UN sets deadline for independent investigations into ‘war crimes’ during Gaza conflict

Today, the Arab League approved a plan to resume the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Ministers from the league, speaking in Cairo, endorsed a plan to have indirect talks during the next four months mediated by US officials. Talks between Israel and Palestine have been frozen since Israel's invasion of Gaza in late 2008. The conflict continues to have major influence on the prospects of peace.

Last Friday, the UN General Assembly voted to give Israel and the Palestinian Authority an additional five months to investigate war crimes committed during that conflict. The move follows the Goldstone Report, presented to the UN last September, which recommended both sides conduct full, impartial investigations.

To discuss the latest news from the UN and what it means for the peace process, we're joined by Zachary Lockman, chair of the Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at New York University.