NP - Israel fears forced UN inquiry

[David Morris]

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=158249&contrassID=1&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=0

Israel fears forced UN inquiry if Annan disbands Jenin team
By Shlomo Shamir, Ha'aretz Correspondent, Ha'aretz Service and agencies

Officials in Israel fear that if the UN fact-finding mission over IDF 
operations in Jenin refugee camp is disbanded, the Security Council - 
scheduled to meet late on Wednesday - may decide to appoint a broader and 
potentially more damaging commission of inquiry which Israel would be forced 
to accept.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres will meet 
Wednesday afternoon to coordinate their positions over the issue.

Former foreign minister Shlomo Ben-Ami said Wednesday that an inquiry panel 
would likely pose a much more profound problem for Israel, and that if the 
government rejected such a commission, the step could lead to a "frontal 
confrontation with serious operative decisions regarding Israel, which would 
in turn put additional pressure on the United States, with respect to its 
ability to stand alongside Israel."

[...]


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