Israel and the United States have agreed that the inquiry panel that will probe the violence in the Palestinian territories will not conduct an independent investigation in the field, and will not question witnesses without a prior announcement to Israel and the Palestinians, reported Haaretz newspaper, quoting the army radio.
Unnamed senior Israeli officials told the radio that the agreement was reached between Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami and US national security adviser Sandy Berger in Washington.
They also agreed that the members of the panel would focus largely on the reasons that led to the eruption of the violence, the radio said.
A draft of the panel's letter of authority, written by US President Clinton, is to arrive in Israel on Wednesday for officials to review, said Haaretz.
The radio quoted Palestinian official Nabil Shaath as saying he believed the members of the panel, headed by former senator George Mitchell, would arrive in Israel Monday – Albawaba.com
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
