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Netanyahu calls UN Gaza probe a 'kangaroo court' against Israel
By Barak Ravid and Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondents, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Richard Goldstone 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday blasted a United Nations probe into Israel's winter offensive against Hamas as nothing but a "kangaroo court," after the investigators accused Israel of committing war crimes in a report.

"The Goldstone report is a kangaroo court against Israel, whose consequences harm the struggle of democratic countries against terror," said Netanyahu during closed meetings, in his first response to the report, which was released on Tuesday.

He was referring to the report's author, Richard Goldstone, a South African war crimes prosecutor.


Earlier Wednesday, Israel's deputy foreign minister said the report, which focuses on Israel's winter offensive against Hamas in the coastal territory, was "dangerous" and legitimized terrorism.

"The Goldstone report is a dangerous attempt to harm the principle of self-defense by democratic states and provides legitimacy to terrorism," Danny Ayalon told the heads of the American Jewish Committee during a meeting in New York.

The deputy minister urged the Jewish community leaders to work together in order to combat the report.

Though the report accuses both Israel and Hamas of carrying out war crimes during the three-week campaign in Gaza, it focuses primarily on Israel's actions during the hostilities.

The hostilities erupted on 27 December 2008 and lasted three weeks; Israel says 1,166 Palestinians were killed in the offensive, of whom the majority were militants. Human rights groups say, however, that approximately 1,400 Palestinians were killed, mostly civilians. Thirteen Israelis were killed during the fighting: ten soldiers and three civilians.

Israel launched the offensive in response to persistent Palestinian rocket fire against towns and communities in the western Negev.

Ayalon added: "The Goldstone Report should be treated like the UN General Assembly Resolution 3379 equating Zionism with racism, thus we must mobilize and act with all force against the report in order to remove it".

Peres: Gaza probe makes mockery of history

President Shimon Peres issued a similarly scathing response to the report on Wednesday, which he said "makes a mockery of history."

"The Goldstone Commission report is a mockery of history," said Peres in reference to Richard Goldstone, the author of the report. "It fails to distinguish between the aggressor and a state exercising its right for self defense."

In his statement, Peres added: "The report in practice grants legitimacy to terrorism, premeditated shooting and killing while ignoring the duty and the right of a state to defend itself, something which is explicitly stated in the UN charter."

He blamed Hamas for launching the war, and said it also committed other "horrific crimes."

"Hamas has employed terrorism for years against Israeli children," he said. "It has detonated explosive devices in the heart of Israeli cities, harmed civilians, launched over 12,000 missiles and mortar shells aimed at innocent civilians with one clear goal in mind - to kill."

Peres noted that Israel had evacuated its soldiers and citizens from Gaza, opened the Hamas-ruled territory's crossings and aided in the rehabilitation of the Strip. After the Israeli evacuation in 2005, he said, Gaza was overrun by force by a "murderous, illegitimate terrorist organization," which launched a coup against the Palestinian Authority.

"Instead of building Gaza and worrying about the welfare of its residents, Hamas built offensive tunnels against Israel and brutally used Palestinian children and civilians in order to conceal terrorists and hide weapons," Peres said.

The president added that criticism against Israel's actions fails to offer effective alternatives that can stifle rocket fire against the country's outlying towns.

"It is a fact that the criticism leveled against Israel's actions in response to Hezbollah fire from Lebanon and Hamas fire from Gaza and against the building of the separation fence did not stop the shooting in the south, the shooting in the north, and the planting of explosives in the center," he said.

"IDF operations are what brought about economic prosperity in the West Bank, liberated Lebanon from the wrath of Hezbollah, and enabled Gaza residents to return to their daily routines."

Barak: UN Gaza report is a 'prize for terror'

The findings of the UN report constitute "a prize for terrorism," aides to Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israel Radio on Wednesday.

"The comparison between those who foment terrorism and its victims is unconscionable," an Israeli defense official told Israel Radio.

The defense establishment is making efforts to extend legal aid to officers who may face indictment on war crimes charges abroad, Israel Radio reported.

Earlier Wednesday, Ayalon said the findings of the UN report were predetermined, Israel Radio reported on Wednesday.

Ayalon said that Israel's cooperation with Goldstone would not have altered "one word" of the report. On the contrary, it would have "legitimized" the findings, Ayalon told Israel Radio.

Ayalon said the report "is a cynical attempt at role reversal in blaming Israel for war crimes instead of terrorist organizations." He added that Israel would work to enlist the support of Western democracies in a campaign "to prevent turning international law into a circus."

The deputy foreign minister, who is currently on a trip to Washington, told Israel Radio that the U.S. and the European Union both opposed the UN commission of inquiry.

Ayalon said he planned to meet Wednesday with U.S. ambassador to the UN Susan Rice to discuss ways to minimize the report's damage to Israel before it is submitted to the Security Council for deliberations.



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      1.   Is the United Nations saying, is ok to be a terrorist? 11:12  |  Viewer 16/09/09
      2.   There are just enemies 11:17  |  Fritz T. 16/09/09
      3.   is not a pow because is their hostage 14:09  |  miriam 16/09/09
      4.   Mr Barak, 14:10  |  Pablo Luis 16/09/09
      5.   The UN bias 15:18  |  David 16/09/09
      6.   pablo 15:18  |  m 16/09/09
      7.   The UN follows the International Media 15:23  |  manugw 16/09/09
      8.   Peres is a Liar 15:24  |  ahmed 16/09/09
      9.   Not Indescriminate force 15:26  |  Owen Albert 16/09/09
      10.   Why would anyone take this Goldstone seriously. 15:27  |  ottomatik 16/09/09
      11.   Hello Europe. 15:29  |  John 16/09/09
      12.   Gaza Report 15:32  |  Simeon 16/09/09
      13.   No Mr Peres Israelis makes amockery of why the state was created 15:32  |  Dutch 16/09/09
      14.   Not a mockery 15:32  |  WHG 16/09/09
      15.   Double standard as always . 16:04  |  TOMY 16/09/09
      16.   The UN keeps shooting itself in the foot with its reports. Time 16:12  |  John H. Dunn 16/09/09
      17.   Use Report To Improve So Israel Can Take The High Ground 16:18  |  Ed 16/09/09
      18.   Not a mockery, just the bitter truth 16:18  |  Michele 16/09/09
      19.   WHG and other moral hypocrits 16:22  |  Yariv 16/09/09
      20.   9 Why should anyone accept the IDF acted defensively & morally ? 16:24  |  Dutch 16/09/09
      21.   Re: Not a Mockery 16:27  |  Nunya 16/09/09
      22.   Re: #13 No Mr Peres Israelis makes amockery 16:32  |  Nunya 16/09/09
      23.   The bottom line 16:33  |  Arnold 16/09/09
      24.   Miriam 16:36  |  Chaphari 16/09/09
      25.   #13 WHG - What "independent panel" 16:44  |  Yonatan 16/09/09
      26.   To Dutch (your not really dutch) 16:52  |  Alan 16/09/09
      27.   To Dutch and others 16:52  |  Owen Albert 16/09/09
      28.   :: Barak and Peres spewing BS 16:54  |  Matty Groves 16/09/09
      29.   IDF operations liberated Lebanon from Hezbollah?? 16:54  |  johnj 16/09/09
      30.   President Peres`s comments. 16:55  |  David Nigel Braham 16/09/09
      31.   #13 dutch is right 16:56  |  odles 16/09/09
      32.   Peres right about many things 17:06  |  WS 16/09/09
      33.   Re: pablo 17:06  |  Bulliya 16/09/09
      34.   hamas is NOT a humane government and should be recognized 17:08  |  odles 16/09/09
      35.   Peres again steps out of his ceremonial role 17:14  |  avrum pesach 16/09/09
      36.   it`s lucky goldstone is the only one mentioned in the report 17:21  |  odles 16/09/09
      37.   Hamas` poses as civilians in civilian neighborhoods 17:22  |  Paul Freedman 16/09/09
      38.   Israelis and truth 17:22  |  edgar 16/09/09
      39.   How many of you have actually read the report? 17:23  |  BBSNews 16/09/09
      40.   The Comission Was Set Up By the Following Countries: 17:25  |  Eli 16/09/09
      41.   The Comission Was Set Up By the Following Countries: 17:25  |  Eli 16/09/09
      42.   Typical UN 17:25  |  Ron 16/09/09
      43.   Wolf In Grandma`s Clothing 17:27  |  ex IDF combatant 16/09/09
      44.   No war crimes? 17:28  |  Sarah 16/09/09
      45.   How were the gazans supposed to buld in the face of a siege 17:31  |  Canadian 16/09/09
      46.   The Shakshuka Report 17:32  |  zoe 16/09/09
      47.   alienating Israel is a stupid tactic 17:35  |  richelle 16/09/09
      48.   Terrorism Comes in Many Forms 17:38  |  Vladek 16/09/09
      49.   funny 17:39  |  read Hebrew 16/09/09
      50.   Gaza proves that getting out of WB would be a mistake 17:40  |  Gil 16/09/09
      51.   Gaza proves that getting out of WB would be a mistake 17:41  |  Gil 16/09/09
      52.   where is the content? 17:42  |  j 16/09/09
      53.   The nature of asymetrical war ... 17:43  |  Jasper 16/09/09
      54.   Whenever Israel is in Trouble 17:48  |  Free_Thinker 16/09/09
      55.   #5 David, Israel as whipping boy 17:48  |  alan 16/09/09
      56.   numbers 17:57  |  zen 16/09/09
      57.   To Canadian - Great Propaganda Post - Succinct and Omits the... 18:00  |  Eli 16/09/09
      58.   Just cause others are wrong 18:02  |  guy 16/09/09
      59.   Mr. Peres you are a liar! 18:06  |  Sick of it all 16/09/09
      60.   To #25: BUILD WHAT? 18:14  |  Michael Greenberg 16/09/09
      61.   #4 18:25  |  UN=arab 16/09/09
      62.   To Alan and the rest of the Moral patrol 18:27  |  Yariv 16/09/09
      63.   19 There `s nothing defensive about being an illegal occupier 18:27  |  Dutch 16/09/09
      64.   I fully understand that Shimon Peres is a bit "pissed"..... 18:27  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/09/09
      65.   BBSNews on Peres 18:31  |  Gavriela 16/09/09
      66.   m - If the force was not indiscriminate 18:36  |  r cummings 16/09/09
      67.   Peres Should Retire 18:45  |  Yaakov Sullivan 16/09/09
      68.   #32 richelle ---confused--we all renounce Israeli destruction 18:47  |  Labhras 16/09/09
      69.   Nothing new, we already new that Cast Lead was an atrocity. 18:47  |  jens 16/09/09
      70.   Remember Sharon`s "Disengagement = A Free Hand in Gaza" 18:50  |  Robert 16/09/09
      71.   Biased against Israel 18:54  |  Erik 16/09/09
      72.   Yes It is A Mockery, It Forgets Its History and Attempts to... 18:57  |  Eli 16/09/09
      73.   The UN report has no value 18:59  |  Eric 16/09/09
      74.   Israel mocks the world 19:00  |  Patrick 16/09/09
      75.   Response to Viewer (#1) 19:02  |  Rory 16/09/09
      76.   A Few Worthy Excerpts from this Non Biased and Logical report 19:05  |  Eli 16/09/09
      77.   Vladek - your logic is a bit crooked 19:06  |  Rory 16/09/09
      78.   Israel and mockery 19:19  |  Heintze 16/09/09
      79.   Terrorist and Humanatarian Groups are the same hand that kills 19:19  |  Senadhi 16/09/09
      80.   No crimes here 19:24  |  johnny2bad 16/09/09
      81.   Richard Goldstone 19:28  |  Roy 16/09/09
      82.   36 More blaming of the victims and fear mongering from Gil 19:30  |  Dutch 16/09/09
      83.   Ayalon added: "The Goldstone Report should be treated like the UN 19:32  |  edgar 16/09/09
      84.   Israel dont even THINK about leaving the west Bank - EVER! 19:34  |  not so stupid!!! 16/09/09
      85.   Goldstone the Jew 19:36  |  The Teacher/Instruct 16/09/09
      86.   The only thing that is unconscionable 19:38  |  Jack 16/09/09
      87.   Top 3 reasons Israel`s occupation is legal 19:43  |  Robert 16/09/09
      88.   Goldstone is a highly respected and distinguished 19:48  |  one 16/09/09
      89.   Good to know, Hamas said exactly the same... 19:49  |  Goy 16/09/09
      90.   But Israel was the aggressor 19:51  |  Marilyn 16/09/09
      91.   Wish I Had a Dollar -Every Time I Heard the Right to Self Defense 19:54  |  stephen 16/09/09
      92.   Government response 19:58  |  Ben barham 16/09/09
      93.   Barak Ravid,s UN report legitimizes terror 20:06  |  Saul Balagura 16/09/09
      94.   Most people are not aware that 20:14  |  Rami 16/09/09
      95.   The UN Report 20:25  |  Maresa Elliot 16/09/09
      96.   It is always dangerous to lie to yourself 20:34  |  Mark Lincoln 16/09/09
      97.   The UN has become a joke. Go Israel! 20:49  |  4:20 16/09/09
      98.   war crimes 20:49  |  Steve 16/09/09
      99.   Stephen (#76) 20:51  |  Rory 16/09/09
      100.   To Marilyn (73) from Apartheid Australia: You`re a hypocrite 20:52  |  Robert 16/09/09
      101.   Rami from Amman 20:53  |  Rory 16/09/09
      102.   Gavriela, it took me nine hours to read it... 20:58  |  BBSNews 16/09/09
      103.   The Teacher/Instruct 21:14  |  Yaakov Sullivan 16/09/09
      104.   Mr Barack 21:21  |  Salomon 16/09/09
      105.   goldstone is brave 21:23  |  montader 16/09/09
      106.   Reponse 21:23  |  Salomon 16/09/09
      107.   Robert and the Usual Zionist 3 "No`s" 21:24  |  Yaakov Sullivan 16/09/09
      108.   To # 34 - it is funny indeed! 21:30  |  Eyal 16/09/09
      109.   10 years of rockets falling in jewish land is OK for the immoral 21:40  |  Jose Pedro 16/09/09
      110.   UN Report Legitimazes Terror? 21:47  |  Al Elderman 16/09/09
      111.   rcummings #51 21:55  |  Yariv 16/09/09
      112.   UN Gaza report 21:59  |  Rigoletto 16/09/09
      113.   rami 94 22:22  |  alan 16/09/09
      114.   to the left wing on their hatred of israel 22:22  |  aviezer 16/09/09
      115.   #45 Canadian - What Siege??? 22:26  |  Jason 16/09/09
      116.   waht the west does to iraq and afghanistan is permitted 22:27  |  ethiopian prince 16/09/09
      117.   Of course 22:29  |  Gurmit Singh 16/09/09
      118.   report is a dangerous apolagia for terror 22:34  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/09/09
      119.   what justiies occupation? 22:36  |  jorgen 16/09/09
      120.   peres lies as he breathes 22:38  |  Marcos 16/09/09
      121.   Re:#9 Owen - "Not Indescriminate Force" 22:42  |  Ice 16/09/09
      122.   Not anh yahu, Gaza 04:56  |  Aristo 17/09/09
      123.   dismissing it as "biased" just doesn`t hack it! 05:02  |  eric 17/09/09
      124.   BBS .It will be dissipation of this report despite you 05:36  |  arik 17/09/09
      125.   arik, the moral difference between you and me... 08:03  |  BBSNews 17/09/09
      126.   #116 ethiopian prince 02:27  |  Solovey Razboynik 18/09/09
      127.   As usual, UN antisemitic 06:57  |  ab 18/09/09
      128.   arik, the moral difference between you and me... 07:03  |  AB 18/09/09
      129.   Goldstone loves Israel?? 21:08  |  Rivka C. 26/09/09
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