GUIDANCE: MIDDLE EAST BRIEFING, NOVEMBER 25

UNCLAS STATE 124016 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PREL LE IS SY SUBJECT: GUIDANCE: MIDDLE EAST BRIEFING, NOVEMBER 25 REF: A. IO/UNP:EGOLDRICH ¶B. NEA/IPA:PKNOPF ¶C. USUN-W:HHENDERSON ¶D. NEA/ELA:CLAWSON ¶E. D:JKELLEY ¶F. P:AREINEMEYER ¶G. S/P:AJAIN/JBURNS ¶H. L:EKIINGI ¶I. NSC: ¶J. S/ES: ¶K. S/S-O: ¶1. (U) This is an action message. USUN is authorized to draw from points in para 2 below during the Middle East Briefing scheduled for November 25. ¶2. (U) Talking points. -- I would like to thank Under Secretary-General Pascoe for his briefing on the situation in the Middle East. There are two major points that share equal importance for the Council,s consideration today. -- First, we should take note of the positive and forward- looking nature of the November 9 briefing by the Palestinian and Israeli negotiators for the Quartet in Sharm el Sheikh. The parties are to be commended for their clear affirmation of their commitment to the process launched at Annapolis and to ongoing, bilateral negotiations that address all the core issues. The framework for negotiating a final resolution of the conflict is before us: determined, professional talks between the parties; consistent yet constructive international engagement; and a vigorous effort to improve conditions on the ground. The distance to peace has narrowed even if an agreement has not yet been reached. -- Israel and the Palestinians have expressed common aspirations. They have underscored their commitment to reaching a comprehensive agreement on all issues, without exception, as agreed at Annapolis. They have pledged to continue their bilateral and, confidential negotiations until this goal is achieved, even during times of political transition. They have attested the negotiating structure is effective and productive and they intend to keep it in place. -- Based on this, the parties requested the continued support of the international community, including respect for the mutually-agreed principles of their bilateral dialogue and for the confidential nature of the negotiations, and that third parties should not intervene in the negotiations absent the joint request of both parties. Taking into account the substantial nature of the negotiations and the potential for further progress, we remain committed to the irreversibility of the negotiations. -- We urge our international partners, particularly those in the region, to demonstrate their commitment to peace by providing political and economic assistance to the legitimate Palestinian government, which has taken significant steps to reform its security services and increase accountability and transparency within its governing institutions. -- As a member of the Quartet, the UN also has an important role to play. It must take an even-handed approach, encouraging both parties to take the necessary steps to make progress. The UN cannot be seen to favor one side over the other. -- Secondly, and of similar importance for Council members, is our mutual concern for the welfare of the innocent people of Gaza and in the towns and cities of southern Israel. As the largest single-state contributor of aid to the Palestinian people, the United States is committed to seeing humanitarian aid get through. -- The U.S. calls for an immediate halt in rocket attacks against civilian communities in Israel, and attacks against commercial crossings that are preventing the import of crucial humanitarian supplies and basic commodities, without which the people of Gaza will continue to suffer. -- We urge an end to violence and for the Government of Israel to allow fuel, humanitarian shipments, and humanitarian aid workers entry into Gaza as expeditiously as possible. -- Egyptian efforts to promote calm in Gaza and southern Israel are laudable, and we continue to urge both sides to adhere to their commitments in this regard. At the same time, it is critical the international community upholds the Quartet principles -- renunciation of violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements between the parties. Respect for PLO commitments are also critical in this regard. -- The Council should not lose sight of the root cause for the current situation. While the vast majority of the people of Gaza simply want to get on with their lives, Hamas and other groups continue to instigate violence by their surreptitious construction of tunnels from Gaza into Israeli territory of the type used before to kidnap and kill Israeli soldiers, their indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israel, and their attacks on established humanitarian aid crossing points. It should not come as a surprise that this increase in disruptive terrorist violence comes at a time when the peace negotiators have reaffirmed their commitment in the face of adversity. This is a pattern the Council has seen time and again as terrorists seek to instigate a crisis to derail efforts for peace. -- I wish to touch briefly on two other matters. First, we have seen in recent days two extraordinary gestures by Israeli and Palestinian leaders that should not go un-remarked. During the recent General Assembly session on a &Culture of Peace8 Israeli President Peres made a special point to reach out directly to Saudi King Abdullah, signaling Israeli openness to elements of the Arab Peace initiative of ¶2002. Then last week, the Palestinian Authority took out advertisements in the Israeli press calling directly on the Israeli people to embrace that same Arab Peace Initiative. These steps are consistent with an expansion of diplomatic efforts toward comprehensive peace in the region. We applaud and encourage creative, determined efforts of this nature, which have succeeded in building peace in the past and can do so again. -- Finally, just a short word on Lebanon, which we normally discuss in the context of these briefings but will take up this afternoon in a full discussion of the Secretary General,s report on UN Security Council resolution 1701. For now, let me say only that we strongly support the report,s clear expression of the importance of Hizballah disarmament, as the Secretary General also recently highlighted in his report on UNSCR 1559. End talking points. RICE