Libya - Middle East UN investigation

Libya calls for emergency meeting on UN Gaza report

Article published on the 2009-10-07 Latest update 2009-10-08 09:27 TU

Ambassador of Palestine to the UN Ibrahim Khraishi at a meeting for the Gaza fact finding mission of the UN Human Rights Council
(Credit: Reuters)

Libya, a non-permanent United Nations Security council member called for an emergency meeting on Wednesday in order to examine the UN goldstone report on Gaza that condemned the Israeli offensive. Arab diplomats indicate that the Security Council would be holding consultations as to whether or not to hold a formal meeting on the report. Under US pressure, the debate was delayed.

"We are welcoming Libya's step that they have asked the security Council to meet tomorrow [Wednesday] to discuss the Goldstone report," Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said.

Palestine had originally respected the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to defer a vote as to whether the report should go to the Security Council.

On Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said that rival Palestinian factions were to sign a reconciliation deal slated for 26 October.

But this peace process could stall as Hamas said Tuesday that the controversy over the report could derail the peace agreement.

Hamas has been against Abbas agreeing that a vote in the Human Rights council on sending the report to the UN Security Council should be delayed. Hamas had earlier accused Abbas of betraying the 1,400 Palestinians who died during the conflict.