Paris: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas says Israel's planned investigation into the deadly flotilla raid that is to include two international observers falls short of U.N. Security Council demands.
Abbas also said "Israel must lift the blockade ... That is our principal and permanent demand."
Abbas was speaking on Monday with reporters in Paris after meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Asked about Israel's announcement that it would hold an investigation under an Israeli judge and with two outside experts, Abbas said this "does not correspond" with Security Council demands that the Palestinians had approved.
The Security Council on June 1 asked for an "impartial" investigation into the Israeli flotilla assault that killed nine people headed to Gaza with aid.
