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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/ARP, NEA/IPA,IO/UNP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2014 
TAGS: IS KISL KWBG OPDC PREL SA OIC
SUBJECT: OIC OFFICIALS RECEIVE SECRETARY CLINTON'S LETTER 
BUT CALL ON USG TO PRESSURE ISRAEL 
 
REF: A. STATE 53763 
     ¶B. JEDDAH 0168 
 
Classified By: CG Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On May 27 Consul General delivered Secretary 
Clinton's letter to the Organization of the Islamic 
Conference (OIC) Secretary General in response to his May 6 
message urging pressure on Israel to end settlement expansion 
and home demolitions. While expressing appreciation for the 
Secretary,s response, OIC officials reiterated familiar call 
for USG "to exert more pressure" on Israel. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) READY TO WORK WITH OBAMA ADMINISTRATION:  Consul 
General presented letter from Secretary Clinton (ref A) to 
OIC officials on May 27; the delivery of the Secretary's 
message was announced in May 30 OIC Newsletter.  Letter was 
received by Ambassadors Ezzat K. Mufti, Assistant Secretary 
General for Political Affairs; Samir Baker, Director of 
Coordination with Palestine; and Tarig Ali Bakheet, Director 
for International Organizations of the OIC.  Officials 
expressed thanks for the response to SYG Ekmeleddin 
Ihsanoglu,s May 6 letter (ref B) regarding Israeli 
settlements and general satisfaction with the manner in which 
the Obama Administration is addressing the 
Palestinian-Israeli conflict, conveying their impression that 
the President appears to be "very active and serious8 and 
they hoped "he will work to get benefits for both sides." 
Interlocutors added that SYG Ihsanoglu "stands ready to 
cooperate with the U.S." and hopes to play a role in bringing 
peace and stability to the region.  Consul General agreed 
that Middle East peace is a major issue on the President's 
agenda, noting US position favoring a two-state solution. 
¶3. (C) SETTLEMENTS: Ambassador Baker said the OIC was pleased 
with the Administration,s position on settlements, but 
asserted the familiar litany that the USG "must put more 
pressure on Israel to adhere to the regulations of previous 
agreements."  Baker cited the order to demolish 1300 
Palestinian homes as an example of Israeli defiance:  "How 
many families are affected by this demolition.  The situation 
is now clear on the issue of settlements.  When Netanyahu 
visited Obama in Washington, there was an obvious gap with 
regard to where the President and Netanyahu are going." 
¶4. (C) GAZA:  Concerning the humanitarian situation in Gaza, 
OIC reps spoke at length about what they perceived as Israeli 
"overreaction."  Ambassador Bakheet:  "What happened in Gaza, 
in our assessment, was a crime against humanity." Bakheet 
claimed the Secretary General was "saddened" by the 
destruction witnessed in a recent visit to Gaza, adding that 
food, medicine and building supplies were not being allowed 
to enter the Gaza Strip.  The attack and the subsequent 
blocking of assistance by Israel, he concluded, "is a clear 
sign that Israel only wants peace for itself."  Consul 
General pointed up US efforts to address the humanitarian 
situation in Gaza, noting that Hamas must stop the rocket 
attacks since any sovereign nation that has rockets fired 
against its civilian population cannot tolerate such attacks 
and will naturally respond.  Hamas attacks on Israel have 
only the effect of eliciting strong retaliation while 
violence, as a tactic, is counterproductive.  Representatives 
noted that the OIC has been directly involved in sending 
several well-publicized convoys of humanitarian assistance 
from Saudi Arabia to Gaza. 
¶5. (C) OIC SEES ISRAELI ACTION RETARDING PROGRESS:  Reviewing 
the themes of the Secretary's letter, the Consul General 
emphasized that the US urges Arab states to support the 
Palestinian Authority as it strives to improve life in the 
West Bank and Gaza, to work towards normalization with 
Israel, and to discourage parties that pursue violence and 
arms smuggling.  In response, officials argued that despite 
the apparent disunity among Palestinians, they -- unlike the 
Israelis -- "have done much of what has been asked of them" 
under previous agreements.  Baker claimed that the attack on 
Gaza has put OIC leaders under pressure to sever relations 
with Israel:  "The way Israel is acting is the reason we are 
going backwards."  Bakheet concurred: "Israel always paints 
itself as the victim, even though Hamas, missiles amounted 
only to one percent of the force used by Israel,s military 
in Gaza."  He argued that if the new Israeli government 
continues with its "extremist policies" the peace process 
will not move forward. 
¶6. (SBU) STATEMENT ON OIC WEBSITE: The OIC website carries an 
online statement (May 27) related to the letter received from 
the Secretary.  The substantive portion of the release reads: 
 "The US Secretary of State emphasized the US 
administration's keenness to carry through the peace process 
in the Middle East as a priority issue on the 
 
JEDDAH 00000214  002 OF 002 
 
 
administration's agenda.  Mrs. Clinton pointed out the 
importance of ensuring that all parties meet their 
obligations in keeping with existing agreements and the need 
to redouble efforts in a bid to resume the process of 
peace-making in the Middle East." 
¶7. (C) COMMENT: Clearly the OIC will continue to attempt to 
engage us on regional issues as it wishes to elevate its 
status as a credible representative and moderating voice in 
the Islamic world.  The Israeli-Palestinian issue was at the 
heart of the body's formation nearly 40 years ago, and will 
continue to be among the foremost causes that the OIC will 
take up in the foreseeable future.  Organization leadership 
is trying hard to develop stronger, higher level contacts 
with the United States and may be willing to seek moderation 
among member states or advocate for a US-brokered peace 
process if it feels itself included or consulted in the 
process.  Focused on elevating its status in the Muslim 
world, the OIC leadership would enjoy taking credit for 
progress related to resolving what it perceives as the 
fundamental regional conflict. END COMMENT. 
QUINN