US embassy cable - 04SANAA1729

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001729 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2014 
TAGS: PREL, YM, DEMARCHE 
SUBJECT: ICJ ADVISORY OPINION ON ISRAELI SECURITY BARRIER: 
DEMARCHE & COUNTERDEMARCHE 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 152014 
     B. SECSTATE 150763 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Nabeel Khoury 
for reasons 1.5 (b and d) 
 
1. (c) At the opening of a 7/18 meeting, Dr. Ahmed Alwan 
Mulhi, Deputy Director of the Department of International 
Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) 
preempted subject demarche by launching a tirade against the 
U.S. position on Israel and "ineffective" U.S. efforts to 
persuade Israel to cease construction of the security 
barrier.  Before Pol/Econ Chief was able to broach the 
subject of the ICJ advisory opinion, Mulhi stated that the 
USG should "challenge" the GOI and convince Israel to accept 
existing UN resolutions.  Mulhi came prepared with copies of 
all of the UN resolutions on Israel-Palestine and recited a 
list of them going back years to make his point.  He sharply 
criticized the Bush administration for not taking action to 
stop the "massacres" in Palestine. 
 
2. (c) Noting that President Bush endorses a vision of two 
states, Pol/Econ Chief refocused the meeting on the ICJ 
advisory opinion (ref a), especially U.S. concerns with the 
referral of the matter to the ICJ, the effect of such a 
referral to a negotiated settlement and the legal reasoning 
of the Court's opinion.  Mulhi was very familiar with the 
issue and in response to our urging for a vote against the 
resolution or an abstention, stated unequivocally that "the 
U.S., Israel and maybe one or two banana republics" would 
cast the lone votes against the resolution when it comes to a 
vote on Monday or Tuesday."  He went on to say that the U.S. 
should be more reasonable and balanced in its approach, and 
less supportive of Sharon.  When Pol/Econ Chief noted that 
the opinion does not address Palestinian security 
responsibilities, Mulhi said that the UN is the proper venue 
for discussing the subject and if it were put to a vote in 
the security council there would be 14 votes in support of 
the ICJ's ruling. 
 
3. (c) Comment:  While it is not unusual to get some 
criticism of U.S. policy toward Israel, usually along the 
lines of the U.S. applying a "double standard," the vehemence 
of Mulhi's argument was surprising.  The basic tenor at the 
end of the meeting was that we need to agree to disagree. 
Needless to say, Yemen is very likely to support the UN 
resolution endorsing the advisory opinion.  End comment. 
 
HULL