INSTRUCTIONS ON RESOLUTION REQUESTING OBSERVER

S E C R E T STATE 037360 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017 TAGS: OFDP PTER UN SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS ON RESOLUTION REQUESTING OBSERVER STATUS FOR THE ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK GROUP REF: 07 STATE 031951 Classified By: IO A/S Kristen Silverberg, Reasons 1.4 (B and D) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4. ¶2. (S) Per reftel, USUN was instructed on March 16 to join consensus on the resolution granting UNGA observer status to the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB). Following receipt of reftel, USUN was approached by the Israeli Mission to the UN alleging IDB ties to terrorism. Thereafter, the Israeli Embassy in Washington demarched the Department, providing two articles obtained off the Internet, and officially requested the USG join Israel in seeking deferral of the Sixth Committee action on IDB observer status, scheduled for March 23, to allow for further investigation. The Israelis also indicated they intended to approach the EU, Canada, Australia and New Zealand with the same request. Subsequently, Department understands that the Israeli UN Mission has indicated that Israel received no support for deferral from EU delegations, who had checked with their capitals and failed to unearth any derogatory information. Further, the Israeli Mission told USUN Israel would disassociate itself from a consensus decision in the Sixth Committee on the IDB but apparently has no intention to seek a vote on this matter. ¶3. (S) The Department has consulted NSC and Treasury and carefully considered the Israeli request. The al Aqsa Fund is distinct from a number of USG-designated terrorist entities with similar names. The al Quds Fund is also believed to be distinct from the Saudi Arabia-based al Quds Intifada Fund/Account 98. Given the nature of intelligence, it is not possible to give a particular entity a perfect "clean bill of health." We will remain vigilant. Department, NSC and Treasury have all concluded, though, that there is no available credible evidence sufficient to corroborate Israeli and press allegations of IDB links to terrorism. The Department, NSC and Treasury therefore do not believe there is a basis for altering the previously cleared instruction for USUN to join consensus on the resolution to grant observer status to the IDB. ¶4. (U) USUN is authorized to inform the Israeli Mission to the UN of our decision not to seek deferral of this matter. RICE