ROK APPROACH TO ANTI-ISRAEL UNGA RESOLUTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002332 SIPDIS PASS TO ANDREW MORRISON AT IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2018 TAGS: PREL UNGA KS IS PA LE SY SUBJECT: ROK APPROACH TO ANTI-ISRAEL UNGA RESOLUTIONS UNLIKELY TO CHANGE REF: STATE 123081 Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4(b/d) ¶1. (C) In response to reftel talking points, ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) United Nations Division Deputy Director Na Sang-deok expressed understanding of some of the USG concerns pertaining to UNGA resolutions with an anti-Israel bias. He agreed that such resolutions demanded a disproportionate amount of the UNGA's time and resources and said that he found the language in them to indeed be repetitive. He further noted that the resolutions did not appear to have contributed to improving the situation in the Middle East in spite of being introduced repeatedly. ¶2. (C) The ROK position, Na said, should not be interpreted to be unfavorable to Israel; it reflected a balanced view of the Middle East. Before taking a position on a resolution, the ROK carefully considered its merits, the ROK's bilateral relations with relevant countries, and discussion of the resolutions between the United States, Israel, Europe, and Arab states. While Na said he would bring USG concerns -- including those about the three resolutions highlighted in the reftel -- to the attention of ROK officials directly involved with UNGA matters, he noted that the ROK approach was unlikely to change. During the 62nd UNGA, this approach produced 16 "yes" votes and 4 abstentions on reftel resolutions. STEPHENS