VZCZCXRO3117
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUCNDT #1088/01 1511340
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311340Z MAY 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9191
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001088 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC
SUBJECT: UNSC: MAY MIDDLE EAST BRIEFING 
 
 
¶1. Summary:  In the monthly briefing to the Security Council 
held May 24, U/SYG Ibrahim Gambari addressed the following 
subjects: developments on the Quartet's support for an EU 
funding mechanism for Palestinian assistance; the impact of 
Israeli closures, barrier construction and settlement 
activity; Hamas and Fatah intra-Palestinian conflict; and 
positive political signals about renewed negotiations between 
the parties.  Gambari also touched on the events in Lebanon, 
particularly the National Dialogue.  In their comments, 
Council members generally supported the Quartet funding 
mechanism, but differed on the details of its structure; 
stressed the need for the parties to resume direct 
negotiations; and expressed concern about the recent 
intra-Palestinian clashes.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. In a May 24 briefing to the Security Council on the 
situation in the Middle East, UN Under-Secretary-General for 
Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari focused on Quartet-led 
efforts to provide assistance to the Palestinian people to 
alleviate the deteriorating fiscal and humanitarian 
situation; the security situation, especially 
intra-Palestinian fighting and the impact of Israeli 
closures, barrier construction and settlement activity.  He 
cited the Quartet's May endorsement of a temporary 
international mechanism, limited in scope and duration and 
operating with full transparency and accountability, be 
developed by the EU, that would ensure direct delivery of 
assistance to the Palestinian people.  He also reminded the 
PA government that such international assistance did not 
relieve the PA government of its responsibilities, and 
recalled that the PA government had already received the 
important message from donor members of the Quartet that its 
commitment to the principles outlined by the Quartet would 
pave the way for the restoration of direct assistance. 
 
¶3. On security developments, Gambari noted that 
intra-Palestinian fighting, especially in Gaza, had reached 
"worrying proportions" and highlighted the clashes between 
Palestinian Authority police and the new Hamas-led security 
force, which President Abbas has declared illegal.  On 
movement and access, barrier and settlement issues, Gambari 
noted an increase in physical obstacles to movement in the 
West Bank, the April 26 Israeli announcement of its intention 
to complete the barrier around Jerusalem by the end of the 
year, and the Israeli Defense Ministry's recent authorization 
of expanded settlement construction. 
 
¶4. On positive political signals, Gambari recalled: 
 
 
-- the prospect of a Palestinian national dialogue, scheduled 
to begin May 25.  Gambari expressed hope that the dialogue 
would lead to a positive political consensus between 
Palestinian political actors on the road ahead; 
 
-- the May 4 presentation by Israeli Prime Minister Olmert of 
governing coalition guidelines that stated that the GOI would 
seek to shape its permanent borders" through negotiations and 
agreements with the Palestinians...."; and 
 
--  the recent meeting of President Abbas and Israeli Foreign 
Minister Livni at Sharm el Sheikh and the agreement for an 
Abbas-Olmert meeting. 
 
¶5. Gambari also noted Israeli Prime Minster Olmert's May 23 
meeting with President Bush, where the Prime Minister stated 
he intended to "exhaust every possibility to promote peace 
with the Palestinians." Gambari also cited President Bush's 
remarks that the best servant of peace was "a negotiated 
final status agreement" and that any such agreement could 
only be achieved on the basis of "mutually agreed changes." 
On Lebanon, Gambari reported that the sixth and seventh 
rounds of the National Dialogue had taken place with no 
agreement on the question of the Presidency, and the start of 
discussions of Hizballah's weapons and the development of a 
national defense strategy. 
 
 
SECURITY COUNCIL VIEWS 
---------------------- 
 
¶6. For the most part, Council members focused their comments 
on efforts to provide humanitarian assistance for the 
Palestinian people, the need for direct negotiations between 
Israel and the Palestinians, and the recent clashes between 
Fatah and Hamas. 
 
¶7. Council members called on Hamas to accept the January 30 
Quartet principles as a basis for resolving the conflict. 
They also expressed concern about the deteriorating 
humanitarian situation.  Many supported the May 9 Quartet 
 
USUN NEW Y 00001088  002 OF 002 
 
 
Statement endorsing the creation of a temporary international 
mechanism that would ensure direct delivery of assistance to 
the Palestinian people, and the EU's efforts in developing 
that mechanism.  Council members differed on the proposed 
mechanism's structure.  France said that the payment of 
salaries is necessary to maintain socio-economic balance. 
The UK argued that the mechanism should initially focus on 
health services; all agree the needs are pressing and this 
sector deserves support.  Ambassador Sanders stated that the 
U.S. looks forward to working closely with our Quartet 
partners in developing the mechanism; underscored our May 9 
announcement of $10 million in humanitarian aid to the 
Palestinian people; and emphasized that the U.S. is looking 
for additional ways to assist the Palestinian people.  Russia 
warned that a process of financially strangling Hamas could 
lead to the Palestinian government's collapse. 
 
¶8. Another common theme expressed by delegations was their 
desire for the parties to restart direct negotiations. 
Several delegations expressed concern over Israeli unilateral 
acts, such as barrier construction and settlement activities. 
 Russia criticized Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's 
convergence plan, asserting that the unilateral consolidation 
plan was "outside the peace process," arguing that the 
Israeli separation policy would not give Israel peace and 
security, and further predicting that any unilateral 
establishment of borders by Israel would not be given 
international recognition.  Ambassador Sanders stressed that 
a Palestinian Authority unable to prevent and punish 
terrorism cannot be considered a peace partner.  However, 
other countries (Russia, France and Argentina) said that 
Israel has a credible Palestinian partner to negotiate with 
in PA President Mahmoud Abbas.  Many members welcomed the May 
21 Abbas meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni 
and Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres on the margins of the 
World Economic Forum conference at Sharm El Sheikh, and said 
that they were encouraged by Prime Minister Olmert's 
statement in Washington expressing willingness to negotiate 
with the Palestinian Authority.  France stated that it 
believed the political process must be launched by bringing 
the Quartet back to the region, so that Olmert and Abbas 
could meet. 
 
¶9. Finally, many Council members expressed concern about the 
recent clashes between Fatah and Hamas.  France stated 
peaceful resolution of the clashes must be resolved by the 
Palestinians and that the international community must 
support the National Dialogue under the aegis of President 
Abbas to marginalize extremists.  The UK said that it would 
welcome one security force, but that actions on the matter 
"rest with the Palestinians."  Tanzania urged a more active 
response from the international community, stating that the 
Quartet needed to address the issue. 
BOLTON