abdullah reaffirmed the SAG's commitment to supporting the Lebanese people. He condemned Israeli actions, stating that "Israel should take full moral, political and material responsibility for the massacres and war crimes it has committed against the Lebanese institutions and infrastructure." He spoke of the meeting with President Mubarak July 26, where the two leaders discussed how to confront "the total war being waged by Israel against the two brotherly countries (Lebanon and Palestine)." He also commended the generosity of the Saudi people during the telethon raising money for the Lebanese people. ¶3. (U) King Abdullah also reportedly stressed the need for an immediate cease-fire and for Arab and Islamic unity to counter Israel and supporters of the Jewish state. He said, "We'll continue our contacts with friendly countries that have denounced Israeli violations in Lebanon and work for achieving an immediate halt to military operations." The statement referred to the friendly countries as Russia, China and Europe. ¶4. (U) The statement reiterated Saudi Arabia's support for Lebanese unity and sovereignty, as well as for the Palestinian struggle for an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. He said, "The Kingdom will also confront the ideology that aims at creating explosive situations in the region and creating divisions inside its countries as happened in Iraq and Palestine and which it is attempting to do in Lebanon." ¶5. (C) COMMENT: The July 31 statement is the third consecutive statement to call for an immediate cease-fire. Although the SAG has not backed away from its initial statement blaming Hizballah, this is the first statement to call for an increased partnership with specific countries who have denounced Israeli aggression. END COMMENT. OBERWETTER