U.S., EU pile on pressure for Israel to create own panel on Gaza op

The United States and a number of important EU countries are pressing Israel to establish an independent commission of inquiry into the findings of the Goldstone report on last winter's Gaza offensive.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicholas Sarkozy, for example, have written a letter on the subject to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and messages have been sent through diplomatic channels, in phone calls and in Netanyahu's meetings with senior American and European officials, said a senior official in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu has yet to take a stance in debates in the cabinet and security cabinet on the issue, let alone decide on the matter. No decision is expected in the next few days, according to a source in the Prime Minister's Bureau.

The main supporters of establishing a commission are Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor and Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, while the main opponents are Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai.

Other ministers supporting a serious inquiry include Improvement of Government Services Minister Michael Eitan and Minority Affairs Minister Avishai Braverman. They say the only way to prevent Israel's isolation and possible action in the United Nations or International Criminal Court is by establishing a committee.

Yesterday, President Shimon Peres harshly condemned the Goldstone report, telling the U.S. envoy to the United Nations, Susan Rice, that it "is outrageous that a respected institution like the United Nations provides a platform to spread lies and stories about Israel."

He said that the "United Nations provides a stage for Ahmadinejad, who threatens to annihilate Israel, and lets him stand judge. This is nothing short of ridiculous."

Rice promised that the United States would continue to stand by Israel as a loyal friend in the fight against the Goldstone report.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch said the Hamas authorities in Gaza should immediately launch a "credible investigation" into allegations of serious violations by its fighters during Operation Cast Lead.

The call came in a letter the international NGO sent on Tuesday to Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas said in response that while it would launch an investigation, the appeal by Human Rights Watch would be better directed toward Israel.

A statement by the NGO noted that a UN fact-finding mission into the Gaza fighting, led by Justice Richard Goldstone, called on Hamas and Israel to investigate within three months alleged war crimes by their respective forces during the three weeks of fighting that ended January 18.