FRENCH RESPONSE TO GOLDSTONE REPORT DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001394 SIPDIS IO/RHS:KRAZZOUK AND CENAV IO/UNP:AMORRISON NEA/IPA:JGIAUQUE USUN/NY:ASCHEDLBAUER AND EGERMAIN US MISSION GENEVA:MCASSAYRE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2029 TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER KPAL IS FR SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO GOLDSTONE REPORT DEMARCHE REF: A. STATE 106423 ¶B. PARIS 1300 (NOTAL) Classified By: Kathleen Allegrone, Minister Counselor, reason 1.4, b and d. ¶1. (C) Poloffs discussed Ref A demarche on October 14 with MFA UN/IO officers Jean-Luc Delvert (human rights) and Frederic Jung (UNSC Middle East issues) who confirmed that France shares most of the U.S. perspective on the handling of the Goldstone report. Jung confirmed that France would likely raise Goldstone at the UNSC open session today, but within the context of a broad range of issues that need to be addressed, including progress on the peace process, the renewed violence in Lebanon, and the settlements in the West Bank. While the French officials agreed that strident positions on Goldstone could become an unfortunate hindrance to the peace process, if the report is handled in a productive manner it could actually help the broader negotiations and enhance confidence between the parties. France does not want the report's assessment of Palestinian actions downplayed and would like to see investigations by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, but recognizes that such steps are unlikely. At the same time, Jung said that France, and its EU partners, are delivering strong messages to Israel that it needs to broaden the scope of its current investigations and put in place the proper judicial procedures to assure that the serious and credible human rights issues raised in the report are addressed, citing, for example, proportionality, target selection, and inappropriate weapons. ¶2. (C) Regarding the handling of the report, France agrees that it should remain at the HRC in Geneva, but believes it will likely be raised at the General Assembly and perhaps again at the UNSC. Jung explained that France and the EU were prepared to abstain on the original resolution text, but are now waiting to review the Palestinians' revised text, which should be available "momentarily." France will consult with its European partners on the new text before deciding its stance, but it is unlikely, according to Jung, to be revised enough to garner support. It will more likely result in another vote of abstention if the text is not substantially different from the previous draft. RIVKIN