[Al Arabiya Latest] United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday gave in to pressure from Israel by rejecting a U.N. report that accused Israel of "gross negligence and recklessness" in its 22-day assault of the Gaza strip, even as he said the U.N. would seek compensation for damages.
Ban, who appointed the four-person inquiry board in February, rejected the reports' recommendations for further investigations into whether Israel had breached international law, including its use of deadly white phosphorus bombs, and said he would only seek compensation for the more than $11 million of damage to U.N. property.
The report criticized the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for causing civilian deaths as well as attacking and even destroying U.N. facilities.
Ban said the full 184-page report was being kept secret because information in it could prejudice U.N. security, but sent a 27-page summary to members of the U.N. Security Council and Israel. |