UNSC: MULTIPLE DELEGATIONS, INCLUDING UK, CALL FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000967 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KPAL KWBG UNSC IS LE SY SUBJECT: UNSC: MULTIPLE DELEGATIONS, INCLUDING UK, CALL FOR COUNCIL ACTION ON MIDDLE EAST REF: STATE 112275 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) In his monthly briefing to the Security Council on the Middle East, Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Pascoe reviewed October 22 the series of meetings held in late September on the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. In terms of the West Bank, he noted the start of the olive harvest and referred to the Quartet's previous call for the enforcement of rule of law when dealing with settler violence towards Palestinian farmers. He specifically commented that there has been no progress on Israel's key Road Map and Annapolis commitments during the period. On Gaza, he said that the problems associated with the tunnels underscore the need for a sustained and orderly reopening of the crossings into Gaza. While there have been no further indirect Israeli-Syrian talks, he welcomed the Lebanese-Syrian agreement to re-establish diplomatic relations and the passage of the Lebanese electoral law. ¶2. (SBU) In Council consultations after the briefing, multiple delegations called for the Council to act on Middle East issues. The UK Perm Rep called for the Council to issue a statement of support, in the coming months, for the work that has been done on all peace tracks. The South African Perm Rep questioned the impartiality of the Quartet since it was not calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners, along with Israeli CPL Shalit, and had not specifically condemned the Israeli settler attacks against Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest. The majority of delegations welcomed both the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon's arrival in Beirut and the October 16 renewal of Lebanese-Syrian diplomatic relations. End summary. (Note: The full text of the U.S. remarks, as prepared for the meeting, is contained in reftel. End note.) U/SYG Pascoe Briefs Council -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In his October 22 briefing to the Security Council during a meeting on the Middle East, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe reviewed the series of meetings held in New York during the General Debate regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. (Note: Mission e-mailed the text of Pascoe's remarks to IO/UNP on October ¶22. End note.) He said the Quartet principals had welcomed the parties' suggestion to brief the Quartet on the negotiations at their next meeting, hopefully in the coming weeks. He noted that the Quartet had agreed that Spring 2009 would be an appropriate time for an international meeting in Moscow. During the Secretary General's September 26 iftar, he said the discussion had focused on how the Quartet members and the Arab representatives could work together in support of the "Israeli-Palestinian process, Palestinian reunification, and regional peace" and that it reaffirmed the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative. ¶4. (SBU) Pascoe highlighted the Israeli-Palestinian clashes over the past month, including the firing of tear gas at a civilian delegation that included a European Commission official and local Palestinian officials and NGO members. He cited the injuries to 19 Israelis when a Palestinian from East Jerusalem drove a car into a group of pedestrians and the communal clashes in Acre in Israel during and following Yom Kippur. Pascoe then turned to the start of the olive harvest and the concerns for the safety of Palestinian farmers harvesting their olive trees in the vicinity of settlements and outposts. He referenced Israeli Defense Minister Barak's denunciation of those attacking the olive pickers and Barak's statements that the IDF is attempting to protect Palestinian farmers but that it is impossible to guard all locations. Pascoe reiterated the Quartet's call "for the enforcement of the rule of law given continued settler violence against Palestinian citizens." ¶5. (SBU) Pascoe listed the number of obstacles to Palestinian movement in the West Bank at 630 for the period. Pascoe specifically commented, "There has been no progress in the reporting period on Israel's key Road Map and Annapolis commitments: that is, a genuine settlement freeze, removal of outposts, and opening of Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem." He noted continuing settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and said the Quartet's clear statement must be heeded. On Jerusalem, he said a majority of Palestinian Muslims were not able to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan because of access and permit restrictions, while a synagogue was opened by settlers in the USUN NEW Y 00000967 002 OF 003 Muslim Quarter of the Old City on October 12 under increased Israeli security presence. He said, "The Secretary-General continues to call for an end to unilateral action in Jerusalem and reminds all parties that the status of the city remains an issue for permanent status negotiations." ¶6. (SBU) On Gaza, Pascoe highlighted the deaths of 14 Palestinians as a result of collapses, closures, or accidents in tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, which he said is reportedly regulated by Hamas. He said this situation "underscores the importance of a sustained and orderly reopening of crossings into Gaza under the Palestinian Authority." After mentioning that the teachers' strike continues in Gaza, he said a student was declared clinically dead after falling three stories October 21 after an altercation involving a Hamas-appointed teacher. In terms of healthcare, he said the percentage of essential drug items now at the zero level in Gaza has jumped to 22 percent -- now double the level of items out of stock than in August when responsibility for delivering medical supplied to Gaza was transferred from WHO to the PA Health Ministry. He reiterated UN support for efforts to secure the release of Israeli CPL Gilad Shalit as well as a number of Palestinian prisoners. ¶7. (SBU) Turning north, he said there had been no further indirect Israeli-Syrian negotiations facilitated by Turkey over the last month. He highlighted the recent Lebanese-Syrian agreement providing for the establishment of diplomatic relations, and termed the Lebanese Parliament's passage of a new electoral law an important milestone in the implementation of the Doha agreement. He said that the first phase of rubble removal from the Nahr el-Bared Palestinian refugee camp began October 17 and should be completed in eight months, and that funding is urgently required by UNRWA to meet the camp's reconstruction costs and humanitarian needs. Pascoe termed the situation in UNIFIL's area of operations as tense but generally quiet, but he did highlight Israeli air violations averaging ten per day over the past month. He also announced that UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams began work October 1. Multiple delegations call for Council to act on Middle East issues -------------- ¶8. (SBU) In Security Council consultations immediately following Pascoe's briefing, multiple delegations honed in on Pascoe's statement that Israel had not made progress during the period on its key Road Map and Annapolis commitments. The Indonesian Perm Rep, speaking second after Libya, noted the Quartet's strong statement on settlements in September and said he hoped the Council would soon be able to speak "coherently and with one voice on this issue." (Separately, the Indonesian DPR told Ambassador Wolff they would like to see a product before they leave the Council.) The South African Perm Rep called for the Council to assist the parties in getting to their goal since the situation on the ground has not improved. While encouraging both sides to persist in negotiations, he said the Council should "do its part and not avoid its mandate." The Russian DPR said that the Council would need to discuss what could be done on this issue. The Costa Rican Perm Rep voiced concern with the Council's silence on this issue and said there was a need for a "statement on a collective security approach." The Burkina Faso DPR said that the Council needs to "make its own contribution, going beyond rhetoric." UK Perm Rep calls for Council statement of support for all peace tracks -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The UK Perm Rep said the three priorities for the period ahead were to (1) keep the process going through the upcoming political transitions and keep supporting Turkish-facilitated Israeli-Syrian talks; (2) improve the situation on the ground for Palestinians and cease settlement building; and (3) enhance regional engagement and support for the Arab Peace Initiative. He specifically noted that the UK was taking action against the importation of settlement goods. The UK Perm Rep said, "We must be prepared - at the right time - to express our united and strong support for the work that has been done on all peace tracks, and to demonstrate the Security Council's resolve to help deliver a comprehensive Middle East Peace. That is the challenge for us; when the time is right in the coming months we need to be prepared to meet it." The Belgian expert expressed the need to maintain the current momentum and not allow any backsliding by either of the parties. He said Belgium was ready to contribute to any initiative by the Council. The USUN NEW Y 00000967 003 OF 003 French Political Coordinator, in contrast, kept his remarks focused on Quartet efforts. He observed that it is a pivotal moment in the peace process; that France, as EU President, is prepared to be fully supportive of the process at the next Quartet meeting. He stressed that both parties need to be more resolute in achieving an agreement; that there must be a full freeze on settlement construction; and that trade restrictions with Gaza should be lifted. South Africa asks if the Quartet has acted impartially -------------- ¶10. (SBU) The South African Perm Rep raised whether the Quartet has acted impartially. On the issue of settlements, he said the Quartet had acted impartially. On the issue of Palestinian prisoners, he said the Quartet had not acted with impartiality since it only called for the release of Israeli CPL Shalit, not any of the Palestinian prisoners. In contrast, he referred to Pascoe's briefing and said Pascoe had properly highlighted both. The South African Perm Rep also said the Quartet had failed on the Israeli settler attacks against Palestinian farmers. He said the issue should not be "reduced to a rule of law issue" if Israeli settlers are the perpetrators and a terrorism issue when Palestinians are the perpetrators. Ambassador Wolff challenged the South African on this point during his intervention and noted that numerous UN conventions make a distinction between criminal acts and terrorist acts and we must bear this distinction in mind in our discussions. Lebanon -------------- ¶11. (SBU) The majority of delegations specifically welcomed both Michael Williams' arrival in Lebanon to assume his new position as UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the October 16 renewal of diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon. The Russian DPR specifically welcomed the October 16 renewal and said that the bilateral diplomatic path is always preferable. He explained that was why his delegation had abstained on UNSCR 1680. (Comment: UNSCR 1680, passed in May 2006, called for full implementation of UNSCR 1559 and strongly encouraged the Syrians to respond positively to the request by the Government of Lebanon to delineate their border with Lebanon and establish full diplomatic relations. We assume the Russian DPR wanted to stress Russia's preference for direct bilateral engagement over Security Council pressure. The Council will meet again on October 30 to discuss the Secretary General's report on the implementation of UNSCR 1559. End comment.) Comment -------------- ¶12. (SBU) We found this month's briefing by U/SYG Pascoe to be less balanced than usual and more critical of Israel. While efforts to form a new government have preoccupied Israeli political leaders during the last month and may have slowed some movement on the ground, neither Pascoe's nor most of the other interventions acknowledged this reality. Instead, Pascoe's message may have fed into the increasing calls by Council members for renewed Council engagement and action on the Middle East. Khalilzad