GERMANY STILL MALLEABLE ON SEVERAL UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAELI BIAS

CONFIDENTIAL C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001474 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO IO/UNP ANDREW MORRISON E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2019 TAGS: PREL, UNGA, KPAL, IS, SY, LE, GM SUBJECT: GERMANY STILL MALLEABLE ON SEVERAL UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAELI BIAS REF: STATE 118799 Classified By: Deputy Chief for Political Affairs Stan Otto for reasons 1.4 (b,d). 1. (C) In response to reftel, MFA Deputy Head of UN General Assembly Division Julia Gross told Poloff November 19 that Germany agrees in general with the U.S. goal of reducing the number of one-sided UNGA resolutions with anti-Israel biases. Gross said that this year's negotiating climate has been particularly difficult because of the December-January Gaza conflict and the Goldstone Report. She said that the EU has been working with the PA to reduce the number of these resolutions and to change certain problematic language. She noted that Germany usually abstains on the three resolutions cited in reftel paragraph one: "Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People" (63/26), the "Division for the Palestinian Rights within the UN Secretariat" (63/27), and the "Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and other Arabs of the Occupied Territories" (63/95), and that this would likely be the case this year. 2. (C) Gross noted that Germany is coordinating carefully with the EU and working with the Palestinian delegation to revise certain phrasing in several other resolutions: the "Israeli Practices Affecting Human Rights of the Palestinian people ..." (63/98), the "Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East" (63/93), and the "Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine" (63/29). Gross referred to use of the terms "blockade" and "collective punishment" with regard to Israeli actions. She said that there have been some improvements but if the resolutions "revert back" to their original versions, Germany would likely abstain on those resolutions. 3. (C) Regarding resolutions that make reference either directly or indirectly to the Goldstone Report, Gross already noted that Germany would likely be abstaining on 63/95. In response to reftel points on voting against the Israeli Practices resolution (63/98), Gross said that no decision as yet has been made on how to vote. She said that the language referring to Goldstone did not indicate full endorsement of the report and could be more narrowly construed. Poloff argued that since Germany voted "no" on the Goldstone Resolution in the UNGA, it would be consistent for Germany to vote "no" or at least abstain on this resolution. Poloff also raised the political context of the November 19 vote, noting that Germany FM Westerwelle would be visiting Israel on November 23. With regard to Applicability of the Geneva Convention Resolution, Gross said that she understands that the Swiss told the EU Presidency that they do not intend to hold a special conference and that they believe they cannot be compelled to do so. 4. (C) Comment: Gross took on board our arguments for abstaining or voting against the three resolutions that refer to the Goldstone Report. She appeared particularly interested in the point that Germany's new FM Westerwelle will make his first official visit to Israel days after the November 19 committee vote. She said she will be consulting within her division on reftel points and may have more information later in the day on November 19. Post will report any updates via email. End comment. MURPHY