VZCZCXRO9359
OO RUEHBC RUEHBZ RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUCNDT #0326/01 1171312
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271312Z APR 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1783
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000326 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
IO AND NEA FOR FRONT FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR 
ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC
SUBJECT: UNSC: APRIL MIDDLE EAST BRIEFING 
 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: In the monthly briefing to the Security 
Council on the situation in the Middle East, U/SYG Lynn 
Pascoe welcomed recent diplomatic developments and expressed 
concern over the recent escalation of violence in the West 
Bank and Gaza.  Pascoe also announced the resignation of 
UNSCO Alvaro de Soto. Delegations praised renewed diplomatic 
activity, including efforts to revive the Arab Peace 
Initiative, but expressed concern about the dire humanitarian 
situation in the Palestinian territories.  Several EU 
delegations called for the easing of financial restrictions 
on the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the resumption of 
limited contact.  On Lebanon, most delegations called for 
implementation fo UNSCR 1701.  Russia warned the 
international community should not apply "unwarranted 
pressure," and China also cautioned against "excessive 
pressure."  The Palestinian representative accused Israel of 
being an insincere partner for peace; the Israeli PermRep 
lamented the Palestinian's failure to stop rocket and mortar 
attacks from Gaza against Israel.  The Syrian representative 
denied Syria's involvement in arms smuggling to Lebanon.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Pascoe Briefs on Diplomatic 
Developments, Escalating Violence 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) In his first briefing to the Security Council on the 
situation in the Middle East since his appointment as U/SYG 
for Political Affairs, Pascoe highlighted the Arab League 
efforts to revive the Arab Peace Initiative, welcomed the 
April 15 meeting between President Abbas and PM Olmert in 
Jerusalem, and expressed concern about deteriorating security 
conditions in the Palestinian territories.  Pascoe called on 
President Abbas and PM Olmert to build on the success of 
their discussions in Jerusalem.  Pascoe also praised the 
diplomatic engagement of the Arab League and their efforts to 
revive the Arab Peace Initiative (API). Lastly, Pascoe called 
the recent escalation of violence in the West Bank and Gaza a 
"matter of great concern."  He reported that UNSCO Alvaro de 
Soto is departing the UN after 25 years of service. 
 
------------------------------ 
Council Members Praise API and 
PA-GOI Contacts 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (U) Delegations welcomed renewed diplomatic activity, 
praising both the Quartet and the Arab League.  Several 
delegations focused their comments on the April 15 meeting 
between President Abbas and PM Olmert.  China described the 
meeting as a positive development and a sign of "easing 
tensions."  The UK noted the meeting and encouraged the 
continuation of dialogue between the two sides.  South 
Africa, Congo, and Ghana called for further dialogue and 
"confidence building measures" to move discussions forward. 
 
¶4. (U) France, UK, South Africa, Belgium and Russia welcomed 
the revival of the API.  France called the API an "essential 
basis for the solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict."  Russia 
also urged the resumption of Israeli-Syrian dialogue.  South 
Africa called on the Security Council to initiate direct 
contact with the Arab League follow-up committee.  Indonesia 
called for a stronger UN role in resolving the conflict. 
 
¶5. (U) Ambassador Wolff delivered the U.S. statement, 
describing developments in the bilateral Israeli-Palestinian 
track and calling upon Syria and Iran to abide by their 
obligations under UNSC resolutions. 
 
---------------------------- 
Humanitarian Situation, 
Financial Pressure on the PA 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Council members urged action to address the dire 
humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza.  South 
Africa leveled a harsh criticism at the Quartet: "The 
international community should pause to reflect on a 
situation where a crippling sanctions regime freezing 
Palestinian funding that was not authorized by Security 
Council or the General Assembly has been imposed on only one 
party to a dispute."  Qatar expressed similar sentiments, 
arguing that the logical outcome of "sustained despair is 
more hatred and violence."  Several of the EU member states 
urged the Quartet to ease financial restrictions on the PA 
and resume contact with members of the NUG that adhere to the 
Quartet principles.  France called for a resumption of direct 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000326  002 OF 002 
 
 
financial support for the PA Ministry of Finance and called 
on Israel to release withheld taxes and revenues, a request 
echoed by Belgium.  Slovakia expressed support for an 
extension of the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM). 
The UK said that it would judge the NUG by its "platform and 
actions." 
 
------- 
Lebanon 
------- 
 
¶7. (U) Both Russia and China argued that the Lebanese needed 
to reach national consensus and warned against outside 
pressure from the international community.  In regard to the 
Tribunal, Italy said the international community needed to be 
"aware" of the potential implications of a more active role 
by the Council.  South Africa, Indonesia, Qatar and Congo 
called for Israel to stop over flights of Lebanese airspace. 
The Indonesian representative also welcomed "President 
Assad's assurances of Syria's cooperation with the UN in all 
matters relating to peace and security in the Middle East." 
 
------------------------------------ 
Statements by Israel and Arab states 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (U) The Palestinian representative Riyadh Mansour 
delivered a lengthy statement, arguing "While everyone else 
talks of peace, Israeli's colonization campaign continues, 
its military aggression on the Palestinian civilian 
population continues, its collective punishment of the 
Palestinian people as a whole continues."  Israeli PermRep 
Gillerman criticized Mansour for failing to acknowledge 
continuing Palestinian rocket and mortar attacks on Israel 
from Gaza, and dismissed his statement as "deja vu all over 
again."  The Syrian representative took issue with Council 
statements expressing concern about Syrian arms smuggling to 
Hizballah, describing them as "false claims" and citing 
denials by Lebanese authorities, including the Defense 
Minister. 
 
WOLFF