Israel

Organization of the Islamic Conference Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu called the storming of the Gaza aid convoy on May 31 an attack against the U.N. and its values. He called for an independent and impartial investigation on the incident, which he branded as “illegal acts against humanity.” Meanwhile, women leaders convened in a Madrid conference on June 3 and called for a peaceful two-state solution to the crisis in Gaza, including an end to the three-year blockade of the territory. The attack on the aid flotilla also topped the agenda of talks between U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams and Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr. The two officials discussed Resolution 1701, which was drafted to end hostilities between Israel and Lebanon.