A DIVIDED ARAB LEAGUE CONDEMNS "CRIMINAL" ACTS IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 001870 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MEPN ARABBL KPAL EG IS SUBJECT: A DIVIDED ARAB LEAGUE CONDEMNS "CRIMINAL" ACTS IN GAZA, LINES UP BEHIND ABU MAZEN AND "LEGITIMATE" PALESTINIAN INSTITUTIONS ¶1. (U) Arab League (AL) foreign ministers, at the request of Egypt, met on June 15 at AL headquarters in Cairo to address Hamas's take-over of the Gaza Strip, next steps by - and assistance for - PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen),and the situation in Lebabon (septel). The ministers (from 15 of the AL's 22 member states) met late into the night, finally agreeing to a text drafted by Egypt which directed Arab support toward President Abu Mazen and the legitimate institutions of Palestinian governance, "stemming from the Palestinian Liberation Organization." Efforts to explicitly condemn Hamas for its violent take-over of Gaza were reportedly watered down by the Qatari and Syrian ministers. The Palestinians were represented by a Fatah official close to Abu Mazen. Despite objections by Egypt and others, the Qataris reportedly succeeded in adding language creating a "fact-finding committee" that will report to the ministerial council in one month. ¶2. (U) Text of June 15, 2007 Arab League ministerial resolution on Palestine: Begin unofficial Embassy translation: The Rapid Developments on the Palestinian Scene In the emergency meeting dated June 15, 2007, the League's Council, at the ministerial level: After reviewing the General Secretariat's memorandum; It reminds all Palestinian factions of their continuous pledges to respect the national Palestinian unit and the inviolability of the Palestinian blood, including those referred to in the Cairo current negotiations since the year 2005, in the Mecca Accord of 2007, and the Palestinian National Detente Charter. It confirms the importance of Palestinian national unity, the unity of the Palestinian territories, the importance of respect for Palestinian constants to protect the Palestinian national project. It confirms the inviolability of Palestinian blood and warns of the dangers of Palestinian killings in the interests of the Palestinian people, its fair struggle, and international support for it. It refers to the passive impacts and the acute situation that resulted from the unjust blockage which the Palestinian people are subjected to. After listening to the presentation of the Head of the Palestinian State delegation and the comments of delegation heads: Resolves to: First: Prohibit Palestinian internal killings and call upon both movements - Fath and Hamas - to halt, continuously and comprehensively, the killings in the occupied Palestinian territories and bear the responsibility of the consequences of it continuation, warning of the dangers of these developments on the struggle of the Palestinian people the future of its cause and the sympathy gained on the international level. Condemn the criminal acts that were recently committed in Gaza and call upon the return of normal conditions that prevailed prior to the latest incidents in the Gaza strip, prevent any violent acts in the West Bank, and protect the unity of the Palestinian territories in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza strip and the importance of directing the Palestinian efforts to end the invasion and achieve the Palestinian national project. Respect the Palestinian national legitimacy via the Presidency of Mahmoud Abbas, respect the legitimate associations of the Palestinian National Authority that is emanating from the Palestinian Liberation Organization including the elected Palestinian Legislative Council and commit to the unity of Palestinian decision-making to maintain the gains and rights of the Palestinian people which are in danger. Form a fact-finding committee comprised of representatives of the Summit Presidency, Ministers Council, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar (Arab member on the UN Security Council),where it will present its reports to the Ministers Council one month after CAIRO 00001870 002 OF 002 issuance of this resolution. Assign the committee to follow and support the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since the signing of the Mecca Agreement to achieve Palestinian national unity, in addition to the efforts exerted by Egypt to negotiate a cease-fire, resume dialogue to resolve current differences, and call upon all Palestinian factions to respond to those efforts. Second: Commit to the Arab stance towards the Arab-Israeli conflict represented in the Arab Peace Initiative that is based on ending the Israeli invasion of the Palestinian occupied territories and the withdrawal of Israel to the line of June 4, 1967 from all Arab occupied territories, the establishment of the Palestinian State on those territories, including East Jerusalem, and a fair settlement to the refugee issue in accordance with UN Resolution 194. Israel - the invading force - is to bear the responsibility of the deteriorating conditions in the Palestinian territories. The Council calls upon Israel to immediately halt its continuous aggressive practices which include killings, assassinations, settlements, construction of its security wall, assaults on Christian and Moslem holy sites - which are clear violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention and international law, including humanitarian law. Revive the Peace Process and resume negotiations on all fronts within a specific time-frame and on the basis of agreed reviews in the Arab Peace Initiative. Assure an expeditious breakage of the economic financial blockade imposed upon the Palestinian people. Call upon all members to expedite fulfillment of their contributions to support the Palestinian National Authority budget in accordance with the resolutions of the March, 2007 Riyadh Summit. Third: Keep this session open to further follow developments on the Palestinian scene. End text. JONES