Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK854
2009-09-23 21:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:  

UNSC: MONTHLY MEETING ON THE MIDDLE EAST SEPTEMBER

Tags:  PREL KHUM KBIO UN IS LE IV SO 
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OO RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUCNDT #0854/01 2662114
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 232114Z SEP 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7209
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000854 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KHUM KBIO UN IS LE IV SO
SUBJECT: UNSC: MONTHLY MEETING ON THE MIDDLE EAST SEPTEMBER
2009

REF: SECSTATE 95932

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000854

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KHUM KBIO UN IS LE IV SO
SUBJECT: UNSC: MONTHLY MEETING ON THE MIDDLE EAST SEPTEMBER
2009

REF: SECSTATE 95932


1. (SBU) Summary: UN Special Coordinator for the Peace
Process Robert Serry briefed the Security Council during its
monthly meeting on the Middle East on 17 September. He
focused on the prospects for a two-state solution to the
Israel-Palestinian conflict. Serry noted efforts aimed at
the development of a Palestinian state and the expected
Palestinian elections. He reported Israel's ongoing
settlement activity and 619 obstacles to movement in the West
Bank. Serry noted the release of the Goldstone report, to be
considered by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) on September
29 in Geneva. He also briefed on the rocket attacks from
Southern Lebanon on September 11 and the impasse in forming a
Lebanese government.


2. (SBU) Summary Continued: Amid praise for U.S. efforts to
bring Israel and the Palestinians back to negotiations, all
Council members expressed concerns over continuing Israeli
settlement activity. The Libyan PermRep said that it is
disappointing that progress on the peace process is no longer
about ending "Israeli occupation" but has been "reduced to
the issue of ending settlements." Members called for the
opening of crossings into Gaza, with many voicing concern
about the humanitarian situation given the lack of
reconstruction and the approach of winter. Most members
noted the release of the Goldstone report, but deferred
comment on the substance of the report until after the HRC's
review. Comments on Lebanon centered on support for efforts
to form a unity government and condemnation of the September
11 rocket attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon.
Ambassador Rice delivered the U.S. statement (reftel),
including comments on the Goldstone report. End summary.

--------------
Special Coordinators Briefing
--------------


3. (SBU) UN Special Coordinator for the Peace Process Robert
Serry briefed the Security Council during its monthly meeting
on the Middle East on 17 September. (Note: The full text of
the briefing can be found at:
http:www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/scact2009. htm) Serry said
that for Israel-Palestinian negotiations to work, both
parties must adhere to their Roadmap obligations and robust
third-party support would be helpful. He noted Israeli
Defense Minister Barak's authorization on September 7 of the

construction of 455 housing units in the West Bank, including
around Jerusalem, and the fact that the next day the Israel
Lands Administration accepted bids for construction of 486
apartments in Pisgat Zeev in East Jerusalem. Serry reminded
members that the Secretary General has called on Israel to
freeze all settlement activity including natural growth and
to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001. Serry drew
attention to the OCHA report of 619 obstacles to movement in
the West Bank, but commended the recent Government of Israel
(GOI) announcement of its intention to remove 100 earth
mounds. (Note: Not all of the earth mounds are counted as
obstacles to movement in the OCHA report.)


4. (SBU) Serry noted with concern a recent statement from
Hamas leader Meshal that Hamas continues to purchase,
manufacture, and smuggle weapons into Gaza. Serry called the
longer-term consequences of Israel's blockade of Gaza "deeply
worrying" and "un-sustainable," and noting the need for
immediate access for agricultural inputs, water and
sanitation equipment, materials for shelter repair, and
educational materials. He said that as efforts are made to
re-launch the peace process, the situation in Gaza cannot be
left to "further deteriorate and unravel." He briefed the
council that despite "extensive and constructive high-level
discussions with the Israeli government" on the proposal for
UN-led pilot reconstruction projects, there has been no
positive response from the GOI. He reported that the GOI
cites the continued detention of Gilad Shalit as the key
obstacle to allowing even limited civilian reconstruction.
Earlier in the briefing Serry called for the release of both
Shalit and a number of the 10,000 Palestinian prisoners held
by Israel.


5. (SBU) Recalling the Palestinian intention to complete
preparation for statehood in less than two years, Serry
called for support for those efforts including during the
September 22 Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting. He noted
President Abbas' intention, under Palestinian law, to decree
that Presidential and legislative elections be held in the
West Bank and Gaza in January 2010. Hamas has refused to
cooperate with these elections, stating that it will not
permit elections to be held in Gaza until an agreement on
national unity has been reached. Serry called for all

USUN NEW Y 00000854 002 OF 003


factions to engage in internal dialogue under Egyptian
auspices.


6. (SBU) Serry noted the release of the Goldstone report,
which will be formally presented to the Human Rights Council
(HRC) on September 29. He expressed his hope that Lebanon
can form a government quickly. He reported that on September
11 two rockets were launched against Israel from southern
Lebanon, a clear violation of UNSCR 1701, and that Israel
retaliated by launching 12 artillery shells. Serry also said
that UNIFIL shared its investigative report of the July 14
arms cache explosion in southern Lebanon with the two parties
on September 11.

--------------
Council Consultations: Peace Process and Gaza
--------------




7. (SBU) Council members then moved into
consultations. Austria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Japan, Mexico,
Russia, and the UK praised the involvement and efforts of
Special Envoy Mitchell to bring Israel and the Palestinians
back to negotiations. The Russian Federation and France
called for attention to the Lebanon and Syria tracks. The
Libyan PermRep said that it is disappointing that progress on
the peace process is no longer about ending "Israeli
occupation," but has been "reduced to the issue of ending
settlements." The Russian Deputy PermRep said that he still
hopes an international conference in Moscow will occur before
the end of the year; the French supported the conference as
an important step. Austria, France, Russia, and the UK all
noted the upcoming Quartet meeting on September 24. China,
Costa Rica, Croatia, France, and the UK mentioned steps that
regional Arab states could take to facilitate a return to
negotiations, as outlined in the Arab Peace Initiative (API).



8. (SBU) Austria, Burkina Faso, China, Costa Rica, Croatia,
France, Japan, Mexico, Russian Federation, Turkey, and Uganda
called for the opening of the Gaza crossings and commented on
the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The Chinese Deputy
PermRep urged full implementations of UNSC 1860, emphasizing
that eight months have already passed without full
implementation. France called for the release of Gilad
Shalit. The Libyan PermRep described Gaza as besieged and
noted that winter is coming and there has been no improvement
in the humanitarian situation.

--------------
Criticism of Settlements
--------------


9. (SBU) All council members expressed concerns over
continuing Israeli settlement activity. Croatia and France
both called settlements an "obstacle to peace." The Japanese
PermRep called for a settlement freeze in the West Bank and
Jerusalem, including on natural growth of existing
settlements. The Turkish Deputy PermRep said that expanding
settlement activities are contrary to international law and
fundamental human rights. The Mexican PermRep called the
approval of more than 400 new housing units "deplorable" and
said that East Jerusalem should be included in any settlement
freeze. The Vietnamese PermRep expressed "acute concern"
over settlements and called for the revocation of recent
Israeli approvals of new construction. The Russian Deputy
PermRep noted that new construction "does not lead to an
encouraging environment for mediation efforts."

--------------
Internal Palestinian Developments
--------------


10. (SBU) Japan and the UK praised Palestinian Prime Minister
Fayyad's efforts to develop the institutions of a functioning
state in two years time. The Croatian PermRep commended the
reversal of the downward economic trend in the West Bank, as
noted in a recent IMF report. Austria, China, Costa Rica,
Japan, France, Russia, Turkey, and Vietnam spoke of the need
for unity between Palestinians political factions. The
Turkish PermRep noted that it would be difficult for
Palestinians to engage in negotiations without unity and
welcomed upcoming Palestinian legislative elections. Costa
Rica, France, Russia, and Uganda praised Egypt's efforts to
mediate between Palestinian factions.

--------------
Goldstone
--------------

USUN NEW Y 00000854 003 OF 003




11. (SBU) The majority of members mentioned the Goldstone
report, but deferred comments on substance until after the
HRC review. The Libyan PermRep said that the HRC chose "a
Jew, a South African judge, and a man who had dealt with
these issues in Africa" to carry out the mandate to
investigate what happened in Gaza and that the report is
"balanced." The Libyan PermRep asked rhetorically "Will
Israel remain a state above the law?" The UK Deputy PermRep
noted that it is still "digesting" the report which raises
serious issues about the differentiation between combatants
and noncombatants by both parties. He added that the report
should first be considered by the HRC and should not distract
the parties from resuming negotiations. The Mexican PermRep
noted that peace will only be possible if all parties reject
violence against civilians and respect international
humanitarian law. The Austrian PermRep expressed full
support for the mandate of the fact-finding mission, and said
that the report must be taken seriously. The French PermRep
said that as a matter of principle, France calls for the
respect for international humanitarian law everywhere, at all
times, by all parties. Costa Rica, Croatia, and Russia said
they were reviewing the report and would follow-up with
additional comments after presentation to the HRC. Burkina
Faso, Croatia, Turkey, Uganda and Vietnam also noted the
Goldstone report, without substantive remarks.

--------------
Lebanon
--------------


12. (SBU) Austria, Burkina Faso, Croatia, France, Mexico,
and Vietnam condemned the September 11 rocket attacks against
Israel from Lebanese territory. The Chinese PermRep called
for all states to fully implement UNSC 1701. The French
PermRep noted that UNIFIL is already investigating the
incident in cooperation with Lebanese Armed Forces. The
Russian Deputy PermRep said Russia was pleased that events
did not lead to a more widespread disruption. Burkina Faso,
Costa Rica, Croatia, Turkey, Uganda, and Vietnam expressed
support for efforts to form a unity government in Lebanon.
The Libyan PermRep criticized the fact that a right wing
government in Israel is not criticized by the international
community, while Hizballah participation in a Lebanese
government is deemed "Islamist."

--------------
U.S. statement
--------------


13. (SBU) Ambassador Rice delivered the U.S. remarks
(reftel),including a comment on the Goldstone Report. Rice
said that the Goldstone Report should be handled at the HRC.
She expressed confidence that, "as a democracy, Israel has
the institutions to review the allegations about its
behavior."

--------------
Serry on Palestinian Elections
--------------


14. (SBU) Responding to requests from members for additional
details on the Palestinian political process, Serry said that
the Basic Law under which the Palestinian Authority operates
requires that new elections be announced in October for the
following January 2010. He noted that the new Egyptian
mediation package offers a compromise that includes elections
in the first six months on 2010, but that the proposal
requires a reply from all Palestinian political parties.
Serry said that it is clear that elections will have to take
place in both the West Bank and Gaza.
RICE