UNHRC GOLDSTONE ENDORSEMENT WELCOMED IN SAUDI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 001413

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP JHARRIS AND JBERNDT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SA
SUBJECT: UNHRC GOLDSTONE ENDORSEMENT WELCOMED IN SAUDI
ARABIA

REF: JEDDAH 215

RIYADH 00001413 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador James B. Smith for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) The U.N. Human Rights Council's endorsement of the
Goldstone Report was hailed as a major victory in Saudi
Arabia while the USG's decision to vote against the
resolution has left many Saudis questioning the USG's
commitment to the Middle East peace process and ability to
remain unbiased. Widespread media coverage and discussions
with SAG officials indicate that the SAG as well as the Saudi
public are discouraged and disappointed by the USG's vote.
However, key Saudi interlocutors have demonstrated a more
balanced approach to the Goldstone Report, believing that the
media frenzy surrounding the Report is likely doing more harm
than good.


SAG'S OFFICIAL RESPONSE
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2. (C) In an October 19 Cabinet meeting chaired by King
Abdullah, the Cabinet welcomed the adoption of the Goldstone
Report by the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) stating that
the adoption reflects the lack of legitimacy of Israeli
actions in the Palestinian territories. However, more than
one SAG official, including Saudi Permanent Representative to
the U.N., Ambassador Khalid al-Nafisee, asserted in an
October 16 meeting with former U.S. Charge d'Affaires Erdman
in New York that the SAG supported the Goldstone resolution
in deference to Arab League views. Talal al-Maleki, Director
of the Arab League Department at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA),expressed a similar view in a recent meeting
with Poloff although prior to the UNHRC endorsement, he
articulated a desire for the report to be considered by the
U.N. Security Council. Al-Nafisee, on the other hand,
claimed that if it had been up to him, he would have
recommended consideration of the report be confined to Geneva
and that periodically revisiting the issue and aggravating
Israel with it served no useful purpose.


UNBIASED DECISION?
--------------


3. (C) Although the SAG views the passing of the resolution
by a strong majority in the UNHRC as a major victory for a
unified Arab League organization, other Saudis' feelings of
disappointment and disillusionment with the USG's vote are
readily visible. In an October 20 meeting with Poloffs,
National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) President, Dr.
Mufleh al-Kahtani, questioned the motives of the USG in
opposing the resolution, indicating that he was not only very
disappointed but annoyed as well. He continued that the
USG's opposition to the resolution equates to direct support
for Israel and that enemies of the USG will gain support from
the USG's "pro-Israel" Goldstone vote. Echoing the feelings
of many Arabs who have "great expectations" of the Obama
administration since the Cairo speech (Reftel),al-Kahtani
believes that the "best chance for peace in the Middle East
is under this administration." He emphatically added that
the USG "must be stronger with the Israelis" if there is to
be peace in the Middle East. (Note: NSHR is a
quasi-governmental organization. There are no other
officially recognized human rights organizations in Saudi
Arabia. End Note).


4. (C) In an October 22 letter to the Ambassador published
in Al-Watan newspaper, an unidentified person described his
"extreme sadness and frustration," questioning how the USG
can promote human rights and then vote against the Goldstone
resolution. He continued by pointing out the hypocrisy he
sees in the USG's actions and asks, "How can you convince me
today to stand on the neutral side?" Articles and editorials
published in numerous newspapers, including the influential
Al-Riyadh and the conservative Al-Madina, echoed the same
sentiments as the Al-Watan letter - the vast majority arguing
that Israel should be held accountable for its actions, the
Palestinians need to unify their leadership, and that there
is widespread disappointment over the USG's vote.


5. (C) Al-Maleki also criticized Mahmoud Abbas for agreeing
to withdraw the UNHRC motion to review the commission's
findings, stating that Abbas made a tactical error, most
likely as the result of USG pressure on Abbas to withdraw the

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motion.


COMMENT
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6. (C) The SAG's reaction to the Goldstone Report and USG
resolution vote were both predictable and expected. The
USG's opposition to the Goldstone resolution has put a damper
on the high expectations held by many Saudis since the
President's Cairo speech. Although it appears that many
Saudis still view the USG's participation in the Middle East
peace process as essential to negotiating a two-state
solution, the post-Cairo speech honeymoon phase seems to be
coming to an end. It is interesting to note, however, that
although the issue of the Goldstone report came up in several
different meetings with Poloffs and was heavily covered by
the media, the issue was never raised by Foreign Minister
Saud al-Faisal in an October 17 meeting with the Ambassador.
Most likely, senior Saudi officials seemingly realize that
the best course of action is to move beyond the resolution as
quietly and quickly as possible.



SMITH