WASHINGTON – The “fact finding mission” agreed upon by the United Nations Friday night, which was intended to look into the Beit Hanoun incident, was actually a finessed name for an investigation committee.
Still, even before it began its work, it was obvious that it would have a difficult time operating in the area since Israel would not be in any hurry to cooperate with the investigation – even if it would not publicly declare so.
Israel's Ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman said Saturday night that the country shouldn’t cooperate with an investigation committee.
“I don’t think we should cooperate with the committee and my recommendation to the prime minister and the foreign minister is to ignore it,” Gillerman said.
“The investigation committee is an entity conceived in sin,” he accused, “It was decided on at a UN rally which is the home court of these guys (countries who automatically point fingers at Israel). It’s a thrown game already, so it’s a waste of the committee’s money.”
Sources at the foreign ministry
in Jerusalem said Saturday that the UN’s decision was one-sided and rewarding to terrorists.
"Israel left the Gaza Strip and the Palestinians continued to fire Qassams at Israel and hurt innocent civilians," read a ministry statement. "Nonetheless, UN member nations prefer to oppose those who fight against terror instead of opposing the terrorists themselves."
The work of the UN investigation committee requires cooperation by Israel in order to get investigators into the country, and in the case of Beit Hanoun, in order to get investigators all the way to the artillery battery which fired towards the neighborhood, including the person who launched the fatal shell in order to question him.
The investigation committee was to consist of professionals, including UN employees and military men with artillery knowledge, and would be headed by a political personality.
Several former country leaders from Finland, Japan, and even former American president Jimmy Carter were mentioned as those who might head the committee which has received an initial budget of USD 120 thousand intended to fund the lodging of administration and crew in Israel.
The committee would be required to report its findings to the UN secretary general in order for him to decide whether to transfer it to the UN Security Council.
_a.jpg "Photo: Yaron Brener")
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