UN to urge credible probes of alleged Gaza war crimes

AFP: Amid strong Israeli opposition, the UN General Assembly prepared Wednesday to ask Israel and the Palestinians to launch credible, independent probes of alleged war crimes committed during the Gaza war nearly a year ago. The 192-member body was to vote on a non-binding text pushed by Arab states that endorses a UN report calling for investigations "that are independent, credible and in conformity with international standards." The text also asks UN chief Ban Ki-moon to monitor the implementation of the draft resolution and report back to the General Assembly within three months with "a view to considering further action, if necessary, by the relevant UN organs and bodies, including by the Security Council." Israel has launched a vigorous campaign to try to stop adoption of the Arab-sponsored text in the Assembly, where the major powers cannot exercise the veto right they wield in the Security Council. Israeli deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon accused the Palestinians Tuesday of "manipulating international institutions in order to hurt and criticize Israel."