UNRWA AT 60 DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001195 SIPDIS PASS TO PRM/ANE RAMGOOLIE IO/RHS ENAV IO/UNP MORRISON EUR/ORA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2019 TAGS: PREF PREL UNGA KPAL FR SUBJECT: UNRWA AT 60 DEMARCHE REF: STATE 90251 Classified By: Acting Pol M/C Andrew Young for Reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) On August 31, poloff delivered talking points to MFA Deputy Middle East DAS Frederic Bereyziat, per reftel. Bereyziat was confident France would approve the Government of Israel's (GOI) request to speak at the UNRWA meeting on September 24. He was adamant that Israel needed to re-engage with the UN to speak specifically about Gaza and that the UNRWA meeting would be an opportunity at confidence building between the three parties. ¶2. (C) Bereyziat inquired about the subject of the GOI's proposed speech. He opined that it would be a follow up to a meeting on the margins of the June G-8 meeting in which Bereyziat said the GOI offered to allow aid shipments to be transported into Gaza -- including those of the UN. He added that the Israeli "blockade" of Gaza prevented the performance of several UN projects and he expected a significant announcement by the GOI regarding the flow of money and materials into Gaza. In closing, Bereyziat asked poloff to provide any updated information that becomes available on the subject of the GOI's speech and he added that such information would strengthen France's argument for supporting Israel's participation in the event. RIVKIN