Guidance: Middle East Consultations, February 18

UNCLAS STATE 014003 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNSC IS LE KPAL SUBJECT: Guidance: Middle East Consultations, February 18 ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request. USUN may draw from para two elements when making its intervention during Middle East consultations in the Security Council on February 18. ¶2. (U) Begin elements: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you Under Secretary-General Pascoe for your briefing. The United States' commitment to the goal of comprehensive peace in the Middle East remains strong and unwavering. The resumption of negotiations toward a two-state solution is the only realistic way forward. We encourage the international community, especially members of this Council, to support this goal, and to underscore it publicly, with the parties, and in their diplomacy with all states in the region. Only through good-faith negotiations can the parties mutually agree on an outcome that ends the conflict and reconciles the Palestinian goal of an independent and viable state based on the 1967 lines, with agreed swaps, and the Israeli goal of a Jewish state with secure and recognized borders that reflect subsequent developments and meet Israeli security requirements. Secretary Clinton consulted with Quartet representative Tony Blair last week and, as you know, announced that, consistent with Prime Minister Fayyad's plan for a future Palestinian state, Blair will intensify his partnership with Special Envoy Mitchell in support of political negotiations. With full support from and coordination with Special Envoy Mitchell, Tony Blair will continue to mobilize the efforts of the international community: to build support for the institutional capacity and governance of a future Palestinian State, including on the rule of law; to improve freedom of movement and access for Palestinians; to encourage further private sector investment; and to bring change in the living conditions of the people in Gaza. Also last week, Special Envoy Mitchell consulted with the Secretary-General on his efforts. He will return to the region in the near future. The Quartet has long called on all parties to uphold their Roadmap obligations. We renew this call. A freeze on settlement activity is an Israeli obligation under the Roadmap; we do not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. That said, we also believe that the settlement moratorium declared by the Israeli government is a significant step that could have a meaningful effect on the ground. All permanent status issues, including the status of Jerusalem, should be resolved through negotiations. We disagree with some Israeli actions in Jerusalem affecting Palestinians in areas such as housing, including the continuing evictions and demolitions of Palestinian homes. At the same time, we call on the Palestinian Authority to fulfill its Roadmap obligations to ensure security, reform its institutions of governance, and act decisively to prevent incitement. In addition, the Palestinian Authority should continue to take all measures to create a positive climate for negotiations to end this climate. We call on Israel to reopen its border crossings with Gaza, with appropriate monitoring to address security concerns. This would allow for greater movement of people and humanitarian and reconstruction materials, consistent with Resolution 1860 and the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access, thus alleviating the hardship and stress that civilians in Gaza face. Hamas continues to refuse to accept the Quartet principles that are the building blocks of an independent Palestinian state: renouncing violence, recognizing Israel, and accepting previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap. It continues to choose hateful rhetoric and violence over showing any interest in contributing to building a future for the Palestinian people. We remain concerned about Hamas interference with international efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance in Gaza, continued arms smuggling, and the launching of terrorist attacks against Israel. And we call for the immediate release of Gilad Shalit, abducted and held by Hamas since 2006. With respect to the Secretary-General's report on Follow-up to the report of the United Nations Fact- Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, we note that Israel and the Palestinian Authority are taking steps to investigate alleged violations. In light of this, additional UN action is not required, and inappropriate action would be counter-productive. Hamas is a terrorist organization, and it has neither the ability nor the willingness to examine credibly its deliberate and repeated violations of humanitarian law. Let me conclude by turning to the situation to the north. We call upon all parties to fulfill the provisions of this Council's Resolutions 1559, 1680 and 1701. We also are concerned by escalating rhetoric by politicians in the region. As members of the Security Council, we must lead the way in setting a constructive example. Bellicose rhetoric by any side will not advance our shared goal of achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East. End elements. CLINTON