UNGA -- PRESSING INDONESIA TO OPPOSE ANTI-ISRAEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002145 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, NEA, NEA/IPA, IO, IO/UNP (MORRISON) NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018 TAGS: PREL UNGA ID IS SUBJECT: UNGA -- PRESSING INDONESIA TO OPPOSE ANTI-ISRAEL RESOLUTIONS REF: STATE 123081 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Mission delivered reftel demarche regarding anti-Israel resolutions in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to key GOI officials on November 20. We strongly urged Indonesia to oppose such resolutions. Indonesian interlocutors took our points on board, but did not promise any change in Indonesia's long-standing support for such resolutions. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Mission has underscored deep U.S. concern about anti-Israel resolutions at UNGA. On November 20, Pol/C reviewed reftel points with Ambassador Albert Matondang of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs on November 20. (Note: Matondang is the senior-most official responsible for international issues at the ministry. His office oversees, inter alia, the Department of Foreign Affairs.) Pol/C underscored that anti-Israel resolutions in the UNGA were totally counterproductive and harmful. They represent an extraordinarily disproportionate and unjustified focus on one member state. ¶3. (C) Continuing, Pol/C underlined that these politicized resolutions did nothing to support the Palestinian people or advance peace in the Middle East. We strongly urge Indonesia to vote against or to at least abstain, or even to absent themselves during the votes on such resolutions. ¶4. (C) Matondang took our points on board without comment. ¶5. (C) Poloff also shared USG views with officials from the Directorate for International Security and Disarmament Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU)--the office responsible for UN matters. They promised to review our position but offered no substantive response. ¶6. (SBU) Mission will raise this matter with officials from the presidential office when they return from the APEC Summit in Lima. HUME