VZCZCXRO8883
OO RUEHBC RUEHBZ RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUCNDT #0062/01 0252333
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 252333Z JAN 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1201
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000062 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC
SUBJECT: UNSC: JANUARY MIDDLE EAST BRIEFING 
 
REF: STATE 09311 
 
. Summary: In the monthly briefing to the Security Council on 
the situation in the Middle East, U/SYG Ibrahim Gambari 
welcomed recent political initiatives but observed "none of 
us can afford another year like the last one in Lebanon and 
the Middle East."  Council members applauded Secretary Rice's 
most recent Middle East visit, conveyed high expectations for 
the February 2 Quartet meeting, expressed support for the 
current Paris III conference, and urged all Lebanese factions 
to refrain from violence and return to dialogue.  France 
called for an expansion of the Quartet to include key 
regional actors and, supported by Russia, the organization of 
an international conference.  Qatar said that the concept of 
an interim Palestinian State with provisional borders is 
unacceptable and unilateral.  Indonesia said the impasse in 
resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires "an 
unprecedented step by all."  Slovakia, slated to be President 
of the Council in February, announced the Council would hold 
an open debate on the Middle East following the Quartet 
meeting. End Summary. 
 
Heightened Insecurity, Renewed International Urgency 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶2. In his January 25 "Briefing to the Security Council on the 
Situation in the Middle East," Under Secretary-General for 
Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari characterized events since 
the December report as "a period of heightened levels of 
insecurity and suffering, combined with a renewed sense of 
international urgency to find a political way ahead..." 
Gambari noted, however, "that the evolving 
Israeli-Palestinian dialogue is complicated by the internal 
political situation in both the occupied Palestinian 
territories and Israel." 
 
¶3. On specific Israeli-Palestinian developments during the 
period, Gambari reported that the cease-fire agreed to at the 
end of November in Gaza remains place and has significantly 
reduced violence, although the cease-fire has not been 
extended to the West Bank.  He also cited the December 
Abbas/Olmert agreement to resume the work of the 
quadripartite security committee and Israel's transfer of USD 
100 million of Palestinian clearance revenues as positive 
events.  But he expressed concern about the impact of 
Israel's continuing settlement activities, the ongoing 
construction of the security barrier and Palestinian 
factional tension.  Gambari specifically noted Hamas leader 
Khaled Mashal's recent remark to the press that Israel's 
existence is a reality and that with the formation of a 
Palestinian state, "there will remain a state called Israel, 
this is a matter of fact."  He also cited press reports, and 
subsequent denials, of Israeli-Syrian negotiations. 
 
¶4.  Recalling the one-year anniversary of Palestinian 
elections that brought Hamas to power, Gambari reported that 
international aid to the Palestinians has actually increased; 
what is different is that aid is mostly bypassing the 
Palestinian government.  He argued that without greater 
freedom of access and movement and an active peace process, 
aid could only contain the spread of grievances and 
instability. 
 
¶5. On Lebanon, Gambari noted the Secretary-General's 
participation in the Paris III conference, the UN's strong 
support of Lebanon and the need to break the political 
impasse through dialogue.  Gambari concluded, "none of us can 
afford another year like the last one in Lebanon and the 
Middle East" and reported that the new Secretary-General 
considers next week's Quartet meeting as an important 
opportunity to re-energize the peace process and implement 
all relevant Security Council resolutions. 
 
Security Council Members Comment 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶6. Following Gambari's presentation, Security Council members 
met privately and expressed appreciation and support for 
Secretary Rice's efforts to reinvigorate the Middle East 
 
SIPDIS 
political process, conveyed high expectations for the 
February 2 meeting of the Quartet, and reiterated their 
support for the Roadmap.  Per reftel points, Ambassador Wolff 
welcomed recent encouraging developments on the 
Israeli-Palestinian track.  On Lebanon, Ambassador Wolff said 
that the Administration would seek Congressional approval for 
a substantial assistance package for Lebanon.  He also 
expressed U.S. concern about developments in Lebanon, 
especially the use of violence, threats, and intimidation, 
urging restraint and a return to dialogue. 
 
¶7. France, in its statement, called for an expansion of the 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000062  002 OF 002 
 
 
Quartet to include key regional actors, endorsed the Arab 
Peace Initiative of 2002, and called for the organization of 
an international conference "to provide a solid foundation 
for efforts to bring about a solution to the situation in the 
Middle East."  Russia, seconded the convening of an 
international conference, noting that it had offered to host 
such a meeting more than a year ago.  South Africa 
highlighted U/SYG Gambari's report that the situation was 
still dire in the West Bank.  That view was seconded by 
Indonesia, which called for an extension and argued that the 
current impasse "requires an unprecedented step by all." 
South Africa also said that while the Israeli release of USD 
100 million was appreciated, all the retained money should be 
released as it belonged to the Palestinians.  In its remarks, 
Qatar took pains to make clear that the concept of an interim 
Palestinian state with provisional borders is unacceptable 
and unilateral, calling for a "just, permanent, and 
comprehensive" agreement. 
 
¶8. On Lebanon, all Council members expressed concern about 
the current violence and urged all parties to return to 
dialogue to resolve political differences.  Responding to an 
Italian question on the status of the Shebaa Farms, Gambari 
said that Lebanese PM Siniora wanted the issue resolved so as 
to deprive Hizballah of its continuing justification for its 
actions.  He said that UN cartographers are preparing a 
report on Shebaa Farms that will be delivered in March as 
part of the expected UNSCR 1701 report.  Responding to a 
question about the role of the UN in the Quartet, Gambari 
said that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hoped to help 
revitalize the political process, while acknowledging that 
there is no substitute for dialogue between the parties. 
WOLFF