Israel opposition to Goldstone report reflects layers of denial
Many wise men, including even our president, have mobilized to explain why the fact-finder is warped.
By Daphna Golan Tags: Goldstone report Israel newsMany wise men, including even our president, have mobilized to explain to us why the fact-finder is warped, or small-minded, or anti-Israel, or mistaken, or just doesn't understand. But perhaps Richard Goldstone will nevertheless succeed in making a small crack in our wall of denial and thus create an opening for the establishment of commissions similar to the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions that were established in the wake of his reports on violence in South Africa.
Israeli opposition to the Goldstone report reflects multiple layers of denial, ranging from literal denial (it never happened) through denial of its significance (these weren't really war crimes) to justification (we had no alternative; what can we do when they shell Sderot nonstop?).
There is also denial of the possibility that an international commission might be able to investigate better than the Israel Defense Forces (they're anti-Semites), denial of the existence of any international law that would also be valid in Gaza (awful things always happen in wars, and our situation is unique), denial of the pictures that were seen worldwide, but not in Israel (Al Jazeera is spreading propaganda), and denial of the possibility that there is another way besides the way of war.
We are not alone. The Americans are also uninterested in the judges and human rights organizations examining what their army is doing in far-off lands. And, just as in Israel, the combination of democracy and freedom of expression, on one hand, and military control over occupied territory, on the other, strengthens the walls of denial.
Robert Bernstein, in an op-ed criticizing Human Rights Watch, complained that it is spotlighting Israel, an open, democratic state, instead of investigating what goes on in closed states.
Bernstein, who served as chairman of Human Rights Watch for many years and is also a noted publisher, is well-acquainted with the openness and liberalism of Israeli intellectuals - the peaceniks who are proud of their soldier sons even as they sign petitions against the occupation. Israel is indeed a very open society when it comes to Jews. But it also operates in besieged Gaza, which is closed off and closed in.
For more than 42 years, mothers have fled bad news and soldiers have obeyed orders and made another people wretched. This isn't happening because there is no other way, but because in the view of the generals who lead the army into unnecessary wars, there is no one to talk to, no other way, and it's better not to know.
Some 22,000 people testified before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. They painfully told their stories, asked pardon (which was granted to only a few of them) and described the terrible deeds they did - those same deeds that they had denied for years, or else insisted that those who perpetrated them were exceptions, or explained that some things are done in secret because they are necessary, but one doesn't talk about them.
The Goldstone report is not sufficient, but perhaps it will pave the way to a discussion of the present and the past, en route to a better future. If Hamas has already expressed willingness to discuss the Goldstone report, perhaps it is possible to use it as a first step on the road to truth, justice and reconciliation commissions.
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After your attack n the worthy gentlemen, are you going to go into the accuracy of their findings? What difference does their predisposition make if their conclusions were correct?
"and everyone who has read it knows it" Rubbish. Most EU states who have 'read it' have asked that Israel carry out the reports recommendations to fully investigate the reports conclusions regarding the 36 incidents that it highlights. For a more balance view read a serious and highly regarded news paper with world wide readership of a far higher standard of intelligence than often displayed on these pages. The Financial Times. Entitled: 'Goldstone?s Gaza report is balanced' "Much of the criticism centres on methodology ? with a subtext characteristic of Israel?s irredentist right that since Mr Goldstone is a Jew he must be a traitor. This is, to say the least, disingenuous."
"and everyone who has read it knows it" Rubbish. Most EU states who have 'read it' have asked that Israel carry out the reports recommendations to fully investigate the reports conclusions regarding the 36 incidents that it highlights. For a more balance view read a serious and highly regarded news paper with world wide readership of a far higher standard of intelligence than often displayed on these pages. The Financial Times. Entitled: 'Goldstone?s Gaza report is balanced' "Much of the criticism centres on methodology ? with a subtext characteristic of Israel?s irredentist right that since Mr Goldstone is a Jew he must be a traitor. This is, to say the least, disingenuous."
Jon, you raise an interesting point! We hear time and again how many rockets were fired into Israel from GAZA by various groups (many of which are not under Hamas' control). Now ... does anybody know how much ordinance (rockets, shells, mortars, drone-fired ordinance) have been fired by Israel into Gaza during the same period? Now we do know that the IDF keep meticulous records, don't they?
Peter - a few questions for you and direct answers would be appreciated. 1. You are correct that Robinson refused the original brief, but are you aware that she supported the brief as amended by Goldstone? 2. You are correct that UNHCR did not specifically condemn Hamas in their post-report resolution, but how does that detract from the validity of Goldstone's report which did condemn rocket fire into Israel? 3. Goldstone is a highly-regarded human rights, genocide and war crimes lawyer. Dershowitz is a criminal lawyer whose claim to fame is his defense of OJ Simpson. How would a debate on war crimes between these two be of any value? 4. Exactly what letter did Goldstone sign before undertaking the enquiry? 5. The only thing Goldstone was naive about was expecting Israel to participate in the enquiry. Is Israel the primary "force at work" you are refering to?
who has read it knows it.Goldstone was bought, his report showed little investigation and condemned Israel without the true not staged facts and ignored Hamas.In a time where Iran is clamping down on its citizens, the shameful UN,Obama and the EU remain quiet.Goldstone report is so obvious in its bias and lack of validity that the only one in denial are the Israel haters
I entirely agree with your comments. I also do know Israel and Israelis quite well, and I think ALL of us, peace loving people, should be most grateful to Daphna for her clear, well balanced and open words. Thank you, Daphna!!!!
After being deliberately provoked year after year, Israel lost its patience, announced to the world what it would do and did it. If the Gazan leaders are such fools as to blame Israel for their own stupid and lethal behavior, then these leaders should be overthrown by the people. Duh, Hamas.
No 'blind spots' here VH. Or may I call you PAUL HARRIS. Find one example of such 'hypocrisy' in any post I have made [instead of making facile accusations that you can't support), if you can. If you can't it just exemplifies your general methodology on here. Simply making false claims morning night and noon in the vain hope no one will notice you fire blanks for a hobby. G'day!
'Harvard Professor of criminal law Professor Dershowitz' Dershowitz is a professional polemicist who will stoop to personal attack and innuendo in order to raise the tempo of any debate. A noted shill for Israel who would like to make a circus of the Goldtsone report by debating him. Goldstone would have to be either desperate or mad to accept such an offer. If you think Dershowitz is so cool, I would suggest you see him reduced to a trembling (with anger)mumbling fool in his debate with Finklestein chaired by Amy Goodman. No wonder he pursued Finklestein after that, he was made to look shifty and dishonest. Which of course he is. At the end of the day though, in all honesty why would Goldstone a world renowned expert in Humanitarian and International Law would never debate his report with someone who is not even an authority on either International or Humanitarian Law now would he, seriously?
Did I irk you Mr Harris? You make little sense when irked and you do seem to be in a permanent state of high temper. Nowhere will you find any posts where I apply different standards to Australia or any other nation than to Israel [nor does Johnboy as far as I am aware]. A STRAW MAN argument. [I know your earlier nomme de guerre 'PAUL HARRIS' had a liking for upper case, reflecting his tempestuous temperament]. Speaking of wrongdoings and the nation-state. Australia has recently formally and publicly acknowledged its wrongdoings past, in more than one arena and period in order to exorcise its sins. Something that Israel will have to do if it is ever to be free of the stain of occupation and other ills. So lately Aussies are setting a far more enlightened example than you might care to acknowledge.
denial? the only denial I can see from this author is the denial of who israel's neighbours are...now that's denial! seriously, 8000 rockets? do ya think one should fight a war with one hand tied behind their back? when will people learn, if you use a mosque, or a school, ambulances and hospitals from which to store, hide, shield, or shoot weapons from, they then all become fair game, including the so called "civilians" inside...gotta love the left, they scold but never offer solutions that work...you wanna talk diproportionate? how many rockets did israel fire into the strip? I am guessing it was well less than 8000...I am also guessing, whatever was fired by israel was targeted to avoid civilians, which is hugely different from hamas' aims...come on...this whole discussion is frankly, idiotic.
Thank you Daphna for a very clear and truthful article.With people like you there is always hope.I can also verify to the accuracy of your article since I was born and raised in Netanya,
at one time australians were sympathetic to jewish aspirations and ozzie troops prior to perfidious albion leaving in 1948 handed over their weapons to haganah and irgun. now we have the johnboys and roos with their blatant hypocrisy regarding israel as having to observe a different standard to others and their own country . check what oz has done in different theatres of war since 1945 and then shut the f-- up
I really fail to understand the psyche of these leftist Israelis who keep trying to compare the Israeli situation to the former South Africa. What is similar? Absolutely nothing! Quoting American similar situations however does make sense and Israel certainly does NOT suffer from the comparison. Western nations as well as Israel are endangered by Arab-Muslim totalitarism (Fatah, Hamas and Hezbollah being only the spearhead of these jihad fighters) and need to defend themselves.
Chinkin's opinions in the form of a signed letter to the Times in no way should have made any difference. Goldstone made little comment of any note so is entirely irrelevant to your argument. The whole world saw what the Israeli Gov tried to prevent the media or world from seeing. The massive aerial bombardments in built up areas. the scenes in the hospitals, the WHITE phosphorous billowing across urban areas,multiple eye witness testimony to outright war crimes, all supported by Human Rights Watch and other independent orgs, including the UN. What Israel tried to hide from public gaze was in every ones living room so Chinkin merely stated what we all knew already. Israel was indeed engaged in collective punishment and what appeared as prima facie war crimes. As already explained by Goldstone: Were this a court of law [rather than a commission of inquiry briefed to give a report]your silly claims would be relevant. As it is... You are just another apologist for all things Israel on almost every issue of note. As if you, who reflexively jump to Israels defense on every occasion possible were capable of offering an objective view on anything Zionist. The notion is frankly ridiculous. Only last week you fallaciously claimed that Chinkin had signed a letter to the Times which stated that Israel was not entitled to defend itself. You are quite clearly not capable of reasoned argument, just slurs and defamation.
within two days of the commencement of Operation Cast Lead. Unfortunatly the timing to end it ceased to become a military decision and became a political decision and this is when excesses described in the Goldstone Report occured. So the denial comes from the people who made the decisions. Because they will be the ones who will be heading to The Hague. The precedent of course being Sarajevo. Whose citizens had fured on the Serbs surrounding it, and in response the Serbs laid siege on it, not disimilar than what is occuring in Gaza. And the Serbian ruling political elite are either serving time, or being tried for those decisions they made. No wonder Olmert, Barak and Livni are so vitriolic in their condemnation.
civilian infrastructure, the only flour mill, chicken and cement factories, water wells, sewage treatment, populated mosques, etc, etc,.. then who did? Someone targeted the infrastructure and they need to be punished...end of story.
Numa, I doubt that Ms Golan could write what she has without reading the entire report, which I have, too. Peter,it is perhaps presumptious for you and me, as outsiders, to feel the pulse of a place where we do not live, but denial exists. In many zones of conflict, avoiding the truth has become an art. The Goldstone report provides facts that inspire some deep reflection. EL, the president of Israel is Shimon Peres, not "Bibi". I hope that Daphna Golan's courageous expression of opinion here proves to be highly contagious.
Holocaust & Nakba deniers also go through a process of: - Utter denial; - Denial of its significance, and - Justification
Not known for her friendly views to Israel she said clearly this enquiry was politically motivated Looking at the UNHRC past record it is not hard to see why she came to that conclusion. The UNHRC proceeded to prove her right by refusing to condemn Hamas after the report. The kindest thing to say about Goldstone is he was naive about the forces at work. He refuses to debate Harvard Professor of criminal law Professor Dershowitz.Not the mark of a man who feels he can justify his position.Not in the least because of his co signed letter condemning Israel with known anti Israel activists prior to undetaking the enquiry.
You have accurately captured the mindset in Israel and amongst our so-called 'supporters' worldwide. I have no doubt that there will be many messages posted on here offering the same kind of arguments of denial that you describe. As an Israeli I pray for the day when, as a society, we have the courage to face up to the violations we commit everyday against the Palestinians.
Both Goldstone and Prof Chinkin expressed prejudiced opinions on the Gaza operation,prior to any investigation,they should not have participated in the enquiry. Both being legal practitioners they should have disqualified themselves in the interest of natural justice as would be expected from any judge in the free world. The UN has allowed this kind of travesty in the past with an Egyptian judge publicly pronouncing Israel guilty prior to the trial.
highly accurate description of the views I saw while living in Israel.
After ten years and after hundreds of testimonies and hundreds of proofs, there are still even thousands of people (so called nationalists) and politicians in high positions to deny the war crimes in Bosnia, in Kosovo or so...In any war, in any country there are always people who consider these things justified or even consider these war criminals as heros.
but Daphna, do not include Bibi among them, please.
You have hit the nail right on the head. The typical Israeli response to any wrong-doings: - Utter denial; - Denial of its significance, and - Justification
I know it is long but even so