OIC OFFICIALS RECEIVE SECRETARY CLINTON'S LETTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000214 SIPDIS NEA/ARP, NEA/IPA,IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2014 TAGS: IS KISL KWBG OPDC PREL SA OIC SUBJECT: OIC OFFICIALS RECEIVE SECRETARY CLINTON'S LETTER BUT CALL ON USG TO PRESSURE ISRAEL REF: A. STATE 53763 ¶B. JEDDAH 0168 Classified By: CG Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On May 27 Consul General delivered Secretary Clinton's letter to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary General in response to his May 6 message urging pressure on Israel to end settlement expansion and home demolitions. While expressing appreciation for the Secretary,s response, OIC officials reiterated familiar call for USG "to exert more pressure" on Israel. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) READY TO WORK WITH OBAMA ADMINISTRATION: Consul General presented letter from Secretary Clinton (ref A) to OIC officials on May 27; the delivery of the Secretary's message was announced in May 30 OIC Newsletter. Letter was received by Ambassadors Ezzat K. Mufti, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs; Samir Baker, Director of Coordination with Palestine; and Tarig Ali Bakheet, Director for International Organizations of the OIC. Officials expressed thanks for the response to SYG Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu,s May 6 letter (ref B) regarding Israeli settlements and general satisfaction with the manner in which the Obama Administration is addressing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, conveying their impression that the President appears to be "very active and serious8 and they hoped "he will work to get benefits for both sides." Interlocutors added that SYG Ihsanoglu "stands ready to cooperate with the U.S." and hopes to play a role in bringing peace and stability to the region. Consul General agreed that Middle East peace is a major issue on the President's agenda, noting US position favoring a two-state solution. ¶3. (C) SETTLEMENTS: Ambassador Baker said the OIC was pleased with the Administration,s position on settlements, but asserted the familiar litany that the USG "must put more pressure on Israel to adhere to the regulations of previous agreements." Baker cited the order to demolish 1300 Palestinian homes as an example of Israeli defiance: "How many families are affected by this demolition. The situation is now clear on the issue of settlements. When Netanyahu visited Obama in Washington, there was an obvious gap with regard to where the President and Netanyahu are going." ¶4. (C) GAZA: Concerning the humanitarian situation in Gaza, OIC reps spoke at length about what they perceived as Israeli "overreaction." Ambassador Bakheet: "What happened in Gaza, in our assessment, was a crime against humanity." Bakheet claimed the Secretary General was "saddened" by the destruction witnessed in a recent visit to Gaza, adding that food, medicine and building supplies were not being allowed to enter the Gaza Strip. The attack and the subsequent blocking of assistance by Israel, he concluded, "is a clear sign that Israel only wants peace for itself." Consul General pointed up US efforts to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, noting that Hamas must stop the rocket attacks since any sovereign nation that has rockets fired against its civilian population cannot tolerate such attacks and will naturally respond. Hamas attacks on Israel have only the effect of eliciting strong retaliation while violence, as a tactic, is counterproductive. Representatives noted that the OIC has been directly involved in sending several well-publicized convoys of humanitarian assistance from Saudi Arabia to Gaza. ¶5. (C) OIC SEES ISRAELI ACTION RETARDING PROGRESS: Reviewing the themes of the Secretary's letter, the Consul General emphasized that the US urges Arab states to support the Palestinian Authority as it strives to improve life in the West Bank and Gaza, to work towards normalization with Israel, and to discourage parties that pursue violence and arms smuggling. In response, officials argued that despite the apparent disunity among Palestinians, they -- unlike the Israelis -- "have done much of what has been asked of them" under previous agreements. Baker claimed that the attack on Gaza has put OIC leaders under pressure to sever relations with Israel: "The way Israel is acting is the reason we are going backwards." Bakheet concurred: "Israel always paints itself as the victim, even though Hamas, missiles amounted only to one percent of the force used by Israel,s military in Gaza." He argued that if the new Israeli government continues with its "extremist policies" the peace process will not move forward. ¶6. (SBU) STATEMENT ON OIC WEBSITE: The OIC website carries an online statement (May 27) related to the letter received from the Secretary. The substantive portion of the release reads: "The US Secretary of State emphasized the US administration's keenness to carry through the peace process in the Middle East as a priority issue on the JEDDAH 00000214 002 OF 002 administration's agenda. Mrs. Clinton pointed out the importance of ensuring that all parties meet their obligations in keeping with existing agreements and the need to redouble efforts in a bid to resume the process of peace-making in the Middle East." ¶7. (C) COMMENT: Clearly the OIC will continue to attempt to engage us on regional issues as it wishes to elevate its status as a credible representative and moderating voice in the Islamic world. The Israeli-Palestinian issue was at the heart of the body's formation nearly 40 years ago, and will continue to be among the foremost causes that the OIC will take up in the foreseeable future. Organization leadership is trying hard to develop stronger, higher level contacts with the United States and may be willing to seek moderation among member states or advocate for a US-brokered peace process if it feels itself included or consulted in the process. Focused on elevating its status in the Muslim world, the OIC leadership would enjoy taking credit for progress related to resolving what it perceives as the fundamental regional conflict. END COMMENT. QUINN