UN Won't Question Israeli Soldiers
UN Won't Question Israeli Soldiers in Flotilla Probe..Israel
A government source said Monday that Israel would not allow a United Nations investigation into an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla to question Israeli occupation soldiers. The source said that this "crucial" condition for Israel's cooperation in the investigation was made clear to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
The four-member UN panel appointed to investigate the Israeli raid aboard the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish activists on May 31, was to hold its first meeting with Ban on Tuesday.
The Israeli source said Monday that in accordance with a deal struck between Israel and the UN chief, the UN inquiry would base its conclusions on reports composed by Israeli and Turkish investigation commissions. The source further revealed that under the terms of the deal, any further inquiry the panel would wish to make would have to be coordinated with the appropriate Israeli authorities â whose identity will be determined solely by Israel.
Ban, who said he would meet with the panel at UN headquarters to discuss its mandate on Tuesday, quashed what he called a "rumor" that he had agreed to keep Israel's military forces off limits in the inquiry.
"There was no such agreement behind the scenes," Ban said when asked by reporters whether there was a deal with the Israeli government.
"Their main work will be to review and examine the reports of the national investigations and liaise with the domestic authorities," Ban said. "Whatever is needed beyond that, they will have to discuss among themselves in close coordination with the national government authorities."
The Israeli government last week immediately welcomed the launch of the UN panel while Turkey withheld all reaction.
A Turkish diplomat said Ankara, which is one of the 15 UN Security Council members, will ask the UN panel to brief the body directly because it was the council that called for the full investigation and demanded that it be transparent and independent. Ban, who formed the panel on the council's instruction, said the panel will report back to him by mid-September.
Turkey will assume the council's presidency in September.
"The panel will find and review the facts and circumstances that led to the violence onboard one of the ships, and then decide what else is needed to fully investigate the incident," Ban said.
"The panel has a robust mandate to examine and identify the facts, circumstances and contexts of the incident as well as to recommend measures to avoid future incident," Ban told a news conference.
Did US/UN question israel when USS liberty was bombed?
Did US/UN question when israel ran bull dozer over an american peace activist?
When america herself scared of questioning israeli terrorism against its own country.....how can you expect US to allow UN to question israeli soldier. That is "civilised and human rights champion" country.
As the article said.. This was agreed prior to the investigation... So be it..
i agree with you "Hugh"..
smisharaliving . . . theyre all idiots. but if he went against the powerful countries they un wouldnt exist any more.
Surely that should be "UN can't question Israeli soldiers"
ban kee moon is an idiot.he is doing whatever he's thinking..damn.he always put his hand to poor countries.not going to mess with powerful countries.i hate him.. fairless man
lol Hugh@ wag an angry finger..
lol! Why should Israel hand over its men for questioning? Why should Israel subject itself to such scrutiny? What is the UN going to do if they Israel doesnt . . . wag an angry finger?
Benjamin Netanyahu: "America is something that can easily be moved." "The world won’t say a thing." "The world will say we’re defending."
Did the UN question Iraqi soldiers when they invaded Kuwait?
Did the UN question turkish soldiers when they attacked the Kurds inside turkey and Iraq?
Did the UN question hizbollah soldiers when they kidnapped Israeli soldiers to start the last lebanese war?
Of course not
Never expected them to
When Uncle Sam and flag bearer of human right is in Israeli pocket.........why would they allow to question their soldier. After all "Israel cannot do anything wrong".
we must be dreaming!
Surely, no one is surprised by this. What does Israel have to gain from it? And, to be fair, no nation of significance is going to let a UN panel question its own soldiers.