AMBASSADOR RICE'S MEETING WITH PALESTINIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000074 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2019 TAGS: KPAL PREL PGOV UN IS SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE'S MEETING WITH PALESTINIAN OBSERVER MISSION REPRESENTATIVE MANSOUR Classified By: Ambassador Susan Rice for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Head of the Palestinian Observer Mission Riyad Mansour used his January 28 introductory meeting with Ambassador Rice to urge renewed USG engagement with the UN. He said the Palestinian Mission is interested in building consensus for UN actions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and encouraged the U.S. to change its voting position on the UNGA Fourth Committee resolutions dealing with Israel. Mansour said Israeli actions in Gaza must be investigated and that Palestinian lawyers will then consider "legal options," but said he was unsure if this would reach either the Security Council or General Assembly. Mansour stressed the need for opening of the Gaza border crossings; said he had heard there might be a more permanent ceasefire agreement reached by February 5; and urged stronger U.S. support for the Arab Peace Initiative. End Summary. Hopes for U.S. Engagement with the UN -------------- ¶2. (C) Head of the Palestinian Observer Mission to the UN Riyad Mansour opened his January 28 introductory meeting with Ambassador Rice by noting high expectations for the new Administration with regard to renewed engagement with and respect for the UN and other multi-lateral forums. Ambassador Rice reaffirmed the Administration's commitment to cooperative, multilateral solutions and to engaging early on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as evidenced by the appointment of Senator George Mitchell as special envoy. Work in New York should reinforce the USG's larger efforts on the peace process and the U.S. is eager to work with the Palestinians here towards that goal, Rice said, and encouraged Mansour to consult closely with us on any proposed action in the General Assembly or Security Council. ¶3. (C) Mansour pushed for the U.S. to change its voting position on the raft of GA Fourth Committee resolutions relating to Israel, arguing that American nays or abstentions on these issues "don't make sense except that you don't want Israel to be by itself, which isn't enough of a reason." He then offered a selective explanation of some of the resolutions, describing them as simply supporting international humanitarian law and expressing his incomprehension at the U.S. lack of support for such ;resolutions. The Situation in Gaza -------------- ¶4. (C) Turning to the current situation in Gaza, Mansour said the Palestinian Mission wants to build consensus for UN actions, and is not interested in pursuing an extreme agenda at the expense of the people of Gaza. He pointed to UNGA resolution resulting from the January 15-16 General Assembly Emergency Session on Gaza as an example of the Palestinians pushing for a moderate outcome that was endorsed by a broad range of UN member states. Mansour said that Israeli actions in Gaza must be investigated, adding that the Council on Human Rights is dispatching at investigation team to Gaza. Palestinian lawyers will consider "legal options" once information has been collected, he continued, and will determine how to proceed, the goal being to "stop the killing of civilians on such a large scale." Mansour noted that he was unsure whether this would reach either the Security Council or General Assembly. Ambassador Rice urged Mansour to refrain from unproductive actions and to stay in close touch with the U.S. delegation. ¶5. (C) Mansour said he believes there are enough UN agencies on the ground in Gaza now to handle initial humanitarian needs, but problems will arise as reconstruction begins. He also pushed for the border crossings on the Israeli side to be opened for humanitarian supplies. Mansour noted that Egypt is hosting a donor meeting in Cairo on February 28, and acknowledged the problem of ensuring that aid money does not fall into the hands of Hamas. ¶6. (C) Mansour said he understood that a more permanent ceasefire agreement might be reached by February 5, one that would enshrine a sustained ceasefire for a year or eighteen months. However, he said, Israel is bringing captured soldier Gilad Shalit into the picture and Mansour doubted that there would be agreement on his release. Opening of the border crossing must be a key component, Mansour said, and the Palestinians would favor UN forces in Gaza to monitor the crossings, but that would require time to arrange. The Peace Process -------------- USUN NEW Y 00000074 002 OF 002 ¶7. (C) On overall prospects for peace, Mansour said, "We must put the Palestinian house in order" and stressed the need for intra-Palestinian reconciliation and a "unified government acceptable to all parties" that could supervise reconstruction, security and other needs in Gaza and which would be ready to move into political negotiations. He made a plea for a freeze on Israeli settlement activities, saying that the Palestinian Authority must be able to "show the Palestinian people that the peace process is producing results, otherwise the popularity of President Abbas erodes and Hamas claims victory because negotiations haven't produced anything." He urged the U.S. to show more interest in and stronger backing for the Arab Peace Initiative, and said that when things move in a positive direction on the negotiation front the Palestinians will reflect that in the UN, and vice versa. Rice