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PM’s Presser – Gaza inquest far from certain

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The head of New Zealand’s Law Commission has been tipped to lead a United Nations inquiry into last week’s deadly flotilla raid – but Prime Minister John Key says nothing is certain.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Monday the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon had suggested New Zealand’s Sir Geoffrey Palmer chair an investigation into the deaths of nine activists from Turkey and the United States and the arrest of over 600 others last Monday in international waters near Israel.

The incident, which saw Israeli commandos illegally board six aid vessels en route to Gaza, has sparked an international uproar and put the nation’s unlawful blockade of Gaza back in the spotlight.

The Secretary-General has not confirmed the reports, but Palmer has the credentials: the former Prime Minister is a representative to the International Whaling Commission and has sat as a judge on the UN’s International Court of Justice.

But Key told reporters at Monday’s post-Cabinet press conference there was still some way to go before the inquiry’s members were selected.

No names had been formally conveyed to the Israeli, Turkish and US delegates and there were still “some differences” on the nature of the inquiry.

Turkey has demanded an international commission but Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on an internal inquiry within the Israeli military.

Meanwhile a similar situation has played out at home: Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully met with Israeli ambassador Shemi Tzur Tuesday to call for an “immediate full investigation”.

But Tzur issued a statement within hours of the meeting denying any wrongdoing on the part of Israel.

“There was no intention whatsoever to harm people,” it read.

“I want to stress that all casualties are the responsibility of the organizers of the flotilla.”

Key could not confirm Monday whether McCully had asked specifically for an independent inquiry but said he believed McCully had made New Zealand’s position clear.

“We want an inquiry which gets to the bottom of the matter and which is seen to be fair.”

“In my view that needs to be independent,” he said

But Key would not say whether the ambassador’s comments were jumping the gun.

“One of the difficulties we’re in is that it’s impossible to comment on that because we just don’t know the facts of the case.

“We see footage that’s been released by the Israelis, we see comments from both sides but like all of these things, the only way to really work out what’s gone on is to get to the truth - and I think that won’t occur unless there’s an independent inquiry.

“[The ambassador’s comments] would be their perspective I’m sure but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right,” he said.

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