As Olmert Brags of UN's Rocket Focus, Ban Loses Voice

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/gaza1muteban012109.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 21 -- As Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert brags that he got a commitment from the UN's Ban Ki-moon that "any UN investigation of the damage resulting from the war in Gaza includes the damage Palestinian-fired rockets caused in Israel's south," Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas on Wednesday said the first investigation Ban is asking for is by Israel itself. The steps after that aren't clear, Ms. Montas said. Mr. Ban couldn't speak for himself. He has cancelled a press availability, and will reportedly only appear at the Security Council, but not speak. "Cat got your tongue, Ban Ki-Mute?" one wag snarked. Laryngitis, a more serious source told Inner City Press.

Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas to confirm a Ha'aretz report that Ban had agreed to Olmert's request. She nodded and confirmed, but upon follow-up questions acknowledged that Ban does not control what investigations are done. Questioned repeatedly about negative comments in the region about Ban, Ms. Montas said that a person who cannot be accused of not having the interest of Gazans at heart has praised Ban's performance.

It emerged that Ms. Montas was referring to the UN system's own John Ging, Gaza chief of the UN Relief and Works Agency. While Ging did on January 20 offer effusive praise of Ban as articulate and inspiring, it must be noted that Ging is part of the UN.

On the other hand Robert Fisk, a journalist long covering the region, has written that " Ban said it would not be up to him to launch a war crimes tribunal. It was pathetic."

Near the end of Wednesday's noon briefing, Ms. Montas explicitly denied that Ban has been conveying Israel's conditions to Hamas. Time did not allow Inner City Press this follow-up: since Tony Blair has said that the Quartet, of which the UN is a part, has said the Quartet will only deal or even speak with Hamas if it recognizes Israel, does Blair speak for Ban? Does Ban speak with Blair? Today, at least, Ban can't speak.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/gaza1muteban012109.html