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UN appoints Gaza war crimes team

The UN has appointed South African judge and former war crimes
prosecutor Richard Goldstone to lead a fact-finding mission to the Gaza
Strip.

Mr Goldstone will investigate alleged violations of international law
during the recent conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants.

Martin Uhomoibhi, president of the UN Human Rights Council, said the
mission would be independent and impartial.

Israel calls the council biased and has previously refused to co-
operate.

Mr Goldstone will lead a four-member team, which also includes experts
from Pakistan, Britain, and Ireland, in investigating "all violations of
international humanitarian law" before, during and after the Israeli
campaign in Gaza that ended on 18 January.

"It's in the interest of the victims. It brings acknowledgment of what
happened to them. It can assist the healing process,", Mr Goldstone
said. "I would hope it's in the interests of all the political actors,
too." .

The fact-finding mission, which will aim to provide clarity on the
legality of the deaths and destruction, is due to start work in the
region within weeks, the UN said.

'Grave violations'

The council voted to set up the investigation into "grave" human rights
violations by Israeli forces at a special meeting in January.
“ I've taken a deep interest in what happens in Israel... And I believe
I can approach the daunting task that I have accepted in an even-handed
and impartial manner ”
RIchard Goldstone

There have been widespread allegations of war crimes committed by
Israeli forces in Gaza and calls for investigations.

However, the Israeli army says its "operations in the Gaza Strip were
carried out in compliance with the rules of warfare under international
law". It says it took "numerous measures to avoid causing harm to the
civilian population".

Hamas is widely accused of basing its forces within heavily populated
areas. It denies this.

The Israeli government has in the past refused to co-operate with UN
human rights council investigations, including one led by Archbishop
Desmond Tutu.

It's not clear whether Israel will co-operate with the new
investigation.

"This committee is instructed not to seek out the truth but to single
out Israel for alleged crimes," said Yigal Palmor, spokesman for the
Israeli Foreign Ministry. He said the council was a discredited body.

Even-handed

Mr Goldstone is a former UN chief prosecutor for war crimes in
Yugoslavia and Rwanda. He is also a former judge at the South African
constitutional court.

He is also on the board of governors at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Mr Goldstone said he was "shocked, as a Jew", to be invited to head the
mission.

"I've taken a deep interest in what happens in Israel. I'm associated
with organisations that have worked in Israel.

"And I believe I can approach the daunting task that I have accepted in
an even-handed and impartial manner."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news. bbc.co.uk/ go/pr/fr/ -/1/hi/world/ middle_east/ 7981538.stm

Published: 2009/04/03 14:11:55 GMT

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