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UN, Israeli rift over Gaza ship probe far from over
The flap over Israel’s participation in the UN inquiry began Monday when U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a news conference there was no “behind the scenes” agreement with Israel that the panel would not summon Israeli soldiers to testify.
Israeli officials responded by threatening a pullout, saying their agreement to take part in the UN probe - which represented a shift from its traditional mistrust of the United Nations - was conditioned on the panel relying on reports from Israel’s own military inquiry, not testimony from soldiers.
As the four-member panel met behind closed doors, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky did not rule out that it might attempt to talk to or get information directly from Israeli soldiers or officials from either side.
He stressed repeatedly that the panel, which includes an Israeli, will decide how to follow up on the national investigations. But he also said it is “crucial” that the panel “work and cooperate with the national authorities.”
Israeli commandos met unexpected resistance on May 31 when they tried to prevent a Turkish aid ship from breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The commandos opened fire, killing eight Turkish activists and a Turkish American. Both countries said they acted in self-defense. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday reiterated the country’s opposition to having any soldiers testify. Nesirky emphasized that “the panel is not designed to determine individual criminal responsibility, but to examine and identify the facts, circumstances and the context of the incident, as well as to recommend ways of avoiding future incidents.”
It will review national investigations by Israel and Turkey, he said, and request “clarifications and information” it needs from the countries. “Today, the secretary-general is renewing his call on the parties to fully cooperate with this panel,” Nesirky said.
Asked whether there was an agreement with the Israelis not to summon their soldiers, Nesirky sidestepped the question saying “the panel will decide what steps it will take and will work with the national authorities.” The flotilla raid drew an international outcry and forced Israel to ease its blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza. Israel, along with Egypt, imposed the embargo in June 2007 after Hamas militants took control of the area.
Israel’s military has already wrapped up its own investigation, finding that intelligence failed to predict the violent response but troops acted properly under the circumstances. The UN panel is chaired by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, co-chaired by former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and includes Israeli representative Joseph Ciechanover and Turkish representative Özdem Sanberk.
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