Arab League slams Israel for blocking UN fact-finding mission

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa yesterday slammed Israel "for blocking the work of a United Nations fact-finding mission into Israeli war crimes in Jenin refugee camp."

Speaking in South Africa on the sidelines of a Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting, Moussa also welcomed the UN chief Kofi Annan's insistence on sending the mission to the camp.

He added that the Israeli stance refusal to permit the UN Human Rights Commissioner to visit the West Bank showed that Israel has something to hide.

"We will not overlook the Israeli atrocities which mount to war crimes whose perpetrators must be brought to justice," he said.

The UN announced that the mission was delayed again by Israel, and it will proceed on its mission on the new date of this Sunday.