<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[US lobbied to block Gaza War&nbsp;report]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<div id="divNewsDetail">
<div id="divNewsDatetime">PressTV &#8211; Tue Apr 19, 2011 1:34PM</div>
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<p><img src="https://i0.wp.com/previous.presstv.ir/photo/20110419/gholami20110419131403013.jpg" alt="" width="450px" height="300px" /></p>
<div id="divImageDesc">US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice</div>
<div id="divLead">The US administration of President Barack Obama has reportedly made efforts to block an independent UN investigation into Israel&#8217;s war against the Gaza Strip.</div>
<p>US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice was behind the move to prevent a more thorough UN investigation of alleged war crimes committed by Israeli troops during the 2008-2009 conflict, <em>Foreign Policy</em> cited diplomatic cables of WikiLeaks website.</p>
<p>In one cable, Rice spoke with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon repeatedly on May 4, 2009 to urge him to block an inquiry into Israel&#8217;s attacks on UN sites in Gaza.</p>
<p>Rice &#8220;underscored the importance of having a strong cover letter that made clear that no further action was needed and would close out this issue,&#8221; the US diplomatic cable said.</p>
<p>In another cable, Rice issued a veiled warning to the International Criminal Court that an investigation into alleged Israeli crimes could damage its standing with Washington.</p>
<p>The UN probe committee, headed by Richard Goldstone, accused Israel of committing war crimes by using disproportionate force, deliberately targeting civilians and using people as human shields.</p>
<p>The December 2008-January 2009 offensive left more than 1,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, dead.</p>
<p>Under intensive pressure from the Israelis, Goldstone on April 3 announced that he was wrong to say Israel had deliberately targeted civilians.</p>
<p>Goldstone later announced that he has no reason to believe any part of the report needs to be reconsidered at the moment.</p>
<p>On Thursday, three of the co-authors of the report rejected calls to retract it. The report could pave the way for dragging Israel before the Hague tribunal for war crimes.</p>
<p>AGB/PKH/MGH</p>
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<li><a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/174879.html">US urges UN to revoke Gaza War report</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/173408.html">Goldstone refutes UN report retraction</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/173353.html">Israel invites Gaza war UN probe chief</a></li>
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<p><a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175657.html">Source</a></p>
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<h3>Related</h3>
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<li><strong>SPECIAL TOPIC | <a href="https://occupiedpalestine.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/goldstone-report.jpg?w=242&amp;h=184">WHITE WASH WATCH – GOLDSTONE’S RECONCIDERATIONS ON THE GAZA CAST LEAD REPORT</a></strong></li>
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