UN probe of Gaza war to begin next week 
cid:image001.png@01C9E041.F13E0740 \* MERGEFORMAT

May 29, 2008
Haaretz
Original Source: 
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1088968.html http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1088968.html


The United Nations says a team of independent experts mandated to probe alleged war crimes in Israel and Gaza will leave for the Middle East over the weekend. 

UN spokesman Rolando Gomez says the mission led by veteran prosecutor Richard Goldstone is expected to start its work next week. 

Gomez told reporters in Geneva Friday that Goldstone has repeatedly asked the Israeli government to cooperate with his mission. 
	
	
Israel said Friday that it will not cooperate with a United Nations team appointed to investigate alleged war crimes committed during its 22-day offensive in Gaza. 

This committee has been instructed to find Israel guilty no matter what and there is no point in cooperating with such a masquerade, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yigal Palmor. 

Israel and other nations such as Canada have accused the UN Human Rights Council - which mandated the fact-finding mission in a January resolution passed by 33 in favor, one against and 13 abstentions - of overtly singling it out. 

The resolution which gave the UN team its mandate is profoundly biased, Palmor claimed - pointing out it has only ordered a probe only into alleged Israeli violations, while ignoring Hamas, the radical Islamist movement ruling Gaza. 

Israel launched the December 27 to January 18 offensive in Gaza in response to rocket attacks by Palestinian militants from the coastal salient at its southern towns and villages. 

Israel has described the probe as intrinsically flawed because it was ordered by the 47-member UN Human Rights Council, which has an anti-Israeli track record. 

Goldstone has indicated he will attempt to enter Gaza via Egypt if not allowed in through Israel. 

He also said he wants his team to examine both sides of the January conflict.