SPAIN RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON ANTI-ISRAELI BIAS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001228 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, IO/UNP ANDREW MORRISON E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2019 TAGS: PREL SP UNGA IS PA SUBJECT: SPAIN RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON ANTI-ISRAELI BIAS IN UNGA RESOLUTIONS REF: STATE 123081 Classified By: DCM Arnold Chacon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Reftel demarche was delivered November 19 to MFA Deputy Director General for the UN Juan Manuel Gonzalez de Linares and Deputy Director General for the Middle East Alberto Ucelay. Ucelay reiterated Spain's strong commitment to the MEPP and FM Moratinos' commitment to preventing unhelpful actions. Gonzalez urged that our concern over the high numbers of UNGA resolutions with anti-Israeli bias be included as an agenda item in the regular US-EU talks on UN matters. Given the short time before the votes, he could not see there was much opportunity to engage meaningfully with countries that might be persuaded to abstain or vote "no", especially since the EU seeks to maintain a consolidated position. AGUIRRE