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| Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gives a speech during the opening ceremony of the Palestinian Investment Conference in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, on June 2, 2010. (Xinhua/Luay Sababa) |
BETHLEHEM, West Bank, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met on Wednesday with U.S. peace envoy George Mitchell and asked him to form a probe panel to investigate the Israeli attack on Gaza Freedom Flotilla.
The meeting was held on the sideline of the second Palestine Investment Conference held Wednesday in West Bank city of Bethlehem. The meeting had also tackled the four-month proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told a news briefing following the meeting that Abbas and Mitchell previewed the Israeli attack on the convoy of ships and forcibly preventing the fleet from reaching the Gaza Strip shores.
"President Abbas asked Mitchell to form a probe committee in coordination between the U.S. and the United Nations as well as the international Middle East Quartet," he said.
"Forming such a committee is necessary because what had happened on Monday was very serious and should not pass without investigation," said Erekat.
The Israeli naval attack on Monday against international aid fleet Gaza Freedom Flotilla, that killed activists on board, drew sharp condemnation from countries around the world.
