Meretz calls for inquiry into Gaza War events

The Meretz party has called on the Israeli government to set up an independent commission of inquiry that would investigate possible human rights violations committed during "Operation Cast Lead" - the Gaza War.

The chair of Meretz's board, former MK Mossi Raz, explained: "The government needs to correct its mistake and swiftly establish an independent inquiry commission, in accordance with the timetable laid out in the Goldstone Report. It is entirely in Israel's interests to investigate the events of ‘Cast Lead'."

Peace Now denied Knesset access. Meretz chair intercedes.

Meretz chair, MK Haim Oron, interceded with Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud) last week, following Rivlin's decision to deny Peace Now's General Director access to the Knesset building. The decision came after Peace Now's Yariv Oppenheimer was accused of "impersonating a film student" in order to interview extremist MK Michael Ben-Ari, and other right-wing Knesset members for a documentary about the Israeli right.

Oron warned: "Denying entry to the Knesset on the basis of political beliefs is a slippery slope that leads to a deep abyss." Following Oron's intervention, Rivlin rescinded the order.