Annan admits being media manipulated

UN Chief forced to retract skeptical comments in face of solid Israeli proof

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By Stan Goodenough
June 16, 2006

It is something of an historic event that some hope may give other world leaders pause before they leap to swallow negative news reports about the activities of Israelis.

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on Thursday admitted allowing himself to be manipulated by media reports into doubting the veracity of an Israeli probe into an explosion that killed seven Arabs in Gaza.

According to Ynetnews, Kofi Annan retracted skeptical comments he made Wednesday in response to the findings of an IDF investigative committee that Israel was not responsible for the deaths.

The seven, all members of one family, were killed when some form of bomb or missile detonated near where they were picnicking on a northern Gaza Strip beach on June 9.

Arab reaction was instantaneous; accusing Israel of committing what Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called an act of ?genocide.?

The world press unhesitatingly took up the ?Palestinian? cry. From Australia to the United States Israel was condemned for killing civilians; the inference often being that it was a deliberate act.

When, at a press conference, the IDF announced its investigation had ruled out the possibility of Israeli involvement, Annan took his reading from the overwhelmingly sarcastic media coverage that followed, and called the findings ?very strange.?

Called onto the carpet by the Israeli government, the secretary general admitted:

"I responded to speculations in the press. The answer was given before Israel published its findings. We need to wait for Israel to publish its final report."

Meanwhile, the ?Palestinians? and other anti-Israel groupings are demanding an ?independent? UN investigation into the deaths take place.

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