U.S. House backs resolution to condemn Goldstone Gaza report

RE: the cowardly surrender of Congress to AIPAC over the Goldstone report. Perhaps the Palestinian Authority should publicly dismiss further discussions with the current administration that has now twice double-crossed them, and open direct discussions with AIPAC, since they seem to be the drivers of American policy. Why bother with intermediaries and water carriers?

'The Stages' argument. I already heard this many times and of course it can easily apply to any revolutionary or liberation movement or any resistance movement at any time or place. A kind of circular logic which automatically justifies rejection of any compromise. The Charter would not conceivably change without any agreement with Israel. It is old, but it is not meant to be holy so there is no reason why it could not change if an agreement were ever to be ratified. This has been stated by Meshal for one. Ratification of any agreement could easily hinge on such a revision of the charter and is therefore not a serious impediment to opening indirect negotiations, merely a fig leaf of an excuse, like the *stages argument*. The recognise Israel as a 'Jewish State' mishigas is just that. A deliberate spoiler. Why would Hamas offer recognition when Israel has never recognised the right of Palestinians to a State in Gaza and WB? It has only inferred it, as has Hamas. What's good for the goose... A desperate PLO did recognise Israel's right to statehood and boy has it been rewarded! Hamas already noted the reward, some lucrative bribes for PA officials and their families.

"...UNHCR chose to prostitute Goldstones report so its not worth the paper it is written on.!" If that's the case, why all the P.R. campaigns and arm-twisting by the Israeli government? One would almost think that Israel has something to hide.

the tendrils of aipac's influence that grip their souls have squeezed tightly to remind them of its power; real or perceived. although i sometimes think that many of them act in total ignorance of truth regarding ALL aspects of the conflict, and end up following the precedents set by others. they go with the flow because they really don't know. everyone remembers obama's "undivided jerusalem--oops, what i meant was...". unfortunately, the majority of these guys and gals are tied up in their own little world of politics, that they don't have the time, or the inkling, to spend too much learning the intricacies of the mid-east conflict. this makes them easily influenced by the more senior members who are aipac's thralls. justice and human rights for the palestinians will never come from the legislative branch of the american government until aipac's manipulations are exposed to the american public and it and its thralls are politically minimized. the ONLY hope lies with the department of state(which isn't a hold up), and a president who's not afraid to put aipac's power to test(which has been THE hold up thus far).

AS A CITIZEN OF INDIA, I SUPPORT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IN CONDEMNING THE GOLDSTONE GAZA REPORT. I SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND THE DECISIONS TAKEN BY THEIR LEADERS.

Battered by Israel, Hamas faces tough choice By Jeffrey Fleishman and Rushdi abu Alouf|January 12, 2009 Reporting from Gaza City and Jerusalem ? Hamas fighters are scattered in cells across the Gaza Strip, launching rockets, ambushing Israeli soldiers, and vanishing into tunnels and bunkers to escape airstrikes on a pummeled terrain of shattered buildings and bodies curled and crumpled in the streets. As the Israeli incursion rumbles into a 17th day, witnesses in Gaza and analysts portray the Islamic militant group as battered but defiant. Its walkie-talkie networks bleep and scratch through alleys and its fighters, many in civilian clothes, move with the stealth of urban guerrillas, booby-trapping neighborhoods, communicating through e-mails, text messages and whispers in marketplaces. 2.Syd.Morn.Herald Hamas tried to hijack ambulances during Gaza war.Jason Koutsoukis in Gaza City.January 26, 2009 Mohammed Shriteh, 30, is an ambulance driver registered with and trained by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. His first day of work in the al-Quds neighbourhood was January 1, the sixth day of the war. "Mostly the war was not as fast or as chaotic as I expected," Mr Shriteh told the Herald. "We would co-ordinate with the Israelis before we pick up patients, because they have all our names, and our IDs, so they would not shoot at us." Mr Shriteh said the more immediate threat was from Hamas, who would lure the ambulances into the heart of a battle to transport fighters to safety. "After the first week, at night time, there was a call for a house in Jabaliya. I got to the house and there was lots of shooting and explosions all around," he said. Because of the urgency of the call, Mr Shriteh said there was no time to arrange his movements with the IDF. "I knew the Israelis were watching me because I could see the red laser beam in the ambulance and on me, on my body," he said. Getting out of the ambulance and entering the house, he saw there were three Hamas fighters taking cover inside. One half of the building had already been destroyed. "They were very scared, and very nervous ? They dropped their weapons and ordered me to get them out, to put them in the ambulance and take them away. I refused, because if the IDF sees me doing this I am finished, I cannot pick up any more wounded people. "And then one of the fighters picked up a gun and held it to my head, to force me. I still refused, and then they allowed me to leave."

thank you for reading my posts. i do not necessarily disagree with you. the u.s. is not perfect. there is no doubt that there is much corruption among politicians. my remarks to ardi were meant to be more limted than what you suppose. since terror attacks on the u.s., americans-read people-will not tolerate terrorism-read islamic in particular. furthermore, the comparison to soviets is unacceptable. only people who have no experience with totalitarian regimes would make such comparisons. obviously, the u.s. government will use very unsavoury people for its own purposes. the most notorious example is the entry visas to thousands of nazi scientists. yet, they allowed the u.s. to become a superpower. god must have a sense of irony.

CIpora I gave you credit for more intelligence even though I rarely agree with you. You say Americas have no tolerance for terrorists? Then why is the Cuban American terrorist who blew up a Cuban airliner killing all aboard walking around Miami and treated as a hero? Why did the US fund and train the contras whose main attacks were against civilians, especially hospitals and schools. Reagan called these terrorists who were responsible for thousands of deaths "the moral equivalent of our founding fathers." When the murderer Pol Pot, responsible for millions of deaths was attacked by Vietnam who did the U.S. think was the enemy? Not the terrorist Pol Pot, but the Vietnamese who were trying to drive out Pol Pot. The US has a long record of supporting terrorism as long as those terrorists were pro-Western. America's hands are not clean. As for our Congress it may well be one of the more corrupt legislative bodies in the world bought and paid for by special interests.

American "israel must be forced to abide by all UN resolutions and International Laws." Palestinians must be forced into accepting Un 1947 resolution which they never accpepte till today Palestinians musat stop thier muder of Jews and thier cries Jews stole land Accept UN resolutions of 1947

The very fact that the US House of Reps took the time to vote on the report goes to show just how much influence the Israelis/Jews have over the US government. There isn't another country on the Planet which would go to such lengths to highlight their subservience to Israel. I guess they ALL forgot that Hamas did NOT break the cease-fire - ISRAEL DID! But, it would appear that Israel can do no wrong, even when they slaughter 1400 Palestinians. Truth is the enemy of all lies, which must keep the Israelis VERY BUSY!

The House represents the American people. We the people remember 3000 murdered by Arabs on 9-11. Some of us who read and follow the news know that Palestinians did not do this, but they did pass out candy. But Americans like their politics simple. Arabs bad. I am not saying this is right. I am saying this is how it is over here. We also have our kids read 'The Diary of Anne Frank'. Don't be so quick to condemn America for our considered opinion on the matter. Except for 5 or 6 noisy posters claiming to be from here (which I doubt) America loves Israel.

Goldstone's report is NOT true. The ONLY and MOST ridiculous one is the UN "HR" giving the floor to a bias one like Goldstone. And the ignorant ones would be you who believe such false allegations cited in Goldsone?s report. Please watch an expert saying the truth, you might learn something. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX6vyT8RzMo&feature=player_embedded# Many agree with Col. Kemp

LOL -- just look at their approval ratings in America.

You name a bunch of slugs whose influence seems to threaten the very foundations of your "Amen Corner." The question is, how many more of these goobers can you allow to stand in that corner until the whole thing collapses from the collective weight of them?

" If there was a Somalian pirate ship off the coast of London or Spain shooting missles at your city centers, but the ship had women and children on it. Would your Spain or England be criminal for sinking the ship? " Of course Israel or any other country would defend itself - Thank you for posting, Jim, please keep it up.

leo , you say this as if it is a badge of honor to have 200 resolutions against israel .

'The Stages' argument. I already heard this many times and of course it can easily apply to any revolutionary or liberation movement or any resistance movement at any time or place. A kind of circular logic which automatically justifies rejection of any compromise. The Charter would not conceivably change without any agreement with Israel. It is old, but it is not meant to be holy so there is no reason why it could not change if an agreement were ever to be ratified. This has been stated by Meshal for one. Ratification of any agreement could easily hinge on such a revision of the charter and is therefore not a serious impediment to opening indirect negotiations, merely a fig leaf of an excuse, like the *stages argument*. The recognise Israel as a 'Jewish State' mishigas is just that. A deliberate spoiler. Why would Hamas offer recognition when Israel has never recognised the right of Palestinians to a State in Gaza and WB? It has only inferred it, as has Hamas. What's good for the goose... A desperate PLO did recognise Israel's right to statehood and boy has it been rewarded! Hamas already noted the reward, some lucrative bribes for PA officials and their families.

By Jeffrey Fleishman and Rushdi abu Alouf|January 12, 2009 "-As the Israeli incursion rumbles into a 17th day, witnesses in Gaza and analysts portray the Islamic militant group as battered but defiant. Its walkie-talkie networks bleep and scratch through alleys and its fighters, many in civilian clothes, move with the stealth of urban guerrillas, booby-trapping neighborhoods, communicating through e-mails, text messages and whispers in marketplaces-" 2.CBS GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip, Jan. 19, 2009 In Gaza, Hamas Struggles To Restore Order "-The high visibility of uniformed Hamas police stood in contrast to the furtive movements of Hamas fighters in civilian clothing who confronted or tried to evade the Israeli onslaught that began Dec. 27. Some have suspected the Islamic group was in disarray, but even some Israeli observers have acknowledged that the tightly knit organization remains largely intact.-"" 3.WIKIPEDIA "As Israeli tanks and troops seized control of large parts of the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands of Gazans fled their homes amidst artillery and gunfire, and flooded into the inner parts of Gaza city.[120] Gun battles broke out between the IDF and Hamas on the streets of Gaza as the IDF surrounded the city.[121][122] "

Baird Baldwin Blumenauer Boustany Capps Carson (IN) Clarke Clay Davis (KY) Dingell Doggett Edwards (MD) Ellison Filner Grijalva Hinchey Johnson, E. B. Kilpatrick (MI) Kucinich Lee (CA) Lynch McCollum McDermott McGovern Miller, George Moran (VA) Olver Pastor (AZ) Paul Price (NC) Rahall Snyder Stark Waters Watt Woolsey

Switzerland, we can watch how those liberal and progressive Swiss set up laws preventing the construction of mosques. Yeah, real nice piece of Democracy you have there.

'It`s sense of fairness' Lee hmm. As in the greatest disparity of wealth in the entire 22 nations of the OECD? Or as in 50 million folks without healthcare? Or as in the greatest proportion of its citizens in prison [OECD]? Or as in its trillion dollar bailout of the banking and financial fraternity? Or as in its political class' utter dependence on corporate lobbyists for financial support [bribery]? Ah yes...God bless Goldman Sachs!!!

It is not easy in the U.S. Congress to stand up to the Israeli lobby but yesterday 36 courageous members of Congress did just that. May their numbers grow!

Those who did not accept Israel's version of Jenin until it was proved beyond doubt should consider where they place their trust this time around. Israel is the moral factor despite the world's calumny

'The Stages' argument. I already heard this many times and of course it can easily apply to any revolutionary or liberation movement or any resistance movement at any time or place. A kind of circular logic which automatically justifies rejection of any compromise. The Charter would not conceivably change without any agreement with Israel. It is old, but it is not meant to be holy so there is no reason why it could not change if an agreement were ever to be ratified. This has been stated by Meshal for one. Ratification of any agreement could easily hinge on such a revision of the charter and is therefore not a serious impediment to opening indirect negotiations, merely a fig leaf of an excuse, like the *stages argument*. The recognise Israel as a 'Jewish State' mishigas is just that. A deliberate spoiler. Why would Hamas offer recognition when Israel has never recognised the right of Palestinians to a State in Gaza and WB? It has only inferred it, as has Hamas. What's good for the goose... A desperate PLO did recognise Israel's right to statehood and boy has it been rewarded! Hamas already noted the reward, some lucrative bribes for PA officials and their families.

Can I ask you who ownes and controls the US media.

the 334 congressmen have been blinded by the lobbyist bribes and therefore cannot see exactly what happened in Gaza.

Well said. US Congress condemning Goldstone Gaza report is accepted by Israel and her lobbyist only. No one else in the world buys the Congress decision for one red penny. They are the same members who are always against the Middle East peace process.

Roo:"Their leaders have stated many times ...that a return to 67 lines with the PA negotiating and a referendum by the Palestinians would be something they would readily agree to" The problem with statements made by Hamas leadership is that they never agree to recognise Israel. This means that their agreement to "accept" a return to 67 lines represents nothing more than Stage 1 of their plan to take over Israel as stated in their Charter. The Charter is the contract with the membership, it is their raison d'etre and cannot be rationalised away. Any verbal statements made by Hamas to a Western journalist mean absolutely NOTHING while the Charter remains unchanged. Hamas know this even if you don't. The Quartet requires Hamas to recognise Israel, give up the violence and recognise previous agreements. Once this happens Hamas can be "given their chance" as you say. It's not really too much to ask for if Hamas wishes to pursue a new path.

Judge Goldstone was sent to Gaza and not to Sudan or Rwanda. His report is about Gaza. Wise-up.

Yep. Western democracies run around carrying out state-organizing pogroms killing over a thousand people all the time. We're really 'singling Israel out.' Alternatively, maybe Israel really is on a moral plane with the Sudan, Rwanda, and whoever. She should be held to the same standard. Which is it?

Imposible to make Israel feel that things can not be built on that way...on the way she did and does all the time with the palestinians. I understand what Erekat says today, with this kind of suport, I mean Us, it will be imposible to make things different. Suddenly the Goldstone report is unbalance, and everybody knows that Goldstone report did not question the logic defense that Israel did on his citizenship, but the pathetic and brutal force agains the poor palestinian people... This is what it is. One broken the silence denouncer told that we did not invent anything, we, the israelies, fight with american weapons, and reads american books in order to act in the way we act at the territories...

The house resolution critique is based on the initial terms of reference for the Goldstone commission which judge Goldstone rejected! Goldstone accepted the job only when the terms of reference were totally modified. Goldstone wrote a letter to Congress criticizing, point by point, the resolution. Goldstone's critique of Resolution H.Res.867 is published in the latest edition of the 'Tikkun' magazine. The house resolution is nothing more than a piece of misleading propaganda.

God bless America!!!

worthy of Nobel Prize - Swedes lately like this kind of literature. It is a pleasure to follow the discussions regarding merits and style of new Tolstoy. Herodotus comes to mind - he was reporting only what had been told to him.

CJ Let me rephrase Jims question just for you, Ever heard of Chagos Archipelago? Good! If there was a Chagosian Ship off the cost of London or USA shooting missiles at your city centers, but the ship had woman and children on it. Would your American or English be criminal for responding to the ship at the cost of civilian casualties? *** *** *** Let me rephrase it some more, just for you If there was an Aboriginal tribe in Australia, and they would shoot from their village missiles at your city centers, but the village had woman and children on it. Would Australia be criminal for responding to that Attack at the cost of civilian casualties? Thank you *** *** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vHDyuSTneA&NR=1

shame on you for comparing u.s. congress to soviet russia. you seem literally clueless. as i had stated before, americans have no tolerance for terrorists, especially since their own country was attacked. they will never deny an ally the right to self defence against terror. unlike many in europe, the u.s. is still largely independent of attempts to blackmail by petro-dollars.

eu edicts from brussels ? get used to it we live in an insane world wher evil is good and good is evil !

I don't always agree with my gov. Do you always agree with yours?

good thing they are balanced out almost 10:1 by the smart ones.

"Stephen, you obviously don`t understand how "real democracy" works. Maybe you should come to Europe one day....:)" You tell him Swiss! And who better to instruct the rest of the world on the essence of democracy than a citizen of a country that gave women the right to vote federally as early as 1971 -- way ahead of other leading progressive states such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and uhh ... well, may others I'm sure.

..It's also the proof (should we need one ?) that the US will never be an honest peace broker, even under an Obama administration. Sad day for the Palestinians and Israelis.

I'm a proponent for that to happen for the sake of both Israelis and Palestinians. But, in my estimation, the Palestinians are held back from what they wish most for by their own leaders. They need to get back to negotiations to provide their people a state built on peace, security, economic growth. Settlements can be negotiated in land exchanges. To reject all negotiations is just crazy, it makes the Pals look bad in the eyes of the American public. My grandmother had to leave her country too. I'm here in the US, just as you are, because of the same type of anger and hate that is going on in the ME. I don't like it any more then you do.

of the US to support Israels land expropriations and erthnic resettlement of a conquored land and people. I do not see a moral difference between the two groups of foreigners. America only looses by supporting one criminal over the other.

...."real democracy" works. Maybe you should come to Europe one day....:)

The US will never side with those who sanction and sponsor deliberate Islamic mass murder attacks on civilians. Those who care for Palestinians will run Hamas, who uses and abuses Palestinian civilians in their war against Israel, right outta Gaza.

cobblers. "it certainly isn`t in the best interests of the US to support Hamas terrorists" Why not. They supported Contras, Greek fascists massacres of those who fought the Nazis, Noriega, Suharto's genocide in East Timor, paramilitaries in Columbia, fascist juntas in Chile, Brazil and Argentina, Pol Pot when they wanted to punish Vietnam. Well you see, moralising like you do, only gets one so far. I think the American revolutionaries were also willing to sacrifice everything for liberty, so don't be so condescending. Nonetheless, Hamas once elected could have been given a chance rather than a fait acomplit. Their leaders have stated many times [and did so before the US and Israel trained and supplied a force to depose Hamas in Gaza] that a return to 67 lines with the PA negotiating and a referendum by the Palestinians would be something they would readily agree to. Even the EU did and still do favour bringing Hamas into the picture.

Britain and Spain aren`t taking Somali territory. Britian and Spain aren`t occupying Somalia. They did worst things, so ????? Israel does not occupy any Palestine state. Palestine never existed and probebaly wont exist. It is just a fiction.

I totally agree with you... a sad, sad day. I feel so embarrassed for the US.

of the US to support Hamas terrorists. I would call it more fratricide on Hamas part. They would sacrifice every last man, woman and child on the altar of Islamic extremism rather then have peace. Hamas publicly states this, why do you disbelieve them?

This is only a resolution recommending a course of action for Pres Obamam. The recommendation is don't let "The Report" advance to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Here's how democracy works: The Administration through Rice at the Un has voiced this opinion. The AIPAC group has support this position and the Congressional reolustion; and SURPRIZE--J STREET has also supported this position on the Resolution. JStreet has encouraged its membership to contact their representatives to vote agaisnt the resolution. It works well. JSTREET proves that's its PRO-ISRAEL by this action..good day.

Lynn: First I am a Christian American of Arab descent.We as Christians have suffered tremendously from the Israelis over the years. Our Catholic Patriarch was thrown over the borders in lebanon. You are mistaken as to who is trying to destroy who. It is not Israel that fighting for its survival. It is the Palestinian people.Genocide? Isn't that what Israel is doing? People homes blown up , children killed , checkpoints every where , shooting at will by teenager soldiers,. Humiliating the elderly and sick at checkpoints. Olive trees uprooted , water denied , heating oil denied in winter?? I can go on and on and on.It all falls on deaf ears. I live in America and these are not the American ideals. These are the ideals of politicians who sold their conscious to the lobbyists. Freedom? Where is it in Palestine? Justice? Where is it in Palestine? Equality? Where is it in Palestine??? I appreciate your lesson about American law, but it is this law that is being flaunted in Israel.

"consider ethical Judaism does not consider distortion of the facts to be among the virtues so" MTA So far the "criticism" of GR either: concentrated entirely on the factor of relativity ("why Israel but not Elbonia?") which puts the Int'l law and not the G's facts in question, or it addressed theGR's "distorted facts" without addressing one fact. None of these "distorted facts" was dealt with by the IDF. A tiny amount of the resources put in organizing an international booing of the GR would have sufficed to refute at least one incriminating case (eg IDF bombing a mosque allegedly containing ammunition during the day instead of during the night when it was full of sleeping civilians). That is, it would have sufficed if the IDF had some foothold. To start with, IDF should have thought twice before fabricating such verifiable (and already verified) data as male/female ratio of casualties. USHouse is backing the past and eventual sins of American military involvement abroad

A vote of 344-36 in a democratic parliament!Reminds me of voting in the former USSR, or Cuba, China etc. Someone once said "America gets the best democracy that money can buy". This vote proves the charge that the American government is at the behest of the Jewish lobby. I pity any president who tries to push Israel into the ways of righteousness. How democratic is a country whose polical representatives will not stand up to another country, even in the interest of their own country. But where are the ordinary people they represent? I suppose the 1400 Gaza residents committed suicide.

Investigate all those countries on their conduct in Iraq and Afghanistan before Israel. Why should Israel bear the brunt of accusations on the Gaza war while other countries, none under threat of Iraquies and Afghans, go scott free?.

This was normally the case in the late Soviet Union. To me Walt and Mearsheimer theses got a confirmation now. It doesn't matter who is the President of the US. The affinity of Israel and the US is still intact. I truly believe there is no need for AIPAC anymore. The rest of the world get the impression who rules the game. The next decisive story will be the Iran situation. What will you do, if the mullahs not complying ? In this case you are right, it needs leadership. But Hillary, with her special relation to AIPAC.? It is not US and Israel, it is the free world which must solve the problem. But with this protagonist ? Angela Merkel said it very clear where the new direction is.

As Pat Buchanan best stated it, the US Congress has been Israeli occupied territory fo several decades. The sold-out politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties act as slaves to AIPAC and have become the lapdogs of Israeli special interests. These politicians seem to care more for Israelis than for Americans.

Eight out of ten doesn?t know what European Union is. How can they know anything of the Middle East? It is out of this lack of knowledge that the house can do what it does. If the US voters would do their job they the representatives would be out of jobs after the next election.

"The Allied forces in Irag with operations Devastation and Awe. THIS IS HOW wars are conducted." Bad choice George! Didn't you notice that our use of overwhelming firepower killed so many Iraqi civilians, that half of Iraq spent the next 5 years trying to kill all our soldiers and forced the US, which had been planning permanent Iraqi bases, into planning a humiliating withdrawl from the country?

Goldstone is an Arab heading a fact-finding committee into Libya's butchery session in a neighboring country. "ADL" is a US-based Arab-led lobby which posits itself as universal HR on account of universal message of Quran and of the uniquely tragic historical experience of Arab people. The head of ADL pens a public letter to Goldstone saying that the latter should eat his document up - not as a good man - but "as a good Arab". Now imagine this event passing as business as usual in the Western political theater. --------------- By now you are supposed to have an idea of the the weight of Libyan lobbying factor in the real Goldstone's paper.

Powerful Lobbyist blinded the US congress and you what I mean. Israel needs the 3 billions yearly aid they get from the US to pay the US law makers.

The US House must read the Jewish Leftist Report dealing with Goldstone Gaza Report and stop listning to lobbyist. I think it is a crime to be a bribee.

won't change a thing. Congress, by passing this resolution, is telling the Administration where it stands. Congress holds the purse strings the administration doesn't. If the Pres wants to see some of his hope and change passed to cement his legacy, he will bow to Congress on this one.

Administration know where it stands and where the American people stand. What we see is 1 billion Muslims doing their level best to destroy 7 or 8 million people. The US has laws against genocide, boycotts of Israel, and do not identify with people, no matter how many, who want to destroy another.

The good news is that it is non-binding

"if you really believe that Libya are deserving of their position and have paid their price..." A price they surely did pay, very literally too, and you comfortably draw for today's judgment on what Libya was 15 years ago. The fact is that it is all quite outside the point. Their temporary position in the UNSC has not (and by no means should) be "deserved". It's based on eligibility. Libya is eligible. As a "baddie" it endured sanctions (and sometimes personal accounts of the US), which are lifted insofar of rapprochement with the "West". No compliments: they've long way to improve, and maybe they'd still be the same if they could afford to spit in the eye of the UN the way Israel can and does regularly. Asserting that Libyan record of nineties prejudices its procedural work in SC today requires at the very least a concrete proof. To assert that this record somehow a priori transposes into Goldstone's list of facts is quite inane.

"Remember that scene where a Palestinian man was shown protecting his kid and taking cover by a wall that French journalists was so agnized ab out. The same story to be debunked 3 weeks later where the kid whpo supposedly was killed by IDF fire was happy go lucky running around and filmed doing so." You are a sandwich short of a picnic. The story was never debunked. Merely disputed. The boy you refer to is 'dead', that much is certain. The rumours that he is not dead were circulated on fringe websites frequented by far right loonies. You Tube videos not withstanding. As for who shot him? That is still not certain, though the likeliest culprits still appear to be the IDF, despite their claim that they 'could not have done it'.

Actually George it's the gang of five that have a stranglehold on the UN and that's why Israel always gets away with it.

re Libya and Lockerbie victims. As you come from the UK I am surprised that you are seemingly unaware that the families of the UK victims of Lockerbie wished to see justice done and do not on the whole believe it has been done. Reverend John Mosey's 19-year-old daughter Helga was killed. He didn't object to Megrahi's release, but is upset because the Libyan decided to abandon the appeal of his conviction. "I'm pleased he's gone home because my opinion is colored by my feeling that he was almost certainly not guilty..." http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-20-voa23.cfm Dr. Jim Swire who has acted as spokesman for the British families believes that the convicted Libyan has been the victim of a miscarriage of justice. http://www.lockerbietruth.com/ Professor Robert Black who was instrumental in getting the agreement of Libya and the US to allow the trial to take place in Holland and witnessed the whole trial also believes that a miscarriage of justice has taken place. http://www.lockerbiecase.blogspot.com/ You stated that Libya had admitted guilt. "Gadaffi openly admitted their wrongdoing making them guilty of deliberate (Not collateral damage in a war) murder of innocent victims" Errant nonsense. Shukri Ghanem, Libyan Prime Minister 2003 to 2006, has twice said in radio and television interviews that Libya was not responsible and reluctantly paid $2.7 billion compensation only "to buy peace and move forward." Frankly George you are so ill informed on these events you would be advised to check up your facts [before making them up].

The 'Goldstone' report offers all parties time to respond. Israel decided to stay clear of the evidence-gathering stage, which many, myself included, believe garnered false information. I share Abe Foxman's positive opinion of Judge Goldstone. Let's stop bashing the Judge and start helping him and his colleagues learn what is true, inconclusive or lie.

These US politicians have nothing to worry about. The financing for their next election campaigns is sound. .....Welcome to AIPAC-Land

#2 - Crazy - and underhanded How about they address the bits which ARE correct before they vote to bury the whole thing. 1,400 deaths should warrant proper investigation on ALL sides. This is far too big for Israel to sweep under the carpet. And it will show them in an even worse light if they do so. *** The vote was craftily timed to take place on an election day to ensure that the press would be tuned to the election results instead of reporting on the congressional resolution.

My country should stop preaching Democracy and Human right and in the meantime invading two countries and supporting two Israeli wars on in Lebanon and the other in Gaza, the rest of the wolrd is not stupid, our Congress and the rest of the administration is. China and India and the rest of the world is flying high and we are dragged down daily. Wake Up.

Go to: http://www.aipac.org/Publications/SourceMaterialsCongressionalAction/HRes867.pdf

Zmogus, if you really believe that Libya are deserving of their position and have paid their price, please go speak to some of the Lockerbie Victims. They were sanctioned because they were gulty of an unprovoked attack. Gadaffi openly admitted their wrongdoing making them guilty of deliberate (Not collateral damage in a war) murder of innocent victims. The only reason the british let go the guilty parties was for a favourable Oil deal with Libya, well documented and very well known. Also Libya a well known funder of terrorist groups such as George Habash's PFLP group and a number pof others. How can a State sponsor be the Chair of a Security Council? Please tell me what good deal Libya have done????

Remember that scene where a Palestinian man was shown protecting his kid and taking cover by a wall that French journalists was so agnized ab out. The same story to be debunked 3 weeks later where the kid whpo supposedly was killed by IDF fire was happy go lucky running around and filmed doing so. There have been countless staged demos about israeli alleged attrocities many of which have been fake, so if those are fake how many of them are really true. Begs the question that if Golsdstone has based his report on heresay, just as the Swedish journalist who claims the IDF harvests Palestinian organs, they are about as believable as reports your find in The Sun or Sport newspapers. Don't tell me you believe them as well???

No No No. You cannot accuse an army of disproportion when they have stayed silenbt for 8 years of Rocket attacks. When you want a decisive end to a problem you react with devastating force. The USA against Japan in WW2 with the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Allied forces in Irag with operations Devastation and Awe. THIS IS HOW wars are conducted. Why do you beleive that all the Palestinian dead are children, that is ludicrous. It shows you believe the arab rhetoric, get a balanced view. Why did Goldstone ignore all the testimonies from the other side? How much of the 575 poages have you actually read? How much of the material that was ignored are you aware of? This is my problem with these boards is that people comment out of thin air and what they have read in the papers, that is hardly testimony to anything. Remember the film 'Wa the Dog'? that is what the Palestinians are supreme at manipulating the media. How many times have you seen supposed demos cont..

All of you here that find this so wrong!and find that Goldstone is wrongly accuse by the israeli goverment, why not send a letter or email or a phone call to the white house and express your view? I did!just go to obama white house and you will find all the info you need to express your dissadisfaction. It may do better than just a comment in haaretz.

The Goldistone report is a big nothing. His majesty (here comes the judge) interviewed and reported all of the hammas terror organizations lies. The funny thing he believes everything, some freaking judge. Of course later he said that all this report would not hold water in any court of law. (oops, he forgott the courts in the arab dictatorships).

Is anybody really surpeised by this? We *know* the drill. Israel orders and the United States of West Israel obeys.

Have no doubt about it. All those who backed the resolution, went home and slept soundly in their comfortable beds. I guess they have never even seen a picture of a UN refugee tent! And they could not care less if people of Gaza live in tent camps for the rest of their lives. Nauseating!

The US House should have voted overwhelming to reject Israeli claims that Judge Goldstone's Report painted a distorted picture of the Israel's crimes and singled it out unfairly for more serious charges as the majority leader, Steny Hoyer claims. The truth of the matter is the Israeli Army's 22 day bombing campaign over Gaza earlier this year was no match for the homemade rockets of Hamas which only killed one Israeli in the year prior to the attack --compared with the death (nearly 1,400 Palestinians ) and destruction (thousands of homes and civil infrastructure ) with the Army's 21st century pinpoint precision bombs and missiles. That's the real shame and disservice the US Congress has served both the Israeli and Pale- stinian people today. Not to mention the utter shame it brings upon itself and the American people as it serves the interests of AIPAC and their cohorts in the corporative world. Shame...shame... People will not let this go! No sir! Dutch

....still taking amiss Goldstones fight for freedom and justice there. Just can't get over it, Margie, Andrew + Co., can you...??? :)

... it would be useful for you to remember for how many years this country remained under the strict sanctions of the UN Security Council (1992, 1993). And precisely the fact that eventually it helped a good deal makes one think the sanctions to Israel are way overdue and that Israel would do itself (let alone the ME) a favor if one day it adopted what is called "the Libyan model".

Fair enough. It would be ludicrous to call Cast Lead genocide and I never would. The trouble is George it was a mess. The Qassams were a war crime, but the truce had held and could have been patched up. Instead, with an eye on the election, Barak, Livni et al decided to go in hard and give right wing Israeli voters what they wanted - kick the Pals with very few IDF casualties. I don't cry for dead Hamas fighters, but the level of destruction of civilian infrastructure was way, way, way too high, and the loss of civilian life was way too high. The basic message that came across was that Israeli soldiers' lives were worth far more than Arab children's. That's not good. Goldstone's report is accurate. Obviously other armies have also committed crimes and they too should be investigated. But you don't let a criminal go just because you haven't arrested every other criminal yet.

Michael, I am not saying that 1,400 deaths is alright at all. What I am saying is that when people use the wpord Genocide so freely it loses its meaning. BUT the main point I am making is... Israel launched thousands of air strikes in Gaza, the place is densly populated. IF they the IDF/IAF really did not care about who or how many they killed surely the number would be closer to 14,000 or more NOT 1,400. The facts I am trying to get across is that they strikes were as surgical as could be. The israelis dropped millions of flyers, made thousands of individual calls to Palestinians there to warn them to get out of the way in order to minimise innocent casualties, even though the real terrorists would get a heads up. How can you then accuse Israel of genocide, ethnic cleansing or any other rediculous term when they did their utmost to minimise deaths. Why isn't hamas accused of hiding in schools and other civilian safe places? But common sense is alien to you isn't it

for the USA to act as an honest broker in the Israel/Palestine conflict. AIPAC not only has a stranglehold on Congress, it blocks administration appointments of those considered hostile and promotes its own stooges into key positions in the administration, which successive Presidents have been too compromised on or afraid to oppose. This is the treacle that Obama has to swim through and it has defeated better men than him. The UN and Quartet need to say enough is enough and task the EU, with Russian and UN help, to take over the central role in Israel-Palestine 'negotiations' from the USA. The EU should be tasked with reaching a clear agreement on all issues within 2 years, failing which the UN takes the Palestinian mandate back from Israel and assumes responsibility for security and administration in the Occupied Territories, as a prelude to full Palestinian independence and sovereignty.

resolutions have more to do with Israel than the UN?

It isn't Judge Goldstone' proper footing that's a conmcern today but Israel's. The US House isn't going to be able to Whitewash that away either No matter how many votes it can muster up.

Edward Pastor (D), Raul Grijalva (D), Victor Snyder (D), Lynn Woolsey (D), George Miller (D), Barbara Lee (D), Fortney Stark (D), Lois Capps (D), Maxine Waters (D), Bob Filner (D), André Carson (D), Geoff Davis (R), Charles Boustany (R), Donna Edwards (D), John Olver (D), Betty McCollum (D), Keith Ellison (D), William Clay (D), Yvette Clark (D), Maurice Hinchey (D), David Price (D), Melvin Watt (D), Dennis Kucinich (D), Earl Blumenauer (D), Ron Paul (R), Lloyd Doggett (D), Eddie Johnson (D), James Moran (D), Brian Baird (D), James McDermott (D), Nick Rahall (D), Tammy Baldwin (D) Decent, fair-minded, non-corrupt human beings are always worth a little effort...:)

I love the way you had to explain that you were insulting Israel's critics, because otherwise it would have been too easy to take as a reference to the AIPAC automata of Congress clustering together to vote as told. "you call 1,400 deaths in Gaza Genocide? most densly populated place on Earth, Thousands of airstrikes, population of over 1.4 million 0.001% hardly genocide!" On another point, you seem to think that 1400 deaths doesn't really matter. How would you react to anybody who wrote '9/11. 3,000 deaths out of a population of 150 million? Hardly genocide!"

It's all part of the propaganda war of Hamas and many Islamic groups against Israel, and the propaganda war is part of the terrorist war to eradicate the state of Israel from the map of the Middle East, which the Palestinian National Charter says is illegal. Judge Goldstone is not to be trusted, he goes whichever way the wind blows. If the Apartheid government of South Africa had appointed him to establish the truth of the Steve Biko murder in th 80's, he would have found in favor of the Apartheid government's desired outcome. When the ANC government appointed him in the 90's, he found in favor of the ANC government's desired outcome. Now he works for the anti-Israeli, pro-terrorist UN HRC.

What if Somali prates made a deal with aliens from another planet and got them to beam up Russian cargo ships along the coast of Africa? That makes as much sense as Somali pirates shooting rockets at London. What if they used particle beam weapons on the Knesset? or invaded Kansas?

All you people dsaying Israel should face up tot he inquiry must be iether deaf or blind. Just go to UN Watch and see the history of anti israel positions the UN always take and the despots who seem to have a stranglehold in the un. Libya, Chair of the Secureity Council for Heavens sake. I mean it is a farce, so why should Israel put its fate in the hands of those who want to see her destroyed. The Goldstone report is not only biased, it is selective. Goldstone conducted countless interviews with Israeli victims yet excluded them from the report. WHY?? Col. Richard Kemp cmndr of UK forces in Afghanistan staes categorically that no army in history took as many precautions as the IDF to minimize civillian injury. So ignorant Israel Bashers here should check their facts. 8 years of rockets vs 1 month of retaliation you do the math. you call 1,400 deaths in Gaza Genocide? most densly populated place on Earth, Thousands of airstrikes, population of over 1.4 million 0.001% hardly genocide!

the u.s house of representatives are not anamoured with islamic terrorists. they all know that the u.s. is threatened with terror on her own soil. polls have nothing to do with this. members of the house are in agreement on this issue. anyone elected to the house would have the same opinion.

London was bombed by the IRA. The British didn't respond by firing missiles on Dublin or Belfast. Calling anyone expressing criticism of the IDF an anti-semite is like blaming the messenger not the message. Maybe just maybe those who take this position believe in justice and human rights and if Jews were being treated like the Palestinians are would speak out to defend their rights

much will depend on how obama, a peace candidate, will act now as commander in chief. a nuclear iran would be a nightmare. i agree with arik that next time, as far as israel is concerned, the gloves will come off. however, as long as the ayatollah regime remains in place, there will be endless wars and ever greater threats.

...and save whoever can be saved from the water... What did you think? That the Brits would wait 8 years while rockets fall incessantly on their cities?

...if there were no other (very quick) solution. ...and save whoever could be saved... Or you think the UK would continue to swallow and keep talking while rockets are falling incessantly on their cities?

What would be surprising is if more than 10 had read the resolution or if any had read Goldstone's Report. That includes those voting for and against from both parties.

"GOLDSTONE chose to reject Hamas deliberately putting civillians in harms way" No. He found they didn't. There is a difference. But don't let that get in the way of your childish rants.

Britain and Spain aren't taking Somali territory. Britian and Spain aren't occupying Somalia.

"US networks did cover the war in Gaza." Hamas are a result of Israeli aggression. They weren't around when Israel illegally acquired 50% (by 1949) of what was left of Palestine after Israel Declared Sovereignty.

Whatever you might personally consider ethical Judaism does not consider distortion of the facts to be among the virtues so, no, Goldstone has no ethical leg to stand on in his execution of his antisemitic commission.

To anyone who supports Goldstone report shall know that UN has about 200 resolutions against Israel. Think for a second for this fact!

... no comment...

The first priority of both Hamas and Hezbollah was to rearm. Unfortunately this demonstrates the futility of limited warfare actions. Israel is back where she started, perhaps even worse off. The next war is around the corner as you say only this time the terms of engagement for Israel must be greatly expanded.

This was a complete capitulation to the Jewish Lobby. I wonder how many actually read the report. Obama's efforts at bringing Middle East peace are now deader than a doornail thanks to this idiocy.

Not quite sure that it is around the corner, but it sounds that at certain point it will come. This time America and Israel will fight together in different fronts. Israel will take Hammas and Hizbalah and America will take Iran. The Goldstone report will be wiped out of the table, because it does not fit Obama and the West. Neither Hammas nor Russia , Iran or any competitor of Western democracies, care about human rights. Israel and the West do, but there are limits, and the Goldstone report is becoming the turning point. Even a super pacifist like Solana had to admit that the rules of war should be changed.

This vote shows the power of the Israeli lobby (AIPAC especially) over Washington D.C. These members of congress are gutless cowards who have no morals whatsoever. My challenge to every one of them is simple. If the Goldstone Report is inaccurate in any SUBSTANTIVE way than show us where this is so and be prepared to back it up with evidence to support your claim. If you can't do that than shut up!

The report is so biased it is sad to see those who are trying to legitimize it in any way...

Every time there is a resolution or report criticizing Israel's actions their supporters state the report is biased. This is old and tiresome. If the Goldstone report is inaccurate in any substantive way let Israel show this in an International court of Law. They have every opportunity in the world to do so. If the allegations are false what is Israel so afraid of? And stop trying to deflect the issue by bringing up other cases of human rights violations that have nothing to do with the Israel-Palestine dispute. This is an obvious attempt to divert attention from this issue.

because they can see what the UNHRC did to the report which in itself was made by people who should have disqualified themselves because of their openly preprejudiced statements. AIPAC?You mean there is no lobbying by Arabs? No petro trillions to throw around.?

Peace back on the back burner, obviously. Israel can relax - nothing has changed and Obama is no different from Bush. Sad. Time for Abbas to retire and put the roadmap back in the cupboard for another decade.

and the UNHCR. Today they condemn Israel for their actions in Gaza, tomorrow they will condemn America for our actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The real problem is that the UNHCR and Goldstone are part of an overall strategy on the part of extremist terrorists. The plan is to attack democratic countries with terrorism and to continue escalating the attacks until they force a military response. They fight in the most populated areas to ensure maximum death and destruction in their own territories. Then they ask the Goldstones of the world to condemn the democracy and themselves for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Since groups like Hamas and Al Queda are already outlawed in the west, there's nothing more that can happen to them from civilized society. So, a legal condemnation of "both parties" is in effect one-sided.

goldstone and his ilk are clueless. the present threats facing israel are growing exponentially from huge numbers of missiles of supplied by iran to its proxies, syria, hezbollah and hamas. the next war, unfortunately, is arround the corner.

The US is rapidly losing the respect of the World. The House of Representatives have shown again how worhless they have become. The Congress will soon follow suit. From their war on Iraq to the low the US economy has reached to their hollow votes on any issue that involves Israel. They look and sound so irresponsible and so unworthy of respect. AIPAC plays the tune and they just dance to it. What a shame.

Maybe Foxman should consider that Goldstone may not feel any need to prove his Jewishness to himself. Alternatively, Goldstone might feel it has an ethical component.

My Representative was one of the thirty six 'noes.' It would seem he has a modicum of courage and integrity.

US networks did cover the war in Gaza. Their reporters were there on the ground. On the other hand, the bombing of Sderot was barely mentioned. Still most Americans know the truth. Hamas started the war. It was Hamas that put Gazan civilians in the line of fire. It is Hamas that advocates genocide.

on whether Israel should investigate itself or else be called before the ICC for its role in the 9/11 attacks on NYC, it would pass overwhelmingly. KO #15 is correct. The reason Israel is and should resist these kinds of disproportionate investigations, is because if they take them seriously, they will be flooded with a tsumani of accusations. The mere effort of defending themselves will cause them to appear more guilty.

The US Congress is useless. It is not a world body and what they think is irrelevant. Given its performance as of late, it is not worth taking it seriously. It is what the Obama administration will do that matters; it's time to ruffle the feathers of those malevolent special interest groups taking into account the following: How many of these Congressional fools thoroughly read Goldstone's report for a fair vote? How many of them generally read and comprehend the bills they pass/reject word-for-word? How many of these fools have the Interest of the American People at heart? Congressional approval ratings have been abysmal Republican-controlled and Democrat-controlled. If Israel believes Goldstone has gone astray and published lies, it should launch an independent inquiry to prove him wrong instead of machinating ways to absolve itself from responsibility.

During the Gaza offensive, I briefly watched the US media to see how they were reporting it. One particular segment that I'll never forget was with Fareed Zakaria, and on this show he had a "balanced, distinguished" panel of four people - Rudy Guiliani (Republican), Harry Reid (Democrat), Michael Bloomberg (Independent/Republican), and one other whose name escapes me. They -ALL- spoke with pro-Israel rhetoric in favor of the war. Every single one. There was literally not one dissenting opinion or even slight opposition. Guiliani, Reid, Republican, Democrat, there was no difference whatsoever. It was all, "but the rockets! oh the rockets!" and "Israel is our friend!" and "what would you do?"

shame on all those reps. that betrayed their country's interest for the sake of israel usa senetors and reps should all hang their head in shame for slowly making usa the laughing stock of the world, an irrelevant country .

Those who defame Israel, those who single it out for condemnation, those who continually distort its motives and misinterpret its actions are here given a strong slap in the face by a public body which has a true sense of decency and justice.

I don't watch TV, but for those of us who read newspapers there was more than adequate coverage of the rockets and intifadas. Frankly, there were much more important things happening in Africa, for instance, which were not covered while a few rockets that landed in the desert and did no harm were.

What a bunch of clowns. The U.S. congress's poll numbers are so negative, especially now, that it is pitiful.

in harms way and UNHCR chose to prostitute Goldstones report so its not worth the paper it is written on.!

Visit the following website and see who the asinine members of the House of Representatives are who voted yes on HRes867. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/111/house/1/votes/838/ I you don't like that your member of Congress voted yes then send them the following link so that they can see the death and destruction that they support. http://www.israeli-war-crimes.org/

344 rejected the report! no wounder why the Palestinians think that the U.S can not be an honest broker in the peace negotiations.

"If the US Networks had covered the 10,000 rockets from Gaza, not to mention the decades of intifadas (suicide bombers, etc.)" What do you mean, "if"? That is ALL the US networks ever talk about. No mention of the blockade, no context of the 40+ year occupation, no mention of the shortage of food, clean water, and medicine, the settlements, etc. Are you seriously trying to spread propaganda about propaganda?

it will never be otherwise. Like it or not the US, for the most part, can identify with Israel. Muslims, not so much. Their countries are alien to the average citizen and so are their beliefs. The average American doesn't understand the lack of human rights and freedom in the Muslim countries or women forced to wear shrouds like the walking dead. Or the lack of religious freedom and freedom of speech. And, frankly speaking the US has and is fighting the same kind of enemy Israel fought in Gaza. Not much sympathy will be had from the US for any Muslim who died in that little war.

I remember in one news segment by Fareed Zakaria, which brought together four prominent US politicians: Harry Reid (Democrat), Rudy Guliani (Republican), Michael Bloomberg (Independent/Republican), and one other whose name escapes me. This "balanced" interview resulted in the same talking points about Israel needing to carry out the Gaza War. All they ever talked about was the brutal, sinister rockets that threatened Israel's destruction. Every single one on this "panel". It was quite literally parroting the same talking points.

The above would have been a better caption for this article. America continues to risk everything for Israel and has nothing to show for it. For how much longer can this charade continue?

...rockets from Gaza, not to mention the decades of intifadas (suicide bombers, etc.), "the American People and through them their Congressman" would not even dream about supporting the existence of a Palestinian state.

America, like Israel, doesn't see the writing on the wall. America has lost respect all over the world. The dollar is devalued. We are broke. Pretty soon the funding to Israel will be cut off and that will be the beginning of the end for Israel. There are demonstrations all over the U.S. against Israel. Tomorrow there will be demonstrations outside offices of the craven congressmen and women who sold out to Israeli terrorism.

Not so sure the states of the UN General Assembly will too impressed by this latest act of US sycophancy and capitulation regarding the Israeli state, and it might just have the opposite effect - no doubt we'll all know later today!

Tomorrow, we will all know which nations are friends of Peace or friends of Israel

The American people know. But just as the American law makers they can not react

Nobody cares about what America says anymore. A defeated power with nothing but some military muscles.

The US media conglomerates -NEVER- give fair reporting to anything that occurs on Palestine/Israel. The Gaza War was no exception - I agree that Israel's media ban managed to fend off the worst of the truth. Sadly, even if there wasn't a ban on international journalists, the US media giants would have found a way to ignore it or manipulate the coverage like they always do.

This should be binding. It is good that the US is standing up for justice in Gaza by calling the Gold stone libel a fraud.

Once again it is the US and Israel against the world, How long will it last, If Israel declares the earth is flat, the US congress will pass a resolution congratulating Israel on it's great discovery. History will prove all empires and imperial powers will weather away, ignoring history will not prevent a doomed out come for both unless they correct course away from arrogance and khotzpah.

I am glad they received it.

The problem is that the Goldstone report was not initiated and produced in good faith. It was a political initiative, not a human rights initiative. That is the reason Israel should reject it. Because if Israel cooperates, a Pandoras box would open and the before you know it, Israel is expected to investigate organ harvesting allegations and other politically motivated allegations against Israel.

and through them their Congressmen would not have been overwhelmingly intimidated by Ros-Lehtinen and Berman. Israel's ban on Media Coverage of the war was calculated to deny the American People the right to know.

If Obama/Clinton are true Christians, they'll reject this resolution and refuse to underwrite evil.

Do you care at all about law, Israeli, or International? Why do Israelis disrespect their Supreme Court? They are the conscience of the country, not the politicians.

Quit your whining. You and the rest of your ilk parroting this nonsenseof war crimes against Israel is getting old. People with common sense are realizing the double standard imposed on Israel compared to the rest of the world by this morally bankrupt committee. You throw a figure an unconfirmed figure of 1400. Questionable figure at best. If you are so concerned about human rights request an investigation in Sri Lanka, THe Congo, Tibet or Chechnya. Save us yours and your stupid brethren's hysterics and lies.

Is the United States really a defender of the weak and an upholder of justice?

And these Somalian pirates Jim, are they shooting missiles at Spain and England because they have been occupying their lands for over 50 years and makde them prisoners in their own homes Jim? or are they doing it just because they don't care about their women and children like you do?

of politics, money, and power over morality, ethics, truth and justice.

If Israel so was assured that what it did in Gaza was right they should have no objection to the Goldstone report. They should have cooperated with the honorable judge when the mission came to investigate. Why was Israel so afraid of what the good judge would find? Is it just possible that Israeli authorities knew that what they had gone could easily be considered war crimes? The actions of Israel and their amen corner in Congress certainly leave that impression. I am thankful that my member of Congress had enough courage and enough compassion to vote NO on this ill conceived resolution.

for humanity. Makes one ashamed to be an American.

"U.S. Congress voting on report" LOL, the rest of the world....will surely be "impressed"...:)" Perhaps you just don't get it. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, the US Congress is not particularly interested in impressing the rest of the world. If, however, you're searching for lickspittles who cater to the sensitivities of 3rd world dictators, you need look no further than a certain country in the snowy Alps. And by the way what do you think the courageous Swiss vote will be on this forthcoming resolution? Absent or abstain?

rome would not have died

I am amazed that Congress would do such a thing???? After all their sincere efforts to be sympathetic to the Palestinian cause? Oh my...I am just flabbergasted!!! PUHLEASE! I have no doubt all those who backed rejection of this report will sleep soundly.

SO ashamed of these people. They are bought by AIPAC to fight Israel's war with American blood and money. SO ashamed of these traitors.

AIPAC's iron grip on US politics is weakening. Once there'd have been almost nobody voting against them. Maybe in another 10 years or so, they'll actually start losing resolutions and then there can be a fair US approach to the Middle East and peace at last.

what a far fetched example! Somali pirates firing missiles into England or Spain! with a boat full of women and children... are you really going to use this as an excuse to commit war crimes in Gaza? the only anti-semites here are the IDF (who has a big percentage of European Jews) killing the Palestinians in Gaza who are, Semitic people!

What really upsets uou Israel not afraid to defend itself. WE learned taalk is cheap especially when oil countries are concerned.TEll me what would you do if your children threatened?????????

What if the people on the ship had been living on the Iberian Peninsula (i.e. Spain), been kicked off their land, been forced onto the boat and then been under seige for a year while they were on that boat?

Here is the truth, read in Haaretz today : ??In a recent statement, StandWithUs - ..working to counter anti-Israel and anti-Semitic phenomena on campuses - asserted that since its foundation last April, J Street has "echoed" the position of professors Mearsheimer and Walt, who argue the "Israel lobby" is too powerful in Washington. "One of the most dangerous things that can be said about Jews is that they control the world, or America, or American foreign policy," said Roz Rothstein from Los Angeles, who founded StandWithUs in 2001.

My gosh, can Israel's image get much worse? Yes it can- now that the tawdry US Congress supports sweeping the report under the carpet, the world is further convinced that Israel is guilty of war crimes. Congress always suggests investigation on everything, unless of course there's something to hide. Congress' almost entirely lockstep vote says a lot about what Israel really did in Gaza.

imposed on the congress by the Israel lobby. These actions will backfire on the US as the world sees its complete bias. How many of these congressmen/women have been to Gaza and seen the destruction? How many have actually talked to the people on the ground? If Israel has done no wrong then let inverstigations continue. This will do nothing but hurt the peace process as Israel will CONTINUE to believe, mistakenly, that it can do whatever it wants and the US will be there to support it. The world is changing and the US is no longer the almighty superpower.

Israeli government wags tail, Congress barks What do you think 300 (yes threehundred) jewish US lawmakers are good for ? And ADL, and AIPAC and UJC (annual meeting next week, Obama will meet Netanyahoo there) ?? Obviously, Mearsheimer + Walt + J-street are not that far from the truth describing the lobby. Most of the postings here are very, very fair ? thank you !

Mr Jim, what is this hysterical talk of a Somali pirate ship shooting at London? The Goldstone report analyses a two-week relentless attack in which some 1400 Gazans, trapped in a tiny strip of land with nowhere to flee and no weapons with which to fight back at the state-of-the-art technology which allows "soldiers" to sit safely in tanks and aircraft while pushing buttons. Your analogy is definitely off-kilter.

in Ivory Coast ,hundreds were killed . Crime commited by criminalists in French uniforms. Concentrate upon this first ,s'il vous plait. Merci.

the same congress would have voted to declare war against it using the same U.N. as fig leaf. Americas credibility is in the gutter now. Just how lower than that should it get ? This is not doing Israel any favours, trust me.

is US twisting arms, making promises and threats to other nations about how they vote....so you think you won against obama bibi? he who laughs last...

I agree with Adam (#2): this is just too big to sweep under the rug. Many Israelis agree that there were war crimes, and I think Israel has progressed to the stage of maturity where those points of view will be taken seriously. The bias I see is not in the Goldstone report; it's in the US government. It's shocking that so many US politicians have such blind allegiances to Israeli defence policy no matter what that policy may be.

Nobody expects US to vote for the report in UN. Democrats are putting on a big show - and they will also explicitly veto the report at the UN - to show how much Obama is on Israeli side. The payoff will be next years elections.

Congress and people like Foxman just make themselves look ridiculous. The way you kill a report like this is expose the bits that aren't true. Clearly all this crew would love to do that and the fact that none of them can, clearly indicates that it's all true. Why is Congress voting against the truth? Is that what American voters want their Congress to do?

Goldstone was asked how he thought Israel should have conducted the Gaza war. His answer was "use commandos". I t is good that he does not have any children or grand-children in the Israeli Army, and that he is not a military adviser to the IDF.

Corner" still rules, albeit somewhat weaker and less knee jerk than in past decades. Blame Madoff, Fuchs, Goldman Sacs, Greenspan, Bibi, Liebermans, Palin, Limbaugh, Rosen, Oren, Cheney, Glick, Kristol, and many many others. Reality is inevitable!

If the Goldstone report is rejected by the U.S. Congress, then Hamas didn't do anything wrong in Gaza either, and in view of the fact, that there haven't been anymore Hamas suicide bombings against Israeli civilians, one would have to assume, that Hamas will be taken off the U.S. terror-list by tomorrow. At least we could expect that, if the U.S. Congress would not be a playground for the "bigots" and "hypocrites" of this world. But of course we all know better, don't we...??? :)

"Israel has called on Western nations to speak out against any endorsement of the Goldstone Commission's damning report on the Gaza Strip when the matter comes up for deliberation at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday." To which "western nations" have a simple comeback: if you appoint an independent commission of inquiry then the Goldstone Report becomes a dead letter. Indeed, why should "western nations" have to cover up for Israel? Why shouldn't they say to Netanyahu that they will help those who help themselves? You can help yourself, Israel, by appointing that commission of inquiry.

I'd say 434-1, for. What say you?

The more Israel tries to kill the investigation, the more the Goldstone reports appears to be true. The smart way would be to accept a self investigation, and prove wrong the war crimes accusation.... unless they are so blatant that the task would not be possible .. hum .. wait a minute that's WHY Bibi is panicking .... may be war crimes were really committed, get it people ?

If there was a Somalian pirate ship off the coast of London or Spain shooting missles at your city centers, but the ship had women and children on it. Would your Spain or England be criminal for sinking the ship? All you anti-semites hold Israel to a different center than you would yourselves.

her faux victim stance will come to a screeching halt if 1/10 of the Goldstone report gets out to the general Public. It will, once and for all show who is the real victim here and who is the aggressor and non partner in Peace. That is what Israel is afraid of---check the puddles under the feet of Livni and Barak/Olmert.

israel must be forced to abide by all UN resolutions and International Laws. israel cannot get away with clear theft and murder any longer. all fair-minded and peace-loving jews around the world must apply pressure onto israel to make peace with the palestinian people and get out of their land immediately.

It is far better to be taken directly to the International Criminal Court where it can run its natural course. The Goldstone report is an offical document and has enough incriminating evidence. Eat your hearts out.

I guess we know who owns him...

Israel is treated with different standards than the rest of the world. The report author is honest and sincere in his reporting to the UN. The West have to accept it at face value.

Stop begging the world to clean up your mess. You soiled your diapers so take the shower.

....will surely be "impressed"...:)

The worst thing Israel can do is reject the Goldstone Report. If we have war criminals they should be arrested, not protected. What is happening here, is that our war criminals are using every means to escape justice. They are not thinking of Israel. They are only thinking of themselves, under the cover that they have Israel's best intentions at heart. Well they do not.

One can't help but be suspicious when one looks at the frenzied efforts Israel is taking to avoid this investigation. Could there be something it wants to keep from reaching the light? Certainly if Israel weren't afraid there was something untoward that might come out, it would welcome an investigation which would clear it of charges.

How about they address the bits which ARE correct before they vote to bury the whole thing. 1,400 deaths should warrant proper investigation on ALL sides. This is far too big for Israel to sweep under the carpet. And it will show them in an even worse light if they do so.

Well... I believe it would be better to have some more light over what happened in Gaza. Too many people was killed, and it did not give too good image of Israel...