Guidance: Middle East Consultations, September

UNCLAS STATE 095932 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNSC IS KPAL SUBJECT: Guidance: Middle East Consultations, September 17 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. USUN may draw from para 2 elements when making its intervention during the upcoming Middle East consultations in the Security Council on September 17. The Department may send follow- on instructions revising these elements, in order to capture the nuance of the evolving situation; Mission should be alert for these possible revisions. ¶2. (SBU) Begin elements: I thank Under Secretary-General Pascoe for his report. Advancing the cause of peace in the Middle East has been a major objective of the United States. President Obama has redoubled our commitment, seeking a comprehensive settlement, including peace between Israel and the Palestinians, Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon. We are working to create the context for a prompt resumption and early, successful conclusion of negotiations between the parties. I cannot overemphasize the importance of negotiations resuming as soon as possible. A comprehensive settlement must be based on the two-state solution, with Israel and an independent and viable Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security. We look forward to meeting with all of the parties, key members of the international community, and the Quartet in coming weeks to uphold our shared responsibility to advance this objective. The Quartet remains the most effective instrument for marshaling the international community's diplomatic efforts in support of Middle East peace. All parties have responsibilities to ensure progress. For Israel, President Obama continues to urge that settlement activity stop. As we noted on September 4, the United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement expansion. We know that the Secretary General shares these sentiments. We appreciate Israel's stated intent to place limits on settlements, and will continue to discuss this issue with Israel. The Palestinians also have responsibilities to create the environment for peace. These responsibilities include continuing to improve security, ending incitement, and dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism. They also include refraining from actions and speech that make negotiations more difficult, including support for one- sided criticism of Israel in international fora. As we approach the UN General Debate and 64th General Assembly, we call on our Palestinian colleagues to help us to create a healthier, less rhetorically-charged environment. We urge all Arab states to encourage progress in the spirit of the Arab Peace Initiative, and call on them to take steps towards building relations with Israel, including modulating harsh rhetoric in international organizations and other fora. Arab governments should support the Palestinian Authority under President Abbas, both politically and financially, thus helping to improve conditions for all Palestinians throughout the West Bank and Gaza. We are encouraged by recent calls in the region to assist the Palestinians in fulfilling their legitimate aspirations and for overcoming the animosities of the past. Israel has also begun to take steps to improve conditions for Palestinians. It has removed key checkpoints and eased conditions at others, and withdrawn troops to the outskirts of four cities. If sustained and expanded, this change should improve Palestinian freedom of movement, economic development, and overall quality of life. These steps should be duly noted and encouraged in the General Assembly's discussion of the Middle East this fall. The Palestinian Authority has also made progress. We welcome its development of a detailed, two-year plan to develop institutional capacity. We hope the plan will complement negotiations by ensuring that the institutions of Palestinian governance will be in place to support implementing a peace agreement. Palestinian progress on security is also welcome. Nearly 2000 security personnel have completed training in Jordan and are deployed in the West Bank, with another 500 in training. Along with efforts to promote the rule of law, this efforts helps demonstrate that Palestine will in the future be a viable and responsible state that serves its people and is a good neighbor to all states in the region. Unfortunately, Hamas' behavior continues to fall far short of the principles outlined by the Quartet: renunciation of violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements between the parties, including the Roadmap. These commitments are the bedrock of any negotiations and the only way to realize legitimate Palestinian aspirations for statehood. If Hamas wishes to play a constructive role, it will make clear that it accepts these principles. All UN members have a responsibility to prevent the illicit arms smuggling into Gaza, lest Hamas further restock its arsenal and spark another conflict. We support reopening crossings with an appropriate monitoring regime consistent with Resolution 1860 and based on the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access. Turning to Lebanon, we are deeply concerned about the attacks on Friday, September 11, which were a clear violation of the cessation of hostilities called for in UN Security Council resolution 1701. This incident, along with the explosion of the Hizballah weapons depot on July 14, highlight the urgent need to bring arms in Lebanon under control of the state and the need for the international community to remain fully committed to supporting UNIFIL and its mission. Regardless of the ultimate outcome of that investigation, we remain extremely concerned about the role that Hizballah is playing in Lebanon and its efforts to rearm in direct contravention of various Security Council resolutions. The group continues to pose a threat to peace and stability in Lebanon and the region. With patience and determination, we can assist all people in the region to realize the peace and stability they deserve. If raised (provided release of the Goldstone report to HRC members): As a member of the Human Rights Council, we have received a copy of Justice Goldstone?s report on the Gaza conflict. It is a lengthy report, and we will review it carefully. As we have stated previously, prior to U.S. membership, the UN's Human Rights Council set forth a one-sided and unacceptable mandate for this fact- finding investigation. We note Justice Goldstone has expressed his intent to cover abuses on all sides of this conflict in an impartial fashion. We also note that the Government of Israel is conducting its own investigations into actions in Gaza. End elements. CLINTON