OIC SECRETARY GENERAL LETTER TO SECRETARY CLINTON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000168

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, IO, S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KISL KPAL WBG SA
SUBJECT: OIC SECRETARY GENERAL LETTER TO SECRETARY CLINTON
URGING PRESSURE ON ISRAEL TO END SETTLEMENT EXPANSION AND
HOME DEMOLITIONS; OIC SENDS AID CONVOY TO GAZA

JEDDAH 00000168 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Post received a letter from OIC Secretary
General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu to Secretary Clinton voicing
strong concerns over increased Israeli settlement activities
as well as the demolition of Palestinian houses. Letter asks
the United States to place pressure on Israel to cease the
above activities. Meanwhile, the OIC has just announced a
third major aid convoy to Gaza with clear support from the
Saudi Arabian Government. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Post received by fax the following letter from OIC
Secretary General Ihsanoglu to Secretary Clinton dated May 6,
2009:

COVER MESSAGE BEGIN TEXT

The General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference presents its compliments to the Consulate General
of the United States of America in Jeddah and has the honour
to enclose herewith letter No. OIC/PAL - 02/08/2009/002927
dated 06 May 2009, addressed to Her Excellency Hillary Rodham
Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States of America,
by Mr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference, for onward
transmission to its high addressee.

The General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the
Consulate General of the United States of America the
assurances of its highest consideration.

Encl: As stated above

COVER MESSAGE END TEXT


3. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER

Excellency,

Please allow me at the outset to express my confidence that
your dedication and determination to make the change
envisaged by the new US Administration will help you achieve
brilliant success in your mission. The peoples of the Middle
East and the Muslim World at large pin genuine hopes on the
new Administration and believe that your direct and
constructive engagement in the peace process would bring
about positive results towards reaching everlasting and
comprehensive settlement of the thorny Arab-Israeli conflict.

Nevertheless, the hopes of the nations in the regions are
challenged by serious concerns over the ongoing developments
in East Jerusalem especially the Israeli settlement
activities which have manifestly escalated during the past
few months. Of special concern for the Organization of the
Islamic Conference and its 57 member states have been the
massive settlement construction and expansion in addition to
the large-scale home demolition of Palestinian-owned
buildings which seek to de-populate East Jerusalem of its
indigenous Palestinian inhabitants while at the same time
bring more Israeli settlers to the occupied City.

The Israeli act of demolishing Palestinian homes in occupied
East Jerusalem is a systematic violation of the relevant
provisions of international law, particularly the Fourth
Geneva Convention, and relevant United Nations resolutions.
In addition to its illegal nature, Israel's plan has harmful
consequences for peace and security in the region. I do
believe that these acts violate the principles of the Middle
East Peace Process, unilaterally prejudice the future of East
Jerusalem and jeopardize the prospects of the two-state
solution, not to mention putting at stake international
efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.

There is no doubt that when President Obama and yourself are
exerting strenuous efforts to emphasize justice and
lawfulness as components of the new US foreign policy, and
when you are laying the ground for a new partnership and
engagement with the Islamic World, continuation of these
illegal settlement activities in the Occupied East Jerusalem
in violation of international law and peace commitments will
not help achieve our ultimate and common goal of peace and

JEDDAH 00000168 002.2 OF 002


security. Therefore, I would like to call upon you to use
your good offices to bring pressure to bear on the Israeli
government to stop its settlement activities, halt its plan
to demolish Palestinian homes and to refrain from carrying
out such illegal acts. I avail myself of this opportunity to
renew to Your Excellency my highest consideration.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu

In handwriting: with my cordial sentiments and best regards

END TEXT OF LETTER


3. (SBU) OIC SENDS AID CONVOY TO GAZA WITH SAG SUPPORT: The
OIC has launched an aid convoy to Gaza consisting of
medicine, equipment, food, clothing and other items. On May 6
a ceremony was held in Jeddah to mark the launch of a
humanitarian convoy and was presided over by Governor of
Jeddah, H.R.H. Prince Mish'al bin Majed bin Abdul Aziz on
behalf of H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Governor of the
Mecca Region. Chairman of the JCCI, Sheikh Mohammed
Abdulqader Alfadel, was among several hundred attending the
event. According to the OIC website, this is the third
humanitarian convoy dispatched to Gaza by the OIC since
hostilities began late last year. This latest shipment
consists of over 43 truckloads. OIC wesbite notes a plan to
hold a forthcoming conference in Riyadh with the objective of
raising more than 100 million dollars.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: OIC officials hope to send a high level
delegation to visit the U.S. this summer. It is likely that
the issues raised in the letter will be on their agenda.
Post will continue to monitor OIC response to regional
events. END COMMENT.
QUINN