Germany and Italy demands participation of Quartet in Investigations

Palestinian Telegraph

World, June 9, (Pal Telegraph) Germany and Italy announced that they want the international Quartet of mediators in the Middle East to participate to achieve "a transparent and impartial" investigation in the Israeli raid on an aid convoy which was heading to Gaza.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini, both assured after a meeting in Berlin, that they want to an international investigation and Frattini added that "its for Israel’s own benefit" forsuch an inquiry to be held.

France and Britain also called on Israel to accept an international investigation into the incident. As for Israel, an Israeli official said yesterday that Israel is consulting with the United States and other countries on the form of investigation to be conducted in the Israeli raid on an aid convoy of ships destined to Gaza.

Israel has rejected a United Nations proposal on holding an international investigation, but expressed willingness to let foreign experts or observers participate in the investigation to be conducted on how to deal with six ships headed for the besieged Gaza Strip on May 31. Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, has called for the formation of a neutral international commission of inquiry in the crime committed against the ships and passengers of the fleet of freedom which left 9 of the Turks who were on board killed and many others injured.