Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., November 11, 2009 Cheshvan 24, 5770 | | Israel Time: 00:40 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Last update - 00:21 01/01/2009
U.S. calls UN report on Gaza war unfair to Israel
By The Associated Press
Tags: Gaza, Israel News 

The Obama administration on Friday sharply criticized a United Nations report alleging that Israel committed multiple war crimes in its Gaza war earlier this year. The U.S. State Department statement ended nearly a week of muted reactions to findings already rejected by Israel.

The State Department said the conclusions of a UN commission headed by South African Justice Richard Goldstone were unfair to Israel and did not fully deal with the role in the conflict of the militant Palestinian group Hamas. It said the United States objected to a recommendation that Israeli actions be referred to the International Criminal Court.

"Although the report addresses all sides of the conflict, its overwhelming focus is on the actions of Israel," spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters.
Advertisement

While the report makes overly sweeping conclusions of fact and law with respect to Israel, its conclusions regarding Hamas' deplorable conduct and its failure to comply with international humanitarian law during the conflict are more general and tentative, he said.

The UN report, released Tuesday, faulted Israel for civilian deaths in Gaza, saying it used disproportionate force in the offensive. About 1,400
Palestinians were killed during the three-week conflict. Israel charged that Hamas was to blame, saying its fighters placed rocket launchers and forces in crowded neighborhoods.

The report also called Hamas' firing of rockets at Israeli civilians a war crime.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the findings, saying Israel's security forces were exercising their country's right to self-defense. The United States had been largely silent until Friday, limiting its response to expressions of concern about unspecified content and the panel's mandate.

That mandate was given to Goldstone and his colleagues by the UN Human
Rights Council this year, before President Barack Obama decided to end the Bush administration's policy of snubbing the body and join it.

Kelly said Friday that the United States wanted to keep discussion of the
report within the council and had very serious concerns about a recommendation that it be raised at other bodies, including the International Criminal Court.

"We note in particular that Israel has the democratic institutions to
investigate and prosecute abuses, and we encourage it to use those
institutions," he said.

U.S. officials also are troubled by the possibility that Arab states and
others might attempt to raise the report at next week's UN General Assembly session. Kelly said it was important for the world to remain focused on trying to relaunch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

"We hope efforts related to the Middle East at the Human Rights Council and other international bodies will look to the future and how we can support the goal of a two-state solution," he said.

HAARETZ SPECIAL FEATURE: The Goldstone Commission Report
PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
On Arafat's deathbed
Arafat's wife read him the Koran and urged him to defeat then-PM Ariel Sharon.
No Arabs need apply
Study shows that Arabs, Ethiopians, and Haredis can't find work - even with a degree.
  1.   The one and only convincing argument is:- 00:02  |  Esther 01/01/09
  2.   Obama credibility in the Middle East falling fast 00:11  |  John 01/01/09
  3.   Kelly`s nugget of truth 00:24  |  Johnboy 01/01/09
  4.   same old same old 00:27  |  Phil 01/01/09
  5.   "its overwhelming focus is on the actions of Israel" 00:58  |  John 01/01/09
  6.   Plus ca change... 00:26  |  David R 01/01/09
  7.   John and "disproportionate" 00:30  |  A TRUE American 01/01/09
  8.   "Looking to the future" is being complicit in crimes 00:41  |  David Howard 01/01/09
  9.   Leftie Aziza Esther from what`s now TA,otherwise 00:10  |  Absolute Sweden 01/01/09
  10.   Hamas and Israel commit war crimes 00:29  |  shelly 01/01/09
  11.   Did Hamas perpetuate the conflict: No 00:31  |  Marc Leb 01/01/09
  12.   Failed again! Many wrongs dont make right 00:57  |  Ben 01/01/09
  13.   sliding scale 00:03  |  Confused 01/01/09
  14.   Thank you America 00:31  |  Josh 01/01/09
  15.   To Phil #4 -- Your Prime Minister is a good man 00:35  |  Josh 01/01/09
  16.   So the other warmonger is defending itself preemptively 00:00  |  Rod 01/01/09
  17.   On Obama`s Watch... a lot will happen. 00:01  |  Highlander 01/01/09
  18.   Mr Goldstone is not a `Self-hating Jew`?... 00:10  |  Highlander 01/01/09
  19.   Unfair to Israel? 00:10  |  Alex Elderman 01/01/09
  20.   A shocking but not surprising response from the Obama White House 00:13  |  Yesh Prabhu 01/01/09
  21.   Is this why? 00:20  |  utagawa 01/01/09
  22.   Why would a "liberal" U.S. president Obama..... 00:30  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/01/09
  23.   Where is BS news? 00:36  |  Jasper 01/01/09
  24.   Israeli war crimes in Gaza 00:39  |  Cynic 01/01/09
  25.   Delenda est Dajjalis 00:46  |  Shimon Cleopas 01/01/09
  26.   Unfair to who, Alex 00:47  |  Sean 01/01/09
  27.   A Kernel of Change 00:05  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/01/09
  28.   to # 7 for a true american u sure speak as if 00:11  |  joe 01/01/09
  29.   Absolutely right! 00:30  |  Solovey Razboynik 01/01/09
  30.   US and Iraq 00:31  |  Marilyn 01/01/09
  31.   Yawn.....here we go again. Bye Bye Obama 00:59  |  Palestinian Brit 01/01/09
  32.   Goldstone report was a `soft touch`... his daughter 00:02  |  Highlander 01/01/09
  33.   Can anyone explain to me, why a "liberal" U.S. president Obama... 00:24  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/01/09
  34.   Most shockingly biased report.... 00:25  |  Sam 01/01/09
  35.   wher mr goldstone and the blame israel gang went wrong 00:29  |  v hardman 01/01/09
  36.   US support downgraded to a Friday dump by a nobody 00:47  |  binny 01/01/09
  37.   Obama - latest 00:51  |  JW 01/01/09
  38.   Highlander 00:00  |  Brad 01/01/09
  39.   Goldstone -The apartheid Judge 00:27  |  Joshua 01/01/09
  40.   Too mild a response from the US and no response yet from other 00:01  |  Geulah 01/01/09
  41.   It was about time 00:23  |  robby 01/01/09
  42.   GO ISRAEL!!! 00:28  |  Kevin 01/01/09
  43.   #21 if they were serious their computers would be switched off 00:09  |  vhardman 01/01/09
  44.   US Reaction Was Expected 00:10  |  Walid 01/01/09
  45.   US veto of international consensus is a disgrace 00:24  |  Ivar 01/01/09
  46.   to Swiss Dino A Simple scenario 00:27  |  CM 01/01/09
  47.   Obama is in peace-making mode, not the blaming-game... 00:34  |  Esther 01/01/09
  48.   to No. 5 00:40  |  Jackie 01/01/09
  49.   Esther #1 - WRONG! YOU ARE WRONG!! 00:23  |  S 01/01/09
  50.   This talkback takes first prize for `kangaroo-courts` 00:28  |  Esther 01/01/09
  51.   Esther #35 - But you are in the blaming game... 00:43  |  S 01/01/09
  52.   8 years of Rockets 00:48  |  Ron 01/01/09
  53.   UN Gaza report 00:55  |  H 01/01/09
  54.   Is the world getting more moral? 00:58  |  Mikael 01/01/09
  55.   Just to point out ...... 00:58  |  Johnboy 01/01/09
  56.   #33 Err, Ivar.... 00:04  |  Johnboy 01/01/09
  57.   # 34 CM, in that case Obama (urgently) would need..... 00:17  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/01/09
  58.   Maybe the good Judge Goldstein fell into his own `trap`... 00:17  |  Esther 01/01/09
  59.   Absolute #9... surprised you left out Lithuania this time... 00:27  |  Esther 01/01/09
  60.   Esther #35 - But you are in the blaming game...2nd try 00:29  |  S 01/01/09
  61.   Esther #1 - WRONG! YOU ARE WRONG!! 2nd try 00:31  |  S 01/01/09
  62.   Ian Kelly, my elbow. You too can spit into the eye of the world! 00:38  |  zmogus 01/01/09
  63.   #43 - Johnboy 00:43  |  Maurice 01/01/09
  64.   # 46 Sounds good, Esther, but then the time has probably come... 00:49  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/01/09
  65.   S 00:01  |  Walid 01/01/09
  66.   Friend S #37, 39, not sure who you are addressing, it`s not me... 00:08  |  Esther 01/01/09
  67.   to Swiss Dino so President is frightened? 00:30  |  CM 01/01/09
  68.   DINO STILL SEEING JEWISH CONSPIRACY 00:34  |  Brant 01/01/09
  69.   Dear S #37,39, methinks you are addressing a previous... 00:45  |  Esther 01/01/09
  70.   To Walid #32 00:46  |  Rob 01/01/09
  71.   To Marc Leb 00:52  |  Yosi 01/01/09
  72.   Goldstone`s next stop! 00:55  |  Yosi 01/01/09
  73.   #40 Ron 8 years of rockets how many years of occupation? 00:29  |  jim the mechanic 01/01/09
  74.   marc leb 00:33  |  jew 01/01/09
  75.   Rob 00:34  |  Walid 01/01/09
  76.   Swiss Dino (# 25), the "neutral bigot". I`ll explain it for you. 00:57  |  flyingdoc57 01/01/09
  77.   well John #2 00:22  |  Paul 01/01/09
  78.   whats unfair about it? 00:28  |  John the American 01/01/09
  79.   Consider this? 00:41  |  John the American 01/01/09
  80.   america`s reasons are transparent 00:47  |  john bolton 01/01/09
  81.   Unfair maybe, but Not Incorrect. 00:51  |  Ed 01/01/09
  82.   Esther #50 I`ll be glad if I misunderstood you... 00:58  |  S 01/01/09
  83.   # 48 CM, if that is a "top secret" information..... 00:40  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/01/09
  84.   A First Since Bush 00:40  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/01/09
  85.   surprised, anyone? 00:28  |  edgar 01/01/09
  86.   Obama is more that clear that is loosing ground 00:32  |  Jose Pedro 01/01/09
  87.   The Obama report is unfair and non-existent 00:37  |  Rod 01/01/09
  88.   now THIS is complete double-talk (3rd try) 00:04  |  eric 01/01/09
  89.   IVAR`S EASE WITH ACCUSATION 00:27  |  Brant 01/01/09
  90.   A dog loyalty 00:30  |  Max 01/01/09
  91.   A question for John the American 00:58  |  utagawa 01/01/09
  92.   #55 jew 00:16  |  BDS 01/01/09
  93.   Ian Kelly, my elbow. You too can spit into the eye of the world.. 00:48  |  zmogus 01/01/09
  94.   `sharply criticized`? 00:00  |  Colin Wright 01/01/09
  95.   What did anyone expect/ 00:12  |  Janice 01/01/09
  96.   #66 eric seees no evil hears no evil and speaks garbage 00:26  |  vhardman 01/01/09
  97.   haaretz did not place the facts before its readers 00:43  |  harzion 01/01/09
  98.   To Walid #56 00:58  |  Rob 01/01/09
  99.   #70 the bogus mogus and making war on paper 00:21  |  v hardman 01/01/09
  100.   To eric 00:36  |  H 01/01/09
  101.   BDS 00:54  |  Stephen in New York 01/01/09
  102.   Esther (#46) 00:48  |  jjvanka 01/01/09
  103.   A bit of justice? 00:50  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 01/01/09
  104.   Why is Hamas allowed to continue? 00:55  |  Baruch Gold 01/01/09
  105.   To #31 Paul Harass 00:21  |  Cynic 01/01/09
  106.   re: eric 00:47  |  UsedToPostHere 01/01/09
  107.   Ed they are allegations only 00:54  |  Peter Williams 01/01/09
  108.   #54 Jim The Mechanic: Don`t Try Fixing The ME Without The Proper 00:28  |  Lavi 01/01/09
  109.   eric #66 - Double talk??? 00:25  |  S 01/01/09
  110.   Unfair to Israel? 00:30  |  S 01/01/09
  111.   For #72 00:00  |  v hardman 01/01/09
  112.   Pity you went over-the-bend, eric #66, with narishkeit... 00:15  |  Esther 01/01/09
  113.   Goldstone report and its consequences 4 00:27  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/01/09
  114.   no haaretz editorial asked the big question 00:54  |  harzion 01/01/09
  115.   no jews live openly in pakistan 00:59  |  ivri 01/01/09
  116.   jjvanka #83, reconciliation is a kind of forgiveness... 00:02  |  Esther 01/01/09
  117.   onu report on gsza war 00:02  |  Cesare 01/01/09
  118.   99 Cipora - Deliberately Misleading? 00:26  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/01/09
  119.   Haaretz, where are the first 3 parts? 00:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/01/09
  120.   #108, Mark, the entire Goldstone report was misleading 00:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/01/09
  121.   a max boot blog 00:17  |  harzion 01/01/09
  122.   why no scrunity of afghanistan and iraq by goldstone 00:20  |  yirmiyahu 01/01/09
  123.   mark of lewiston 00:25  |  eliyahu 01/01/09
  124.   palestinians use their own people as human shields 00:27  |  harzion 01/01/09
  125.   mark of lewiston on whether israel gives charity to gaza 00:35  |  abutbul 01/01/09
  126.   david landau in the nyt this morning 00:40  |  aviezer 01/01/09
  127.   this morning the gazans fired two rockets at israel 00:46  |  raz 01/01/09
  128.   #82, Mark and the "culture of impunity" 00:00  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/01/09
  129.   barak waited and waited and waited 00:27  |  hilel 01/01/09
  130.   BDS #92 (2nd try) 00:02  |  Peter Williams 01/01/09
  131.   Rob #98 and #75 00:24  |  Walid 01/01/09
  132.   S #82 00:38  |  Walid 01/01/09
  133.   raz (as example)and today`s rockets 00:40  |  avi elram 01/01/09
  134.   Ron (#52) 00:11  |  jjvanka 01/01/09
  135.   Hilel 00:13  |  Walid 01/01/09
  136.   if visitors to the site read more deeply they would understand 00:15  |  ilan 01/01/09
  137.   #36 Err Binny... 00:18  |  The Prophet 01/01/09
  138.   johnboy DEMONSTRATES the meaning of `CLUTCHING at STRAWS` 00:32  |  CK Tan 01/01/09
  139.   132 walid to hilil, even with the folklore aside 00:55  |  Dutch 01/01/09
  140.   If this is what Obama & Hillary call change they can keep it 00:59  |  Dutch 01/01/09
  141.   avi elram there is no such thing as success in war 00:03  |  raz 01/01/09
  142.   walid thank you for the post 00:06  |  hilel 01/01/09
  143.   one section of our arab neighbours who may think like we do 00:14  |  joffe 01/01/09
  144.   #108 Lavi Who,s the revisionist? 00:16  |  jim the mechanic 01/01/09
  145.   Hilil, Re What Israeli parents fear 00:22  |  Dutch 01/01/09
  146.   Haaretz please let this in: S #110 is NOT S! 00:27  |  S 01/01/09
  147.   Yeah Walid #132 and hundreds of thousands of Israelis... 00:34  |  S 01/01/09
  148.   War Crimes in Gaza 00:48  |  Paul Macdonald 01/01/09
  149.   Cipora #119... Ha`aretz simply saved us the pontifying...so far 00:53  |  Esther 01/01/09
  150.   Overwhelming focus on overwhelming atrocities 00:26  |  David 01/01/09
  151.   S 00:55  |  Walid 01/01/09
  152.   #101 Stephen in New York 00:04  |  BDS 01/01/09
  153.   UN is so biased, it has reduced itself to an obsene joke 00:13  |  Nechama 01/01/09
  154.   #130 Peter Williams 00:14  |  BDS 01/01/09
  155.   A question for utagawa 00:15  |  American 01/01/09
  156.   #126 aviezer 00:18  |  BDS 01/01/09
  157.   Yes Walid. The chiken and egg governs until getting so tired... 00:31  |  S 01/01/09
  158.   to Cipora #128/ 1 00:39  |  Geoff 01/01/09
  159.   Cipora #128/ 2 00:41  |  Geoff 01/01/09
  160.   all un agenices should be boycotted 00:58  |  alan 01/01/09
  161.   Exactly Johnboy 00:55  |  arik 01/01/09
  162.   bds "the idf deliberately targeted the gazan civilians" 00:00  |  aviezer 01/01/09
  163.   Hilel and Dutch 00:09  |  Walid 01/01/09
  164.   david of ny "destruction by the israeli side overwhelming" 00:14  |  yoel 01/01/09
  165.   jim the mechanic thank you for the post 00:20  |  ephraim 01/01/09
  166.   158/159 Goeff - Well Said, Thanks (end) 00:28  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/01/09
  167.   geoff "no one contends american troops killed iraqi civilians" 00:30  |  eliezer 01/01/09
  168.   geoff let us concentrate on your statement that america did not 00:37  |  eliezer 01/01/09
  169.   #158-159, geoff 00:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/01/09
  170.   #161 Just listen to yourself, arik 00:05  |  Johnboy 01/01/09
  171.   Geulah, I hail the Goldstone Report as a blast of icy truth... 00:47  |  BBSNews 01/01/09
  172.   When wars are waged in civilian areas, non-combattants will die 00:48  |  Nechama 01/01/09
  173.   Geoff and Mark of Lewiston, 2 Americans in denial 00:51  |  Peter Williams 01/01/09
  174.   Geoff, don`t let the wingnuts get you down... 00:52  |  BBSNews 01/01/09
  175.   yoel and third grade argumentation... 00:00  |  BBSNews 01/01/09
  176.   BDS The IDF attack tunnels all the time 00:04  |  Peter Williams 01/01/09
  177.   #144 Jim: Jim, Since You`ve Never Been To Gaza, Let me ... 00:19  |  Lavi 01/01/09
  178.   press censorship 00:36  |  JOHN 01/01/09
  179.   #144 Jim: Jim, Since You`ve Never Been To Gaza, Let me ... 00:48  |  Lavi 01/01/09
  180.   BINNY This UN legal& factual farce is getting dumped in the bin 00:23  |  PETER SM 01/01/09
  181.   Netanyahu asks world to reject Goldstone findings 00:47  |  Mike 01/01/09
  182.   Evidence on the ground - no wonder the US is fears the UN report. 00:20  |  Maureen Ann 01/01/09
  183.   What a disgrace 00:10  |  Neil 01/01/09
  184.   MAUREEN Since when is white phosphorous illumination illegal? 00:11  |  PETER SM 01/01/09
  185.   So What`s New? 00:24  |  Jack Smith 01/01/09
  186.   #112 alas, forgive me esther; i seem to have forgotten 00:46  |  eric 01/01/09
  187.   # 109 the difference between us, "S" (2nd try) 00:47  |  eric 01/01/09
  188.   Obam Sucks Up 00:46  |  Robert 01/01/09
  189.   #171 BBS - If you read the Goldstone report 00:52  |  *BEN JABO 01/01/09
  190.   Shame on Israel 00:19  |  Steve Grumman 01/01/09
Special Offers
Advertisement
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Date Local Jewish Singles
Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
More Headlines
00:31 Lebanon condemns four alleged Israel spies to death
00:29 Assad: Syria has no preconditions for peace talks with Israel
00:21 Ahmadinejad to Obama: Choose between Israel and Iran
00:02 Brazil to buy $350 million worth of drones from Israel
00:34 Probe: Near 5-plane crash at B-G Airport due to systemic glitch
00:32 Carlo Strenger / The world is sick of Netanyahu's lack of policy
00:27 Diplomats: Iran active uranium enrichment stable since September
00:29 Dutch FM: Israel, Hamas must probe Gaza war crimes charges
00:27 TV ROUND-UP: PM: Obama meet helps Israel security; Emanuel to GA: Path to peace not just Israel's
00:20 Israel shows papers linking Iran to seized 'Hezbollah arms ship'
00:26 Washington disappointed: Netanyahu didn't present concrete steps
00:08 Abbas accuses Israel of 'disfiguring' two-state solution
00:21 Palestinian cave-dweller fights Israeli eviction
00:10 'Israel has different laws for Arab and Jewish youth'
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
| Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved