HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD OF INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS ON GAZA
- Robert Serry, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, told the Security Council in an open briefing this morning that there is now a welcome international consensus on Gaza.
- It is fully agreed by the Quartet that there must be a fundamental change to the situation. The basic principle that should guide the policy on Gaza is clear, Serry said. Everything should be allowed into Gaza, unless there is a specific and legitimate security reason. Israel should therefore move from the current policy – where only about 116 items are approved to enter Gaza – to a policy in which all goods and materials are able to enter Gaza unless there is a legitimate security rationale against it.
- Serry added that the Secretary-General has proposed an international panel to look into the 31 May incident – one that is under the aegis of a third party seen as impartial and in which both Turkey and Israel actively participate. The Secretary-General’s proposal is not incompatible with domestic inquiries, and his proposal, accordingly, remains on the table.
- Asked about reports that Israel had rejected the Secretary-General’s proposal for an international investigation, the Spokesperson reiterated that the Secretary-General believes his initiative is complementary to national investigations. Accordingly, he believes that the door remains open for his proposal and he is hopeful that Israel will accept it.
- Asked about Palestinian criticism of Israel’s idea of its own national investigation into the incident, Haq said that the Secretary-General’s view is that his own idea of an investigation with a strong international component would allow for an inquiry that would be impartial, credible and thorough, in accordance with the Council’s 1 June Presidential Statement.
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