Israel wants U.S. report held until after Hague hearing

[Scurrilous]

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/389620.html

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"Israel has asked the U.S. administration to postpone publication of the State Department's annual report on human rights around the world, fearing it will be used against Israel in the discussion on the separation fence at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.


The report is expected to harshly criticize the operation of the fence and the humanitarian suffering it causes the Palestinians, and Israel wants the State Department document to see the light only after the ICJ discussion to prevent it from having any influence over the judges.

The request was raised in recent weeks during the course of discussions held by Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Foreign Ministry Director-General Ilan Biran and Israeli Ambassador to the United States Danny Ayalon with senior U.S. administration and Congress officials. Jerusalem has yet to receive a response to its request.

One of Israel's friends in Congress has also approached the State Department with a similar request, criticizing the report's negative slant on the fence and demanding that publication of the document be postponed by a few weeks."