Peres, not Goldstone, is the small man

My point is that the law is there to be applied equally to all. You simply can't have the mob dictate that only Israel is singled out for war crimes, which is basically what is happening. And as for you, Dutch, you'll just have to ignore the fact that Israel is and remains a serious player on the world stage whether you can stomach that or not. So our credibility is down a few points, but our economy is up even more points. That economy comes from doing business with the world, which obviously still has confidence in Israel and is not accepting the phony biased arguments for any boycotts. The world will have to wake up one day and realize that human rights are indeed a universal concept and apply to everybody, not just to Palestinians.

I love this man Levy because he loves the truth and says it. Unfortunately many Israeli leaders like Peres play ostrich with the truth. Barak, Olmert, Sharon etc.. They always say what should have been when they leave the office. I won't be surprised if in Bibi's memos he advocates exactly the same peace plan that he is opposing today like Olmert, Barak and Sharon before him. Peres is an apology when it comes to telling the truth. As prime minister he started and expanded the settlements yet he calls for peace every time. He hardly express sympathy for the the victims of Gaza nor does he advice Bibi to follow the path of negotiation and stop expanding the settlements. Yet he wants Abbas to stay behind and negotiate, an unending process that will last till time indefinite. One state for two peoples with equal right for everyone is best for the region. After all this two peoples are of the same father -Abraham and the same race Semites.

"To Judy - hate to disappoint ya, but the world does indeed take Israel seriously. Look at our annual guest list and trade figures" The reality is Israel has lost a lot of its credibity around the world. A country that denies wrong doing instead of acknowledging it isn't to be trusted. "The UN has almost no credibility in Israel and for good reason. Neither do HRW nor Amnesty." Yes, the UN ,HRW & Amnesty may have lost much of its credibility in Israel but Israel's lost of credibilty in those organization is far more damaging.. " Why Israel? Where is the UN investigation into the Congo, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Chechnya and a dozen of war zones? The death toll and relative low level of war crimes in Gaza/Israel.." None of those countries wave the banner of de- mocracy and claims to be an equal opportunity player like Israel. Yes, their civilian death tolls are high and US missions there have lost support around the world. So there are consequences Dutch

as Goldstone did,does not come with a high likelihood of any impartial assesment.It just gives a preprejudiced observer a respectability which he has discarded with his partisan comments Prof Chinkin was even more blatant PRIOR to any investigation of the actions of Hamas during the battle she signed in the letter to the Times:- The Sunday Times January 11, 2009 "ISRAEL has sought to justify its military attacks on Gaza by stating that it amounts to an act of ?self-defence? as recognised by Article 51, United Nations Charter. We categorically reject this contention. 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. Under international law self-defence is an act of last resort and is subject to the customary rules of proportionality and necessity. ---" Thousands of missiles were not enough for her pontificating from the safety of the London school of economics

Peres is not a statesman, not (at least now) a visionary nor a moral conscience. Peres cannot be judged only by his unfortunate insult to Goldstone. Now he is simply voicing the majority opinion of the Jewish Israeli political class and public. It is expected that the Israeli Jewish government and majority public would oppose the Goldstone report, but doing so by throwing cheap personal shots at Goldstone certainly diminishes their case. I fully agree with Levy in one point: the Goldstone report is not an "existential" threat to Israel, it is a positive development that will force Israel to re-think its methods to fend off the likes of Hamas and Hezbollah. These are criminal organizations and Israel has the right to defend herself from them, but she must REALLY exhaust politics and diplomacy before sending the airforce to obliterate Gaza or Lebanon, killing thousands of civilians. This is not acceptable from a developed western democratic state whose army is among the best worldwide.

He has become little more than an apologist hack. Between him and Barak, no wonder the Labor Party is dead.

".. after decades of war crimes by Palestinians against Israeli civilians ..". Well, how about the decades of war crimes against Palestinian civilians, with Deir yassin and kufur Qasem being among the first, and Gaza the latest? In fact, compared to all those, Palestinian "war crimes" against Israeli civilians would be a breeze! Regarding your other point: Even if war crimes in Iraq or elsewhere were not being investigated, that does not justify committing war crimes in Gaza or not investigating them, even if the UN has no credibility in Israel as you point out! Mind to remind you that that's the same UN that in 1947 passed a resolution legitimizing the establishment of the state of Israel!

declared their prejudicial views,could not be done with any reasonable expectation of a just review.It adds legitimacy to a review which legally is seriously flawed as stated by 50 lawyers who signed a protest saying just that Prof Chinkin is a case in point a letter signed PRIOR to her doing any investigating of how& where Hamas had chosen to fight ,she had already made up her mind it was a war crime:- From The Sunday Times January 11, 2009 "ISRAEL has sought to justify its military attacks on Gaza by stating that it amounts to an act of ?self-defence? as recognised by Article 51, United Nations Charter. We categorically reject this contention. 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.Under international law self-defence is an act of last resort and is subject to the customary rules of proportionality and necessity. ---- "

As usual, Gideon is spot on. Peres is nothing but a flack for the failure of the Zionist dream.

"I don`t expect different from Peres who HIMSELF carried crimes against humanity in massacres against Palestinians when he was a member of the "IDF" himself." - kat And when was that? Peres was NEVER in the IDF. He was in the Haganah during 1947 but before and during the war of Independence he was involved in purchasing arms Mr. Peres has told many whoppers to try and gloss over his lack of service, but he was in fact performing jobs requiring his political and diplomatic skills far more important that plinking at Arabs.

Why not go after the other's who commit war crimes? I agree wholeheartedly. That the collective we have not done as much as we should have in the past is wrong, but all is not lost, and the collective we are currently going after some of them. I am in favour of concentrating on the 'Big Guys' because it is the Big Guys who, by and large, set the agenda in many of these instances. It is just unfortunate for Israel that they are first in the firing line. But if we want to regain some sanity in the World we have to start somewhere. A case in point is the so-called "War on Terror". The insane actions of those we would like to call the good guys are producing more terrorists that they seek to eliminate. When you kill one terrorist or a innocent bystander, you create many potential terrorists, because each terrorist or innocent bystander has many sons, brothers, uncles, etc. If your son or father were killed in "collateral damage", would you not be tempted to join the "cause"

sounds like Mr. Peres caused pain to those behind Mr. Goldstone. Nice! Way to go, thanks for the article Mr. Levy. Now which word was considered the rude one a. small b. man

To Judy - hate to disappoint ya, but the world does indeed take Israel seriously. Look at our annual guest list and trade figures. Tom and Bob, my point is that after decades of war crimes by Palestinians against Israeli civilians, the UN pops up suddenly and decides to hold a war crimes investigation - primarily aimed at Israel. Why Israel? Where is the UN investigation into the Congo, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Chechnya and a dozen other war zones? The death toll and relative low level of war crimes in Gaza/Israel compared to these other regions is phenomenal. Hundreds of thousands have perished in the Congo - where is the UN? Where is the investigation? Where are the war crimes trials? Goldstone is a parachuted in politically correct opportunist. Sure he's a jurist with a long, distinguished record. But he's over 30 years too late on the scene, investigating the latest episode. The UN has almost no credibility in Israel and for good reason. Neither do HRW nor Amnesty.

Maybe they did not accept his procedures which excluded cross examination of victims and enemy witnesses?

The world needs more people like them. Wake up! before it's too late.

The more Peres attacks the man the more the stronger the message of the report becomes. The problem with Goldstone is not that what he writes is untrue. Most is all but confirmed by people like Livni and Peres in Haaretz. The problem is that Goldstone calls what was a key strategy of Israel for silencing rockets by its real name "collective punnishment".

For how many years do we need to watch this lackey travel across the world, wined and dined by government elites, pretending to preach peace but only trying to temper justifiable rage against Israel's abuses? Sharon sent him to distract the world from the IDF's non-stop killings of civilians and now Netanyahu sends him to distract from Israel's non-stop annexation of the West Bank. Peres has no backbone, no objective opinion; he is a lobbyist whose ego won't let him accept a long overdue retirement. A small man indeed.

You are absolutely correct! Sometimes non-combatants are hit by genuine error and this is regrettable, even wrong. But that in itself is, as far as I understand these things, not a war crime. It is when there is wanton killing of non-combatants and destruction of civic infrastructure without any definable military advantage that there is a problem. I would agree with you that this has probably (even definitely) occurred in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan. And that is wrong, very wrong. I would also agree with you if you are suggesting that these things be addressed with the same vigour.

It may have escaped your notice - an oversight I know - that Israel and therefore the IDF refused to participate. This despite pleas from Goldstone for them to do so (see appendix to the report) (I assume you have read it). Now tell me, what is the nature of the forum you propose - one that all parties (and specifically Israel) would consider to be fair. Had Israel participated (and, subject to correction, I understand that the evidence gathered by Goldstone was presented to Israel for comment but no comment was received) the IDF could have made many of the allegations go away - that is assuming they were inaccurate.

I don't expect different from Peres who HIMSELF carried crimes against humanity in massacres against Palestinians when he was a member of the "IDF" himself. How would he even hint at investigating such crimes? He would be admitting to being a criminal himself... and let's face it no one wants to do that. Bravo Levi!

I take it then George that you are not one of those who believe in the Greater Israel from the sea to the river (as reportedly gifted by God). You probably are also not one of those who suggest that the establishment of settlements outside of Israel proper and on land that the Palestinians (and the bulk of the Western World) believe should be part of Palestine in the two-state solution is OK. Regrettably not many Israeli's share your balanced view. It is these things, coupled with the Palestinian view that the 1948 imposition of the state of Israel in land they consider to be theirs by a World Body without even a 'by your leave' - all to dull their consciences about the Holocaust (of which the Palestinians had no part of). Hell, I am sure that the Palestinians would be a bit miffed. Wouldn't you be if you were a Palestinian?

minds and think about it objectively You look at the name and come to attack; not to think twice about why you follow and support blindly what might be the very cause of your near-future fall. All due respect to Levi! He is one of a few. and for the record: I don't expect different from Peres who HIMSELF carried crimes against humanity in massacres against Palestinians when he was a member of the "IDF" himself. How would he even hint at investigating such crimes? He would be admitting to being a criminal himself.

"Some opinions are so evidently stupid that only an intellectual could possibly hold them"

I get your point, and your point is valid. But Goldstone did not question why the war happened, and in fact has stated the Israel has the right, in fact the duty, to protect its citizens. But that was not the purpose of the report. The report's scope was to investigate whether, in the conduct of war, the parties conducted themselves in a manner as to not commit human rights violations, and performed acts in pursuit of definable military objectives. Violations noted in the report included the use of phosphorous flares in the vicinity of non-combatants; the indiscriminate firing of rockets into human settlements; the destruction of flour mills; the use of fleschette bombs; the destruction of chicken farms; the destruction of sewage plants, etc.

Thank you, Gideon.

An honest judge should verify testimonies before accepting them. We know how tricky are most of palestinian testimonies. Goldstone took them as true, but without checking them, as he should have done. checking testimonies is the normal procedure in each legal court all over the word ! Gideon Levy do the same way. He goes on spreading calomnies about Israel,IDF, and President Peres.

to put everything in context

Operation Cast Lead was not sterile military exercise. It was a real war with real battles against well armed hostile insurgents. In a real war, non-combatants are very often hit. Please note the reports on the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. When non-combatants are hit, they are termed "collateral damage," and not crimes against humanity.

Total bull, SJAS. Haatetz speaks the truth and is readers require a certain IQ.

the Gazan terrorists responsible for firing missiles at Israel are amazed at the stupidity of the goldstone report. at the report does is to appease the backward Muslim countries, and their undying envy at Israel, and it's prosperity. this allows the Mulim leaders to keep directing their population's hate at the Jews, and overloook the dictators that rule their country. that is all.

It is important to put this debate and Mr. Levy in perspective. Mr. Levy is writing for Haaretz, a publication that with about 60,000 daily copies is Israel?s smallest newspaper. It is read by less than 5% of the public in Israel and is arguably supported by and representative of even fewer. Haaretz has managed to garner a world wide audience made up of Israel bashers and is often quoted as, ? the leading news source of Israel ? by the most rabid enemies of Israel and Jews. Mr. Levy is a prime representative of the Haaretz school of journalism. He takes everything that Palestinians claim at face value, lands credence to any and all statements by any Palestinian and at all times views with suspicion and outright hostility any statements by Israelis and Jews. In 1939 Hitler claimed that Jews were the source of all ills of mankind. Palestininans lay similar claims today and Mr. Levy with great trust and confidence reports that Mr. Goldstone interviewed ?almost 200 ? as witnesses in the Hamas controlled Gaza. Wouldn?t everyone here like to learn what Mr. Levy?s credentials are ? I am certainly not traditionally a supporter of Mr. Peres,, yet the temerity of Mr. Levy to state that Mr. Peres does not have a track record when compared to Mr. Goldstone, truly stretches even Mr. Levy?s usual lax standards of professional journalism. Like it or not, agree or not with Mr. Pres? politics in the past, Mr. Peres? legacy far outshines and will last infinitely longer than that of Mr. Goldstone.

we should say only good things about him . But then I recall his calls to brake bones of Arab murderous rioters , and I think he was right then . So do not think for a moment that Rabin was willing to give Arab murderer free hand , or that he would let Hamas rocket Israel for eight years , or that he would let down the level of security for Israel . Oslo was a disaster costing thousands of lives , he miscalculated Arab intentions , but he meant well .

Who would dare to testify against Hamas there ???? Remember people being tied up and thrown off the roofs by Hamasnics ????? If you do the you will understand that Goldstone is a plain naive and very , very tiny .

You assume that the Goldstone report is reasonably accurate. Is that a political view or is it a objective view of how both men have lived their lives and careers? The main problem with the report is that it lacks a judicial element even if Goldstone is a judge. Only one side of the story was told, and that part was not challenged by an advocate for the IDF. While Israel and the IDF chose not to participate in the inquiry, it was Goldstone's responsibility to create a forum acceptable and fair to all parties. Obviously, he failed from the beginning.

i agree with you anne. shimon peres is a wonderful ibn sharmoota, ibn maniouka.

Joe, if you think that you and those like you are heard now a days, you are wrong. The world no longer takes you and Israel seriously. Enough arrogance

That's why it hasn't admitted to having made mistakes. Unlike Goldstone, Israel actually conducts a thorough investigation before drawing dramatic conclusions.

Peres spoke the government line as the President he had no choice. By himself Peres is favor of diplomacy.

If Goldstone's was a "fact-finding mission," why does he draw such strong conclusions about Israel's guilt? That's not simply "fact finding." Why do you assume it's Goldstone's critics' job to refute his accusations? I guess you haven't heard of "innocent until proven guilty." That means if Goldstone draws conclusions about Israel's guilt, HE should prove them. If you want to believe that Chinkin can write an honest report about Israel, that's fine. But fair-minded people would be inclined to conclude that she should have been excused in view of her having found Israel guilty before the fact. Good job? Hardly!

Yes, Israel did exit Gaza, but failed to exit all the other illegal settlements in Palestine. THAT is the reason for the pathetic rockets that you fear so much. The rocket were not to drive you out of the land that the world essentially gave you, but out of the land which you still occupy and/or have settled. And your attitude is what has siphoned off much of the world's admiration of the earlier Zionists' efforts (not withstanding the King David bombing, murder of Count Bernadotte, razing 0f numerous Palestinian villages, etc). Your hubris may bring you some breathing room, but it will eventually doom the enterprise. And, please, do not accept any more aid from the US.

When you're up against urban guerilla warfare, and the enemy preaches about the occupation of Palestine (read Israel); about justifying any lies to defeat the occupation (read again Israel); about rocketing Beer Sheva, whose population equals the size of Beer Sheva times 50 in terms of a U.S. city; about Jewish bestiality, etc., you can't expect kid-glove treatment. Hamas should leap into the 21st century from the 7th century, and then we'll have the Rules of Gentlemen's Warfare. Problem is, Goldstone and Levy keep these Hamas folks firmly in the 7th century by encouraging 'em. Sad to say.

They make short people appear tall and tall people not as tall. This has nothing to do with this article but it is simply a fact.

....a liberal "sellout" and traitor of the peace process. I thought by then that he was a bit too harsh with his judgement.... ....today I must concede, that he (as usually) hit the nail pretty much on the head.

Indeed. I am so sick of Peres' lack of moral activism and a voice for it-- I believe he would do the honorable thing by return his noble peace prize now. Think of how unjust it all looks today. A badge of shame. Dutch

I have a deep respect for president Perez. I respect him becuase he has been very determined and very smart to fool the world for so long. He is a wonderful ibn sharmoota.

My point exactly. Goldstone had no comment about 8 years of war crimes by Palestinians. When he took the job with the commission, he decided that his "mandate" did not include the time period when thousands of rockets were illegally fired at Israeli citizens. After 8 years of war crimes that included a complete withdrawal of all Israeli settlers from Gaza, Israel finally launched a defensive strike in Gaza. Where was the UN during that time? Where was Tom from Perth during that time? In fact, if you read Goldstone's conclusion that attacks on Israeli civilians are a war crime, a simple extrapolation gives you decades of Palestinian war crimes. I guess Goldstone was simply too busy to notice while it was just Palestinians firing thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians. That's the point of my question. He wasn't there and when he got here, he ignored the root causes of the war.

Gideon knows it: Size doesn't count. Peres is getting smaller and smaller with each public statement. Goldstone is getting bigger and bigger with each unjustified attack on him: 'if you can't beat the message, beat the messenger doesn't work'. In the contrary!

Put Peres & Goldstone side by side and you won't have to go to the Movies for a laugh. These two will give you all the laughs One needs.

shimon peres is a total first class liar. he is a killer who killed people in masses in lebanon in two different wars

have no shame for their disrespect of human life. Demanding a free run for blood letting in the Gaza prison is beyond belief.

The virulent attacks on Gideon Levy in this Talkback (and others) show that the hopes of a peaceful future for Israel are negligible. If Israelis cannot accept a clear and reasonable assessment of the situation they are in then they face force and humiliation, probably bloodshed, in the future. They are ratcheting up hatred and the results will not be pretty.

Even if Peres, as president of the State of Israel, feels obliged to defend the consensus opinion in Israel, that the Goldstone Report was unfair and one-sided in the Palestinians favor, there was no reason at all to attack the essence of his character, that he is, in the mind of Peres, a "small man." This incident really reduced my opinion of Peres who I always thought of as cultured, visionary, and liberal-minded. What I would say to Peres is, "better a small man in a big world" that what he is, a "big man" in a tiny state.

Peres has always been a sham - one that occasionally, but infrequently has risen to the challenge - as when working the miracle of economic stability during his premiership in rotation with Shamir. But both his age and his selectivity have produced a man who rather like the current Prime Minister is too often fooled by the sound of his own words. Goldstone and Levy - no they're not a law firm! - are head and shoulders above. The essence of Goldstone and his report - worth careful reading - is that Israel's government and army must be accountable for its actions, if not to those whose relatives' lives were lost in Gaza and those who suffered 8 long years of rockets in Sderot, then to themselves and that means at the very least a Commission of Inquiry. If Moshe Halbertal, the man who wrote the IDF's moral code book can demand that, so should we all.

The writers ignored 20 years of attacks on Palestine by the IDF The person heading the report was openly biased in favour of Israel. The panel also included a member (Christine Chinkin) who had predetermined that the Palestinians had committed war crimes. They ignored the mandate that the UNHCR had written, and substituted their own. @@@ You know, there is quite a case to be made that the Goldstone report was biased in favour of Israel. (Page after page where it relied totally on Israeli witnesses to come to the conclusion that the Palestinians committed war crimes, without a single bit of on-the-ground investigation)

Israeli politics has reverted to the school playground, where instead of addressing the issues raised. Israeli politicians attack those who raise the issues. You know the form accusing them of being (in no particular order) anti semitic, Leftist, self hating Jew, terrorist supporter. Peres knows that Israel has to make the Goldstone Report go away, and the easiest way of doing that is by investigating the allegations raised in it. For some reason Israel does not want to do this. Hence the increasingly hysterical attacks against Goldstone, which have become increasingly regular and shrill as it becomes apparent that Israel cannot rely on the United States veto on this matter.

One barely knows where to begin with such a warped column. Gideon Levy is seriously misguided - about Peres, about Goldstone, about Operation Cast Lead, about everything.

The main problem with Israeli politics and their politicians is that for a number of years they have responded to criticisms and complaints by nuot addressing those criticism and complaints but by attacking those who dare criticise or complain. You know the slogans, leftist, self hating jew, anti semitic, anti Israeli, terrorist supporter and it has worked when it comes to internal Israeli politics. Unfortunately Israeli politicians having seen it work within Israel believe that the same denigration will work on the International Stage with criticism, as we saw in Netanyahu's speech at the United Nations swiftly silenced by referring to The Holocaust of last century. Representatives of Israel has reverted tothe behaviour of the school playground and it is mildly entertaining although extremely scary when you consider that these people have access to nuclear weapons.

Excerpt from Start-Up Nation. The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle. Dan Senor and Saul Singer authors. "President Shimon Peres at eighty five is the last member of the founding generation still in high office. Peres began his career as a 25 year old sidekick to David Ben Gurion and went on to serve in almost every ministerial post, including two stints as prime minister. He has a Nobel Peace Prize. Internationally he is one of the most admired Israelis" " It is hard to exaggerate Peres's impact on Israel's diplomacy Less well known , but no less significant, is Peres's approach to government as a founder of industries, an entrepreneur launching start-ups" He made mistakes like fathering the Oslo accords and bringing the corrupt and terrorist Arafat, and causing thousand of dead or maimed Israelis by the wave of suicide bombers. To today Peres rescinds from that folly. but Gideon Levy and Yossi Belin continue to defend the Oslo accords, and defend islamo-fascists. Shameful.

Well said, Gideon Levy. My thanks to Haaretz for publishing it. It makes all the difference. There is still some hope in this dark world of the Middle East. Akram Malik

So let me get this straight. You refuse to accept (and want to ban) the author's opinions because he is unaccepting of the opinions of others? You're a marvel of logic.

Goldstone and Levy are trying to save Israel from its own false sense of patriotism. Jewish hard-liners only play into the hands of Israel's enemies.

I am so grateful that there remain writers in Israel of the ilke like Gideon Levy. The sancity of life and the the rights of the human being are being forgotten in this Land and by the same people who suffered at the hands of those who had no regard for these principles. Disprove Goldstone by an independent inquiry.

why you forgot what "peace small man" did in qana 1996, when he killed more than hundred innocent people in th UN Headquater in Southern Lebanon, wasn't that a war crime... Really a small minded criminal, called perez who commited crimes.

I take it you have read the report. Attached to the report is correspondence to Israel pleading for participation. In the report are statements to the effect that since Israel did not participate the Israel perspective is missing. Goldstone had no option but to produce a report based on what he observed and what Hamas said. Now neither you or I know whether the statements he received have any basis in fact - but the report is out here and is doing incalculable harm to Israel. Why, oh why, does Israel not conduct a credible enquiry and all the lies (if they are lies) will go away?

Whatever the reasons are, the fact is, Golstone's witnesses are only Gazans. Goldstone should have said the truth, that he can not produce a proper truthful report because Israel did not give him access. Instead he produced a report which is based on what Gazans/Hamas said...

Certainly, in Brazil, Mr. Peres repaid his personal debt to our current government. He reassured and in some cases brought back to the fold some of his worst detractors, no mean feat. In doing that, though, he failed in his ceremonial role. In fact what happened in Brazil is that the impeccable elder statesman facade cracked and revealed something that those who praised him for that cheap jibe continue to miss. Mr President, please come back home for a few weeks to comfort the grieving, inaugurate supermarkets and new companies, schmooze up charities and support the arts. That's what ceremonial Presidents are supposed to do for their citizens.

because of its obvious political motives and parameters 2.Goldstone taking one look at his assosciates should have done the same. 3.Goldstone as a judge should have known his impartiality was compromised by his public signed statement prior to the investigation. 4.As the Arabs only have effective controll of the U.N G.A he objects to Israel having any defence in the UN via the Security Council.He obviously has a problem with Arab resolutions not getting a free run. However Mr Justice Goldstone is NOT publicly shocked to the core that his "New" South Africa defended the mass murderer and ethnic cleanser Sudans Al Bashir in the UN

Let's see .. he was fighting the death throws of Apartheid in South Africa; he served on the Constitutional Court of the post-Apartheid South Africa; he was chief UN prosecuter for war crimes in Yugosloaia and Rwanda; he was on a Commission of Enquiry into the activities of Nazism in Argentina; he was chairman of the Independent Commission on Kosovo; he was on the Independent Inquiry Committee to investigate the Iraqi "Oil for Food program" and on and on. What was your question again?

Gideon Levy used to be Shimon Peres' political adviser until he switched sides and began to work in the service of the Palestinians.

"world, leaders and diplomats of all stripes revere him as one of THE most respected politicians anywhere on the planet"~mike he's not even as revered and respected like you allude at home, much less so internationally. don't castigate gideon for summarizing what MOST people can deduce on their own by simple observation of peres and facade he presents

I see you have a fixation about Goldstone! Old sweetheart maybe?

The report was not a judicial enquiry; it was a fact-finding mission. It did not question Israel's right to defend its citizens. It did not question the Gazan right to attack its tormenters. It confined itself to highlighting alleged (note 'alleged') violations of International Law and questioned actions that appeared (note 'appeared') to provide no military advantage. The report does not find Israel or Hamas guilty of anything. It merely points to the way forward. Before you respond to this, take some time to READ THE REPORT.

Goldstone did a great and couragoeous job; traits that Gideon Levy also demonstrates. For all that I'm surprised at the outrage over the Goldstone report when it largely just confirms the views of any neutral observer of the Gaza destruction- and that of Lebanon before it. If the report prompts second thoughts before further carnage then that is certainly positive. Separately the calls from Israel for Obama's Peace Prize to be rescinded prompt the question of whether Peres' prize should go first. Obama has at least a chance to achieve something towards peace. Peres' results don't look good.

Perez has developed an aura of respectability in the World - much of it undoubtably deserved. It is such a pity that he is now reduced to defending the indefensible.

He didn't interview a single Israeli soldier because the Israeli government prevented him from entering Israel. If Israel had given access to Israeli soldiers it would have destroyed any chance of Israel calling the Goldstone Report biased. Think man ... think!

Levy's argument is flawed because it assumes that we should respect the UN as an institution of higher-absolute morals, when in fact it is an asylum run by the inmates, who happen to be mostly despotic, dictatorial, anti-democratic tyrants. But then again, Levy aspires to become a despotic tyrant, imposing his deluded liberal vision on us clueless serfs, so this should be expected.

"He travels the world, generating admiration for his physical stamina, scattering empty promises and slogans." And he does it beautifully, there's no doubt about that. Mr. Peres is the adroit master of the bon mot and yes, he certainly looks dapper for his age, no doubt about that. Unfortunately, like his urbanity, our President is a glossy facade whose success lies largely in lulling his interlocutors abroad into complacency. It was noticeable on talkbacks here last week that some of his greatest erstwhile detractors wished him long life and yasher koah for that 'little man' sentence.

I don't know who is smaller--Netanyahu or Perez. Goldstone is a giant!

... that was his main drawback vis-a-vis Rabin... ... he knows how to sweet-talk and pontify, but integrity was never his forte... ... he knows how to twist-a-phrase for every occasion... ... he can back-bite and prevaricate when necessary... ... his main virtue is longevity, bless him...

Reading these harsh critics the following quotes come to my mind and I deliberately refrain from quoting the sources: "Naturally, the common people don't want war ... that is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country." "Could men of their practical intelligence expect to get neighboring lands free from the claims of their tenants without committing crimes against humanity?" "Reprisal actions are our vital lymph. They . . . . help us maintain a high tension among our population and in the army. . . in order to have young men go to the Negev we have to cry out that it is in danger" "I have been meditating on the long chain of false incidents and hostilities we have invented, and on the many clashes we have provoked which cost us so much blood, and on the violations of the law by our men-all of which brought grave disasters and determined the whole course of events and contributed to the security crisis".

Leave it to Gideon Levy to bash Shimon Peres, the man probably most responsible for bringing Israel and the Palestinians to the negotiating table. Then again, Levy obviously never noticed that Goldstone was nowhere to be seen before Cast Lead, and his report is a pathetic smear based on lousy investigating, rumors and innuendo that was never checked out properly. Oh yes, and Goldstone ignored 8 years of missile fire against Israeli civilians until page 473 of his report, where he does indeed conclude that shooting at Israeli civilians is a war crime. Carumba! Eight years of war crimes!!! Where the heck was Goldstone during this time? Even worse...where was Gideon Levy?!?!? Look back through 8 years of his columns and I'll bet we find nothing about this. Levy, you're a midget of a writer. Why does ha'aretz keep you on the payroll?

Mr Levy tongue lashes all the time and does so with impunity. In a democracy freedom to criticise is normal, and right, especially if the report focuses on criticising you like the Goldstone does Israel. It is a public document headed by Mr Goldstone, not bullet proof and as such fair game. I am surprised at Mr Levy who prizes himself a understanding of jurisprudence. There is enough evidence out there to question the Goldstone's report and methodogy but he does not research it or seek to explain it (try the Arabic sites, very revealing) It would not hold in court at all. Being well meaning does not mean you are right. I have read Mr Levy very public lashings of many prominent individuals, does he have a special right? Peres lack of etiquette is a sign of his frustration, not something he usually lets out, he is a master usually. A slip. Yet we all have them (and I am no admirier of this mastery)

It is really comforting to see voices of moderation and Consciousness in Israel in a time when many israelis became too blinded with the governments lies. It has become that Everyone who says anything negative about israel is bad , whoever says positive things is good. It is sad to see a country that considers itself "democratic" not givng itself any room for self monitoring and not acceptng any criticism. Thank you Mr. Levy for being part of a nation's Consciousness. it takes a brave man to stand against the flow and say a word of truth and honor in a time of lies. It is not about people at the end of the day, Goldstone, Peris, Levi.. its about what israel is becoming.

Mr Levy must be tired of commending all things that criticize Israel, despite the source. President Peres sets an example of how politicians here, and elsewhere should behave, an unfitting voice of honesty and eloquence in an otherwise wholly corrupt part of the world. Perhaps Mr Levy should consider the tremendous work Mr Peres has done for more decades than Mr Levy has been alive.

Mr gideon levi you Are smaller then both of them that for sure

Mr gideon levi you Are smaller then both of them that for sure

So typical of gidon levy to side with Israel's enemies. Tell me Mr Levy, have you been to Gaza? How do you know what happened there? How do you explain the fact that Goldstone interviewd 200 witnesses, all residents of Gaza and not even one Israeli soldier? Are you plain stupid or just naive? Do you think that Gazans will give testimony favorable to Israel? How dare you speak so badly of Israel's President?! You do not deserve to live in Israel! Go to Gaza! They will love you. Or maybe they are paying you to write this..........

Gideon Levy is a pipsqueek compared to any given small man. Since moving to Israel 4 months ago, i've read his opinions. They are filled with narcisism, and neurotic behavior. He thinks he was a something once in the now dead labour party, but truth is, aside from being able to string words correctly in English he's got nothing, nada, zero, zilch. Best case of action for the self-hating pipsqueek would be to get some serious psychological help and find out what it is that makes him hate, left, right. secular, religious, antyhing Jew and more importantly, anything Israel. I'm not partial to Peres myself, but he is our President and he is doing the best he can especially when he has to Preside over pipsqueeks like Levy.

The World is noticing quite obviously that Israel never makes mistakes, is never wrong and has completely different interpretations of International Law to everyone else and Politicians that never honour agreements signed like the settlement freeze including natural growth signed in 2003 under the Road Map.

L: "Why can`t Goldstone admit he made mistakes?" His was a "fact-finding mission". He made findings regarding the facts of the matter. He stands by those findings. It is his critic's job to refute them, and based on the hissy-fits of critics like Old Man Peres they aren't doing very well.... L: "For instance, why in such a high profile investigation that he considered fair accept such a biased panel member as Christine Chinkin to help write this "honest" report"?" Because he had faith in her ability to contribute to a fact-finding mission, perhaps? His committee was not appointed to sit as judges in a court of law, rather, it was commissioned to prepare a brief for the UNHRC's consideration. There is a difference between those two, and that difference makes the reason for your objection to Chinkin's appointment irrelevent.

Gideon's words might be too harsh on Peres, but there is some truth that a president should be watchful over what he says in public and even more so in another country. No doubt the Gaza war was just, but we cannot be sure individual soldiers of IDF had carried their mission according to the high code of ethics. Especially after we found out some units in IDF were going to print shirts that talk about killing Palestinian mothers and children. Wisdom tells us to clean our own house before we turn a blind eye to our flaws and accuse others when they point that out to us. No doubt Peres had said many beautiful things, esp in Israel. But no man is infallable, unfortunately including the president.

And many others. Can't pin the antisemite label on him, so let's try and attack him personally just like we did Goldstone? Do you see the pattern?

That nobody in the political arena in Israel could stand most of all the late Rabin. His words are suitable for a basta merchant in the Carmel souk but not a president. He is a disgrace.

Ad hominem attackers on this site demonstrate their guilt feelings.

Another excellent presentation of the truth by Gideon. And I don't really think it's just Peres, but more typical of an attitude that's endemic to most Israelis - Israel is above any law, and is always right in whatever it does, and the rest of the world is always wrong to criticize!

Maybe Peres should consider retiring

I have the greatest admiration for your courage to speak the thruth. How can so many people in Israel be that intoxicated with this senseless propaganda that they get fed by their leaders. It is unbeleivable to me. Bravo a thousand times Mister levy

Shimon Peres reduced his legacy by angry and exagerated comments on Judge Goldstein. The report itself, and Judge Goldstein in later interviews, described that the conclusions were limited to the evidence that he was able to investigate, which was admittedly incomplete, and therefore appropriately remedied by a thorough and unbiased independant Israeli inquiry. It is unlikely that Hamas would undertake such an inquiry referenced against consented international law, and as such, Israel could have presented itself on the high road, compelling reform to a professional military and state. The stonewall and orchestrated character assassination was not endearing. The product deserved criticism, not condemnation, and the person deserved respect for endeavoring into such a "minefield". Soldiers are safer, and missions are more effective when they are confidently lawful. A soldier's fear that if he obeys orders, he/she will be breaking international law is more constraining.

...at least you get it when so many others simply don't.

And how exactly does one thing follow from the other?

For instance, why in such a high profile investigation that he considered fair accept such a biased panel member as Christine Chinkin to help write this "honest" report"? Unfortunately, the inability to admit such obvious mistakes is indeed evidence of a "small man."

Gideon Levy, you have a hard time to accept a position that is in contrast to your own values. As a rebel, you see the father figure of Shimon Peres as your enemy and Goldstone as Israel's savior. When you'll grow up, you may realize that life is not in blake and white. Leaders are not people pleasers, they have to say what they say to get closer to their targets. Nice words will bring in more rockets but, why would you care when you can sit in your Tel Aviv shelter and manage the world from your own internet crack? Perhaps your words will save you if/when the slaughter will began, will they?

Levy, you are a disgrace. Personally, I do not agree with Peres all the time. But world, leaders and diplomats of all stripes revere him as one of THE most respected politicians anywhere on the planet. People who know Goldstone personally, see him as a self serving opportunist who did the work of the devil in Apartheid South Africa. Speaking of small men Mr Levy, take a long hard look in the mirror. You'll find one.

Gideon Levy has described Peres perfectly!! Peres is just another Israeli leader guilty of hiding the truth and condemning someone who reveals it. By covering up the truth, Peres is just as guilty of war crimes as the IDF.

Peres may have worked harder than anyone to make real the the vision of an Israeli state peacefully co-existing next to a Palestinian one. It is for this reason that he is so well respected the world over. Instead of dedicating his life to peace and Jewish self-determination, as Peres has done, Levy chooses to indiscriminately bash Israel and its supporters at every opportunity. If Peres is a "small man," as Levy suggests, one can only imagine how miniscule a human being Levy is. Unfortunately, Peres is right about Goldstone. In his report, Goldstone in no uncertain terms accuses Israel of crimes against humanity. However, in subsequent interviews, he has said that his report should not be taken as proof of Israeli transgressions, but only as a jumping off point for further investigations. It is this kind of outrageous hypocrisy to which Peres has for good reason condemned Goldstone. Of course, Haaretz can't really handle the truth, and will undoubtedly fail to publish this.

Scoundrels shouldn't mess with Israel.

Why do we have to be subjected to this kind of yellow journalism. Next campaign in Gaza lets send Gideon Levy after all he knows it all!

the settlement project! If Israel is forced to face the truth of its unworthy behaviour while creating Greater Israel, the house of cards collapses. How can you sift through the wreckage after that for the many bits which once made Israel shine?

Kindly stop this kind of writing from this sickneening person. He should have a dignity and accept another opinions and not dirty your papers. Thanks

DUPLICITY (from the Shorter Oxford): 1 : contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially : the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action 2 : the quality or state of being double or twofold More and more of the world now recognizes this deceitful old man's lies.

(a) an even smaller backbone (b) with very poor judgement (c) with a sense of morality that turns victims into aggressors (d) with, from a financial perspective, a convenient set of views. Whatever Peres may be, and I think he is a true statesman an elder with great and pragmatic wisdom and morality, Goldstone is a horrid jurist, the evidence of which that he is more advocate than jurist and that he is willing to work for a master that is unequivically anti Isreal on each and every issue. Goldstone's jurisprudence is consistent with the strong winds that blow and in this case they are threatening a vulnerable state which is a sanctuary to peoples that have been historically abused and tortured in the worst way. Gideon Levy, you have become an accessory to this outrage, tradegy, and unacceptable historic pattern. But, no worry, never again. Jews now have a fighting chance.

Gideon, time to suck it up. You live in a post zionist fantasy world-a veritable fools view =of realitry. Peres will go down in the history of the jews. You will not even be a footnote. Because of people like him we will survive and flourish.

This is exactly how the rest of the world feels, too. Thank you.

Self appointed apologist for the Arabs is about all I can attribute to him. Goldstone is a Johnny come lately. About 8 years of rockets too late. And, Peres who is held in high esteem in nearly every capital on the planet called it correctly when he refered to Goldstone as a "little man".