Arabs push for UN consideration of Goldstone Report next week

Arabs push for UN consid

By ELEO GIOSUÈBLEO GIOSUÈ SOLOMONT
Arab countries are pressing the UN General Assembly to discuss the Goldstone Report on Operation Cast Lead as early as next week. In a letter to General Assembly president Ali Treki of Libya, the Arab Group "requests the General Assembly to consider this report in the first week of November, in line with the recommendations from the Human Rights Council," a spokesman for Treki said. Arab League representative Yahya Mahmassani sent the letter Monday, the AFP reported. Treki is expected to put the item on the agenda, though specific dates are unclear. Mahmassani said the discussion would take place soon, "probably on November 4." A spokesman for Treki said on Tuesday that the 118-member non-aligned group sent its own letter expressing support for the Arab Group's request. The spokesman stressed the GA president was not under pressure from Tripoli and would act as a "consensus builder." "He works with all member states," the spokesman said. "Really, his opinion, if there is any, matters much less, if at all." Earlier this month, the Human Rights Council in Geneva passed a Palestinian-backed resolution endorsing the Goldstone Report. The October 16 vote recommended that General Assembly as well as other UN bodies should deal with the report. The Goldstone report said that Israel and authorities in Gaza should investigate their roles in the military operation within six months or face possible prosecution in the International Criminal Court. Observers speculated that the Arab states and non-aligned group would seek a resolution urging the Security Council to also put the Goldstone Report on its agenda. The Security Council discussed the report earlier his month in its regular meeting on the Middle East. Resolutions passed in the GA are not binding, and any resolution brought to the Security Council would likely face a US veto.