DEMARCHE: ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL MEETING ON GAZA

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001879 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018 TAGS: KPAL KWBG MOPS PHUM SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL MEETING ON GAZA SITUATION REF: A. SECSTATE 134964 ¶B. RIYADH 1871 Classified By: CDA David Rundell, reasons 1.4 b, d. ¶1. (C) In the absence of FM Saud Al-Faisal, currently in Muscat with King Abdallah attending the GCC Summit, Charge delivered reftel A points to the Saudi MFA's Ra'ed Krimly, Director of Western Affairs. Krimly responded that Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned what he termed "the Israeli aggression" and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Krimly was pleased to learn of USG support for UNRWA and said Saudi Arabia would also continue to support UNRWA. ¶2. (C) Krimly said that the King and Foreign Minister are currently in Muscat coordinating a unified GCC position on Gaza. This unified position will be announced later today and will be presented at the Arab League Foreign Ministers meeting tomorrow (December 31). ¶3. (C) Krimly took note of the US request that Arab League statements be based UNSCR 1850, and promised to convey this point to the Foreign Minister as soon as possible. Krimly acknowledged that Saudi Arabia has not/not publicly condemned Hamas. RUNDELL