 |
UN diplomat: UN and Israel discuss flotilla probe
Ban has been urging Israel to agree to the "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards" that the UN Security Council called for on June 1.
But Israel has rebuffed pressure from the UN and Turkey for an international inquiry. Instead, it has formed its own commission -- headed by a retired Israeli Supreme Court justice with two international observers.
The UN diplomat, who was briefed on a private Ban-Barak meeting after a larger meeting with aides, said it focused on the international investigation but provided no details. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were closed.
Ban said last month that Israel's own investigation into the flotilla raid "is important" but won't have "international credibility." He said that's why he was continuing to urge the Israeli government to agree to an international panel under a third party "in which both Turkey and Israel would actively participate."
At Friday's meeting, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said Ban and Barak discussed a range of issues including Lebanon, the situation in Gaza, and Israeli settlements and then held "a separate private conversation." Israel's UN Mission refused to comment on the meeting.
Pressed last month on why he didn't just go ahead and appoint an international commission, the secretary-general said without Israel's "full cooperation it would be extremely difficult to have a full and credible investigation, and that is why even if it may take time, I'm discussing this matter with (the) Israeli government."
Israeli commandos trying to prevent a six-ship flotilla from breaking its blockade of Gaza killed eight Turks and one Turkish-American during the May 31 raid on one of the vessels in international waters.
Although Israel has said the soldiers acted in self defense, the bloodshed provoked an international outcry that forced Israel to ease its Gaza blockade.
Nesirky said the secretary-general "underscored the importance of a further easing of the closures" in Gaza during his meeting with Barak.
Israel imposed the blockade in 2007 after Hamas overran Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls to lift the blockade, insisting it prevents missile attacks on Israel.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BÜLENT KENEŞ |  |
||
| What befell Niyazi-i Misri in the past is happening to Fethullah Gülen now | |||
| EKREM DUMANLI |  |
||
| When a call for fairness and reason finds acceptance | |||
| ŞAHİN ALPAY |  |
||
| Uludere, test case for democracy in Turkey | |||
| EMRE USLU |  |
||
| Are the Kurds mentally divorced from Turkey? | |||
| GÖKHAN BACIK |  |
||
| Erdoğan, Gül and Davutoğlu: the inner bargain on Turkish foreign policy | |||
| MARKAR ESAYAN |  |
||
| Taking lessons from previous experiences with the military | |||
| YAVUZ BAYDAR |  |
||
| Qualm | |||
| ÖMER TAŞPINAR |  |
||
| A new phase in Syria? | |||
| İHSAN DAĞI |  |
||
| Turkish foreign policy: Time for a re-evaluation | |||
| SEYFETTİN GÜRSEL |  |
||
| Poor-friendly economic growth and the AK Party | |||
| CHARLOTTE MCPHERSON |  |
||
| Missing women, missing opportunities | |||
| BERK ÇEKTİR |  |
||
| Changes to incentives for investment in Turkey | |||
| MERVE BÜŞRA ÖZTÜRK |  |
||
| The 1960 coup: a final test for democracy | |||
| AMANDA PAUL |  |
||
| Ukraine: a lost country | |||
| MÜMTAZER TÜRKÖNE |  |
||
| The 52nd anniversary of May 27 | |||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
