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Last update - 11:58 02/11/2009
'Why should U.S. taxpayers subsidize anti-Israel activities?'
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Barak Ravid and Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondents, and News Agencies

A U.S. congressman on Thursday accused the UN Human Rights Council of choosing to "castigate" Israel rather than ending genocides around the world, a day before the council was to vote on a resolution endorsing a damning on Israel's conduct during its offensive on the Gaza Strip.

"The UN Human Rights Council seems more concerned with castigating the State of Israel than ending genocide in Darfur, stopping mass murder in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or ending human rights abuses in countries like Iran and North Korea," said U.S. Representative Mark Kirk, co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Israel at the UN.

The 575-page report, drafted by South African Judge Richard Goldstone, concluded that Israel used disproportionate force, deliberately targeted civilians, used Palestinians as human shields, and destroyed civilian infrastructure during its December 27-January 18 incursion into the Gaza Strip to root out Palestinian rocket squads.
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Kirk blasted the council for ignoring human rights abuses in other countries, and declared: "The American taxpayer should not be forced to subsidize anti-Israel activities at the United Nations.

"Given the Human Rights Council's decision to prioritize the castigation of Israel at the expense of the rights of people in Darfur, North Korea, Iran and Venezuela, the U.S. Administration should reconsider its membership," he added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday urged members of the UNHRC to reject a resolution endorsing the report.

"Israel's only real crime is that it does not have an automatic majority in the UN," Netanyahu said at a joint press conference with visiting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.


"We hope that all responsible countries will tomorrow vote against that decision, which aids and encourages terror and strikes at peace," Netanyahu said.

The Geneva-based council is expected to vote Friday on the resolution, which would ask the Security Council in New York to determine within six months whether both sides are carrying out credible investigations into alleged abuses or to refer the issue to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands.

Netanyahu argues that the resolution, if adopted, would hamper Israel's ability to defend itself and therefore discourage it from making possibly risky concessions for peace with the Palestinians.


The UN's top human rights official backed the report Thursday accusing Israeli forces and Palestinian militants of war crimes during their conflict in Gaza last winter.

Navi Pillay's endorsement of the report by an expert group led by Judge Richard Goldstone came as Israel warned the UN Human Rights Council that approving the document risked undermining Middle East peace.

Pillay told the 47-member council that she supported the report's recommendations, including its call for urgent action to counter impunity - meaning that Israel and Hamas must investigate and prosecute those who committed war crimes.

President Shimon Peres earlier on Thursday met Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero and discussed the Goldstone report, the Iranian nuclear issue and advancing the Middle East peace process.

Referring to the Goldstone report, Peres said, "Israel has investigated every war and action which it was compelled to undertake. We do not need outside judges. We will not allow a majority that is hostile to Israel to judge us."

Peres continued, "If the Human Rights Council wants to be fair, I suggest that it consider Iran's call for Israel's destruction.... There is a limit to hypocrisy. Why isn't Iran being investigated? Why does everyone remain silent?"

Peres added that "Hamas fired missiles at homes, operated in the heart of the population and used children as human shields. No investigative committee, including Goldstone's, has provided an answer as to how to prevent Hamas's despicable terrorist acts against Israeli citizens."
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  1.   Disregard This Arrogant Posturing 16:40  |  Yaakov Sullivan 01/11/09
  2.   `Responsible countries will reject Goldstone Gaza report` 16:40  |  Abu Ahmed 01/11/09
  3.   responsible country 16:40  |  proud american 01/11/09
  4.   Israel has 16:40  |  Confused 01/11/09
  5.   an automatic majority in the UN? hahahahahah: ) 16:40  |  casual observer 01/11/09
  6.   Blackmail 16:40  |  Marie Mirabeau 01/11/09
  7.   Let me get this right 16:40  |  Peter 01/11/09
  8.   Responsible countries will reject Goldstone 16:40  |  Hugh 01/11/09
  9.   No sane world will reject the report 16:40  |  Reza Shah 01/11/09
  10.   No.responsable countries will reject israeli Gaza carnage! 16:40  |  Tony Silver 01/11/09
  11.   THE CHICKENS ARE COMING HOME... 16:40  |  EL 01/11/09
  12.   No probs, we are staying in the West Bank 16:40  |  Dan 01/11/09
  13.   none 16:40  |  NOEN 01/11/09
  14.   Fairness 16:40  |  Johnathan 01/11/09
  15.   Anybody 16:40  |  Joseph 01/11/09
  16.   No, unforntunately there is no limit to hypocrisy. 16:40  |  Fortuna Benmayor 01/11/09
  17.   Responsible Countries are begging 16:40  |  Mark Lincoln 01/11/09
  18.   Quid pro quo 16:40  |  boots 01/11/09
  19.   Speeches not selling anymore 16:40  |  David Moshkovitch 01/11/09
  20.   All "responsible" nations... 16:40  |  bob 01/11/09
  21.   Peres of Qana 16:40  |  edgar 01/11/09
  22.   A "Responsible" country would look into the accusations... 16:40  |  Miss America 01/11/09
  23.   Already 16:40  |  Philippe 01/11/09
  24.   "RESPONSIBLE" means something different in Israel. 16:40  |  PADDY 01/11/09
  25.   Investigating yourself 16:40  |  Richard Pearce 01/11/09
  26.   Propaganda works, even on U.S. Congressmen 16:40  |  CJ 01/11/09
  27.   wow the truth comes out 16:40  |  thanks 01/11/09
  28.   to the US Congressman 16:40  |  proud american 01/11/09
  29.   Peace 16:40  |  Michael 01/11/09
  30.   why talk about that UN stuff? 16:40  |  Rafa 01/11/09
  31.   UNHRC & The UN`s Incompetance 16:40  |  EZ 01/11/09
  32.   Why should we subsidize Israel`s activities. 16:40  |  Mark Lincoln 01/11/09
  33.   Why should US taxpayers subsidize pro-Israel activities? 16:40  |  John 01/11/09
  34.   Israel is the country that needs a competent FM most. 16:40  |  Fortuna Benmayor 01/11/09
  35.   Why should we pay for war crimes? 16:40  |  Candida 01/11/09
  36.   Why ask why? 16:40  |  utagawa 01/11/09
  37.   Why should we subsidize Israel 16:40  |  John 01/11/09
  38.   Is opposition to Israeli lawbreaking anti-Israel? It`s pro-Israel 16:40  |  Ivar 01/11/09
  39.   close friend to the usa means be on high alert. 16:40  |  mike 01/11/09
  40.   And why... 16:40  |  Larry 01/11/09
  41.   This US Taxpayer Wants To Hold ALL Accountable INCLUDING Israel. 16:40  |  U.S. Pal Defender 01/11/09
  42.   Israel is true to compare itself with Sudan and the Congo 16:40  |  Abu Justice 01/11/09
  43.   Why should US taxpayers subsidize Israel? 16:40  |  W 01/11/09
  44.   A better question 16:40  |  Janice 01/11/09
  45.   #40,41,42, & 43--Stupid comments 16:40  |  Don 01/11/09
  46.   Mark Lincoln # 32 16:40  |  one 01/11/09
  47.   #32 Mark Lincoln 16:40  |  Der Zweifler 01/11/09
  48.   Mark Lincoln # 17 _ The UN Should First Investigate The 16:40  |  Eli 01/11/09
  49.   I agree with the good congressman. American taxpayers should not 16:40  |  Gregory 01/11/09
  50.   Why should the Uited States 16:40  |  Mark Little 01/11/09
  51.   Fortuna Benmayor #34 `existential threats pile up` 16:40  |  Roo 01/11/09
  52.   #40, Thanks Don 16:40  |  Leah 01/11/09
  53.   #45 Don 16:40  |  Spaceq 01/11/09
  54.   National Interests 16:40  |  Stanley 01/11/09
  55.   Israel needs an attitude adjustment 16:40  |  Jim 01/11/09
  56.   What about taxpayers subsidizing Israel? 16:40  |  Ahmet 01/11/09
  57.   Israel is loosing stock in the world, its that simple 16:40  |  Ibrahim 01/11/09
  58.   should U.S. taxpayers subsidize anti-Israel activities?` 16:40  |  JOHN 01/11/09
  59.   Why Should USA Fund Anti-Palestinian Activities 16:40  |  Vladek 01/11/09
  60.   Mark Lincoln #17 - It is simple for you ("begging") - 5th try!!! 16:40  |  S 01/11/09
  61.   Mark Lincoln #17 - It is simple for you ("begging") 16:40  |  S 01/11/09
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