SETTLEMENTS UNSCR: ARABS PUT TEXT IN BLUE FOR VOTE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000595 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT PLEASE PASS TO IO AND NEA FRONT OFFICES E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2018 TAGS: PREL PTER KWBG KPAL UNSC PA IS SUBJECT: SETTLEMENTS UNSCR: ARABS PUT TEXT IN BLUE FOR VOTE LATEST ON JULY 11 REF: USUN 590 Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay M. Khalilzad, per 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Following the July 2 UNSC experts meeting on the Arab draft resolution condemning Israeli settlements (reftel),the Arab Group decided on July 3 to put their draft text in blue on July 7 and call for a vote latest on July 11. The Arabs also decided to keep the focus of the resolution on settlements and entertain only "general" amendments on the peace process (rejecting specific language on Palestinian obligations on security or on attacks against civilians, for example). Jordanian diplomats here report that the Saudis remained silent during the Arab discussion. The Syrians, anticipating that the U.S. would propose an alternate text addressing the entire Middle East peace process and diluting the focus on settlements, reportedly argued for quick action on the Arab draft resolution. Separately, the French Mission told USUN on July 3 that Paris remained opposed to tabling an alternate P-3 text on the Israeli-Palestinian issue (reftel), due to concerns that French support for such a resolution could complicate Arab or Israeli participation in the July 13-14 Euro-Med summit in Paris, although Paris had yet to learn of the Arab decision to put the text in blue when it issued those instructions. ¶2. (SBU) Amb Khalilzad urged Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Adel al-Jubeir on July 3 to revisit the Arab Group decision and convince the Arabs to either delay action on the settlements text for now or engage the U.S. on a comprehensive resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Al-Jubeir agreed to discuss the issue with King Abdullah on July 6 and report back on July 7. Amb Khalilzad also spoke with the UK Ambassador Sawers, who said the UK would abstain if the Arabs put their resolution to a vote, but remains inclined to see if the P-3 and Arabs can reach agreement on a consensus resolution. The British are also willing to table an alternate U.S./UK draft or P-3 draft (if the French agree) in an effort to draw support away from the Arab resolution and avoid a U.S. veto. Amb Khalilzad plans to convene a P-3 meeting at 11 am on July 7 to discuss the way forward. Amb Khalilzad will also meet with the Arab Group immediately after the P-3 discussion to urge the Arabs to engage in negotiations with the U.S. on a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian resolution. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: The Arabs first approached Amb Khalilzad on June 16 to discuss their draft resolution. USUN was able to delay for three weeks by saying the U.S. was prepared to engage but the timing of the resolution was wrong. We can clearly no longer use that argument. In order to forestall a vote on the Arab resolution, which we expect would currently receive support from at least 10 delegations and therefore force a U.S. veto, we now have two options: -- Convince the Arab Group to withdraw its text and engage in negotiations with the U.S. on a comprehensive resolution. USUN requests the Department issue high-level demarches to Arab capitals as soon as possible to this effect. -- Propose an alternate text. By doing so, we could try to draw at least seven countries away from supporting the Arab draft, thereby denying the Arabs the nine votes needed to force a U.S. veto. But the Arabs could also eventually agree to our alternate text, which would mean the Council would adopt a resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian issue for the first time since 2003 (UNSCR 1515). ¶4. (C) COMMENT: If option two above proves necessary, USUN plans to seek elements in the Security Council based on the text below (which was previously cleared by the Department, with the addition of PP 7 welcoming recent regional diplomatic initiatives),unless we receive authoritative instructions to the contrary: Recalling its previous relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 242 (1962),338 (1973),1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003) as well as the Quartet Performance-based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict issued on 30 April 2003 (S/2203/529), Reaffirming its commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, negotiated between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Expressing its continued support for efforts to restore calm to Gaza and southern Israel and welcoming the period of calm that began on 19 June 2008, USUN NEW Y 00000595 002 OF 002 Underscoring its dismay at the rocket attacks launched against civilians in southern Israel since 19 June 2008, noting the condemnation of these attacks by the Palestinian Authority, and urging that the calm be respected in full, While recognizing the right of States to self-defense, emphasizing the imperative to ensure that any military response is proportionate and in compliance with international law, Reiterating the importance of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on all its relevant resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference and the principle of land for peace, and stressing the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative, Welcoming recent diplomatic initiatives aimed at realizing this goal, including Syrian-Israeli peace negotiations and the agreement to resolve humanitarian issues between Israel and Lebanon, and encouraging further progress on these attacks, ¶1. Welcomes progress made in negotiations by Israel and the Palestinian Authority aimed at realizing the shared goal of an agreement on the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of 2008, and calls upon the parties to continue to make every effort to realize that goal; ¶2. Calls upon both sides to fulfill their obligations under the Roadmap and to refrain from any steps which could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations; ¶3. Condemns all attacks targeting civilians and calls for a permanent end to these attacks and the dismantlement of terrorist infrastructure; ¶4. Expressing its deep concern at continuing settlement activity and calls upon Israel to freeze all settlement activity including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001: ¶5. Underscores the urgent need for more visible progress on the ground in order to build confidence and support progress in the negotiations launched at Annapolis, Maryland on 27 November 2007; ¶6. Calls upon the Palestinian Authority to fulfill its commitment to fight terrorism and to accelerate steps to rebuild and refocus its security apparatus, welcomes the progressive transfer of security responsibilities from Israel to the Palestinian Authority to increase cooperation in that respect and to facilitate delivery of security assistance to the Palestinian Authority; ¶7. Calls on all regional states to cut off public and private funding and all other forms of support for groups supporting and engaging in violence and terrorism; ¶8. Underscores concern about humanitarian conditions in Gaza and southern Israel and, in this regard, welcomes Egyptian efforts to restore calm in a manner that would provide security to all Palestinians and Israelis, ensure the controlled and sustained opening of the Gaza crossings for humanitarian reasons and commercial flows, support the legitimate PA government, and work towards conditions that would permit implementation of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access; ¶9. Calls upon states, international organizations, and specialized agencies in a position to continue to assist in the development of the Palestinian economy, to maximize the resources available to the Palestinian Authority, and to contribute to the Palestinian institution-building programme in preparation for statehood, as well as to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians; ¶10. Decides to remain seized of the matter. Khalilzad