It’s been nearly four full months since the United Nations called upon both Israel and Palestinians to conduct independent and impartial investigations into alleged violations of international humanitarian law during the 2008-09 conflict in Gaza and Southern Israel. These violations were reported upon in the so-called Goldstone Report. Amnesty International and the rest of the international community are still waiting for the two parties to give an adequate response.
Today (Feb. 26), the United Nations voted 98-7 with 56 countries absent to provide an additional five months for the parties to conduct these investigations. To date, both Israel and Hamas have issued reports that fall woefully short of being effective and independent. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in his response to the reports, found little to praise in them but unfortunately fell short of an assessment of whether they met the criteria set by the UN.
This disappointment gets to the crux of the matter. There are powerful efforts to ensure that the Goldstone Report doesn’t get acted on. Amnesty International believes the report is a means toward justice in a conflict in which the evidence suggests war crimes were committed. And more importantly, in its insistence that all sides to the conflict be judged by a single international standard, it also provides a way toward a long-term sustainable peace in a region that hasn’t had it for nearly 75 years.
Today’s UN resolution contains the elements that AI is calling for, although AI had lobbied for the text to be more explicit in terms of the assessment required from the Secretary-General at the end of the five months.
But if the UN allows both parties to dither and shirk their international responsibilities, the vote will be meaningless. It’s particularly disappointing that the United States was one of the seven negative votes today. US support for the Goldstone report and process is essential to its effectiveness.
We want the United States and all members of the UN to support this resolution and provide some strength to a process that offers promise but which can easily be derailed. The goal must be to have Israel and Palestine conduct credible and thorough investigations that are monitored by a UN-mandated body of legal experts. And in five months down the road, if the parties have not done so, the UN Security Council should refer the situation to the International Criminal Court. That would be an act with teeth.
This is business that must be taken care of. No more excuses. Both sides must oblige.
This is business that must be taken care of. No more excuses. Both sides must oblige.
Well, according to George Giacaman, a Ramallah-based analyst, the next five months will thus probably prove “crucial", though not necessarily for any outcome of investigations.
“Israel will use this time to lobby governments against taking any action on the Goldstone report. This, it is much better equipped to do than the Palestinian side,” said Mr Giacaman. “It is nevertheless an open contest, because the Palestinian side, in urging that action be taken, will be joined by human rights organisations from across the world.”
The Goldstone report is not yet “dead and buried”, he said, but the next five months will determine its fate.
I think whether the two parties pay heed to this resolution is key and will test the resilience and effectiveness of the Human Rights Council. Should they disappoint again and ignore these calls by the UN, what does that say about the Council? It would be an outright violation of the Council. I agree, both sides must oblige! I, too, call for both sides to carry out prompt and effective independent investigations in compliance with international standards.
Well, according to George Giacaman, a Ramallah-based analyst, the next five months will thus probably prove “crucial”, though not necessarily for any outcome of investigations.
“Israel will use this time to lobby governments against taking any action on the Goldstone report. This, it is much better equipped to do than the Palestinian side,” said Mr Giacaman. “It is nevertheless an open contest, because the Palestinian side, in urging that action be taken, will be joined by human rights organisations from across the world.”
The Goldstone report is not yet “dead and buried”, he said, but the next five months will determine its fate.
I think whether the two parties pay heed to this resolution is key and will test the resilience and effectiveness of the Human Rights Council. Should they disappoint again and ignore these calls by the UN, what does that say about the Council? It would be an outright violation of the Council. I agree, both sides must oblige! I, too, call for both sides to carry out prompt and effective independent investigations in compliance with international standards.
Colonel Desmond Travers served as co-author of the report and was the senior military expert. Travers was responsible for much of the conclusions of the report, since he, as the senior military expert, guided the other commission members less familiar with the technical details of warfare in interpreting the evidence.
Travers admitted in an interview last month with the pro-Palestinian web site Middle East Media Monitors to holding a pretty crazy grudge against Israel. It seems Colonel Travers served with the Irish Army as a Peace keeper in southern Lebanon during the 1980's, and it seems almost 50 of Colonel Travers fellow Irish soldiers were killed over the years in Lebanon.
Travers makes the insane claim in this interview that it was Israel that murdered so many of his brother Irish soldiers.
Since Travers actually believes this looney idea that Israel was going around Lebanon murdering dozens of his close Irish Army friends, fellow soldiers he had served with all his life, Travers had a strong motive to want revenge on Israel.
After all, what stronger bias could anyone possibly have? Travers has the crazy idea Israel murdered large numbers of his close personal friends, but then Travers of all people in the world is selected to sit in judgment of Israel and serve as the other judges military expert? Could Goldstone not have found someone else in the whole world other than someone as biased as Travers, who blames Israel for murdering his personal friends, to serve as his military expert ?
source: http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/downloads/int…
"Because so many Irish soldiers had been killed by Israelis, with a significant number who were taken out deliberately and shot (in South Lebanon), slowly but surely, the body-bag phenomenon came into effect, and suddenly Ireland is now almost entirely pro-Palestinian."
Colonel Desmond Travers served as co-author of the report and was the senior military expert. Travers was responsible for much of the conclusions of the report, since he, as the senior military expert, guided the other commission members less familiar with the technical details of warfare in interpreting the evidence.
Travers admitted in an interview last month with the pro-Palestinian web site Middle East Media Monitors to holding a pretty crazy grudge against Israel. It seems Colonel Travers served with the Irish Army as a Peace keeper in southern Lebanon during the 1980's, and it seems almost 50 of Colonel Travers fellow Irish soldiers were killed over the years in Lebanon.
Travers makes the insane claim in this interview that it was Israel that murdered so many of his brother Irish soldiers.
Since Travers actually believes this looney idea that Israel was going around Lebanon murdering dozens of his close Irish Army friends, fellow soldiers he had served with all his life, Travers had a strong motive to want revenge on Israel.
After all, what stronger bias could anyone possibly have? Travers has the crazy idea Israel murdered large numbers of his close personal friends, but then Travers of all people in the world is selected to sit in judgment of Israel and serve as the other judges military expert? Could Goldstone not have found someone else in the whole world other than someone as biased as Travers, who blames Israel for murdering his personal friends, to serve as his military expert ?
source: http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/downloads/int…
"Because so many Irish soldiers had been killed by Israelis, with a significant number who were taken out deliberately and shot (in South Lebanon), slowly but surely, the body-bag phenomenon came into effect, and suddenly Ireland is now almost entirely pro-Palestinian."
Colonel Desmond Travers served as co-author of the report and was the senior military expert. Travers was responsible for much of the conclusions of the report, since he, as the senior military expert, guided the other commission members less familiar with the technical details of warfare in interpreting the evidence.
Travers admitted in an interview last month with the pro-Palestinian web site Middle East Media Monitors to holding a pretty crazy grudge against Israel. It seems Colonel Travers served with the Irish Army as a Peace keeper in southern Lebanon during the 1980's, and it seems almost 50 of Colonel Travers fellow Irish soldiers were killed over the years in Lebanon.
Travers makes the insane claim in this interview that it was Israel that murdered so many of his brother Irish soldiers.
Since Travers actually believes this looney idea that Israel was going around Lebanon murdering dozens of his close Irish Army friends, fellow soldiers he had served with all his life, Travers had a strong motive to want revenge on Israel.
After all, what stronger bias could anyone possibly have? Travers has the crazy idea Israel murdered large numbers of his close personal friends, but then Travers of all people in the world is selected to sit in judgment of Israel and serve as the other judges military expert? Could Goldstone not have found someone else in the whole world other than someone as biased as Travers, who blames Israel for murdering his personal friends, to serve as his military expert ?
source: http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/downloads/int…
"Because so many Irish soldiers had been killed by Israelis, with a significant number who were taken out deliberately and shot (in South Lebanon), slowly but surely, the body-bag phenomenon came into effect, and suddenly Ireland is now almost entirely pro-Palestinian."
Colonel Desmond Travers served as co-author of the report and was the senior military expert. Travers was responsible for much of the conclusions of the report, since he, as the senior military expert, guided the other commission members less familiar with the technical details of warfare in interpreting the evidence.
Travers admitted in an interview last month with the pro-Palestinian web site Middle East Media Monitors to holding a pretty crazy grudge against Israel. It seems Colonel Travers served with the Irish Army as a Peace keeper in southern Lebanon during the 1980’s, and it seems almost 50 of Colonel Travers fellow Irish soldiers were killed over the years in Lebanon.
Travers makes the insane claim in this interview that it was Israel that murdered so many of his brother Irish soldiers.
Since Travers actually believes this looney idea that Israel was going around Lebanon murdering dozens of his close Irish Army friends, fellow soldiers he had served with all his life, Travers had a strong motive to want revenge on Israel.
After all, what stronger bias could anyone possibly have? Travers has the crazy idea Israel murdered large numbers of his close personal friends, but then Travers of all people in the world is selected to sit in judgment of Israel and serve as the other judges military expert? Could Goldstone not have found someone else in the whole world other than someone as biased as Travers, who blames Israel for murdering his personal friends, to serve as his military expert ?
source:
http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/downloads/interviews/interview-with-colonel-desmond-travers.pdf
“Because so many Irish soldiers had been killed by Israelis, with a significant number who were taken out deliberately and shot (in South Lebanon), slowly but surely, the body-bag phenomenon came into effect, and suddenly Ireland is now almost entirely pro-Palestinian.”
This entry raises an extremely important issue, and I am glad that you have addressed it. As a current student of Middle Eastern studies, I consider the Israeli/Palestinian conflict to be one of the most pressing issues of our generation and look eagerly towards the possibility of a conclusion to the atrocities committed by both sides within the region. I optimistically agree that a successful investigation into these claims may result in the first steps towards a lasting peace and that holding both sides accountable for their crimes is of utmost importance. I also believe that this is a time for the United Nations to take a strong stance in solving the struggle that it has done little to alleviate, as Israel is still occupying the West Bank and Gaza without punishment, despite the demands the UN stipulated in UN Resolution 242.
Unfortunately, while I hope that five months down the road we will see great progress towards establishing a lasting peace, I am less optimistic that this will be accomplished without the United States’ backing of the United Nations’ demands. Do you foresee the possibility of the US supporting such demands and accusations against one of their strongest allies? Under what circumstances can you imagine the United States insisting that Israel be held accountable for any atrocities it may have committed? Although there have been many criticisms of the Goldstone Report, it is important that these issues be investigated fully instead of being swept under the rug. As the Goldstone Report website recognizes, these criticisms should not invalidate the report but instead should add fuel to the desire for a full, in depth investigation into the crimes committed by both sides. I hope that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority dedicate themselves to the pursuit of justice and that the United States and the rest of the international community take the necessary steps toward holding all guilty parties accountable. Thanks again for bringing this issue to our attention.
This entry raises an extremely important issue, and I am glad that you have addressed it. As a current student of Middle Eastern studies, I consider the Israeli/Palestinian conflict to be one of the most pressing issues of our generation and look eagerly towards the possibility of a conclusion to the atrocities committed by both sides within the region. I optimistically agree that a successful investigation into these claims may result in the first steps towards a lasting peace and that holding both sides accountable for their crimes is of utmost importance. I also believe that this is a time for the United Nations to take a strong stance in solving the struggle that it has done little to alleviate, as Israel is still occupying the West Bank and Gaza without punishment, despite the demands the UN stipulated in UN Resolution 242.
Unfortunately, while I hope that five months down the road we will see great progress towards establishing a lasting peace, I am less optimistic that this will be accomplished without the United States’ backing of the United Nations’ demands. Do you foresee the possibility of the US supporting such demands and accusations against one of their strongest allies? Under what circumstances can you imagine the United States insisting that Israel be held accountable for any atrocities it may have committed? Although there have been many criticisms of the Goldstone Report, it is important that these issues be investigated fully instead of being swept under the rug. As the Goldstone Report website recognizes, these criticisms should not invalidate the report but instead should add fuel to the desire for a full, in depth investigation into the crimes committed by both sides. I hope that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority dedicate themselves to the pursuit of justice and that the United States and the rest of the international community take the necessary steps toward holding all guilty parties accountable. Thanks again for bringing this issue to our attention.
http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=169808
Israel should open an independent commission of inquiry into Operation Cast Lead, not as a response to the UN’s Goldstone Report on last winter’s Gaza offensive, but as a means of taking back the narrative and engaging the international community, former Canadian justice minister and international human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler said during a panel discussion in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel on Wednesday evening.
Cotler, who made the remarks in response to a question, elucidated his stance:
“My main point is that Israel should [create an independent commission of inquiry], not only because it has nothing to hide, but because I think Israel has something to contribute by engaging with the international community,” he said.
“It shouldn’t be seen as a response to the Goldstone Commission, but rather as part of a four-fold approach that would allow Israel to, first of all, share with the international community the extensive investigative approaches it has already undertaken, along with the legal framework that exists in Israel. This includes the oversight of the attorney-general, the review role of the Supreme Court, etc. – none of which is very well known and all of which competes well with parallel structures in other democracies,” Cotler explained.
“The second thing [such an inquiry could do] is present a critique of the UN Human Rights Council, which was the origin of the whole corrupted process here,” he went on, referring to the Goldstone Commission and its subsequent report. “And not simply to critique, but along my theme of engaging, make recommendations as to how to improve the UN Human Rights Council for due rights process, which could make a contribution to things that the international community really cares about.”
The third objective such a commission could accomplish, Cotler said, would be to “join issue with the Goldstone Report’s findings in both facts and law, which in my opinion is weak on both. It could provide that kind of rebuttal.”
Finally, Cotler said the creation of such a commission could allow Israel to share with the international community its experiences and dilemmas as a democracy that, more than any other, was the target of international terrorism.
“My approach to this should be seen as a means of engaging with the international community rather than withdrawing from it,” he stressed.
“Additionally, the Goldstone Report is not going away,” Cotler said. “I can identify between eight and 10 initiatives [in the UN] that are being established in the wake of the report.”
However, “if Israel were to go ahead with such a panel, it would clearly remove any justification with respect to these sets of initiatives, because there is no place for international review and oversight by agencies of the international community [once an independent commission is established by a democracy],” he continued.
“In that sense, it would act as a prevention. It would put Israel in a situation where it is engaging the international community, rather than being seen as the defendant in the international arena. You don’t put a democracy in the dock when that democracy has undertaken its own processes to deal with these matters,” he asserted.
Cotler added that such a body should be headed by “a distinguished former Supreme Court judge, such as former Supreme Court president Meir Shamgar.”
Shamgar “is an example of someone who brings the added advantage of having also been a judge advocate [general],” Cotler said. “He has a repository of experience and expertise in matters of this kind and is respected internationally. This is also true of [former attorney-general and Supreme Court president] Aharon Barak, and I would think that a former minister and distinguished human rights lawyer such as Amnon Rubinstein could make a contribution. Those are the kinds of people I could imagine – of course, it’s Israel’s choice to determine.”
http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=169808
Israel should open an independent commission of inquiry into Operation Cast Lead, not as a response to the UN’s Goldstone Report on last winter’s Gaza offensive, but as a means of taking back the narrative and engaging the international community, former Canadian justice minister and international human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler said during a panel discussion in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel on Wednesday evening.
Cotler, who made the remarks in response to a question, elucidated his stance:
“My main point is that Israel should [create an independent commission of inquiry], not only because it has nothing to hide, but because I think Israel has something to contribute by engaging with the international community,” he said.
“It shouldn’t be seen as a response to the Goldstone Commission, but rather as part of a four-fold approach that would allow Israel to, first of all, share with the international community the extensive investigative approaches it has already undertaken, along with the legal framework that exists in Israel. This includes the oversight of the attorney-general, the review role of the Supreme Court, etc. – none of which is very well known and all of which competes well with parallel structures in other democracies,” Cotler explained.
“The second thing [such an inquiry could do] is present a critique of the UN Human Rights Council, which was the origin of the whole corrupted process here,” he went on, referring to the Goldstone Commission and its subsequent report. “And not simply to critique, but along my theme of engaging, make recommendations as to how to improve the UN Human Rights Council for due rights process, which could make a contribution to things that the international community really cares about.”
The third objective such a commission could accomplish, Cotler said, would be to “join issue with the Goldstone Report’s findings in both facts and law, which in my opinion is weak on both. It could provide that kind of rebuttal.”
Finally, Cotler said the creation of such a commission could allow Israel to share with the international community its experiences and dilemmas as a democracy that, more than any other, was the target of international terrorism.
“My approach to this should be seen as a means of engaging with the international community rather than withdrawing from it,” he stressed.
“Additionally, the Goldstone Report is not going away,” Cotler said. “I can identify between eight and 10 initiatives [in the UN] that are being established in the wake of the report.”
However, “if Israel were to go ahead with such a panel, it would clearly remove any justification with respect to these sets of initiatives, because there is no place for international review and oversight by agencies of the international community [once an independent commission is established by a democracy],” he continued.
“In that sense, it would act as a prevention. It would put Israel in a situation where it is engaging the international community, rather than being seen as the defendant in the international arena. You don’t put a democracy in the dock when that democracy has undertaken its own processes to deal with these matters,” he asserted.
Cotler added that such a body should be headed by “a distinguished former Supreme Court judge, such as former Supreme Court president Meir Shamgar.”
Shamgar “is an example of someone who brings the added advantage of having also been a judge advocate [general],” Cotler said. “He has a repository of experience and expertise in matters of this kind and is respected internationally. This is also true of [former attorney-general and Supreme Court president] Aharon Barak, and I would think that a former minister and distinguished human rights lawyer such as Amnon Rubinstein could make a contribution. Those are the kinds of people I could imagine – of course, it’s Israel’s choice to determine.”
http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=169808
Israel should open an independent commission of inquiry into Operation Cast Lead, not as a response to the UN’s Goldstone Report on last winter’s Gaza offensive, but as a means of taking back the narrative and engaging the international community, former Canadian justice minister and international human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler said during a panel discussion in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel on Wednesday evening.
Cotler, who made the remarks in response to a question, elucidated his stance:
“My main point is that Israel should [create an independent commission of inquiry], not only because it has nothing to hide, but because I think Israel has something to contribute by engaging with the international community,” he said.
“It shouldn’t be seen as a response to the Goldstone Commission, but rather as part of a four-fold approach that would allow Israel to, first of all, share with the international community the extensive investigative approaches it has already undertaken, along with the legal framework that exists in Israel. This includes the oversight of the attorney-general, the review role of the Supreme Court, etc. – none of which is very well known and all of which competes well with parallel structures in other democracies,” Cotler explained.
“The second thing [such an inquiry could do] is present a critique of the UN Human Rights Council, which was the origin of the whole corrupted process here,” he went on, referring to the Goldstone Commission and its subsequent report. “And not simply to critique, but along my theme of engaging, make recommendations as to how to improve the UN Human Rights Council for due rights process, which could make a contribution to things that the international community really cares about.”
The third objective such a commission could accomplish, Cotler said, would be to “join issue with the Goldstone Report’s findings in both facts and law, which in my opinion is weak on both. It could provide that kind of rebuttal.”
Finally, Cotler said the creation of such a commission could allow Israel to share with the international community its experiences and dilemmas as a democracy that, more than any other, was the target of international terrorism.
“My approach to this should be seen as a means of engaging with the international community rather than withdrawing from it,” he stressed.
“Additionally, the Goldstone Report is not going away,” Cotler said. “I can identify between eight and 10 initiatives [in the UN] that are being established in the wake of the report.”
However, “if Israel were to go ahead with such a panel, it would clearly remove any justification with respect to these sets of initiatives, because there is no place for international review and oversight by agencies of the international community [once an independent commission is established by a democracy],” he continued.
“In that sense, it would act as a prevention. It would put Israel in a situation where it is engaging the international community, rather than being seen as the defendant in the international arena. You don’t put a democracy in the dock when that democracy has undertaken its own processes to deal with these matters,” he asserted.
Cotler added that such a body should be headed by “a distinguished former Supreme Court judge, such as former Supreme Court president Meir Shamgar.”
Shamgar “is an example of someone who brings the added advantage of having also been a judge advocate [general],” Cotler said. “He has a repository of experience and expertise in matters of this kind and is respected internationally. This is also true of [former attorney-general and Supreme Court president] Aharon Barak, and I would think that a former minister and distinguished human rights lawyer such as Amnon Rubinstein could make a contribution. Those are the kinds of people I could imagine – of course, it’s Israel’s choice to determine.”
http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=169808
Israel should open an independent commission of inquiry into Operation Cast Lead, not as a response to the UN’s Goldstone Report on last winter’s Gaza offensive, but as a means of taking back the narrative and engaging the international community, former Canadian justice minister and international human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler said during a panel discussion in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel on Wednesday evening.
Cotler, who made the remarks in response to a question, elucidated his stance:
“My main point is that Israel should [create an independent commission of inquiry], not only because it has nothing to hide, but because I think Israel has something to contribute by engaging with the international community,” he said.
“It shouldn’t be seen as a response to the Goldstone Commission, but rather as part of a four-fold approach that would allow Israel to, first of all, share with the international community the extensive investigative approaches it has already undertaken, along with the legal framework that exists in Israel. This includes the oversight of the attorney-general, the review role of the Supreme Court, etc. – none of which is very well known and all of which competes well with parallel structures in other democracies,” Cotler explained.
“The second thing [such an inquiry could do] is present a critique of the UN Human Rights Council, which was the origin of the whole corrupted process here,” he went on, referring to the Goldstone Commission and its subsequent report. “And not simply to critique, but along my theme of engaging, make recommendations as to how to improve the UN Human Rights Council for due rights process, which could make a contribution to things that the international community really cares about.”
The third objective such a commission could accomplish, Cotler said, would be to “join issue with the Goldstone Report’s findings in both facts and law, which in my opinion is weak on both. It could provide that kind of rebuttal.”
Finally, Cotler said the creation of such a commission could allow Israel to share with the international community its experiences and dilemmas as a democracy that, more than any other, was the target of international terrorism.
“My approach to this should be seen as a means of engaging with the international community rather than withdrawing from it,” he stressed.
“Additionally, the Goldstone Report is not going away,” Cotler said. “I can identify between eight and 10 initiatives [in the UN] that are being established in the wake of the report.”
However, “if Israel were to go ahead with such a panel, it would clearly remove any justification with respect to these sets of initiatives, because there is no place for international review and oversight by agencies of the international community [once an independent commission is established by a democracy],” he continued.
“In that sense, it would act as a prevention. It would put Israel in a situation where it is engaging the international community, rather than being seen as the defendant in the international arena. You don’t put a democracy in the dock when that democracy has undertaken its own processes to deal with these matters,” he asserted.
Cotler added that such a body should be headed by “a distinguished former Supreme Court judge, such as former Supreme Court president Meir Shamgar.”
Shamgar “is an example of someone who brings the added advantage of having also been a judge advocate [general],” Cotler said. “He has a repository of experience and expertise in matters of this kind and is respected internationally. This is also true of [former attorney-general and Supreme Court president] Aharon Barak, and I would think that a former minister and distinguished human rights lawyer such as Amnon Rubinstein could make a contribution. Those are the kinds of people I could imagine – of course, it’s Israel’s choice to determine.”
Judo Nimh gives a huge excerpt from a Canadian "just – us" minister's opinions … given in Jerusalem, which Nimh hurries to describe as "the capital of Israel" ( a description, no doubt, that is part of "taking back the narrative", the narrative of history, as he cites the exminister as saying, ).
"Taking back the narrative" — for the exminister Cotler & for Nimh,that's what is at stake in dealing with the Goldstone Report, — "the narrative".
The Gaza operation has no doubt dealt a huge blow to the israeli "narrative's" credibility bfore the world.
But it's not the moral health of Israel & Israelis that's literally at stake here — for Nimh & the "international human rights lawyer" Cotler, the only thing is who gets to control the "narrative".
Ands when you don't control the "narrative" anymore, give a huge excerpt from some pompous legalsounding statement that will fill in the Vast Void !!
Excellent tactic.
Except it leaves Israel with no moral or ethical future.
One couldn't wish for a better fate for a settler imperialist state, could one ?
With friends like Cotler & excusers like Nimh, what enemies does israel need ?
Cotlert's idea is great — if an exjudge from the Israeli Supreme Court holds a commission into the Gaza operation, then THAT enables Israel to "engage the international community", according to Cotler, this "expert" on "human rights".
"International community" being doublespeak for the US & its current allies.
And this tactic miraculously shuts out all the global outrage as well — for if a "democracy" undertakes "its own processes to deal with these matters", says Cotler,it ( automatically — magically — ) takes that "democracy" "out of the dock" — which is all that's at stake here, isn't it ?
This israeli Supeme Court, mind you, is the very same court that did nothing when 8 israeli human rights organisations petitioned it for justice for the people of Gaza .
It's the exact same israeli Supreme Court that gave its FULL approval to the israeli government's refusal to allow the families of 1000 Palestinian prisoners taken from Gaza SINCE 2007 to visit the prisoners in prison inside israel.
The withholding of family visits since 2007 means prisoners' total isolation from the outside world for years, cutting them off from the human contact as well as the clothes & money they need.
israel's Supreme Court said that family visits are NOT a basic humanitarian right.
The court called these prisoners "aliens" who have no rights in israel — while saying not a word about israel's bringing them out of Gaza & into israel, which itself has been termed a violation of international law.
The israeli Supreme Court said the government had made a decision to cut off all family visits , and that was that — the court wouldn't go against the government's decision.
Do you think such a court's judges will find the israeli government accountable for anything it did in Gaza, while almost the whole of israel watched approvingly ?
Judo Nimh gives a huge excerpt from a Canadian “just – us” minister’s opinions … given in Jerusalem, which Nimh hurries to describe as “the capital of Israel” ( a description, no doubt, that is part of “taking back the narrative”, the narrative of history, as he cites the exminister as saying, ).
“Taking back the narrative” — for the exminister Cotler & for Nimh,that’s what is at stake in dealing with the Goldstone Report, — “the narrative”.
The Gaza operation has no doubt dealt a huge blow to the israeli “narrative’s” credibility bfore the world.
But it’s not the moral health of Israel & Israelis that’s literally at stake here — for Nimh & the “international human rights lawyer” Cotler, the only thing is who gets to control the “narrative”.
Ands when you don’t control the “narrative” anymore, give a huge excerpt from some pompous legalsounding statement that will fill in the Vast Void !!
Excellent tactic.
Except it leaves Israel with no moral or ethical future.
One couldn’t wish for a better fate for a settler imperialist state, could one ?
With friends like Cotler & excusers like Nimh, what enemies does israel need ?
Cotlert’s idea is great — if an exjudge from the Israeli Supreme Court holds a commission into the Gaza operation, then THAT enables Israel to “engage the international community”, according to Cotler, this “expert” on “human rights”.
“International community” being doublespeak for the US & its current allies.
And this tactic miraculously shuts out all the global outrage as well — for if a “democracy” undertakes “its own processes to deal with these matters”, says Cotler,it ( automatically — magically — ) takes that “democracy” “out of the dock” — which is all that’s at stake here, isn’t it ?
This israeli Supeme Court, mind you, is the very same court that did nothing when 8 israeli human rights organisations petitioned it for justice for the people of Gaza .
It’s the exact same israeli Supreme Court that gave its FULL approval to the israeli government’s refusal to allow the families of 1000 Palestinian prisoners taken from Gaza SINCE 2007 to visit the prisoners in prison inside israel.
The withholding of family visits since 2007 means prisoners’ total isolation from the outside world for years, cutting them off from the human contact as well as the clothes & money they need.
israel’s Supreme Court said that family visits are NOT a basic humanitarian right.
The court called these prisoners “aliens” who have no rights in israel — while saying not a word about israel’s bringing them out of Gaza & into israel, which itself has been termed a violation of international law.
The israeli Supreme Court said the government had made a decision to cut off all family visits , and that was that — the court wouldn’t go against the government’s decision.
Do you think such a court’s judges will find the israeli government accountable for anything it did in Gaza, while almost the whole of israel watched approvingly ?
Savage:
Unlike poor Gilad Shalit who has never been allowed a single Red Cross or family visit or even so much as a phone call in 4 years, you should re-read my posts on this thread:
read here: http://blog.amnestyusa.org/women/gilad-shalit-vid…
You can read on that thread my posts detailing the International Red Cross Prison Inspection and Family Visitation Program run in full cooperation with the Israeli government in which every prison is regularly inspected and every Palestinian prisoner met with by the Red Cross, including the ones from Gaza. The Red Cross calls its program bringing Palestinians family members into Israel for visits with prisoners in Israel "the largest family prison visitation and inspection program it operates anywhere on earth".
About the Israeli Supreme Court, why not listen to Judge Goldstone himself:
source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1115581.html
"Goldstone spoke in the year 2000 in Jerusalem, Israels capital, at a lecture attended by former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak. The Israeli jurist introduced Goldstone as "a dear friend" with "very deep ties to Israel." Goldstone, in turn, said Barak was his hero and inspiration."
Back to the subject of this blog, I have a question for Amnesty for which I would like an answer:
Re: Irish Army Colonel Desmond Travers, co-author of the Goldstone report and his amazing and crazy claims that Israel murdered dozens of his close personal friends, Irish UN Peace keepers serving in Lebanon in the 1980s.
Does Amnesty stand behind Travers claims about these supposed murders of his personal friends several decades ago by Israel, and if so with what evidence do you cite?
And if you conclude Travers blaming Israel for for his close friends deaths in Lebanon cannot be backed up with any reliable evidence then how can you possibly give any credence to his other claims he has made as lead military expert on the Goldstone Report ?
Does not the fact that he admits holding a deeply bizzare belief not backed by any verifiable evidence what so ever that Israel murdered dozens of his personal friends, Irish UN Peackeepers, 20 years ago in Lebanon, tend to invalidate him as being capable of fairly judging evidence against Israel and taint the whole Goldstone Reports that he was one of the prime authors of ?
Savage:
Unlike poor Gilad Shalit who has never been allowed a single Red Cross or family visit or even so much as a phone call in 4 years, you should re-read my posts on this thread:
read here: http://blog.amnestyusa.org/women/gilad-shalit-vid…
You can read on that thread my posts detailing the International Red Cross Prison Inspection and Family Visitation Program run in full cooperation with the Israeli government in which every prison is regularly inspected and every Palestinian prisoner met with by the Red Cross, including the ones from Gaza. The Red Cross calls its program bringing Palestinians family members into Israel for visits with prisoners in Israel "the largest family prison visitation and inspection program it operates anywhere on earth".
About the Israeli Supreme Court, why not listen to Judge Goldstone himself:
source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1115581.html
"Goldstone spoke in the year 2000 in Jerusalem, Israels capital, at a lecture attended by former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak. The Israeli jurist introduced Goldstone as "a dear friend" with "very deep ties to Israel." Goldstone, in turn, said Barak was his hero and inspiration."
Back to the subject of this blog, I have a question for Amnesty for which I would like an answer:
Re: Irish Army Colonel Desmond Travers, co-author of the Goldstone report and his amazing and crazy claims that Israel murdered dozens of his close personal friends, Irish UN Peace keepers serving in Lebanon in the 1980s.
Does Amnesty stand behind Travers claims about these supposed murders of his personal friends several decades ago by Israel, and if so with what evidence do you cite?
And if you conclude Travers blaming Israel for for his close friends deaths in Lebanon cannot be backed up with any reliable evidence then how can you possibly give any credence to his other claims he has made as lead military expert on the Goldstone Report ?
Does not the fact that he admits holding a deeply bizzare belief not backed by any verifiable evidence what so ever that Israel murdered dozens of his personal friends, Irish UN Peackeepers, 20 years ago in Lebanon, tend to invalidate him as being capable of fairly judging evidence against Israel and taint the whole Goldstone Reports that he was one of the prime authors of ?
Savage:
Unlike poor Gilad Shalit who has never been allowed a single Red Cross or family visit or even so much as a phone call in 4 years, you should re-read my posts on this thread:
read here: http://blog.amnestyusa.org/women/gilad-shalit-vid…
You can read on that thread my posts detailing the International Red Cross Prison Inspection and Family Visitation Program run in full cooperation with the Israeli government in which every prison is regularly inspected and every Palestinian prisoner met with by the Red Cross, including the ones from Gaza. The Red Cross calls its program bringing Palestinians family members into Israel for visits with prisoners in Israel "the largest family prison visitation and inspection program it operates anywhere on earth".
About the Israeli Supreme Court, why not listen to Judge Goldstone himself:
source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1115581.html
"Goldstone spoke in the year 2000 in Jerusalem, Israels capital, at a lecture attended by former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak. The Israeli jurist introduced Goldstone as "a dear friend" with "very deep ties to Israel." Goldstone, in turn, said Barak was his hero and inspiration."
Back to the subject of this blog, I have a question for Amnesty for which I would like an answer:
Re: Irish Army Colonel Desmond Travers, co-author of the Goldstone report and his amazing and crazy claims that Israel murdered dozens of his close personal friends, Irish UN Peace keepers serving in Lebanon in the 1980s.
Does Amnesty stand behind Travers claims about these supposed murders of his personal friends several decades ago by Israel, and if so with what evidence do you cite?
And if you conclude Travers blaming Israel for for his close friends deaths in Lebanon cannot be backed up with any reliable evidence then how can you possibly give any credence to his other claims he has made as lead military expert on the Goldstone Report ?
Does not the fact that he admits holding a deeply bizzare belief not backed by any verifiable evidence what so ever that Israel murdered dozens of his personal friends, Irish UN Peackeepers, 20 years ago in Lebanon, tend to invalidate him as being capable of fairly judging evidence against Israel and taint the whole Goldstone Reports that he was one of the prime authors of ?
Savage:
Unlike poor Gilad Shalit who has never been allowed a single Red Cross or family visit or even so much as a phone call in 4 years, you should re-read my posts on this thread:
read here:
http://blog.amnestyusa.org/women/gilad-shalit-video-released-in-exchange-for-20-palestinian-prisoners
You can read on that thread my posts detailing the International Red Cross Prison Inspection and Family Visitation Program run in full cooperation with the Israeli government in which every prison is regularly inspected and every Palestinian prisoner met with by the Red Cross, including the ones from Gaza. The Red Cross calls its program bringing Palestinians family members into Israel for visits with prisoners in Israel “the largest family prison visitation and inspection program it operates anywhere on earth”.
About the Israeli Supreme Court, why not listen to Judge Goldstone himself:
source:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1115581.html
“Goldstone spoke in the year 2000 in Jerusalem, Israels capital, at a lecture attended by former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak. The Israeli jurist introduced Goldstone as “a dear friend” with “very deep ties to Israel.” Goldstone, in turn, said Barak was his hero and inspiration.”
Back to the subject of this blog, I have a question for Amnesty for which I would like an answer:
Re: Irish Army Colonel Desmond Travers, co-author of the Goldstone report and his amazing and crazy claims that Israel murdered dozens of his close personal friends, Irish UN Peace keepers serving in Lebanon in the 1980s.
Does Amnesty stand behind Travers claims about these supposed murders of his personal friends several decades ago by Israel, and if so with what evidence do you cite?
And if you conclude Travers blaming Israel for for his close friends deaths in Lebanon cannot be backed up with any reliable evidence then how can you possibly give any credence to his other claims he has made as lead military expert on the Goldstone Report ?
Does not the fact that he admits holding a deeply bizzare belief not backed by any verifiable evidence what so ever that Israel murdered dozens of his personal friends, Irish UN Peackeepers, 20 years ago in Lebanon, tend to invalidate him as being capable of fairly judging evidence against Israel and taint the whole Goldstone Reports that he was one of the prime authors of ?