In Israel and the Occupied Territories, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to prevent any international prosecutions of Israelis for the assault on the Gaza Strip. Speaking before the Israeli parliament, Netanyahu said a recent UN inquiry accusing Israel of war crimes “encourages terror and endangers the peace.” Netanyahu also renewed Israeli demands that Palestinians explicitly recognize Israel as a Jewish state rather than just grant it normal recognition.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “I call again to our Palestinian neighbors, say yes to a Jewish state. I know this recognition is not easy for the Palestinian leadership. I know it is a step that requires courage. I call on the heads of the Palestinian Authority to tell their people the truth, that without recognition of Israel as the state of the Jewish people, we cannot achieve peace.”

The UN Security Council is expected to take up the UN report on the Gaza assault tomorrow.