Israel lists demands for UN mission to Jenin

11.50am

UNITED NATIONS - Israel has appealed to the United States to make sure the UN fact-finding mission into the devastation at the Jenin refugee camp would not present conclusions in its final report, one of six Israeli demands.

A letter from Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres to US Secretary of State Colin Powell was sent as the UN Security Council held consultations on Israel's repeated requests for delays of the mission to the West Bank camp.

However, the council held off action, awaiting an Israeli Cabinet decision on Tuesday.

Peres, in his letter, obtained by Reuters, said the team's report should be submitted only as "findings" and not include "observations," the UN term for conclusions. UN officials would not comment but some earlier had objected to Israel dictating the structure of the final report.

He also said the report should explicitly mention the word "terror" in relation to events in Jenin. Mention of international humanitarian law must include references to the "right of self-defence" and the "rights to fight terrorism."

Palestinians say a massacre occurred during Israel's three-week assault of the camp, which the Jewish state says was necessary to root out "terrorist networks." Israel says at the most 50 Palestinian fighters and civilians were killed.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who said it was "very urgent" the mission go ahead, had expected a decision from the Israeli Cabinet on Monday but the body did not meet. The Cabinet is now expected to make a decision early on Tuesday, UN Undersecretary-General Kieran Prendergast said.

He said the team, headed by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, was waiting in Geneva, ready to travel to Jenin, scene of the heaviest fighting since Israel's March 29 military offensive in the territory in response to a wave of suicide bombings.

Peres said Israel would respond to requests to interview its public servants in accordance with "Israeli law and at its discretion". Any testimony of other Israelis had to be made available to Israel, prior to completion of the team's report, so Israel could comment on the testimony.

Submission of documents to the committee would be based on the discretion of the Israeli government, Peres added.

"Faced with a relentless battle against terrorism on the one hand and wishing to co-operate with the international community on the other, we are obliged to ensure that our very basic interests, and those of our military and security servicemen, are fully protected," Peres said.

The Israeli Cabinet said on Sunday the time was "not yet right" for the team to begin its work. It was the third delay sought by Israel since the Security Council approved the Jenin mission on April 19, with Peres' consent.

The United States, Britain and Russia on Monday added their voices to the chorus of European and Arab nations urging Israel to allow the UN team into Jenin.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told BBC radio he had telephoned Peres to say, "If you have nothing to hide, for Pete's sake get this fact-finding mission in as soon as possible."

In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters, "We think the mission to Jenin should move forward as soon as possible."

In Moscow, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said, "All member states are bound by Security Council resolutions, and Russia will insist Israel allow the mission to reach Jenin."

Israel earlier had demanded more police and counter-terrorism experts on the mission, fearing it was dominated by officials with a humanitarian background who could not analyse why the attack was necessary.

The United Nations on Monday released the names of four more experts it had promised last week. Col Miles Wade of Britain and French Maj Francois Xavier Thomas are to assist retired US Army Gen William Nash, the ranking military official on the team.

Two Irish police officials, Inspector Patrick Leahy and Assistant Commissioner Dermot Jennings, who has experience in counter-terrorism work, will assist Irish police commissioner Peter Fitzgerald. The team's forensic expert, Helena Ranta of Finland, will have three assistants from the University of Helsinki, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

- REUTERS

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