Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM1712
2009-09-22 14:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
PA HEALTH MINISTER ISSUES PRESS RELEASE ON
how-toVZCZCXRO1450 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #1712 2651453 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 221453Z SEP 09 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6121 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0185 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3190 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001712
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV MOPS ASEC PHUM KWBG KAWC IS
SUBJECT: PA HEALTH MINISTER ISSUES PRESS RELEASE ON
GOLDSTONE REPORT
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese
for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001712
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV MOPS ASEC PHUM KWBG KAWC IS
SUBJECT: PA HEALTH MINISTER ISSUES PRESS RELEASE ON
GOLDSTONE REPORT
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese
for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) On September 20, PA Health Minister Fathi Abu Mughni
issued a press release endorsing the recently-issued UN
fact-finding report authored by Judge Richard Goldstone. Abu
Mughni, according to the press release, called the report an
"explicit condemnation" of Israeli combat operations in the
Gaza Strip from December 2008 to January 2009, and called on
civil, humanitarian, and grassroots institutions to demand
the imposition of sanctions on Israel for "violations of
international law" and "war crimes." He also called upon the
Human Rights Council and UN Security Council to compel Israel
to "lift the seige" on the Gaza Strip, end occupation of the
Palestinian territories, and engage in genuine negotiations
with the Palestinians on the basis of the two-state principle.
2. (C) The Ministry of Health's press release is the first,
and so far the only, statement from the Palestinian Authority
regarding the Goldstone report since the text of the report
became public. Post has no information indicating that the
Minister's statement was approved by senior PA leadership,
nor is the Ministry of Health ordinarily involved in
disseminating official PA policy statements. The Consul
General has strongly criticized the substance and timing of
the press release in a conversation with PLO Chief Negotiator
Saeb Erekat. The need for PA restraint in public comments
about the report had previously been conveyed to both PA
President Abu Mazen and Erekat in Ramallah by Special Envoy
for Middle East Peace Mitchell and the CG on September 18.
MARCHESE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV MOPS ASEC PHUM KWBG KAWC IS
SUBJECT: PA HEALTH MINISTER ISSUES PRESS RELEASE ON
GOLDSTONE REPORT
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese
for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) On September 20, PA Health Minister Fathi Abu Mughni
issued a press release endorsing the recently-issued UN
fact-finding report authored by Judge Richard Goldstone. Abu
Mughni, according to the press release, called the report an
"explicit condemnation" of Israeli combat operations in the
Gaza Strip from December 2008 to January 2009, and called on
civil, humanitarian, and grassroots institutions to demand
the imposition of sanctions on Israel for "violations of
international law" and "war crimes." He also called upon the
Human Rights Council and UN Security Council to compel Israel
to "lift the seige" on the Gaza Strip, end occupation of the
Palestinian territories, and engage in genuine negotiations
with the Palestinians on the basis of the two-state principle.
2. (C) The Ministry of Health's press release is the first,
and so far the only, statement from the Palestinian Authority
regarding the Goldstone report since the text of the report
became public. Post has no information indicating that the
Minister's statement was approved by senior PA leadership,
nor is the Ministry of Health ordinarily involved in
disseminating official PA policy statements. The Consul
General has strongly criticized the substance and timing of
the press release in a conversation with PLO Chief Negotiator
Saeb Erekat. The need for PA restraint in public comments
about the report had previously been conveyed to both PA
President Abu Mazen and Erekat in Ramallah by Special Envoy
for Middle East Peace Mitchell and the CG on September 18.
MARCHESE