It was more of a demand than a request, but I agree that Israel had every reason to feel the U.N. was preparing to do a one-sided propaganda number on them. I still believe they would have been better off letting some people in and taking their lumps because they already lost the propaganda war when it appeared that they were trying to hide something. Either way, this business of 'collective punishment' that the Israeli's seem so fond of is really starting to backfire on them. World opinion is turning away from them, and I don't believe its just because of anti-semitism like they claim. Sharon has caused the Israeli's to appear as the aggressers and oppressors and whatever claim they may have once held to the moral high ground has evaporated.
Until the Arab Oil revenues plumet, no one is safe on this earth.