GUIDANCE FOR SEPTEMBER 20 UNSC OPEN DEBATE ON THE

UNCLAS STATE 132715

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC KPAL IS LE
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR SEPTEMBER 20 UNSC OPEN DEBATE ON THE
MIDDLE EAST



1. (SBU) USUN is instructed to draw from the following
points in its statement at the September 20 UNSC open
debate on the Middle East.

-- Mr. President, a two state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a key priority of
President Bush. The ongoing bilateral dialogue between
Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas is key to
achieving meaningful progress on a successful path to
Palestinian statehood. We were pleased to see as a
product of this dialogue the recent decision by the two
sides to create negotiating teams that will memorialize
their understandings so that the creation of a Palestinian
state can move forward.

-- To demonstrate U.S. commitment to this process, and to
build on progress being made through these bilateral
talks, Secretary Rice is visiting Jerusalem and Ramallah
September 19-20 for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian
leaders.

-- The United States will continue to work with the
parties and the international community with the goal of
realizing President Bush's vision of two states, Israel
and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

-- We look forward to the Quartet meeting, planned for
September 23 here in New York, as well as the subsequent
dinner the Quartet will have with members of the Arab
League, following up on a previous meeting in Sharm
al-Sheikh earlier this year.

-- We also look forward to the international meeting
planned for later this year, announced by President Bush
on July 16. The purpose of these events is to lend
international and regional diplomatic support to the
parties' own efforts to resolve their differences.

-- At the same time, there is an urgent need for financial
support for the Palestinians. We look forward to a
constructive and productive Ad Hoc Liaison Committee
meeting on September 24, and urge all countries to provide
the maximum contribution they can to support the
Palestinians.

-- We welcome initial steps by the parties to meet
previous commitments and to effect changes on the ground,
and encourage continued steps to build confidence and
create a positive atmosphere, including by responsible
regional states.

-- As Secretary Rice has said, "we will not abandon the

1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza and indeed will make
every effort to deal with their humanitarian needs." We
remain troubled by the violent takeover in Gaza by Hamas,
a terrorist organization, which has stifled freedom of
speech and the press since taking control of Gaza. We
continue to call for an end to rocket fire against
Israel. Secretary Rice has also said, we "view Gaza and
the West Bank as constituent entities of a future
Palestinian state. The legitimate government of Gaza is
ultimately that of the Palestinian Authority."

-- We call on Hamas to curb illegal smuggling of weapons into
Gaza, to curtail the activities of terrorist groups within Gaza

such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and to end its own terrorist
activities.

LEBANON/SYRIA

-- The U.S. condemns in the strongest possible terms
yesterday's assassination of yet another Lebanese
Parliamentarian, Antoine Ghanem. We call for an immediate
end to the use of intimidation tactics and violence as
tools to subvert the democratic process in Lebanon.

-- As Secretary Rice said yesterday, the "attack is yet
another incident in an ongoing campaign of targeted
assassinations of Lebanese leaders who have worked to
promote a sovereign and democratic Lebanon free from
Syrian influence."

-- Lebanese elections, which are scheduled to begin within
days, must be allowed to occur without threats and foreign
interference, and must be free, fair, and held on-time and
according to the Lebanese Constitution.

-- We urge Lebanese parliamentarians to fulfill their
constitutional duty to vote for a new president. This is
what the Lebanese people deserve.

-- The Lebanese Armed Forces demonstrated courage and
resolve in their fight against Fatah al-Islam fighters.

-- We urge all member states to continue generous
assistance to Lebanon as it secures its territory against
terrorist groups like this one and addresses the needs of
those affected by the fighting.

-- The U.S. expedited over 40 plane loads of military
assistance to Lebanon during the operation and will
continue to provide significant military support. On
September 10, we pledged an additional $10 million to
UNWRA to assist displaced Palestinian refugees from Nahr
Al-Bared and host families, both Lebanese and
Palestinian. In addition, to assist the Lebanese
communities surrounding Nahr Al-Bared, we will immediately
provide $100,000 for urgent needs and will review ongoing
assistance in northern Lebanon to provide additional
long-term resources. This is in addition to our pledge of
$3.5 million made to UNRWA's Flash Appeal immediately
following the start of the
operation.

-- We remain deeply concerned by on-going illegal weapons
shipments across the Lebanon/Syria border and urge all
parties to assist the Lebanese government to secure its
borders.

-- We continue to call on Syria and Iran to cease their
destabilizing tactics in Lebanon. The Lebanese must
select their next president without foreign interference
and Iran and Syria must stop their ongoing weapons shipments
to terrorists and armed groups within Lebanon.
RICE