Goldstone to Haaretz: U.S. does not have to protect Israel blindly
Author of report on Gaza war responds to President's description of him as 'small man' out to hurt Israel.
By Tomer Zarchin Tags: Goldstone report Israel newsJudge Richard Goldstone told Haaretz Thursday that President Shimon Peres' remarks criticizing him were "specious and ill-befitting the head of State of Israel."
Peres was quoted Wednesday as calling Goldstone "a small man, devoid of any sense of justice, a technocrat with no real understanding of jurisprudence," who was "on a one-sided mission to hurt Israel."
In Thursday's interview by e-mail with Haaretz, Goldstone said: "I am content to be judged by my actions over the course of my career both in terms of my professional judicial career and my voluntary service."
Goldstone also said he had anticipated that the report would engender considerable criticism. "After all, no one likes to be accused of committing serious war crimes. However, I was surprised at the many nasty attacks made against me personally. In my view, it was a classic case of attacking the messenger rather than addressing the message."
Goldstone also rejected the claim that the fact that he is Jewish was exploited to make it more difficult for Israelis to challenge his conclusions. "I was approached because of my experience with regard to the investigation of serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law."
The Goldstone report is expected to be raised for discussion in the United Nations Security Council in the near future, and Goldstone Thursday discussed the possibility that the United States would veto any resolution that would hurt Israel when it comes to the implementation of the report's findings. "I do not believe that any nation should protect another nation blindly. I would prefer to see the United States furnish reasons for criticizing the report. The United States has supported our call for credible investigations by Israel and by the Gaza authorities, whether the PA or Hamas," he said.
Goldstone reiterated statements he has made, as well as those made by a number of Israeli human rights groups, inviting an open, public investigation and categorically rejecting a probe by the Israel Defense Forces of the Gaza campaign. "It does not suffice for the military to investigate itself. That will satisfy very few people and certainly not the victims."
However Goldstone stressed that "in any public inquiry, it would be open to the Israeli government and the IDF to have sensitive security information protected from public disclosure."
When asked how far up the chain of command he felt such a criminal investigation should go, and whether decision-makers in government be its subject, he replied: "A criminal investigation should go as high up the chain of command, both military and civilian, as the evidence justifies."
Goldstone, who is widely considered one of the fathers of transitional justice and has extolled its virtues in achieving peace and reconciliation in post-conflict societies, was asked what role he thought a truth and reconciliation commission - which received international recognition as a tool for probing the South African government's actions during apartheid - could play in contributing to a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by establishing accountability in a more constructive fashion than criminal proceedings. Goldstone said he believed it would, "on condition that it is set up to look at allegations on all sides and is established by a democratic process."
Goldstone was asked how he reconciled his finding that kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit should be accorded the privileges of a prisoner of war, and calling for his immediate release as a humanitarian gesture, with the fact that Hamas is a non-state actor not bound by the Third Geneva Convention, which defines the concept of prisoner of war status. Should not Shalit be defined as an illegal abductee, the victim of a war crime, and his release not subject to the goodwill of Hamas?
Goldstone replied: "In no way did we regard Hamas as a state party. We decided that it was in the interests of giving greater protection to people in the position of Gilad Shalit to extend prisoner-of-war status to them. We extended existing norms in order to do that. We based this decision on the military operations being controlled by the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, i.e., that it was an international armed conflict."
In response to the Israeli allegation that Goldstone's mandate was one-sided, he replied: "This incorrect allegation continues to be made in the attempt to discredit the report despite the fact that it is demonstrably false. The claim is based on a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution that I specifically and explicitly rejected."
Goldstone also said that he had "demanded and received a balanced mandate to enable me to investigate allegations of war crimes by all sides. The government of Israel clearly knows this, as it is all a matter of public record that I discussed at the press conference announcing the inquiry and its mandate. I believe that the continued reference to the mission's mandate is yet another attempt to avoid addressing the substance of the report."
Goldstone said he believed that for Israel, "this is unfortunate because the report contains the clearest finding that Hamas and other militant Palestinian groups committed serious war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity. The acceptance of those findings by the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly has been ignored completely by Israel.
"I suggest that Israel has not acknowledged that because it would confer credibility on the report," Goldstone also said.
Goldstone called the allegation that the report encourages terror and negates Israel's right to self-defense "quite untrue and a fallacious attempt to win opposition to what is contained in the report.
"The report is based on the assumption that Israel was entitled to act in self-defense. The investigation was concerned with whether the exercise of the right to self-defense was lawful or unlawful. The condemnation in the report of the rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza is the clearest possible statement against terror, and the endorsement of the report by the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly is probably the first time that the United Nations has recognized Israel's right to act in self-defense against such terror."
Goldstone also said: "Many Israelis are right to feel that the United Nations and its member bodies such as the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly have devoted inordinate and disproportionate attention to scrutinizing and criticizing Israel. This has come at the price of ignoring violations of human rights in other countries, some of them members of those very same bodies. The time has come for the investigation of all violations of international human rights law and international law whenever they are committed, in any state.
"However, this disproportionate focus on Israel does not exempt Israel from respecting international law," Goldstone also said.
"I would suggest that time has come for Israel to look at the allegations not only of the killing and injuring of so many civilians but also the collective punishment meted out to the people of Gaza by the substantial destruction of the infrastructure, and particularly the food infrastructure of Gaza. The debate should continue, not attempt to be silenced."
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
If in doubt, take the time to recite the "PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE" We have more than two parties, others are of minor importance Good grief, you write so much nonsense!!
"Yes, in the modern neo-lib movement, anything is "fine" as long as you can blame Jews." Do tell! And those aren't jews blaming other jews? What I see are "neo-lib" jews blaming true believing, hardcore zioist jews, and vice versa. You need to be specific about identifying the "you" of "as long as YOU blame Jews."
The USA is a democracy, and it is a two-party state. Both parties are beholden to pro-Israeli factions. And the vast majority of Americans strongly support Israel. Justice Goldstone is right, the USA does not have to protect Israel blindly, but there is no significant political opposition to supporting Israel blindly and overwhelming political support for doing so. This is the simple reality. America might not have to support Israel blindly, but no American politician is going to risk the damage that refusing to support Israel would incur.
His report uses language that unequivocally states that Israel is guilty of war crimes. Then in his later statements, he equivocates -- saying that his report proves nothing, that it was only intended to spur further investigations. Which is it, Goldstone? What a crock!!!!
"Roo, If Israel`s bombing of Gaza at the end of 2008 and start of 2009 wasn`t an act of self defence and a war crime as you call it. What were the bombs from Gaza going into Israel? Palestinian self defence from the incoming Israeli war crimes that they knew would be committed?" Why did Israel decide to break the ceasefire on November 5th, then? After four months of Hamas firing no rocket (this information was published by the israeli ministry of foreign affairs). Hamas respected the ceasefire and declared on more than one occasion they were willing to accept the two-state solution. Fact is, Israel deliberately does everything it can to prevent such a settlement. And the mainstream media and world leaders increasingly tend to acknowledge that nowadays.
I think that some people don't get it. Goldstone is an Orthdoox Jew. He thought carefully about doing this, and he thought someone else doing it would be perhaps harsher. He was rather strict when approaching things. He was extremely, extremely shocked by what he saw and heard in Gaza. Do you expect him to be blind or to ignore what's moral for the sake of Israel's politicians? As Hillel said, one should not do what's hateful on to others. The politicians attacked the Gazans with little mercy, and some expected Goldstone to be heartless? One Jewish American who went to Gaza after forgetting for a moment that he was Jewish felt he wanted to get revenge against Israelis for the destruction, i.e., he could feel what happened entailed that the IDF went too far in his eyes. This same mentality led people to issue death threats to a Jewish American who had a Palestinian girlfriend. Enough of this fascist mentality. Grow up! Get some morals, those who justify this!
http://www.eyeontheun.org/view.asp?l=47&p=984 "Christine Chinkin signed a letter dated January 11, 2009, which appeared in The Times, stating: "Israel's bombardment of Gaza is not self-defence - it's a war crime." In addition, the letter stated: "The rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas deplorable as they are, do not, in terms of scale and effect amount to an armed attack entitling Israel to rely on self-defence...Israel's actions amount to aggression, not self-defence". I repeat Chinkin was saying Israel had no rights of self defence in Gaza!!Never mind if the targets were military,Israel had NO rights acccording to Chnkin,to attack Gaza. Why not "Roo"? Was all Gaza a demilitarised zone?? Chinkin, therefore, began this inquiry with her mind made up. She had already decided Israel had committed war crimes and that Israel had not acted in self-defence. This was a denial of natural justice!Fair minded people refused to participate in this farce.The UN needed Chinkin & Goldstone.
JUST with a counter balance. Fits in well with his other prejudicial comments prior to his so called impartial investigation.
Judge Goldstone in his impartial investigation of the IDF actions in Gaza refused to allow the testimony of a New Zealand Officer, who is an expert in urban warfare against terrorists, that the actions of the IDF in Gaza exceeded the actions of other countries in trying to keep civilian casualties low and mistakes that were made were understandable and not unreasonable in such situations.
... his credentials impeccable on all counts...
That he doesn't think reality matters and that he can ignore facts in order to treat the single Jewish majority State completely differently than all others. There are plenty of articles clearly and logically showing the UNHRC's resolution was biased from the beginning, that the selected "investigators" all were on record as being biased before selection, that they accepted hearsay statements as fact and that they ignored pictorial evidence in denying Hamas actions, and that they otherwise lied in order to "prove" a pre-ordained point. Yes, in the modern neo-lib movement, anything is "fine" as long as you can blame Jews.
They don't work, because they're BS. "Seems to me, you swiped yours from the Aboriginies" Really? I thought the British colonized Australia, a couple of centuries or so before I was born into the land. Their behaviour is one of the main reasons there are now laws against the acquisition of territory by force. Care to show us the UNSC resolution against Australians living in Australia? I look forward to your 'rational' explanation as to why you can't. "P.S. Palestine is a name given to the land after the Roman Invasion" So what? Palestine is still Palestine, somewhat smaller now that Jordan and Israel have been carved from it. n It's territories include Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank, territories to the North bordering Lebanon and a big chunk bordering Egypt. None of which has been legally annexed by Israel.
... he is not intimidated by the rejection and bad-mouthing by Israeli officials and their nochshleppers...
how much money Goldstone earns for have doing this work. The total amount could help explain many questions, about the motivations for his one-sided report as well as those of his employers in the UN.
...that man ought to to Shimon Peres for being a voice piece for Israel's illegal enterprise in the Palestinian territories and for his attempts to justify all Israeli actions in support of it--even war crimes. I am so glad the Turkish PM spoke out against this ( and him) and Judge Goldstone is taking a judicial stand on it. It's the right and moral thing to do and there is nothing whatsoever small about it as it brings into question Israel's moral position in the ME which can't be brushed under the rug or excused away. Dutch
Obama may have thrown Netanyahu a bouquet in planning a public show trial for the 9/11 conspiracists by making it a civil trial instead of it's proper venue as a military trial; the reason being to deflect and distract attention from Goldstone. If so, then it may be that Obama and Bibi didn't discuss the settlements, Iran or the peace process at all. It was about Goldstone.
to talk about someone else living on stolen land Seems to me, you swiped yours from the Aboriginies P.S. Palestine is a name given to the land after the Roman Invasion
He would have posted it at the same time he put out the report
Verbal attacks on a messenger is an indication that the abusers are unable to disprove the allegations in the message. Many are really disappointed to see that even President Peres couldn't do any better, and he had to stoop that low. Isn't this another sign showing things are falling apart (because the centre can't hold any longer)?
"I am still waiting with bated breath for an ACTUAL refutation of the Goldstone Report allegations ! So far, all that his detractors can do is yelling and screaming" Then you are blind and are deliberately ignoring several refutations.
This is how Goldstone will be remembered. There is no way to clear his name after this filthy report.
The vile attacks without ctitiquing a single point prove that Goldstone was right! 'Jane to Goldstone'. The support of the United States is not cast in stone. If Obama continues to cave in to Netaniahu, his standing in the world will plummet if it hasn't already. In the long run, Israelis should fear demographic changes if they continue on the present path. When I speak of demographics I also include American demographics: I doubt that the increasing number of Latinos whose land the Americans conquered in the last century will supoort the gringos who support Israeli land grabbers and oppressors. Also, I doubt that the Chinese who were oppressed by Americans and Brits etc.. will support Israeli oppression of Palestinians. If Israel doesn't change its ways, the reckoning will eventually come!It might take another 50, 100, 200 years but it will surely come.
When there is fear there is no love, no time for compassion. The whole of Israel lives under constant fear, and so is it written in the ancient books, that fear is what the deity commands; devoid of any love for his subjects. When religion is promotes fear or vice versa, a psychosis takes over the individual followers and any atrocity small or large is for them now common sense. How very small is the [material or spiritual] gain of [war] crimes, how difficult to cure this disease of fear. Love is too long a word so let me say to the one eyed leaders, here in the world of the two eyes ones we have dimensions of compassion, we are the humanists, we want to share the wealth, yes, I feel myself member of the New World Government. Share the land or perish.
The USA supports Israel with eyes wide open and as its closest ally, the US knows everything. You Mr. Goldstone were either duped into taking the enemy's side or you are truly misguided. Either way your report is completely biased against Israel. We all have to earn a paycheck but at what price sir?
Because somebody kills, doesn't give others the wrigth to Kill
I am still waiting with bated breath for an ACTUAL refutation of the Goldstone Report allegations ! So far, all that his detractors can do is yelling and screaming - a veritable pogrom against what seems to be the ONE honest man under the sun ! David
It has had nearly a hundred UN resolutions passed against it for it's treatment of Palestinians and its illegal occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. It ignores them. Why is Israel so worried about this report? Maybe Goldstone has some real incriminating information ascertained as a result from his investigation that Israel doesn't want the world to know about?
All, Goldstone has a long career with the UN. He thought that if he changed the mandate of the investigation, he could get Israel to cooperate. All of his investigators (with the exception of himself) have a long history of constant condemnation of Israel. Hardly, a good start. Goldstone agreed to investigate 36 examples. Since Israel would not cooperate, Goldstone used Hamas' list. Not surprisingly, he condemned 35 of the 36 instances. No example of Hamas use of mosques for arms depots, schools as missile launching sites, denial of civilians to use bomb shelters reserved for Hamas officials, and killing of civilian political opponents under cover of the war were considered. Nevertheless, he still declared Hamas war criminals despite being denied access to Sderot and Ashkelon. I think the UN has to go a long way to treat Israel as a full member of the UN. I also think that Israel should take the out Goldstone provided and investigate itself.
Sir, to the gentleman from Brazil I only would like to comment that every Jewish community with educated and polite members would welcome our jewish friend Judge R. Goldstone simply to hear the contents of his Gaza report, because most of them (incl. you)have not read his book covering more than 500 pages.
I'm not sure whom I admire most, Judge Goldstone or Rep. James Traficant. It's kind of a toss up. Both are courageous men for speaking the truth under fire. Both deserve a tip of the hat.
Judge Richard Goldstone was hailed for his work in uncovering war crimes in Rwanda and Bosnia. Not one of you who demean and slander this honorable man called him a "self-hater" or any of the other pernicious epithets you have hurled at him. In fact because Goldstone is Jewish you were probably even more proud of him. But when he turned the same objectivity to investigate possible war crimes of Israel and Hamas, he suddenly, in your narrow views, became a horrible person and a "self-hater." Shame on all of you who defame this good man. Your comments say far more about you than it does about him.
...mentioned no less than eighteen times in the Goldstone Report. Why don't you and the others who have never bothered to read it - ACTUALLY READ IT - then come back and make allegations based upon what the report actually says instead of what you think it says. No where does the Goldstone Report say a damn thing about Israel not having the right to self-defense, no where, I wish you guys would get that through your heads. Israel did not sit on its hands, it provoked the attacks nine ten out of ten times, fired more munitions into Gaza than ever came out, and killed far more Palestinians than any homemade POS rocket ever managed to do. If you lock people in a cage and barely feed them scraps, when you poke them, they will bite.
Israel is doing all it can to prevent the Goldstone report from going to court?
Ok all you human rights "supporters". Time to put your money where your mouths are. Goldstone says "...the report contains the clearest finding that Hamas and other militant Palestinian groups committed serious war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity." YOu can't get any clearer than that. Time for all of you to call for Hamas and other Pal leaders to stand trial for war crimes. So, let's here you: BBSNews, Maureen Ann, Rahman, Steve, Esther, BloodyScot... Come on, you guys support Goldstone, so let's here you demand it openly and publicly: war crimes trials for the Palestinians. You won't, because you guys really don't care about human rights. You just hate Israel.
The US loses all credibility in blindly protecting Israel. And since Israel knows that they can do anything and get away with it. Not good for US, Israel or the World.
"U.S does not have to protect Israel blindly" Goldstone. Where in Goldstone commission to advise the U.S.A ? Goldstone shouldn't have accepted the commission when Israel refused to participate in his mission. It is obvious that his findings will be wrong when only one side is participating ?! I think Goldstone must apologies for that !
I guess in your book Amir anyone who criticizes either what their country is doing or their people is a self-hater. During the rise of Hitler there were Germans who spoke out against what Hitler was doing. Were these Germans "self-hating? I guess in your book they were. Americans spoke out and demonstrated against the Vietnam War. I guess you would call them self=haters. White Americans, including Jews, went to the South and worked for Civil Rights in a part of the country where blacks were, under law, being denied their civil rights. Maybe, in your book these white Americans were "self-haters." Get over it Amir. Those who point out what Israel has done are not self-haters. They are truth tellers and the problem is that you and so many of our people are so afraid of the truth that you must defame those who tell the truth by deeming them either "anti-Semitic" or "self-hating."
...."Self-hating Jew" or an "anti-semite"??? SERIOUSLY!
You don't need to be in Egypt to be in De-Nile. Goldstone gave TRUE information and it offended the Rightists in Israel that think the best defense is a DESTRUCTIVE offense. There is no justification to wage war on a civilian population. Ever. It's been done in the past and been deemed a WAR CRIME. The Rightists in Israel think it's appropriate to call this man a Self Hating Jew?!?!?! How dare you! Knowledge is the most important thing in Judaism, and you reject the TRUTH because it interferes with your POLITICAL BELIEFS! How dare all of you! Complete rubbish to call this man a self hating jew!
"What were the bombs from Gaza going into Israel?" They were likely war crimes too. See Goldstone Report. page 472, sections 1720-1724: Section 1724: "This indicates the commission of an indiscriminate attack on the civilian population of southern Israel, a war crime, and may amount to crimes against humanity."
"What were the bombs from Gaza going into Israel?" They were likely war crimes too Edan. See Goldstone Report. page 472, sections 1720-1724: Section 1724: "This indicates the commission of an indiscriminate attack on the civilian population of southern Israel, a war crime, and may amount to crimes against humanity."
Let me explain you a single fact. You live in a stolen land and your cinycs has no limits. You have killed, stolen and "domesticated" 'your' aborigens. Full colonization. In contrast, Zionism means "return to the land that our ancestors owned". The rest is self defense against the arab usurpators.
...you lose your soul, as the talkback writers here demonstrate. Goldstone is a shining light of Jewry. Jews lived happily with Palestinians for hundreds of years until the Zionism nonsense of the 1920's and onwards.
The Jihad is not a Principle we wish to Stand For. If you want to prove your point, I will pay the postage needed to ship you to Mecca, let them decide which alter to "Do" you on.
There seems to be a basic disconnect between the Definition of a Civilian and the Reason to protect Civilians. It has been the central strategy of certain powers, to blur the line, this is something that is harming all civilized countries. Your country, will lose this war, because your country can not cope with this type of strategy and the war will come and closer to you, until your streets look like Gaza and the "Civilians" are butchering your children before your eyes.
Spreading Jihadi Propaganda is not a Tenant of Judaism.
Why should they not be allowed to have a seat on the human rights council? I hate my government and think they are bad for my country, however, hasnt the Israeli government violated more UN resolutions than my governments? This is a pure case of hypocracy and ignorance.
Roo, If Israel's bombing of Gaza at the end of 2008 and start of 2009 wasn't an act of self defence and a war crime as you call it. What were the bombs from Gaza going into Israel? Palestinian self defence from the incoming Israeli war crimes that they knew would be committed?
He is suffering from a severe case of hasbara.
"Prof Chikin a lawyer who declared Israel had no right to defend itself prostituted herself by joining the enquiry." First of all, you already posted this several times. Can't you at least spell the name of the person you are libeling, correctly? Exactly where does Chinkin say, as you claim in #40 that, "Israel had no right to defend itself". Frankly I believe you are just a slightly eccentric apologist for Israel who gets carried away in it's defense. However if you can bring forward the quote where she makes this claim it would at least give some credence to what is otherwise a load of empty and one might even say "specious" rhetoric. I would just add that the comment, "Israel's Bombardment of Gaza is Not Self Defence . It's a War Crime" is not even remotely the same as saying "Israel had no right to defend itself". You do understand that Peter?
This issue is now on the level it belongs: a political issue and not a legal or moral issue. The UN has two enemies for the moment, Israel and itself.
wonder at the kind of people who'd stoop so low as to perpetuate such rubbish. Certainly not in keeping with the basic tenets of Judaism.
Everyone seems to agree on the facts but that is about it, Goldstone judged IDF actions based on rule of law and IDF judged them on the need to stop terrorism and that its orders were legal no matter what. The IDF admitted mistakes were make that cost the lives of both soldiers and civilians but that is was part of war and should not be raised to the level of war crimes. Israel has already admitted that it most likely broke Geneva Laws were it stated that changes in those laws were needed. The real question is how many soldiers lives are you willing to risk to follow these laws when its far safer to just break them and let more civilian died to keep soldiers safe.
Most of the posts on this topic today ignore that this article clearly states that Judge Goldstone was approached by Haaretz to respond to President Peres's (unbecoming) remarks about him to Brazilian President Lula da Silva yesterday. In other words, Judge Goldstone spoke not out of a desire to promote himself but because a reputed newspaper approached him. It is to his credit that despite Peres's provocation, Goldstone's response still did not attack Peres personally. That those who most wish to help Israel are perceived as those who most wish to hurt it is a reflection of Israel's increasingly warped sense of perspective. The most obvious symptom aside from spiraling fear-mongering and lashing-out is our current frenzied struggle to avoid (ultimately inevitable) self-scrutiny.
Goldstone ruined his career with this bogus report.
the truth hurts...
from his flawed reporters to attacking the USA. Having no defence he goes on the offensive,it sure beats answering the questions on the impartiality of the investigators and their UNHRC employers.
right to deserve such vile and contemptuous treatment from supporters of Israel
... will be acted upon as vigorously as all the comments that are bandied about... ... we really do squeal when it hursts the most in its accuracy... ... ta, Judge Goldstone, for a consummate lesson in human decency, even under supreme stress... even if we're meanwhile kicking-and-screaming in protest...
expressing a prejudicial view by co-signing with known anti Israel activists Then he claims "he believes in the rule of Law " but obviously not natural justice? Prof Chikin a lawyer who declared Israel had no right to defend itself prostituted herself by joining the enquiry. Goldstone is getting desperate changing the topic to the USA
the u.s. needs to support israel when it's warranted, and for VALID reasons; NOT just because it's israel! doing so is not only denigrating to the basic values upon which the united states was founded, but it also makes the u.s. complicit in the things to which it turns a blind eye.
self righteous rainting claiming israel is guilty of unspeakable crimes. that description applies both to goldstone and the misguided swedish journalist who claimed the army was killing palenstinians to harvest their organs. but now the journalist is recounting the claim. expect goldstone will overcome his hubris and realize his mistake as well. if not,it won't be the first time that a 'brother' has committed treason. a person only commits a sin in a state of insanity...even if temporary. the sin is that of goldstone's, not that of israel.
Good to see someone who is honest and brave enough to put humanity first and his religion or ethnicity second for a change, despite the catcalls and abuse from some of his own tribe. If the world is ever to be free of racism and blatant ethnocentricity we will need many more Richard Goldstones!
Compare the professional answers of this honest and humanitarian man to the gibberish and childish low level stabs that Peres shot at him in Brazil. And Peres too was made the president of Israel !! What a worthy representative. A smooth talker, with blood on his hands nevertheless - the blood of the Qana massacre of 96 Lebanese children in 1996, and the blood of 400 Palestinian children in Gaza in 2009.
"Arabs can easily avoid casualties , do not shoot rackets , refrain from terror activity , and you will be safe ." Palestinians in the W.bank have been very peaceful the last few years yet still they are attacked by 'settlers' and abused by the IDF, Israelis can also avoid casualties, make a fair peace, if it does not work Israel can very easily occupy again, stealing land from Palestinians is one sure way to avoid peace like every Israeli Gov. since 67. and please don't say' but we pulled out of Gaza'....thats a joke! its an open air prison.
Reading some of the comments on Golstone to Haaretz I am surprised to see that many are blinded to the truth. Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza (and elsewhere)- it is crystal clear. Why do people continue to deny this? What Goldstone did was to reveal the truth - and that hurts many pro-Israelis. At least, let us be honest and say the truth. Let us support justice and freedom and human dignity - not Israel or Hamas. More people like Goldstone are needed to save the world from hatred and violence.
Goldstone wants to be judged on his career. The Apartheid Regime appointed him as a judge knowing he was not concerned about civil rights or apartheid. He accepted the position.Enough said from the opportunist and yes, a little man,.
I'm no fan of Avi but compared to the leadership in most Arab countries, he is learned, temperate, tolerant, and gentle. Yah, everything is relative.
What can be said? If a Jew calls Israel to account, he is instantly called a "self-hating" Jew. How come that no other people on the planet use such a term "self-hating Catholic", "self-hating Rastafarian" "self-hating Hindu"." It would appear that Jews/Israelis are incapable of accepting that they might have a "fault". Could it be that they are only too aware of their many faults and have therefore decided that the only way to "defend" the indefensible is to drag out their, "well-worn", weapon : "self-hating Jew"? It is sad to see a people who have given such a lot to this world, be totally incapable of accepting criticism, even from "one of their own". The very recent article here should have given these "blind" people an inkling of just what they are indeed capable of. The Lavon Affair". - But it won't! .
You say brave, honest and accurate. I say disengenous, clearly wrong and not brave at all. He knows that Israelies and Jews will do nothing to him and he hopes to be regarded in a way that will not happen. His behaviour based on classic judicial standards is unacceptable. What behaviour? Well acting as an advocate, rather than a judge. Judges make their decisions and keep quiet. They do not respond, let alone, attack critics or those that do not accept their judgement. Moreover, they don't share confidences about the process leading up to their decisions, something apparently Goldstone did with his daughter. In any event, there is no evidence in his report of verifying the authenticity of the testimony he heard. He might as well have had his pajamas on and had Islamic terrorists read him good night stories about "bad Jews".
Knowing well how the Israel PR machine would stop at nothing to discredit him, Goldstone has done his job with determination, objectivity and accuracy. Further, he has withstood false and baseless accusations by Israel and stood his ground. Someone once said " the truth will always be" Thank you Mr Goldstone
And answers that should be respected - also by Israelis. They are well-founded and speak for the calibre of the report as well as for that of the man, who does not lower himself to the level of personal attacks - not even under the greatest provocation.
Of course, America might just as well join Goldstone, selling itself into Slavery and condemn its progeny to a life of slaughter and death upon the Alters of Mecca.
Unless a report is written in favor of Israel, whether it is written by the most trusted man or not, Israel will reject it, no matter what. What a joke!!!! Israel has become a country where Avi Liberman became a standard for Foreign Minister.
Goldstone is going around the world, selling his Report, telling the Israeli government what it should do, responding to criticsm, giving interviews, and the like. Such conduct is blatantly unjudicial. In democracies judges do not do such things. They allow their opinions to speak of themselves. To the trained lawyer Goldstone's conduct his shocking. By his conduct Goldstone has impeached himself. It's apparent that UNHRC bought itself a publicist, not a true judge.
Goldstone the pest of shallow logic has shown himself to be a very 'small man' and the 'service' he claims to have contributed over the years don't include Israel where he serves as a useful idiot for those nations who's undivided task it is to deny the legitimacy of the Jewish states right to exist, let alone defend itself
'U.S. does not have to protect Israel blindly ' How can people be allowed to say such things? In any case, it's untrue. We obviously DO have to support Israel blindly. It's hardly up to us.
Hmmm...I'm surpised that Peres didn't call Goldstone "Anti Semitic Jew" or Nazi. After all these are the same people who called President Jimmy Carter "Anti Semitic" & Nazi once. If they don't like you, they'll try to ruin you anyway they can. That is the cornerstone of their policy but the whole world is sick and tired of their lame excuses. I don't know how long Obama can put up with their bullshit but I don't think Obama has balls to stand up to them either. OBAMA made a fool out of himself and The presidency of the United Sates when he gave the speech in Egypt in front of the whole world and asked Israel to freeze the settlements but Israel simply ignored it. What kind of Ally is that ? For that Obama has lost his credibility forever. That is all I have to say. Thanks
His wife suffers, hence his trip.
His wife suffers, hence his trip.
'A classic case of attacking the messenger rather than addressing the message?' Oh my goodness gracious - where have we heard that before!? Not only was Goldstone's myopic view tarnished with monumental incompetence but it filtered out through the biased prism of a self- interested hubris. Goldstone wanted to make his mark on history. He has. He'll forever be rememberd by the overwhelming majority of his co-religionists - left, right and center, as a disgrace to his people. Shame on you Mr Goldstone, shame on you.
Goldstone you are a shame to the jews! how can a man stoop so low
whatever it takes to defend her citizens against Arab terror , by all means , regardless what Goldstone say or thinks . Arabs can easily avoid casualties , do not shoot rackets , refrain from terror activity , and you will be safe .
This article is a waste of space and time. It gives Goldstone a Forum for defending his dispicable actions in this matter. He admits to Harretz and other papers that there would be no legal basis in a Court of Law for his report to be used in a trial. Personal posistions that have no bearing on the reality of Cast Led, Gaza. Why write Articles of this kind. They certainly don't support any movement towards Peace which seems impossible at this time. He only hindered that movement by his report that mirrors the action of the UN Human Rights Council.
" it was a classic case of attacking the messenger rather than addressing the message" Did the moron forget that HE is the one who wrote the message?
This guy is definitely on the talk circuit now, which greatly diminishes his credibility.
And you should not attack Israel blindly.
what he (President Peres) knows of the alleged Sephardi child radiation experimentation carried out by Israel when he was Israel's Director General of Defence Minister? Will Mr Peres mention the alleged human experiments carried out at Dimona where employees were enticed into drinking seven times the known safety of uranium in drinking water? Will Mr Peres speak on Israel's alleged nuclear waste buried in the Hebron's mountains? Mr Peres, a long lived, and surely befitting head of State Israel, doesn't fear being judged by his actions over the course of his career, does he?
...than the goldstone, if you disagree with the report fight and rebutt the message point by point in a dimplomatic and professional manner. Calling names and belittling Goldstone does not accomplish that goal. We can all see the same thing and come with different conclusions based on our own facts and perspectives. Goldstone's perspective will carry the day if we box ourselves in name calling as a form of our ultimate defense against the report.
...even to the detriment of their own national interests. Israel is an albatross around America's neck, yet American politicians seem to relish strangling themselves with it.
"[Goldstone] replied: "A criminal investigation should go as high up the chain of command, both military and civilian, as the evidence justifies." Olmert had the attack continue for weeks, despite advice to end it after three days. Why doesn't Israel send Olmert to the International Criminal Court at the Hague. After all, the man is already charged with domestic crimes. Israel will look good, and might save the costs of trial and imprisonment.
Why are you still talking to the Shmuck Goldstone?. Shimon Perez gave to much credit to that Putz.It is self evident that Israel had a right to take any measure it deems neccesary against Hamas.You do weatherman to predict rain when rain is droping on your head.He is nothing but a pompous shmuck
I have just left HEBRAICA, brazilian largest Jewish Community Center (www.hebraica.org.br)located in Sao Paulo. The place was packed with thousands welcoming and applauding visiting Pres. Shimon Peres. I wonder what would happen, if anybody would even care to show up there if this Mr. Goldstone decides to come over to Hebraica. Of course, he would be welcome at the local Palestinian Community Center, at the Syrian and Lebanese Community Center and, of course, at Iran's consulate.More so if he'd bring along with him some well known Haaretz columnists...
GOLDSTONE is not the 1st uncle tom self hating Jew, we've had many, he should seek psychological help for his hate of himself.