GOLDSTONE FOLLOW-UP: NO GOI DECISION ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000105 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2020 TAGS: PREL PHUM UN KWBG IS SUBJECT: GOLDSTONE FOLLOW-UP: NO GOI DECISION ON INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno, Reason 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) PolCouns called on MFA Deputy Director for UN and IO Affairs Eviatar Manor January 18 to review Israeli positions in advance of U.S.-Israeli IO consultations in Washington this week. Manor, who will head the Israeli delegation, said that while there is broad acceptance, including by the IDF, of the concept of some kind of independent review of the IDF's investigations of alleged violations of international humanitarian law during Operation Cast Lead, there are still disagreements about this body's mandate. Manor noted that the question of the composition of the independent body is a "derivative" of the mandate issue, since various prominent Israeli legal experts have not been willing to commit to participating in the body until the mandate is clarified. Discussions continue at the highest levels of the GOI and IDF, but no decisions have been made. PolCouns stressed U.S. support for the formation of some kind of independent review, but noted that the decisions about mandate and composition must be made by Israel. ¶2. (C) Regarding the Israeli report to UNSYG Ban, Manor said Israel will submit its report by the January 29 deadline. The Israelis expect that Ban will "cut and paste" information in order to answer the question to the SYG posed by the UNGA resolution on the Goldstone Report. Manor said Israel does not intend to respond to Ban's letter, but will pass relevant information about the status of Israel's investigations. Manor commented that the SYG's staff is aware of this approach and has not objected. The Israeli "file" will not be extensive but will respond to the SYG's request. ¶3. (C) Manor said the Israeli delegation is looking forward to their discussions in Washington and will be open to U.S. ideas. They are also looking forward to a second day of dialogue on broader UN issues. CUNNINGHAM