U.S. Official at Jenin Sees 'Terrible Human Tragedy'

A senior Israeli official, however, said Israel had advised the American envoy to the United Nations, John Negroponte, that three senior United Nations officials would not be acceptable as fact-finders: Terje Roed-Larsen, the special coordinator for the Middle East; Mary Robinson, the high commissioner for human rights; and Peter Hansen, the commissioner of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians Refugees in the Near East, the agency responsible for the refugee camps.

A United Nations official said the organization would not in any case propose using people involved in the region on a fact-finding mission. Mr. Roed-Larsen has come under sharp criticism from the Israeli government since he visited Jenin on Thursday and publicly criticized Israel, saying, "Combating terrorism does not give a blank check to kill civilians."

Israeli officials said they were also angered that Mr. Roed-Larsen invited foreign ambassadors to a briefing about what he found in Jenin.

The legal adviser to Israel's Foreign Ministry, Alan Baker, said Mr. Roed-Larsen's action was "something the Foreign Ministry should consider so serious that we have to consider serious measures."

A spokesman for Mr. Roed-Larsen, Bruce D. Jones, said Mr. Roed-Larsen routinely met foreign ambassadors and senior members of the Israel government at the United Nations headquarters in Jerusalem.

Mrs. Robinson has been trying to come to Israel to investigate the plight of the Palestinians, but Israel has not granted her a visa.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/21/international/21MIDE.html