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07:04 GMT
GAZA, Aug 3 (KUNA) -- Although Israel has agreed to cooperate with a UN
probe on the raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in May, it will not allow the
committee to interrogate Israeli officers, civilians or soldiers, according to
officials.
"There was no choice but to agree to the international community's demands,
first and foremost those of the US and the UN," one official source said in
remarks to the Israeli media network "Yedioth Ahronoth" on Tuesday.
Following conclusions drawn from Goldstone Report, Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and his top six ministers decided to accept the demand by UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the source said. "We could have been considered
naysayers, or we could have done what we did, which was to take part in
determining the mandate that will be given to the committee and affect its
program," he added.
The official source said the committee would have been established in any
case, even without Israel's consent. "Though Israel didn't want another
inquiry, there was no choice," he said.
However, he stressed that the committee would not receive testimony from
any Israeli citizen or military official, and would have to make do with
documents. At most it will be permitted to interrogate state leaders.
Israel on Monday informed Ban Ki-moon and Turkey that it initially approved
forming a UN investigation team on the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla
aid convoy.
The team is expected to be headed by New Zealand's former prime minister
Geoffrey Palmer and include representatives of the United States, the UN,
Israel, and Turkey.
Israel had refused the formation of an international investigation
committee on the May 31 attack in which nine civilians were killed and dozens
of others injured.
The flotilla was heading to Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid. (end)
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