SEPTEMBER MIDDLE EAST BRIEFING: COUNCIL FOCUSES ON

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER MIDDLE EAST BRIEFING: COUNCIL FOCUSES ON
QUARTET AND UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

REF: STATE 132715


1. Summary: In delivering the UN's monthly briefing on the
situation in the Middle East on September 20, U/SYG Lynn
Pascoe characterized the continuing Olmert/Abbas dialogue,
Secretary Rice's current trip to the Middle East and Quartet

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Representative Tony Blair's work as elements of a genuinely
promising push for peace. But he said Israel's September 19
decision to consider the Gaza Strip an "enemy entity" --
would, if carried out, constitute a violation of
international and humanitarian law. He also repeated UN
concern about the negative social, economic and political
consequences of a divided Palestine. On Lebanon, Pascoe
condemned the September 19 terrorist act that took the life
of Lebanese MP Antoine Ghanem and seven others, describing it
as an effort to undermine Lebanese stability, and reported on
Secretary-General Ban's efforts to encourage Lebanese leaders

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to reach an agreement on a president.


2. In closed consultations, the majority of Council members
criticized Israel's September 19 designation of the Gaza
Strip as an "enemy entity." Many expressed great concern
about the humanitarian consequences that would follow from
Israel's threat to withhold delivery of fuel and electricity.
Russian PR Churkin stated that "one member of the Quartet"
had blocked the group from calling on Israel to reconsider
its decision. Council members offered views on the content
of the upcoming September 23 Quartet meeting and the
international meeting announced July 16 by President Bush to
be held later this year. Suggestions for a successful
outcome of the international conference ranged from including
"all" actors to addressing "all" issues. Russia said Moscow
plans to host an international conference at some point in
the future, as well. Belgium cautioned that the goals of the
international conference should be reasonably defined so as
to manage expectations. The UK offered a five-point proposal
for what might be achieved by year's end as a result of the
Quartet and international meetings. Council members were
unanimous in condemning the September 19 terrorist attack
that took the life of Lebanese MP Antoine Ghanem and seven
others. End Summary.

Pascoe Sees Promising Push for Peace
--------------


3. In the Secretariat's monthly "Briefing to the Security
Council on the Situation in the Middle East," held September
20, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe
said that a new and genuinely promising push for peace is
underway but that the situation on the ground remains of deep
concern. Pascoe identified as promising the continuing
bilateral dialogue between Prime Minister Olmert and
President Abbas that has resulted in an agreement to set up
negotiating teams to transform discussions into an agreed
text, Secretary Rice's current trip to the region to take
stock of progress and to encourage further effort, and
Quartet representative Tony Blair's work on developing an
agenda for economic revival and institutional reform. He
expressed concern, however, about continuing violence among
Palestinians and between Israelis and Palestinians, human
rights abuses at the hands of paramilitary Hamas forces in
Gaza, and President Abbas' rule by decree. These internal
Palestinian problems are a result of the division of
Palestinian territories.


4. On Israeli-Palestinian violence, Pascoe condemned
continued indiscriminate rocket fire against civilians in
Israel. In noting the Israeli security cabinet's September
29 declaration of Gaza as an "enemy entity" and its intention
to interrupt essential services such as electricity and fuel
to the civilian population, Pascoe said that such steps, if
implemented, would violate Israel's obligations towards the
civilian population under international humanitarian and
human rights law. Other areas of ongoing concern, Pascoe
said, include an increase in obstacles to freedom of movement
in the West Bank, continuing settlement construction on both
sides of the separation barrier, Israel's failure to take
action against outpost construction, and the continuing
construction of the separation barrier contrary to the
advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.


5. Pascoe said that the Palestinian Authority is working to
impose law and order, institute reform and good governance,
and improve living conditions. The resumption of Israeli
transfers of Palestinian tax revenue has made possible the
payment of public sector salaries in the West Bank and Gaza.
Nevertheless, he noted, a recent World Bank report had
documented a comprehensive drop in socio-economic indicators
throughout the occupied Palestinian territory. Key to
reversing the trend, Pascoe said, is the full implementation
of the November 2005 Agreement on Access and Movement to

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facilitate exports and to enable the inflow of foodstuffs.


6. Turning to regional issues, Pascoe noted that a number of
Arab League states and the Arab League Secretary-General had
stressed that the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue must end with
substantive results if it is to receive Arab support and if
it is to be the basis of a successful international meeting.
The international meeting itself must be comprehensive in
nature. Pascoe also reported Syria's allegation to the
Secretary-General of a September 6 breach of Syrian airspace

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by Israel as well as the fact that Israel has not commented
on the allegations. Finally, Pascoe reiterated the
Secretary-General's strong condemnation of the September 19

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terrorist act that took the life of Lebanese MP Antoine
Ghanem and seven others, an act aimed at undermining
Lebanon's stability. A letter from Prime Minister Siniora
requesting that the United Nations Independent Investigation
Commission (UNIIIC) extend its assistance in the
investigation of the crime has been forwarded to the Security
Council. Additionally, Pascoe noted positively the end of
fighting in and around Nahr el-Bared refugee camp, urged
member states to respond to the new UNRWA Emergency Flash
Appeal and reported the Secretary-General's work to encourage
Lebanese leaders to reach an agreement on a President.
Pascoe ended his briefing by expressing the hope that the
upcoming September 23 Quartet Meeting and "iftar" with a
number of Arab League nations and the September 24 Ad Hoc
Liaison Committee meeting will help bring about agreements
and steps on implementation that will help catalyze changes
on the ground.

Security Council Members Comments
--------------


7. In the Security Council's closed consultations following
Pascoe's open briefing, Security Council members focused on
three issues: Israel's September 19 designation of the Gaza
Strip as an "enemy entity" and its stated intention to cut
back power and fuel supplies to such an entity; the Quartet
meeting to be held September 23 at the UN and the
international meeting that President Bush announced July 16
to be held later this year; and the September 19 terrorist
act that took the life of Lebanese MP Antoine Ghanem on the
eve of the Lebanese Presidential election.

Israeli Designation of Gaza as "Enemy Entity"
--------------


8. Every member alluded either directly or indirectly to
Israel's designation of the Gaza Strip as an "enemy entity."
Qatar spoke strongly in disapproval of the designation. In
its intervention, Qatari PR Nasser said that Israel's action
contradicted its statements that Israel desired peace.
Actions such as these, Israel's recent raid on Syria, which
was also a flagrant violation of international law, and
Israel's continuing illegal blockade of Gaza, which deprived
Gazans of basic needs indicated neither good will nor good
intentions, Nasser said. He added that it is "illogical to
starve and punish the Palestinian people and ask for their
participation in the peace process."


9. Echoing U/SYG Pascoe's remarks on the issue, South
Africa, Indonesia, Congo and Peru all said that Israel's
designation of the Gaza Strip as an "enemy entity" and its
stated intention to withhold fuel and electricity would
constitute, if carried out, a violation of international
and/or humanitarian law. Congo and Peru argued that all
Gazans should not be forced to suffer because of the actions
of a few. Belgium, in comments echoed by Peru, cautioned
against isolating Gaza, arguing that 1.5 million Gazans
cannot be ignored. Rather Belgium continued, the UN should
strengthen Abbas by allowing him to "deliver" to the
Palestinians. China said that labeling and isolating Gaza is
not helpful and will aggravate the humanitarian crisis.
Russian PR Churkin said Israel's isolation of Gaza would have
a disproportionate impact on civilians and urged all to help
in preventing a major humanitarian disaster. Churkin,
recalling that UN Secretary-General Ban and the EU have both
requested that Israel reconsider its designation of Gaza as
an "enemy entity," acidly observed that one member of the
Quartet prevented the Quartet from such action. In milder
terms, Slovakia commended Israel for its restraint in the
face of "terrorist acts" from Gaza and called on Hamas to end
its illegal actions and its "destructive policy," but at the
criticized the decision too consider Gaza an "enemy entity."

Hopes for Quartet Meeting, International Conference
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10. Most delegations welcomed the upcoming September 23
Quartet Meeting and the international conference as

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opportunities to be utilized to move the process of peace
firmly forward. Several members offered suggestions to
strengthen the effectiveness of the meetings. Italy urged
the Security Council to offer stronger political support for
the peace process, in order to facilitate the flow of
emergency assistance to Palestinians. Italy also urged that
"all actors" be included in the international meeting called
for by President Bush. Belgium urged Security Council
members to manage expectations of these meetings by defining
hoped for achievements. Indonesia warned that the peace
process would not be successful until "all" parties are ready
for peace and the three key issues -- East Jerusalem,
Palestinian refugees, and West Bank settlements -- are
addressed.


11. Russian PR Churkin said that the international
conference should focus on the Palestinian crisis, halting
violent clashes, and restoring one central Palestinian
Authority. Churkin said that Russian leaders, who have just
visited the Middle East, are developing a leadership role for
Russia in the peace process and planned to convene an
international conference in the future. He said Russia would
be interested in learning from Secretary Rice the findings of
her current visit to the region and the details about
preparations for the international conference. UK PR Sawers
announced five goals the UK hopes will be achieved the end of
the year: (1) an agreement to start negotiations, not just
talks, by early 2008; (2) a commitment by both Israelis and
Palestinians to implement further confidence-building
measures; (3) increased direct engagement by Arab
governments; (4) international support for the program to be
developed by Tony Blair to build Palestinian Authority
government capacity; and (5) significant financial support by
the international community.


12. Delivering the U.S. intervention, Ambassador Khalilzad
reiterated Secretary Rice's remark that we "view Gaza and the
West bank as constituent entities of a future Palestinian
state" and that "the legitimate government of Gaza is
ultimately that of the Palestinian Authority." He said that
although we regard Hamas as a hostile entity, we will make
every effort to deal with the humanitarian needs of the
people of Gaza. He said that the U.S. will not abandon the
people of Gaza and will work with Israel to prevent a
humanitarian crisis. Ambassador Khalilzad said that the U.S.
sees the purpose of the upcoming Quartet and international
meeting as lending international and regional diplomatic
support to the efforts of the parties to resolve their
differences.

Condemnation of Terrorism in Lebanon
--------------


13. Ambassador Khalilzad, speaking for the majority of
members, condemned in the strongest possible terms the
September 19 assassination of yet another Lebanese
Parliamentarian, Antoine Ghanem, and at least seven others.
He called for an immediate end to the use of intimidation
tactics and violence as tools to subvert the democratic
process in Lebanon. He said that Lebanese elections,
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. He urged Lebanese parliamentarians to fulfill
their constitutional duty to vote for a new president and
called on Syria and Iran to cease their unhelpful tactics in
Lebanon, saying that the U.S. would condemn all efforts to
destabilize Lebanon. France said that the plan of those who
hoped to intimidate Lebanese citizens through terrorism would
not work. There was unanimous support for Lebanon's request
for UNIIIC assistance to Lebanese authorities for the
investigation of Ghanem's assassination.
KHALILZAD