Annan asks Israeli Defence Minister for report on killing of British aid worker 

17 December Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has asked Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz for a thorough probe of the circumstances surrounding the death of British aid worker , who was fatally wounded by an Israeli soldier in the Jenin refugee camp last month.

Mr. Annan’s request came during a meeting with the Defence Minister in New York on Monday. The two exchanged views on the current difficult situation in the Middle East as well as a number of pressing Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ-Israel issues, including the recent killing of Mr. Hook and two other staff members of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA), according to a read-out of the talks provided by the Secretary-General’s spokesman.

“The Secretary-General reiterated that he expected from the Government of Israel a rigorous investigation of Mr. Hook’s killing and that the United Nations would be provided with a written report,” the spokesman reported.

Mr. Annan also stressed the need to ensure security and improved access for the staff of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA and other international humanitarian personnel in the occupied Palestinian territory. While welcoming the Israeli Government’s recent transfer of approximately $28 million in tax revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority, he stressed the need to take other practical steps to alleviate the humanitarian situation of the Palestinians, according to the spokesman.