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