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

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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