Ban Ki Moon Proposes Panel to Investigate Gaza Raid
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6003509-ban-ki-moon-proposes-p...
Arutz Sheva reports that UN Secretary General Ban Kim Moon has proposed an Independent International Panel to investigate the IDF Flotilla raid on ships attempting to run the blockade of Gaza.
The panel would be headed by New Zealand Prime Minister Jeffrey Palmer, and would include a member from Israel and Turkey.
Ban Kim Moon's proposal would include Prime Minister Jeffrey Palmer of New Zealand, a member from Israel and a member from Turkey.
Ban Kim Moon made this proposal to Prime Minsiter Benjaim Natanyahu in a conversation on on Saturday night.
Israel's Security is expected to discuss this proposal on Sunday.
A week ago Israel's Defence Force forcibly boarded a flotilla headed for GAZA. 9 personnel were killed during the attack.
24 hours ago another drama unfolded near the blockade when the Rachel Corrie attempted to break Israel's blockade of Gaza. IDF soldiers boarded the ship and escorted it to Ashod. The 19 activists are being released.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10648901
A New Zealander was on board the aid flotilla attacked by Israeli commandos in international waters.
Mr McCully (NZ Foreign Minister) said the New Zealand woman has not been harmed and is now in Israeli custody.
"We are pursuing all the usual lines of consular activity to make contact with her," Mr McCully said.
The attack by Israel on the aid flotilla in international waters has left at least 10 people dead and sparked international condemnation.
Israel's ambassador, Shemi Tzur, was summoned by Mr McCully to a meeting this morning.
Labour leader Phil Goff joined Mr McCully in condemning Israel's actions but stopped short of calling for Israel's ambassador to be expelled.
"Israel's Ambassador to New Zealand must be asked to account for the enforcement of the blockade into Gaza and the disproportionate use of force against those in the aid flotilla.
"A resolution to the conflict in the Middle East will not come about unless there is a readiness to compromise on Israel's part," Mr Goff said.
Mr McCully said the New Zealand Government condemns the violence and especially the loss of life in the attack.
"I am taking immediate steps to communicate the Government's concerns over this incident to the Government of Israel," Mr McCully said.
He said the New Zealand Government supports other countries in calling for a full investigation into the incident.
"Representatives from our Mission in New York are attending the emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council and we will continue to follow their deliberations carefully," Mr McCully said.
"New Zealand calls for restraint from all parties in dealing with the aftermath of this incident. This violent event serves to underline the fact that the situation in Gaza is not sustainable.
"We urge an intensification of the efforts to find a solution to that, and the wider challenges in the region," he said.
The New Zealand Palestine Human Rights Campaign spokeswoman Janfrie Wakim said Mr McCully should expel the Israeli ambassador immediately.
She described the Israeli military's attack as "a disgraceful act of piracy and murder".
"We feel New Zealand should never have invited the embassy back here when it continually flaunts international law, the Geneva Convention and United Nations Resolutions - 70 of them," Ms Wakim said.
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