Israel to Pay UN Compensation of US $10m
Common Dreams
07-Jan-2010

Israel will pay US $10m in compensation for damage caused to United
Nations buildings in Gaza during the assault a year ago, officials have
said.

This will be the first compensation paid by Israel for damage caused during the Gaza offensive.

UN storehouses, school buildings, offices and vehicles were damaged or destroyed during the conflict.

Israel insists UN sites were not targeted during the offensive and says the payout is for collateral damage.

Israel also says that Hamas fighters operated in or near UN-protected buildings during the offensive.

The
payout is a result of several months negotiation. A UN inquiry in May
last year found that Israeli forces had, on seven occasions, "breached
the inviolability of United Nations premises" and were responsible for
deaths and injuries.

At the time UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
said he would seek more than $11m compensation from Israel for damage
to UN property.

Israeli officials say that the settlement should
be viewed as a good-will gesture and says it has a good working
relationship with the UN.

Israel's Defence Minister Ehud Barak personally notified Ban Ki-Moon of the decision, reports say.

In
a statement released last month Mr Ban said he was, "deeply concerned
that neither the issues that led to this conflict nor its worrying
aftermath are being ... >>>

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