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.
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