Israel protests against UN fact-finding team

Israel is protesting the make-up of the UN fact-finding team appointed to investigate allegations of a massacre in the Jenin refugee camp on the West Bank.

Israeli Defence Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer called UN secretary general Kofi Annan yesterday to complain that Israel was not consulted on the make-up of the three-man team.

He also asked that the fact-finding mission be limited to Jenin, but Mr Annan has not ruled out possible visits to other West Bank cities.

The focus of Israel’s complaint was the fact that retired US major general William Nash was only appointed as an advisor to the team and not made a full member.

The team will be led by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari and also includes Cornelio Sommaruga, former president of the Red Cross, and Sadako Ogata, the former UN high commissioner for refugees.

Mr Nash will serve as military advisor to the team, while former Assistant Garda Commissioner Peter Fitzgerald will be policing advisor.