SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATION ON GAZA, JANUARY

UNCLAS STATE 005430 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PREL IS LE KPAL SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATION ON GAZA, JANUARY 21, 2009 ¶1. (U) This is an action message. USUN is authorized to draw from points in para 2 below in consultations on the Middle East scheduled for January 21, 2009. ¶2. (U) Talking points. -- I thank the Secretary General for his insightful briefing on the situation in Gaza and wish to register the deep appreciation of the United States for his untiring efforts in support of the implementation of Resolution 1860. We recognize as well the dedicated and courageous work carried out in Gaza by UN agencies, UNRWA in particular. -- The United States welcomes the cease-fire in Gaza and calls on all parties to act so as to protect the Palestinian and Israeli civilian populations as called for in Resolution ¶1860. -- We appreciate deeply the efforts of international and regional partners -- in particular the Government of Egypt -- in helping to bring about the restoration of calm. The United States supports Egypt's continued efforts towards a durable ceasefire, fully respected by all parties. -- The collective goal of the international community must be to achieve full implementation of resolution 1860. This entails: -- an end to all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism, including rocket and mortar attacks and any other form of terrorist attacks by Hamas and other elements from Gaza into Israel; -- the end of illicit smuggling of arms and ammunition into Gaza by Hamas and other armed groups, supported by intensified efforts by Member States to provide arrangements and guarantees, such as the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the United States and Israel; and -- the reopening of crossing points on the basis of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. -- We welcome the statement by the Government of Israel that it has fully withdrawn its forces from Gaza. -- The United States is profoundly concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and urges all parties to ensure the secure and continuous provision of humanitarian supplies to the innocent people of Gaza. -- In addition to the almost $600 million the United States provided in assistance to Palestinians last year -- including $185 million for UNRWA -- we sent an additional $85 million to UNRWA on December 30, in support of its General Fund and Gaza Flash Appeal, to help with the provision of food, temporary shelter and non-food items. -- In addition, since the beginning of the conflict, through USAID and its NGO partners on the ground in Gaza, the United States has provided millions of dollars for the procurement and delivery of food, medicine and other essentials. -- We urge all parties to work together, in coordination with President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority, so that future economic assistance from the international community will benefit all those in Gaza so terribly effected by the recent violence. -- Resolution of the situation in Gaza will require the restoration of legitimate Palestinian Authority control, and ultimately a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In this regard, we call for renewed efforts to realize the two-state solution, consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 1850, and the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. Lasting peace can only be based on an enduring commitment to mutual recognition, freedom from violence, incitement, and terror, and the two-State solution, building upon previous agreements and obligations. -- Finally, on a related issue, it is important that we credit efforts by the Government of Lebanon and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to ensure that the conflict in Gaza did not spread to other areas. Their response to rocket attacks launched on January 8 and 14 from Lebanese territory by terrorist elements -- attacks which we join the Lebanese government and the Secretary General in strongly condemning -- were timely and appropriate. -- However, the fact that such attacks could take place at all underscores that the Council not lose sight of the need for full implementation of Resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1701 (2006),even as we deal with the aftermath of fighting in Gaza. -- This will entail our continued support for the efforts of UNIFIL working in cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces; our strong support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally-recognized borders; an end to the smuggling of weapons across those borders so that there will be no weapons within Lebanon without the consent of its Government; and the disbanding and disarmament of all militia groups, including Hizballah and others, so that there will be no authority in Lebanon other than that of the Government. End talking points. BURNS