Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10LONDON408
2010-02-23 12:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy London
Cable title:  

LONDON - GOLDSTONE DEMARCHE DELIVERED

Tags:  IO PHUM UNGA IS WB 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0858
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHLO #0408 0541234
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 231234Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5045
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000408 

NOFORN
SIPDIS

NEA/IPA FOR JEFF GIAQUE, IO FOR COURTNEY MUSSER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2020
TAGS: IO PHUM UNGA IS WB
SUBJECT: LONDON - GOLDSTONE DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: A. REF A STATE 15722

B. REF B 09 LONDON 2638

Classified By: Political Counselor Greg Berry for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000408

NOFORN
SIPDIS

NEA/IPA FOR JEFF GIAQUE, IO FOR COURTNEY MUSSER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2020
TAGS: IO PHUM UNGA IS WB
SUBJECT: LONDON - GOLDSTONE DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: A. REF A STATE 15722

B. REF B 09 LONDON 2638

Classified By: Political Counselor Greg Berry for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)


1. (C) Summary: Poloff demarched FCO's Levant Team Leader
Nishi Dholakia and MENA UN Issues Desk Officer Colin McDonald
on February 22 using points provided ref A. Dholakia
indicated that the UK's final position on the text was
dependent on the outcome of an EU coordination meeting later
that day and the willingness of the Palestinian delegation to
make any EU required changes to the text. While the UK
would "likely be forced to abstain" on the draft in its
current form, Dholakia was cautiously optimistic that the end
result would be something the UK would be able to support.
Dholakia viewed the current draft as "relatively moderate"
and while sharing USG concern over not wanting to do anything
that might be counterproductive to getting the two parties to
the negotiating table, argued that there was a need to "keep
up the pressure" on Israeli PM Netanyahu. End summary.

EU Coordination Remains Priority
--------------


2. (C) Poloff demarched FCO's Levant Team Leader Nishi
Dholakia and MENA UN Issues Desk Officer Colin McDonald on
February 22 using points provided ref A. Similar to the
FCO's position on the last demarche on this issue (ref B),
Dholakia stressed that finding a common EU position remained
a top priority. To that end, EU missions were planning a
working-level coordination meeting later that afternoon to
discuss the issue. London had instructed their mission in
New York (UKUN) to approach the meeting with an "open mind."
While he saw a few "issues" with the text, overall, Dholakia
reasoned that in comparison to other Arab-supported texts
circulated previously on similar issues that this particular
text was relatively "moderate" and lacked the "usual level of
inflammatory language." FCO shares USG concerns regarding
the Swiss conference. With regard to the reference in PP2 to
East Jerusalem as part of the Occupied Territory, Dholakia
viewed this as simply a "statement of fact" and one that is
in keeping with previous EU statements. While he didn't
believe that the reference needed to be there, the UK
certainly would not be leading an effort to have it removed
from the text.

Keeping Up the Pressure
--------------


3. (C) In response to points raised reftel, Dholakia
understood and shared USG concerns about not wanting to do
anything that might harm the prospects for getting the two
parties back into negotiations. While he agreed that
additional resolutions on Goldstone weren't particularly
constructive, Dholakia noted that this concern must also be
balanced by a concern that Netanyahu "only acts when
pressured" -- when "too comfortable," he (Netanyahu) can be
"quite unhelpful." Dholakia readily agreed on the capability
of Israel's domestic accountability. However, the UK
position has been and remains that Israel should undertake an
independent inquiry into Operation Cast Lead. It is not
simply a question of the individual incidents, but rather the
"wider policy" that is in "need of more attention."

Finding an Agreeable Text
--------------


4. (C) Dholakia said that in the text's current form the UK
would likely abstain -- at least that would be the
recommendation put to Foreign Secretary Miliband, who would
make the ultimate decision. However, if the EU could find a
common position on a few changes, particularly in OP4 and
OP5, and the Palestinian delegation was able to agree to the
changes, than Dholakia's team would recommend that Miliband
instruct UKUN to vote in favor of the text.

Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom

SUSMAN