国际英语新闻：Int'l inquiry over flotilla episode in debate in Israel

JERUSALEM, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Most Israeli politicians consider their country should not allow an international inquiry into last week's events on board a Turkish ship that killed at least nine people.

However, seven Israeli cabinet ministers, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have begun to ponder over the proposal for an international panel since Sunday night. Their deliberations continued into Monday.

While many Israelis fear that any investigation without their control will prove to be a witch hunt, some analysts suggested that Israel should cooperate with such an international investigation panel.

THE GOLDSTONE EFFECT

Much of the global media is reporting Monday that Netanyahu rejected the idea raised by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. However, Israel insists it has not rejected the idea but wants time to consider it in details.

Some Israelis say they've already had a precedent that shows a UN-led team will immediately find against the Jewish state.

A commission had been established by the UN last year after the fighting in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas fighters. The subsequent report, known as the Goldstone Report, named after the panel's chairman South African jurist Richard Goldstone, accused Israel of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.

In its wake, Israeli leaders have been unable to visit such countries as the United Kingdom, where Palestinian activists have attempted to seek their arrest for allegedly committing war crimes.

Israel is concerned that any investigation into last Monday's events of last Monday will step onto the same path as the Goldstone Report.

Ban had proposed to formed a panel headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and included Israeli, Turkish and American representatives.

The current rumor in Israel is that it would rather see a domestic investigation with American observers on board. However, that is not a path recommended by Guy Harpaz, an expert on public international law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

TAKE THE INTERNATIONAL ROUTE

"In the dynamics that have been forged in the international community it might be that Israel has no choice other than to cooperate with an inquiry," said Harpaz.

The international community will not accept findings of an Israeli investigation, whether its members are just Israelis or including one or more American observers, he said.

He also questions the appropriateness of an official state commission of inquiry. While its findings may be more acceptable than any other domestic panel, it is a stick that is too severe for the flotilla saga, Harpaz said.

Such inquiries are reserved for the most serious of accusations. One example dates back to 1982 and the investigation into the role played by then Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon in the Sabra and Chatila massacres in Lebanon. Such panels tend to be too heavy handed for the type of inquiry required here, said Harpaz.