UN Forging Ahead With PROBE Of FLOTILLA RAID Despite Israel’s Resistance: Official

[Segami]

International inquiry will put pressure on Netanyahu’s government:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :shrug:



An Israeli official said Sunday that UN chief Ban Ki-moon is moving ahead with plans for an international commission to investigate Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.


Mr. Ban wants former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, a maritime-law expert, to head the panel, which would include Israeli, Turkish and U.S. representatives, the Foreign Ministry official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because Mr. Ban has not announced details of his proposal.


The push for an international inquiry puts Israel under further pressure to explain how its attempt to stop the aid ship from breaching a blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza turned deadly. It could also cast light on the motives and plans of some of the ship's passengers who Israel says were Islamic extremists intent on attacking its troops.


The outrage over the deaths has also prompted calls from many countries, including the United States, for at least a partial lifting of a blockade that Israel says is necessary to isolate Hamas and keep them from expanding their arsenals.


......The grave diplomatic fallout from the raid has Israel reconsidering its Gaza blockade, imposed in 2007 after Hamas overran the territory. Israel argues that a blockade is necessary to keep weapons and other military components out of the hands of Gaza militants who have attacked Israel with bombs, rockets and mortars for years. It had also hoped the blockade would weaken Hamas by deepening the privation in already impoverished Gaza.


The United States, Israel's closest ally, on Friday joined other countries in saying the blockade in its current form is not sustainable — adding further pressure on Israel to find another way to keep weapons out.


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<http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/un-forging-ahead-with-probe-of-flotilla-raid-despite-israels-resistance-official/article1593807/?cmpid=rss1>

[frebrd]

1. Well, there had to be some good news somewhere today. eom

[Segami]

2. Lets hope other third party nations can bring about a peaceful resolution to this blockade

rather than an increased military escalation resulting in more deaths.

[Ozymanithrax]

3. Good, this needs to be investigated by someone with credibility. n/t