Sarkozy, Brown (Archives)
Photo: Reuters
UK, France to PM: Israel has right to self-defense
British Premier Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy send letter to Netanyahu, express their support of Israel's right to defend itself against terror; urge 'independent, transparent investigation of Gaza events'
British Premier Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu overnight, saying that they while they realized that the UN's Goldstone Report on the Gaza war was "a sensitive issue for Israel and the Palestinians," they still urge temperateness from both sides.
The letter was sent following France and Britain's decision to abstain from the UN Human Rights Council vote on the report.
War Report
Yitzhak Benhorin
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Paris and London, said the letter, recognize Israel's right to defend itself and are "convinced peace would guarantee Israel's security best."
The two also urged Netanyahu to hold "an independent and transparent investigation of the events in Gaza, whose results were shared with us."
The prime minister was also asked to "facilitate increased access to Gaza, including the opening of crossings for humanitarian convoys" and to "halt to settlement activity in occupied territories and the resumption of negotiations on the basis of parameters recalled by President (Barack) Obama in his speech to the UN.
Friday saw the UN Human Rights Council endorse the Goldstone Report and refer it to the international body's Security Council, possibly setting up international prosecution of Israelis and Palestinians accused of war crimes.
Nevertheless, US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said that the endorsement per se did not necessarily mean that it the Security Council will indeed review the report.
Kelly told reporters in Washington that the resolution had "an unbalanced focus and we're concerned that it will exacerbate polarization and divisiveness."
Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon criticized the decision: "Israel rejects this distorted decision and the dangerous, terror-conducive report.
"We are encouraged by the states that voted against it, as by those which abstained. Israel will not be taught ethics by those who supported the decision – those who have complete disregard to human rights. This report will bear no affect on Israel's methods of defending its citizens."
