LIBYA'S VIEWS ON ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL MEETING ON GAZA

UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000988 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/IPA (KNOPF) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG MOPS PHUM UN IS LY SUBJECT: LIBYA'S VIEWS ON ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL MEETING ON GAZA SITUATION REF: A) STATE 134964, B) TRIPOLI 984 ¶1. (SBU) A/DCM conveyed reftel points to MFA Americas Desk Director Ahmed Aoun on December 30. Aoun took our points on board, but stressed that while HAMAS' decision to break the ceasefire had precipitated Israel's military strikes in Gaza, the decision to execute rocket attacks had come against the backdrop of the ongoing "siege" of Gaza. Any durable cease-fire would therefore need to include the immediate lifting of Israel's blockade against Gaza to facilitate humanitarian assistance. In both the AL Ministerial and discussions at the UN, Libya intended to continue calling for a course of action consisting of: 1) an immediate end to HAMAS' rocket attacks; 2) an immediate cessation of Israeli military operations in and around Gaza, and: 3) an immedate lifting of the blockade against Gaza to permit the in-flow of humanitarian assistance. Aoun expected that a call for lifting the blockade of Gaza would be a component of any statement issued in conjunction with the AL Ministerial, and was careful to note that Libya had and would argued for balanced statements at the AL Ministerial. He had no information on who from the GOL would represent Libya at the Ministerial meeting. He reiterated points reported ref B, saying Libya and Arab League states with whom the GOL has consulted continue to believe that the correct address for action is the UNSC, and that the appropriate mechanism for UN intervention is a UNSCR. CRETZ