MIDDLE EAST Israel stepped up a diplomatic offensive on Thursday against a damning report by a United Nations panel that accused its military of committing war crimes during attacks in the Gaza Strip in December and January. The report, released on Tuesday by a mission organised by the UN Human Rights Council, called for action by the UN Security Council that could lead to the referral of alleged crimes to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
It comes just before the United Nations General Assembly next week where Barack Obama, US president, hopes to meet both Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, and Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority. But the atmosphere is clouded by negotiations over a possible freeze on Israeli settlement development and the UN report, from a panel chaired by Richard Goldstone, a South African jurist, which has prompted concern that the ICC could issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
