Wednesday, April 24, 2002

Israelis to Delay U.N. Fact-Finders
The Israeli decision marked the second major shift by the government on the sensitive issue of an international inquiry into the actions of the Israeli Army inside the Jenin refugee camp during Israel's operations to ferret out terror networks in the West Bank. Much of the camp was left in ruins, prompting an outcry from Palestinians, international humanitarian organizations and foreign officials, including Americans.

Israel had initially opposed efforts by Arab members of the United Nations to have the Security Council order an investigation into Jenin, but reversed itself on Friday and said it would welcome a fact-finding mission appointed by Mr. Annan. "Israel has nothing to hide," Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told Mr. Annan.

The Security Council then unanimously adopted a resolution welcoming "the initiative of the secretary general to develop accurate information regarding recent events in the Jenin refugee camp through a fact-finding team."

On Monday, Mr. Annan selected Martti Ahtisaari, the former president of Finland, to head a team that included Sadako Ogata, a former United Nations high commissioner for refugees, and Cornelio Sommaruga, a former head of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/24/international/middleeast/24MIDE.html?pagewanted=all

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