SETTLEMENTS UNSCR: LIBYA TABLES DRAFT RESOLUTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000573 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KPAL KWBG UNSC SY LE IS PA SUBJECT: SETTLEMENTS UNSCR: LIBYA TABLES DRAFT RESOLUTION DURING MONTHLY MIDDLE EAST DEBATE REF: USUN 531 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The UN Security Council held its monthly Middle East meeting on June 27. Lisa Buttenheim, Director of the Asia and Pacific Division of the UN Department of Political Affairs, briefed the Council in a public session, and Council members subsequently discussed regional events in closed consultations. Buttenheim noted positive but fragile developments in the Middle East, and pointed to the recent ceasefire between Hamas and Israel as one example. In closed consultations, Libya put forward a draft resolution condemning Israeli settlement expansion on behalf of the Arab Group. Most delegates expressed an interest in trying to reach consensus on the draft resolution, while the U.S., Croatia, and the UK expressed reservations about the proposal, pointing to issues of substance and timing. Delegates expressed support for the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza and the ongoing Annapolis process. Most welcomed the Israeli-Syrian dialogue and indicated the need to ensure a national unity government was formed in Lebanon, as per the Doha agreement. End Summary. Buttenheim: Positive but Fragile Developments -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Lisa Buttenheim, Director of the Asia and Pacific Division of the UN Department of Political Affairs, briefed the Council during a public session on June 27. (Note: A transcript of her remarks was e-mailed to IO/UNP. End Note.) Buttenheim said that there was a need to turn fragile, but real, opportunities into genuine progress. She praised the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that went into effect on June 19. However, she noted breaches of the ceasefire in the form of rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza, IDF fire into Gaza, and Israel,s closing of border crossings in Gaza. She reiterated the UN,s condemnation of all deliberate or indiscriminate attacks on civilians and any disproportionate or excessive use of force. Buttenheim said the SYG urges Israel to heed the call of the Quartet to freeze all settlement activity. She also spoke about positive steps taken by Palestinian security forces to disarm and arrest militants, Israel,s facilitation of the reopening of Palestinian police stations, and the economic situation in the Palestinian Authority. She called on countries to step up their commitments to provide economic assistance. She also welcomed indirect talks between Israel and Syria under Turkish mediation. On Lebanon, Buttenheim noted slow progress on the formation of a national unity government but hoped an agreement would soon be reached despite violence in recent days. Most Delegations Welcome Libyan Draft -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Libya formally introduced a draft resolution, prepared by the Arab Group, that condemns Israeli settlement activity. (Note: The text of the resolution was included in reftel. End Note.) Libya said that, in light of past statements made by the Council and the Quartet, the draft resolution should not raise difficulties for the &vast majority of members.8 Libya recognized that it might be sensitive for &one member state,8 but noted that recent statements made by Secretary Rice on the issue of settlements have been encouraging. Most member states thanked Libya for its draft resolution, reaffirmed the importance of Council involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and expressed a willingness to engage constructively to reach consensus on a final draft that would suit all member states. China said that Israel,s expansion of settlements was disquieting and a contravention of international law and hoped the Council could reach consensus on a resolution. France remarked that settlements are the major obstacle to peace but that the issue must be viewed in the context of the entire peace process. Russia said that Israel must freeze settlement activity while other parties must also carry out their agreements under the Roadmap. ¶4. (SBU) The U.S., UK, and Croatia explictly expressed concerns about a resolution that only addresses Israeli settlements without addressing Palestinian obligations under the Roadmap. The UK said that a resolution focusing on only one aspect of the peace process is not/not the best way to move the process forward. Croatia likewise opposed focusing on only one party,s obligations and expressed hesitation about the timing of the initiative, given that bilateral talks are ongoing. Amb Khalilzad stressed that the best way to address adherence by both sides to their Roadmap obligations is through the ongoing bilateral negotiations and that Council action could make it harder to reach compromise. He also emphasized the need to address the obligations of USUN NEW Y 00000573 002 OF 002 both parties rather than singling out Israeli settlement activity. But he said that the U.S. remains open-minded about engaging on a Council product as long as it is helpful on both substance and timing. After all delegations had spoken, Libya said that the Arab Group had taken a firm position in excluding contentious issues and had decided to address settlements alone because it is an issue on which all member states could reach consensus. Libya noted that the Roadmap and other agreements have not put an end to settlement expansion, which is in clear violation of international law. Mood Generally Positive about &Fragile8 Ceasefire -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) All Council members supported the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and urged both parties to abide by their obligations. But most delegations noted that the calm is fragile, underlining the need for the international community to remain fully engaged. The U.S., France, South Africa, Vietnam, Italy, and Croatia specifically condemned recent rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza, but almost all delegations expressed general concern about recent breaches of the tenuous ceasefire by the Israelis, Palestinians, or both. Most members called on Israel to end the closure of Gaza. Several delegations also expressed concern about a recent IDF raid into Nablus that was not coordinated with Palestinian security services. France said that it would never compromise on the security of Israel but that there must be a two-state solution that includes an economically viable Palestinian state and Jerusalem as the capital of two states. Russia and Indonesia said that establishing unity was vital for the Palestinian people. Amb Khalilzad restated the long-term U.S. goal for a two-state solution. He recognized recent progress and noted that talks were difficult but that their private nature should not be mistaken for a lack of progress. At the same time, he also recognized the challenges of harmful activities that threaten the ceasefire. He condemned all attacks against civilians and called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity, consistent with the Roadmap. Support for Regional Diplomacy -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Most member states welcomed negotiations between Israel and Syria under Turkish mediation. Russia stressed a policy of involvement rather than isolation with regard to Syria. The UK was encouraged by talks between Israel and Syria but called on Syria to do more about stopping support for Palestinian rejectionist movements and work on improving relations with Lebanon. On Lebanon, most delegations expressed concern about the recent outbreak of violence in Tripoli, the Bekaa Valley, and elsewhere and worried that it could threaten the implementation of the Doha agreement. Italy said that the Lebanese must rapidly and fully implement the Doha Agreement and called for the Sheba,a Farms to be put under UN jurisdiction pending Syrian-Lebanese border demarcation. China, France, and others said they were dedicated to seeing Doha fully implemented and hoped that a government of national unity would quickly emerge. Amb Khalilzad called for full implementation of the Doha agreement and urged all parties to compromise in support of Siniora,s efforts to establish a national unity government. He said the U.S. was deeply concerned about recent act of violence and reiterated the need to implement UNSCR 1701 in full. Khalilzad