PM's Office: Bibi didn't call for inquiry commission

Following Washington Post interview, Netanyahu's office issues clarification: Bibi did not back independent inquiry into Gaza war to look into Goldstone Report charges

Roni Sofer
YNET News

The Prime Minister's Office issued a clarification Saturday following a Washington Post interview where Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted as saying Israel is considering an independent commission of inquiry into the Gaza War. In the statement, the PM's Office made it clear that "the prime minister did not intend to say that there is a need for an independent commission of inquiry" into charges made in the recent Goldstone Report.

"The prime minister made it clear that Israel investigates events of the type that took place during Operation Cast Lead routinely, and in line with existing internal procedures, with no relation to the Goldstone report," the statement said. The PM's office also stressed that Netanyahu told the newspaper that Israel has looked into the Gaza War even before the adoption of the UN report.


Netanyahu told the Washington Post that Israel has investigated and tried soldiers in the past for improper conduct, because Israel is a democratic state.


When asked about the need for an independent commission of inquiry, Netanyahu reportedly said that Israel is considering it, but not because of the Goldstone Report.


In the interview, Netanyahu also reportedly hinted that if anything needs to be probed it's the question of how the Goldstone commission was established in the first place.