Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12931 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/07 1996/11
1997/06 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AR AF AGR AFIN AMGT ABLD AU AEMR AJ AID AMCHAMS AMED AS APER AE AORC AECL ABUD AM AG AL AUC APEC AY APECO AFGHANISTAN ACAO ANET AFFAIRS AND ADPM ASEAN ADM AGAO AINF ATRN ALOW ACOA AROC AA AADP ARF APCS ADANA ADCO AORG AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT AGMT ACS
BA BR BL BO BRUSSELS BT BM BU BY BG BEXP BK BH BD BP BTIO BB BE BILAT BC BX BIDEN BF BBSR BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CY CA CD CVIS CACS CH CS CO CONS CDG CE CMGT CPAS CU CIC CASC CG CI CHR CAPC CJAN CBW CLINTON CW CWC CTR CIDA CODEL CROS CM CV CF COM COPUOS CT CARSON CBSA CN CHIEF CR CONDOLEEZZA CDC CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CFED CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CITT CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CAC CL
DR DJ DA DHS DAO DCM DE DOD DOMESTIC DO DEFENSE DK DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ETTC EC EAIR EWWT EAGR EUN ECON EINV ETRD EMIN ENRG EFIN EAID EG ES ELAB EUR EN EPET EIND ELTN EU ECUN EI EZ EFIS ENIV ER ET EXIM ECIN ECPS EINT ELN ECONOMY EUMEM ERNG EK EUREM EFINECONCS EFTA ENERG ELECTIONS EAIDS ECA EPA ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EINVEFIN ETC ENVR EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS
FI FR FMLN FISO FAS FJ FAC FTAA FREEDOM FM FOREIGN FINANCE FBI FDA FARC FAO FINR FTA FOR FOI FO
GG GR GT GM GAERC GH GY GOV GA GERARD GTIP GV GOI GANGS GLOBAL GTMO GL GF GCC GE GZ GAZA
HA HK HU HILLARY HSTC HO HR HYMPSK HUMAN HI HURI HEBRON HUMOR
IR IZ IC IAEA IS ICRC ICAO IN IO IT IV IAHRC IWC ICJ ITRA IMO IRC IRAQI ILO ISRAELI ITU IMF IBRD IQ ILC ID IEFIN ICTY ITALY IPR IIP INMARSAT ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL IRS IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI INDO IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR
JP JA JO JM JOHNNIE JOHN JAMES JUS JOSEPH
KOMC KRVC KSCA KPKO KNNP KCOR KTFN KDEM KJUS KCRM KGHG KISL KIRF KFRD KWMN KNEI KN KS KE KPAO KVPR KHLS KV KOLY KGIT KFLU KFLO KSAF KGIC KU KTIP KMDR KIPR KPAL KNSD KTIA KSEP KAWC KG KWBG KBIO KIDE KPLS KTDB KMPI KBTR KDRG KZ KUNR KHDP KSAC KACT KRAD KSUM KIRC KCFE KWMM KICC KR KCOM KAID KBCT KVIR KHSA KMCA KCRS KVRP KTER KSPR KSTC KSTH KPOA KFIN KTEX KCMR KMOC KCIP KAWK KTBT KPRV KO KX KMFO KENV KCRCM KBTS KSEO KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KNUP KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KSCI KPRP KTLA KHIV KCSY KTRD KNAR KWAC KMRS KNPP KJUST KPWR KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KLIG KDEMAF KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KPIR KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KFSC KID KMIG
LE LY LG LH LA LOG LU LABOR LI LTTE LAB LO LT
MOPS MO MASS MNUC MCAP MARR MU MTCRE MC MX MIL MG MR MAS MT MI MPOS MD ML MRCRE MTRE MY MASC MK MTCR MAPP MZ MP MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MAR MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MQADHAFI MPS
NZ NATO NA NU NL NI NO NASA NP NEW NE NSG NPT NPG NS NR NG NSF NGO NSSP NATIONAL NDP NIPP NZUS NH NAFTA NC NRR NT NAR NK NATOPREL NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD
OTRA OVIP OPRC OAS OSCE OIIP OREP OEXC OPDC OPIC OFDP ODIP OHUM OSCI OVP OPCW OECD OPAD ODC OFFICIALS OIE OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PREL PTER PK PGOV PINR PO PINS PREF PARM PBTS PHUM PA PE POL PM PAHO PL PHSA PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICS POLICY PROV PBIO PALESTINIAN PAS PREO PAO PAK PDOV POV PCI PGOF PG PRAM PSI POLITICAL PROP PAIGH PJUS PARMS PROG PTERE PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PNAT POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PY PLN PHUH PF PHUS PTBS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS
QA
RS RU RO RM RP RW RFE RCMP REGION RIGHTSPOLMIL ROOD RICE ROBERT RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REACTION REPORT RSO
SA SENV SR SG SNAR SU SOCI SP SL SY SMIG SW SO SCUL SZ SI SIPRS SAARC SYR SYRIA SWE SARS SNARIZ SF SEN SCRS SC STEINBERG SN SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN
TPHY TU TSPA TBIO TSPL TRGY TW TZ TC TX TT TIP TS TNGD TF TL TV TN TI TH TP TD TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TINT TFIN TAGS TR TBID THPY
UK UP UNSC UNO UN UY UNGA USEU UZ US UNESCO UG USTR UNHRC UNCND USUN UV UNMIK USNC UNHCR UNAUS UNCHR USOAS UNEP USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT
VE VT VTPREL VZ VTIZ VN VM VTEG VAT VC VI
WTRO WBG WHTI WHO WS WTO WIPO WI WMD WZ WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WA WFP WB
XL XK XG XV XR XT XB XF XM XA XW XX XY XS XE XZ XU XH XD XC XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YMCS YE
ZI ZEALAND ZU ZP ZR ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZF ZB ZJ ZN ZA ZK ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08BRASILIA1685, BRAZIL: LAYING BLAME AT THE FEET OF ISRAEL, U.S.

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08BRASILIA1685.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08BRASILIA1685 | 2008-12-31 19:28 | 2011-02-06 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Brasilia

`

    VZCZCXRO8176
    RR RUEHRG
    DE RUEHBR #1685/01 3661928
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    R 311928Z DEC 08
    FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3205
    INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 7293
    RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4829
    RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 6005
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 4312
    RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 6766
    RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 4066
    RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 7630
    RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0470
    RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2670
    RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0787
    RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0163
    RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 8857
    RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 7041
    RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 3271
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 001685

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018
    TAGS: PREL KPAL IR BR
    SUBJECT: BRAZIL: LAYING BLAME AT THE FEET OF ISRAEL, U.S.
    FOR ATTACKS IN GAZA

    REF: 08 BRASILIA 896

     Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Lisa Kubiske, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)

    ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Brazilian government heavily criticized Israel's actions against HAMAS in Gaza, after originally suggesting it might take a more nuanced approached with its initial statements. President Lula, backed by most Brazilian media outlets, harshly criticized both Israel and the United States, and, while stressing that HAMAS bore some responsibility, minimized the group's actions. Lula, according to press reports, has instructed Foreign Minister Amorim to contact his French counterpart to organize an international conference to discuss the situation, although sources at Itamaraty would not confirm this. Protests took place today at the Israeli before they dispersed after a fight broke out among the protesters. End summary.

    --------------------------------------------- --------------- Criticism of Israel, U.S. and call for International Conference --------------------------------------------- ---------------

    ¶2. (U) After the initiation of the Israeli strikes into the Gaza strip over the weekend, the Brazilian government, through the Ministry of External Relations (Itamaraty) has issued two official statements calling on both sides of the conflict to reestablish a cease fire, and criticizing Israel for its "disproportionate" response to HAMAS rocket attacks into southern Israel from Gaza. During public remarks on December 30, President Lula criticized Israel for its excessive use of force and compared the conflict to a fight between someone holding a bomb versus someone holding matches in their hands. Lula also blasted the UN for its impotence during the crisis, but laid blame for this impotence at the feet of the United States, which, according to Lula, blocks any attempts by the international community to establish peace. Going further, Lula added that domestic politics in Israel were responsible for Israel's actions, comparing them to a supposed strategy of President Bush to win reelection by invading Iraq.

    ¶3. (U) Commenting on Brazil's possible role, Lula noted that it has been "proven" that the U.S. role in the Israeli-Palestine peace process has not had success, and that other countries should step in to stop the violence. In his comments, Lula added that he had instructed Foreign Minister Amorim to contact his French counterpart to organize an international conference. News reports also indicate that Amorim contacted Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Ambassador to Brazil, to whom he committed to send humanitarian supplies to Gaza.

    ------------------------------------------ Israel: Hope for Change Quickly Dashed ------------------------------------------

    ¶4. (C) Israeli Charge d'Affaires Raphael Singer told poloff that the Israeli government was pleased with the original public statement put out by Itamaraty on December 27, but that subsequent declarations have proven disappointing. In the first declaration, the Brazilian government first noted its concern over HAMAS' firing of rockets into Israel before criticizing Israel's disproportionate response in a separate paragraph, a semantic change from Brazil's statements during the 2006 conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon which lumped the actions of the two sides as equivalent. Itamaraty's second statement and Lula's subsequent remarks, however, reverted back to Brazil's usual stance of playing to the UN majority by deploring Israel's disproportionate use of force and calling on an immediate ceasefire, which Singer found disappointing but not surprising. Singer also noted that the Israeli Embassy had only heard about Brazil's position through the press and that there had been no direct communication between Brazilian and Israeli governments.

    BRASILIA 00001685 002 OF 002 -------------------------------

    Itamaraty: We haven't changed -------------------------------

    ¶5. (C) According to Minister Rodrigo Amaral de Souza, chief of staff to Undersecretary for Political Affairs for Africa, Asia and the Middle East Ambassador Roberto Jaguaribe, Brazil's statements are motivated by three objectives: to reestablish the ceasefire, to allow for humanitarian assistance to go into Gaza, and get the parties back to the peace table following the process laid out at the Annapolis conference. Asked whether Brazil recognized the incongruence of asking Israel to halt its actions and return to the status quo ante knowing that HAMAS did not abide by the ceasefire in the first place, Amaral sheepishly recognized that Brazil understood Israel faced a difficult situation, but Brazil was primarily concerned that Israel's actions were threatening the progress of Annapolis and would create an irreversible momentum in a direction away from peace. Amaral also added that because Brazil has no relationship with HAMAS, it rarely addresses its actions officially. Brazil, instead maintains contact with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.

    ¶6. (C) Asked by poloff if Brazil had considered that it might lose credibility in Israel's eyes as a balanced peace broker with its declarations and actions, Amaral replied that Brazil's position has never changed, that Brazil has always stood fast against disproportionate use of force, has always criticized attacks against Israel, and that a successful peace must begin with recognition of Israel's right to exist. According to Amaral, "while we understand and sympathize with Israel's plight, it has been our longstanding policy, for humanitarian, legal, and practical reasons, to deplore the disproportionality of the attacks." Asked if Brazil defined proportionality in terms of deaths and wounded or number of rocket attacks, Amaral demurred, and noted that they do not count the number of deaths or rocket attacks from each side, but that it was obvious that Israel was acting in a disproportionate fashion in this case. By way of showing Brazil's balanced attitude, Amaral also highlighted President Lula's comments criticism the UN for its impotent role in establishes peace in the region. Poloff noted, however, that Lula had, in fact, blamed that impotence on the United States, but Amaral refused to comment further. Asked if Brazil was working to organize an international conference to discuss the situation, he demurred once again, but hinted that Lula may have been more forward leaning in his remarks than Itamaraty was at that point.

    ------------- Comment -------------

    ¶7. (C) Brazil's initial reaction might have given reason for hope for a more balanced approach to Middle East peace issues if it had not been followed up by the usual one-sided posture of laying most of the blame at Israel and taking potshots at the U.S. for not doing more to stop Israel. The clich-laden bromides of Brazilian officials are also indicative of a lack of real understanding of the Middle East that is troubling in a government that proposes to become involved. While it is unlikely that the proposed Lula-Amorim mediation will result in anything more than political grandstanding, we will have to continue to engage Brazil at high levels (reftel) if we are to have any hope that Brazil adopts a more balanced approach, rather than simply adding their voice to the already fully-stocked anti-Israeli chorus.

    KUBISKE

`