4 oct 2010
Israeli court reproaches two soldiers for using child as human shield
An Israeli military court condemned on Sunday two Israeli soldiers for forcing a nine-year-old Palestinian child during Gaza war to approach what they suspected as explosives, but it did not take punitive measures against them.
The court panel explained that during the Israeli army's attempts to take over a residential building in Tel Al-Hawa in Gaza city on January 15 2009, the two soldiers forced the residents to gather in one place and forced the little child to look into two suitcases they found in a toilet in order to check if they contained explosives or not.
The panel also wrote in their report that the scared boy was not provided with any protective wear like the soldiers and wet his pants from the horror of the situation.
When the child failed to open one of the bags, the soldiers violently pushed him aside and opened fire at the bag which put all Palestinian civilians at the scene in danger.
This incident brought to mind many similar violations in which Israeli soldiers use civilians as human shields, including that they use neighbors to knock at the doors of raided homes to reduce the soldiers' possible exposure to fire or harm.
http://bit.ly/bFFmqV
Israeli court reproaches two soldiers for using child as human shield
An Israeli military court condemned on Sunday two Israeli soldiers for forcing a nine-year-old Palestinian child during Gaza war to approach what they suspected as explosives, but it did not take punitive measures against them.
The court panel explained that during the Israeli army's attempts to take over a residential building in Tel Al-Hawa in Gaza city on January 15 2009, the two soldiers forced the residents to gather in one place and forced the little child to look into two suitcases they found in a toilet in order to check if they contained explosives or not.
The panel also wrote in their report that the scared boy was not provided with any protective wear like the soldiers and wet his pants from the horror of the situation.
When the child failed to open one of the bags, the soldiers violently pushed him aside and opened fire at the bag which put all Palestinian civilians at the scene in danger.
This incident brought to mind many similar violations in which Israeli soldiers use civilians as human shields, including that they use neighbors to knock at the doors of raided homes to reduce the soldiers' possible exposure to fire or harm.
http://bit.ly/bFFmqV
3 oct 2010
Palestinian Authority Recommends Whitewashing Gaza War Crimes
Who do they serve anyway? It's clear from the sham peace talks and a new development. The Mahmoud Abbas-controlled Palestinian Authority (PA) wants Israel absolved of accountability for Cast Lead crimes of war and against humanity. No matter that conclusive evidence exposed them, the result of the IDF's 23-day rampage, killing over 1,400, injuring over 5,000, many severely, and practically leveling wide areas of Gaza, affecting mostly civilian and non-military related targets.
Besides other investigations, two UN Human Rights Council (HRC) ones unequivocally condemned Israel's lawlessness, each demanding accountability.
On September 21, the HRC's independent fact finding Committee issued a stinging indictment, among other conclusions, saying:
"It was clear to the Committee that the IDF had not distinguished between civilians and civilian objects and military targets. Both the loss of life and the damage to property were disproportionate to the harm suffered by Israel or any threatened harm."
Israel clearly violated Fourth Geneva and other international laws. Responsible officials must be held accountable.
"Israel's actions could not be justified as self-defense." It was unequivocal aggression.
"The Committee found that the IDF was responsible for the crime of indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilians. It rejected Israel's determination of who is a civilian."
"The Committee found that the IDF was responsible for the crime of killing, wounding and terrorizing civilians."
The Committee called the IDF "responsible for the wanton destruction of property and that such destruction could not be justified on grounds of military necessity."
The Committee called Cast Lead crimes so outrageous, "it was compelled to consider whether (genocide) had been committed."
The Committee thus concluded that Israel "committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and, possibly genocide in the course of Operation Cast Lead."
In 2009, the Goldstone Commission highlighted the gravity of Israel's crimes, saying:
Its "report concludes that the Israeli military operation was directed at the people of Gaza as a whole.(It was) a deliberate policy of (collective punishment and) disproportionate force (to) willfully (kill) hundreds of civilians," and inflict extensive "disproportionate" destruction of hospitals, homes, mosques, schools, and other civilian structures.
"As a service to the hundreds of civilians who needlessly died and for the equal application of international justice, the perpetrators of (these) serious violations must be held to account."
Mahmoud Abbas said no. His permanent Geneva Human Rights Council envoy, Ibrahim Khraishi, presented a draft resolution not to pursue Israel's accountability, wanting coverup and whitewash instead.
It did it by requesting more time for further investigations, despite exhaustive evidence finding Israel culpable beyond a shadow of a doubt. Abbas, a disgraced collaborator, insulted Gaza's victims and those still suffocating under siege.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemned him, saying he's:
"holding justice hostage to politics, and extending de facto impunity to the Israeli military and political leadership."
By so doing, he shares culpability, complicit with Israel's war machine, guilty of not struggling against it. He's a traitor, rewarded for betraying his own people. It's been his longstanding practice for decades, notably for his Oslo Accords role, an inexcusable sellout he may repeat in the current sham round.
PCHR condemned his leadership saying;
By passing this (disgraceful) resolution, (he sent) a dangerous message: that what happened in Gaza in 2008-2009 is acceptable. With such impunity, there is no guarantee for Palestinians that these crimes will not be repeated." In fact, it's virtually certain. In small ways, they continue daily throughout the Territories.
Israel Responds
On September 27, Haaretz published a Reuters report headlined, "Israel calls on UN to end 'obsessively biased' Gaza war probe," saying:
On Monday, Israel called "for an end to United Nations Human Rights Council (Cast Lead) investigations." However, Islamic countries and their allies on the Council urged otherwise. Nonetheless, Israel's ambassador Aharon Leshno Yaar said the Council:
"has continually been one-sided and obsessively biasedIt did not matter that steps were taken by Israel to protect its citizens while limiting damage whenever possible to Palestinian civilians."
Both Council investigations show he lied, the above conclusions explaining it unequivocally. Israel also whitewashed its own inquiries, absolving culpable government and military officials.
On September 27, the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) demanded that the Council and UN General Assembly continue focusing on Cast Lead and its aftermath. Turkey's delegate said:
"Israel must put an end to its culture of violence and show a new face to the world." Its Gaza siege and May Flotilla massacre show the futility of that likelihood.
On September 29, Ma'an News Agency headlined, "UN vote backs limited Goldstone follow-up," saying:
"The UN Human Rights Council endorsed on Wednesday some of the recommendations in a UN-backed inquiry into Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip, but the vote drew criticism from human rights groups" for not going far enough.
Despite clear evidence of Israeli lawlessness, the Arab and Islamic blocs tabled a decision, "demand(ing instead) that the UN secretary-general and general commissioner for human rights follow up with" Goldstone Commission recommendations.
A key one involves referring culpable parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC) "if they fail to undertake credible investigations on their own." The HRC said they hadn't, so "the next logical step is to establish a tribunal."
However, the PA's resolution obstructs it, a decision human rights organizations condemned "as another violation of the rights of Palestinian victims."
The HRC also denounced Israel's intransigence for failing to cooperate, and refusing to "conduct investigations in conformity with international standards of independence, thoroughness, effectiveness and promptness into the allegations."
According to one human rights official:
"They killed the Goldstone process. There will be nothing to follow up on." They plan the same thing for the HRC's Committee of experts. "The decision of the PA not to pursue international criminal justice perpetuates this practice and denies victims' rights."
Their action is inexcusable, absolving Israel, effectively letting its killing machine maraud freely murdering, destroying, and plundering with impunity, Palestinians again denied justice.
* Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at [email protected]. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon.
http://bit.ly/a5EPVz
Palestinian Authority Recommends Whitewashing Gaza War Crimes
Who do they serve anyway? It's clear from the sham peace talks and a new development. The Mahmoud Abbas-controlled Palestinian Authority (PA) wants Israel absolved of accountability for Cast Lead crimes of war and against humanity. No matter that conclusive evidence exposed them, the result of the IDF's 23-day rampage, killing over 1,400, injuring over 5,000, many severely, and practically leveling wide areas of Gaza, affecting mostly civilian and non-military related targets.
Besides other investigations, two UN Human Rights Council (HRC) ones unequivocally condemned Israel's lawlessness, each demanding accountability.
On September 21, the HRC's independent fact finding Committee issued a stinging indictment, among other conclusions, saying:
"It was clear to the Committee that the IDF had not distinguished between civilians and civilian objects and military targets. Both the loss of life and the damage to property were disproportionate to the harm suffered by Israel or any threatened harm."
Israel clearly violated Fourth Geneva and other international laws. Responsible officials must be held accountable.
"Israel's actions could not be justified as self-defense." It was unequivocal aggression.
"The Committee found that the IDF was responsible for the crime of indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilians. It rejected Israel's determination of who is a civilian."
"The Committee found that the IDF was responsible for the crime of killing, wounding and terrorizing civilians."
The Committee called the IDF "responsible for the wanton destruction of property and that such destruction could not be justified on grounds of military necessity."
The Committee called Cast Lead crimes so outrageous, "it was compelled to consider whether (genocide) had been committed."
The Committee thus concluded that Israel "committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and, possibly genocide in the course of Operation Cast Lead."
In 2009, the Goldstone Commission highlighted the gravity of Israel's crimes, saying:
Its "report concludes that the Israeli military operation was directed at the people of Gaza as a whole.(It was) a deliberate policy of (collective punishment and) disproportionate force (to) willfully (kill) hundreds of civilians," and inflict extensive "disproportionate" destruction of hospitals, homes, mosques, schools, and other civilian structures.
"As a service to the hundreds of civilians who needlessly died and for the equal application of international justice, the perpetrators of (these) serious violations must be held to account."
Mahmoud Abbas said no. His permanent Geneva Human Rights Council envoy, Ibrahim Khraishi, presented a draft resolution not to pursue Israel's accountability, wanting coverup and whitewash instead.
It did it by requesting more time for further investigations, despite exhaustive evidence finding Israel culpable beyond a shadow of a doubt. Abbas, a disgraced collaborator, insulted Gaza's victims and those still suffocating under siege.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemned him, saying he's:
"holding justice hostage to politics, and extending de facto impunity to the Israeli military and political leadership."
By so doing, he shares culpability, complicit with Israel's war machine, guilty of not struggling against it. He's a traitor, rewarded for betraying his own people. It's been his longstanding practice for decades, notably for his Oslo Accords role, an inexcusable sellout he may repeat in the current sham round.
PCHR condemned his leadership saying;
By passing this (disgraceful) resolution, (he sent) a dangerous message: that what happened in Gaza in 2008-2009 is acceptable. With such impunity, there is no guarantee for Palestinians that these crimes will not be repeated." In fact, it's virtually certain. In small ways, they continue daily throughout the Territories.
Israel Responds
On September 27, Haaretz published a Reuters report headlined, "Israel calls on UN to end 'obsessively biased' Gaza war probe," saying:
On Monday, Israel called "for an end to United Nations Human Rights Council (Cast Lead) investigations." However, Islamic countries and their allies on the Council urged otherwise. Nonetheless, Israel's ambassador Aharon Leshno Yaar said the Council:
"has continually been one-sided and obsessively biasedIt did not matter that steps were taken by Israel to protect its citizens while limiting damage whenever possible to Palestinian civilians."
Both Council investigations show he lied, the above conclusions explaining it unequivocally. Israel also whitewashed its own inquiries, absolving culpable government and military officials.
On September 27, the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) demanded that the Council and UN General Assembly continue focusing on Cast Lead and its aftermath. Turkey's delegate said:
"Israel must put an end to its culture of violence and show a new face to the world." Its Gaza siege and May Flotilla massacre show the futility of that likelihood.
On September 29, Ma'an News Agency headlined, "UN vote backs limited Goldstone follow-up," saying:
"The UN Human Rights Council endorsed on Wednesday some of the recommendations in a UN-backed inquiry into Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip, but the vote drew criticism from human rights groups" for not going far enough.
Despite clear evidence of Israeli lawlessness, the Arab and Islamic blocs tabled a decision, "demand(ing instead) that the UN secretary-general and general commissioner for human rights follow up with" Goldstone Commission recommendations.
A key one involves referring culpable parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC) "if they fail to undertake credible investigations on their own." The HRC said they hadn't, so "the next logical step is to establish a tribunal."
However, the PA's resolution obstructs it, a decision human rights organizations condemned "as another violation of the rights of Palestinian victims."
The HRC also denounced Israel's intransigence for failing to cooperate, and refusing to "conduct investigations in conformity with international standards of independence, thoroughness, effectiveness and promptness into the allegations."
According to one human rights official:
"They killed the Goldstone process. There will be nothing to follow up on." They plan the same thing for the HRC's Committee of experts. "The decision of the PA not to pursue international criminal justice perpetuates this practice and denies victims' rights."
Their action is inexcusable, absolving Israel, effectively letting its killing machine maraud freely murdering, destroying, and plundering with impunity, Palestinians again denied justice.
* Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at [email protected]. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon.
http://bit.ly/a5EPVz
Shirts that said: We are all Goldstone's victims
Two Givati soldiers convicted of ordering 9-year old Palestinian boy to open bags suspected of containing explosives during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. Parents show up in shirts that say: We are all Goldstone's victims.
Two Givati soldiers were convicted Sunday morning of commanding a 9-year old Palestinian boy to open suspicious bags during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. They had been charged with overstepping authority and conduct unbecoming.
Now the soldiers are in line to receive a prison sentence of up to three years. Parents and friends of the two showed up in court wearing shirts that said: We are all Goldstone's victims.
The soldiers were convicted of ordering the boy to open a number of suitcases and bags that were found in a building located in the neighborhood of Tel al-Hawa, which they suspected may contain explosives.
The boy opened a number of bags and spread out their contents, and when he feared opening the last one they removed him from the vicinity and fired at it. He was then returned to his mother.
Though the incident took place on January 15, 2009, the indictment was filed only in March, after the two had already been discharged from the elite unit in which they had been serving.
Before the trial, which took place behind closed doors, the combat soldiers said they felt betrayed by their commanders, who they say sent them on a highly dangerous mission and then rewarded them with an indictment despite the fact that no harm had actually been done.
During the trial, the soldiers' lawyer said the case reeked of the will to please the international community, which heaped criticism on Israel regarding the operation.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3963116,00.html
Two Givati soldiers convicted of ordering 9-year old Palestinian boy to open bags suspected of containing explosives during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. Parents show up in shirts that say: We are all Goldstone's victims.
Two Givati soldiers were convicted Sunday morning of commanding a 9-year old Palestinian boy to open suspicious bags during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. They had been charged with overstepping authority and conduct unbecoming.
Now the soldiers are in line to receive a prison sentence of up to three years. Parents and friends of the two showed up in court wearing shirts that said: We are all Goldstone's victims.
The soldiers were convicted of ordering the boy to open a number of suitcases and bags that were found in a building located in the neighborhood of Tel al-Hawa, which they suspected may contain explosives.
The boy opened a number of bags and spread out their contents, and when he feared opening the last one they removed him from the vicinity and fired at it. He was then returned to his mother.
Though the incident took place on January 15, 2009, the indictment was filed only in March, after the two had already been discharged from the elite unit in which they had been serving.
Before the trial, which took place behind closed doors, the combat soldiers said they felt betrayed by their commanders, who they say sent them on a highly dangerous mission and then rewarded them with an indictment despite the fact that no harm had actually been done.
During the trial, the soldiers' lawyer said the case reeked of the will to please the international community, which heaped criticism on Israel regarding the operation.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3963116,00.html
2 oct 2010
Gov't in Gaza: Goldstone report freeze a free service to Israel
Minister of Justice in Gaza Dr. Mohammed Ghoul said attempts by the Fatah authority in the West Bank to freeze the Goldstone report to the UN for another six months for the second time in one year act as a free service to Israel.
Dr. Ghoul said in a press conference held in Gaza on Saturday: Delaying the due date is murder to the report and neglect of the rights of the victims and those affected by the war and its consequences on Gaza, and gives [Israel] justification to continue to commit more crimes against the Palestinian people.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon violated Judge Goldstone's recommendations when ignoring reports issued from Gaza, which came as a clear response to the recommendations, the minister added.
Ki-moon should responsibly deal with the government in Gaza and recognize it as a government elected by the Palestinians, and should accept its reports as he would any other world government, Ghoul went on to say.
He condemned the report issued from the committee in Ramallah, charging that it vilifies the Palestinian resistance movements and clears the Israeli government of violation charges in its war on Gaza.
Ghoul said the committee's report did not commit to integrity, credibility, neutrality and nationalism.
The committee (members) relied on some of the reports issued from Gaza and did not come to Gaza (themselves), so its report is considered biased, aimed at undermining the resistance movements and acquitting the occupation forces, the Gaza official said.
Delaying the report is an insult to the blood of the murdered and gives a cover for Israel to continue its aggression against the Palestinian people,D he continued.
Dr. Ghoul called on the global community to shoulder its responsibilities and make efforts to bring Israel to trial in international courts to give justice to the victims of the war.
The Arab League must make serious efforts to lift the Gaza siege, which is considered a crime against humanity, and a shame for the international community as long as it goes on, the minister concluded.
http://bit.ly/d5Deyu
Focus U.S.A. / J Street keeps accumulating scandals
Fresh reports regarding the leftist pro-Israel lobby's possible ties to Richard Goldstone have everyone talking, again.
These days, J Street, the leftist pro-Israel lobby, is trying to appear business as usual. Following their ad campaign in the newspapers showcasing their support of the peace process and urging leaders to make history, J Street met this week with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren and with various congressional representatives, in hopes of tightening connections ahead of the November midterm elections.
But ever since the Washington Times exposed the discreet donations made by billionaire George Soros to the organization, the scandal surrounding J Street is only magnifying.
Several reporters got quite upset by the donor revelation, and accused J Street executive director Jeremy Ben-Ami of "lying" when they got denials or vague explanations from him regarding Soros' involvement. Ben-Ami later assumed responsibility for "being less than clear" on the matter.
George Soros's spokesman Michael Vachon responded to the controversy, saying, "I believe J-Street's ideological opponents, the conservative Israel lobby, seized the opportunity to criticize J-Street over this matter." Ben-Ami said right-wing activists hope "to distract attention from the peace process and to cause problems for their political opponents in the American elections."
But the scandal gained momentum with the next article in the Washington Times that claimed that J Street helped jurist Richard Goldstone, who composed a damning report following Israel's offensive in Gaza in 2008-9, get a meeting on Capitol Hill.
J Street executive director Jeremy Ben-Ami.
The source of information was said to be former Israeli MK Colette Avital, who allegedly told the reporters in an interview about the J Street-Goldstone ties and said she advised J Street not to foster any relationship with Judge Goldstone following the negative reactions his report on the Gaza war evoked in Israel.
Avital published an angry denial on J Street web site, saying: I am shocked and appalled to read the account in the Washington Times supposedly reporting on my role with J Street. I am not sure what has happened to the standards of journalism in the United States since the years when I proudly served the Government of Israel as Consul General in New York, but the article in Friday's paper represents little more than the fabrication of the minds of writers with a political agenda.
Avital confirmed she spoke to the reporters, and told them she did not resign from J Street and remains proudly affiliated with it.
Further, I made clear that I was, and am, completely unaware of any effort by J Street to facilitate visits by Judge Richard Goldstone to Capitol Hill, she wrote. I recommended last November that the organization not have any relationship with the Judge and that they oppose the report. I told the Washington Times clearly that I knew that J Street had no role in arranging the Judge's visit."
Avital's response fueled the next part of the scandal, when the Washington Times uploaded the audio of the conversation to the web, to prove that Avital was the one to raise the subject of the connection between Goldstone and J Street, saying when Judge Goldstone came to Washington, [J Street leaders were] suggesting that they might help him set up his appointments on Capitol Hill."
Before he realized that Colette Avital had been our initial source, Jeremy Ben-Ami told us on the record that J Street's only correspondence with Avital regarding Goldstone's visit was her asking him by e-mail whether J Street was playing any role whatsoever and him telling her no, one of the reporters, Ben Birnbaum, told Haaretz.
According to the quotations of Ben-Ami, this time he was once again less than clear on what J Street actually did with Goldstone.
Goldstone told the Washington Times that he remembers 10 to 12 meetings with members of Congress, while Ben-Ami said that J Street believed it to be a good idea for [Goldstone] and for members of Congress to meet personally, but we declined to play a role in hosting, convening or attending any of the meetings." Although he did admit to the Washington Times that his staffers contacted some Congressmen with regard to Goldstone visit.
Basically, for an organization that claims to represent the moderate voice of the Jewish population in the United States, there should be nothing wrong in at least contemplating Goldstone's report, as did some left-wingers in the U.S. and even Israel. There were people who rejected parts of it and criticized its one-sidedness, while calling to carefully check some other parts.
And seemingly there is nothing preventing a leftist organization from receiving donations from leftist donors. For some, Soros name might be a sufficient reason to cut ties with J Street because of his confrontation with AIPAC and his sharp criticism of Israeli policies. But J Street's less than clear explanation regarding the issue is the reason even the organization's most stringent supporters are raising their eyebrows.
It's not unusual for a new organization to flip flop on some controversial issues, trying to find the right balance between their vision and the need to satisfy the mainstream and not be marginalized.
On the one hand, the Democratic Party majority in both houses of Congress presented a unique opportunity for J Street to find supporters on the Hill.
On the other hand, with a right-wing Israeli government that initially aggressively rejected J Street's agenda, they had a problem redefining the term pro-Israel and presenting themselves as such in Israel. This need to balance in a problematic environment probably brought on their recent evasiveness and eventually, the current scandal. The approaching elections probably didn't help much either.
J Street needs to make a clear decision if they want to be truly inclusive, as they claim to be they shouldn't be afraid to be so, despite the price they may have to pay. By continuing their current modus operandi trying to dodge controversy - they are actually creating more controversies and might lose credibility even among their left-wing supporters. If they want to become a unique voice, they should say: We do not agree, but we listen to all voices - and not under the table.
http://bit.ly/dbFh9F
Gov't in Gaza: Goldstone report freeze a free service to Israel
Minister of Justice in Gaza Dr. Mohammed Ghoul said attempts by the Fatah authority in the West Bank to freeze the Goldstone report to the UN for another six months for the second time in one year act as a free service to Israel.
Dr. Ghoul said in a press conference held in Gaza on Saturday: Delaying the due date is murder to the report and neglect of the rights of the victims and those affected by the war and its consequences on Gaza, and gives [Israel] justification to continue to commit more crimes against the Palestinian people.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon violated Judge Goldstone's recommendations when ignoring reports issued from Gaza, which came as a clear response to the recommendations, the minister added.
Ki-moon should responsibly deal with the government in Gaza and recognize it as a government elected by the Palestinians, and should accept its reports as he would any other world government, Ghoul went on to say.
He condemned the report issued from the committee in Ramallah, charging that it vilifies the Palestinian resistance movements and clears the Israeli government of violation charges in its war on Gaza.
Ghoul said the committee's report did not commit to integrity, credibility, neutrality and nationalism.
The committee (members) relied on some of the reports issued from Gaza and did not come to Gaza (themselves), so its report is considered biased, aimed at undermining the resistance movements and acquitting the occupation forces, the Gaza official said.
Delaying the report is an insult to the blood of the murdered and gives a cover for Israel to continue its aggression against the Palestinian people,D he continued.
Dr. Ghoul called on the global community to shoulder its responsibilities and make efforts to bring Israel to trial in international courts to give justice to the victims of the war.
The Arab League must make serious efforts to lift the Gaza siege, which is considered a crime against humanity, and a shame for the international community as long as it goes on, the minister concluded.
http://bit.ly/d5Deyu
Focus U.S.A. / J Street keeps accumulating scandals
Fresh reports regarding the leftist pro-Israel lobby's possible ties to Richard Goldstone have everyone talking, again.
These days, J Street, the leftist pro-Israel lobby, is trying to appear business as usual. Following their ad campaign in the newspapers showcasing their support of the peace process and urging leaders to make history, J Street met this week with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren and with various congressional representatives, in hopes of tightening connections ahead of the November midterm elections.
But ever since the Washington Times exposed the discreet donations made by billionaire George Soros to the organization, the scandal surrounding J Street is only magnifying.
Several reporters got quite upset by the donor revelation, and accused J Street executive director Jeremy Ben-Ami of "lying" when they got denials or vague explanations from him regarding Soros' involvement. Ben-Ami later assumed responsibility for "being less than clear" on the matter.
George Soros's spokesman Michael Vachon responded to the controversy, saying, "I believe J-Street's ideological opponents, the conservative Israel lobby, seized the opportunity to criticize J-Street over this matter." Ben-Ami said right-wing activists hope "to distract attention from the peace process and to cause problems for their political opponents in the American elections."
But the scandal gained momentum with the next article in the Washington Times that claimed that J Street helped jurist Richard Goldstone, who composed a damning report following Israel's offensive in Gaza in 2008-9, get a meeting on Capitol Hill.
J Street executive director Jeremy Ben-Ami.
The source of information was said to be former Israeli MK Colette Avital, who allegedly told the reporters in an interview about the J Street-Goldstone ties and said she advised J Street not to foster any relationship with Judge Goldstone following the negative reactions his report on the Gaza war evoked in Israel.
Avital published an angry denial on J Street web site, saying: I am shocked and appalled to read the account in the Washington Times supposedly reporting on my role with J Street. I am not sure what has happened to the standards of journalism in the United States since the years when I proudly served the Government of Israel as Consul General in New York, but the article in Friday's paper represents little more than the fabrication of the minds of writers with a political agenda.
Avital confirmed she spoke to the reporters, and told them she did not resign from J Street and remains proudly affiliated with it.
Further, I made clear that I was, and am, completely unaware of any effort by J Street to facilitate visits by Judge Richard Goldstone to Capitol Hill, she wrote. I recommended last November that the organization not have any relationship with the Judge and that they oppose the report. I told the Washington Times clearly that I knew that J Street had no role in arranging the Judge's visit."
Avital's response fueled the next part of the scandal, when the Washington Times uploaded the audio of the conversation to the web, to prove that Avital was the one to raise the subject of the connection between Goldstone and J Street, saying when Judge Goldstone came to Washington, [J Street leaders were] suggesting that they might help him set up his appointments on Capitol Hill."
Before he realized that Colette Avital had been our initial source, Jeremy Ben-Ami told us on the record that J Street's only correspondence with Avital regarding Goldstone's visit was her asking him by e-mail whether J Street was playing any role whatsoever and him telling her no, one of the reporters, Ben Birnbaum, told Haaretz.
According to the quotations of Ben-Ami, this time he was once again less than clear on what J Street actually did with Goldstone.
Goldstone told the Washington Times that he remembers 10 to 12 meetings with members of Congress, while Ben-Ami said that J Street believed it to be a good idea for [Goldstone] and for members of Congress to meet personally, but we declined to play a role in hosting, convening or attending any of the meetings." Although he did admit to the Washington Times that his staffers contacted some Congressmen with regard to Goldstone visit.
Basically, for an organization that claims to represent the moderate voice of the Jewish population in the United States, there should be nothing wrong in at least contemplating Goldstone's report, as did some left-wingers in the U.S. and even Israel. There were people who rejected parts of it and criticized its one-sidedness, while calling to carefully check some other parts.
And seemingly there is nothing preventing a leftist organization from receiving donations from leftist donors. For some, Soros name might be a sufficient reason to cut ties with J Street because of his confrontation with AIPAC and his sharp criticism of Israeli policies. But J Street's less than clear explanation regarding the issue is the reason even the organization's most stringent supporters are raising their eyebrows.
It's not unusual for a new organization to flip flop on some controversial issues, trying to find the right balance between their vision and the need to satisfy the mainstream and not be marginalized.
On the one hand, the Democratic Party majority in both houses of Congress presented a unique opportunity for J Street to find supporters on the Hill.
On the other hand, with a right-wing Israeli government that initially aggressively rejected J Street's agenda, they had a problem redefining the term pro-Israel and presenting themselves as such in Israel. This need to balance in a problematic environment probably brought on their recent evasiveness and eventually, the current scandal. The approaching elections probably didn't help much either.
J Street needs to make a clear decision if they want to be truly inclusive, as they claim to be they shouldn't be afraid to be so, despite the price they may have to pay. By continuing their current modus operandi trying to dodge controversy - they are actually creating more controversies and might lose credibility even among their left-wing supporters. If they want to become a unique voice, they should say: We do not agree, but we listen to all voices - and not under the table.
http://bit.ly/dbFh9F
30 sept 2010
UN vote backs limited Goldstone follow-up
The UN Human Rights Council endorsed on Wednesday some of the recommendations in a UN-backed inquiry into Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip, but the vote drew criticism from human rights groups.
South African jurist Richard Goldstone's fact-finding mission found evidence that Israel and armed Palestinian groups committed war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity during the 2008-2009 operation.
The decision was tabled by the Arab and Islamic blocs, and it demands that the UN secretary-general and general commissioner for human rights follow up with recommendations in the Goldstone report.
A key recommendation in the report is to refer both parties to the International Criminal Court if they fail to undertake credible investigations on their own. Last week, the Human Rights Council found they both sides had failed. That conclusion, UN experts say, means the next logical step is to establish a tribunal.
But the draft resolution supported by the PA will not send the report to the ICC, a deficiency that human rights organizations are condemning as another violation of the rights of Palestinian victims.
The UNHRC welcomed the international independent commission's report about investigations by both sides and urged the Palestinian commission to continue with its investigations to include Goldstone's claims about the Gaza Strip. It also applauded the Palestinian Authority's cooperation and the report submitted by the independent committee led by Issa Abu Sharar regarding internal investigations.
The UNHRC condemned the non-cooperation by Israel, which hampered the UN committee's assessment of Israel's response to the call by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council to conduct investigations that are independent, credible and in conformity with international standards.
The decision also demanded that Israel meet its duties and conduct investigations in conformity with international standards of independence, thoroughness, effectiveness and promptness into the allegations.
Furthermore, the decision renews the mandate of the UN Committee of Independent Experts and requests that the UN High Commissioner continue providing assistance to enable investigators to fulfill their mandate.
Resolution freezes implementation
Human rights organizations had warned in weeks preceding the vote that the resolution would delay the report. Time spent on ineffective domestic procedures will achieve nothing, rights experts in Geneva said.
"They killed the Goldstone process," one official said. "There will be nothing to follow up on."
"The decision of the PA not to pursue international criminal justice perpetuates this practice and denies victims rights. The Palestinian leadership is holding justice hostage to politics, and extending impunity to Israeli military and political leaders," a coalition of human rights groups said in a joint appeal issued Wednesday.
"By passing this resolution, the Palestinian leadership and the international community are sending a dangerous message: that what happened in Gaza in 2008-2009 is acceptable," the human rights groups said in Geneva. "With such impunity, there is no guarantee for Palestinians that these crimes will not be repeated."
The PA sparked domestic outrage in October 2009 when its envoy to Geneva deferred debate on the report following pressure from Israel and the US, which opposed the report as biased.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=319386
Bardawil slams PA for saving Israel again from punishment
Senior Hamas official and lawmaker Salah Al-Bardawil strongly denounced the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Ramallah for putting forward a draft resolution in Geneva protecting the Israeli occupation state from any legal action taken against it for its war crimes in Gaza.
"It seems there is a serious conspiracy against the Palestinian people, the blood of the martyred and the wounded and the tragedy of Gaza people," Bardawil said, describing the action taken by the PA representative in Geneva as a national crime.
"What happened was not political discretion, it is a conspiracy and national treason," he added.
The PA mission to the UN human rights council once again intervened last week and delayed action on a report condemning Israel for violating human rights in its war on Gaza.
Palestinian legal sources, for its part, said PA envoy to the UN human rights council, Ibrahim Khreisheh, tabled a draft resolution that would help Israel to escape punishment for its war crimes in Gaza.
The sources added that this council would vote on this draft resolution on Thursday or Friday, warning that such a step would abort Goldstone report.
http://bit.ly/aQZWUs
Conference: Toxic munitions used against protesters in O. Jerusalem
A conference was held by the Silwan defense committee and the Quds Information Center on Wednesday to discuss forming a probe into bombs Israeli soldiers used in crackdowns against Palestinians and other demonstrators during last week's protests throughout occupied Jerusalem.
Protests erupted last week after an Israeli settler shot and killed Palestinian man Samer Sarhan and wounded others for allegedly throwing stones at his vehicle. The perpetrator was released on bail.
Members of the meeting offered evidence that Israeli forces used expired gas and stun grenades, which caused immediate effects such as fatigue, breathing difficulties, and vomiting, and may lead to other long-term effects against the environment.
Sheikh Ikrema Sabri, head of the Islamic supreme court, said that Israel contravenes all international laws and norms, which prohibit the use of gas and toxic weapons.
Silwan defense committee member Fakhri Abu Diyab said: We collected some of the grenades that were tossed to determine their type, and we discovered that they had been expired for a year or six months; and doctors confirmed that the gas found inside them was oxidized and could cause serious damage to humans and the environment.
In turn, Quds Information Center director Mohammed Sadiq called for an international investigation into the types of weapons used in Jerusalem during the protests, saying: Jerusalem has turned into a laboratory to test weapons, gas, and bullets, and has also become an arena for them to be used indiscriminately.
Rajih Horin, vice-president of the Arab paramedics federation, cited a decision issued by the central court of Tel Aviv in 2005 classifying tear gas as a very toxic substance used against people intended to cause deliberate harm to them. The Israeli Supreme Court recognized tear gas as a poisonous chemical in 2006, he added.
In a separate development, clashes broke out on Thursday in the Isawiya district of occupied Jerusalem when the Israeli army raided and launched an arrest campaign in the district.
Local residents said the Israeli forces arrested three men after storming their homes in Isawiya. The arrestees were taken to an unknown destination.
Israeli police and border guards carry out regular arrest campaigns against Palestinians in Jerusalem for allegedly throwing stones at cars belonging to Israeli settlers and participating in demonstrations and marches opposing the occupation and continued demolitions of the homes of Palestinians in the holy city.
http://bit.ly/cgpCqZ
UN vote backs limited Goldstone follow-up
The UN Human Rights Council endorsed on Wednesday some of the recommendations in a UN-backed inquiry into Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip, but the vote drew criticism from human rights groups.
South African jurist Richard Goldstone's fact-finding mission found evidence that Israel and armed Palestinian groups committed war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity during the 2008-2009 operation.
The decision was tabled by the Arab and Islamic blocs, and it demands that the UN secretary-general and general commissioner for human rights follow up with recommendations in the Goldstone report.
A key recommendation in the report is to refer both parties to the International Criminal Court if they fail to undertake credible investigations on their own. Last week, the Human Rights Council found they both sides had failed. That conclusion, UN experts say, means the next logical step is to establish a tribunal.
But the draft resolution supported by the PA will not send the report to the ICC, a deficiency that human rights organizations are condemning as another violation of the rights of Palestinian victims.
The UNHRC welcomed the international independent commission's report about investigations by both sides and urged the Palestinian commission to continue with its investigations to include Goldstone's claims about the Gaza Strip. It also applauded the Palestinian Authority's cooperation and the report submitted by the independent committee led by Issa Abu Sharar regarding internal investigations.
The UNHRC condemned the non-cooperation by Israel, which hampered the UN committee's assessment of Israel's response to the call by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council to conduct investigations that are independent, credible and in conformity with international standards.
The decision also demanded that Israel meet its duties and conduct investigations in conformity with international standards of independence, thoroughness, effectiveness and promptness into the allegations.
Furthermore, the decision renews the mandate of the UN Committee of Independent Experts and requests that the UN High Commissioner continue providing assistance to enable investigators to fulfill their mandate.
Resolution freezes implementation
Human rights organizations had warned in weeks preceding the vote that the resolution would delay the report. Time spent on ineffective domestic procedures will achieve nothing, rights experts in Geneva said.
"They killed the Goldstone process," one official said. "There will be nothing to follow up on."
"The decision of the PA not to pursue international criminal justice perpetuates this practice and denies victims rights. The Palestinian leadership is holding justice hostage to politics, and extending impunity to Israeli military and political leaders," a coalition of human rights groups said in a joint appeal issued Wednesday.
"By passing this resolution, the Palestinian leadership and the international community are sending a dangerous message: that what happened in Gaza in 2008-2009 is acceptable," the human rights groups said in Geneva. "With such impunity, there is no guarantee for Palestinians that these crimes will not be repeated."
The PA sparked domestic outrage in October 2009 when its envoy to Geneva deferred debate on the report following pressure from Israel and the US, which opposed the report as biased.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=319386
Bardawil slams PA for saving Israel again from punishment
Senior Hamas official and lawmaker Salah Al-Bardawil strongly denounced the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Ramallah for putting forward a draft resolution in Geneva protecting the Israeli occupation state from any legal action taken against it for its war crimes in Gaza.
"It seems there is a serious conspiracy against the Palestinian people, the blood of the martyred and the wounded and the tragedy of Gaza people," Bardawil said, describing the action taken by the PA representative in Geneva as a national crime.
"What happened was not political discretion, it is a conspiracy and national treason," he added.
The PA mission to the UN human rights council once again intervened last week and delayed action on a report condemning Israel for violating human rights in its war on Gaza.
Palestinian legal sources, for its part, said PA envoy to the UN human rights council, Ibrahim Khreisheh, tabled a draft resolution that would help Israel to escape punishment for its war crimes in Gaza.
The sources added that this council would vote on this draft resolution on Thursday or Friday, warning that such a step would abort Goldstone report.
http://bit.ly/aQZWUs
Conference: Toxic munitions used against protesters in O. Jerusalem
A conference was held by the Silwan defense committee and the Quds Information Center on Wednesday to discuss forming a probe into bombs Israeli soldiers used in crackdowns against Palestinians and other demonstrators during last week's protests throughout occupied Jerusalem.
Protests erupted last week after an Israeli settler shot and killed Palestinian man Samer Sarhan and wounded others for allegedly throwing stones at his vehicle. The perpetrator was released on bail.
Members of the meeting offered evidence that Israeli forces used expired gas and stun grenades, which caused immediate effects such as fatigue, breathing difficulties, and vomiting, and may lead to other long-term effects against the environment.
Sheikh Ikrema Sabri, head of the Islamic supreme court, said that Israel contravenes all international laws and norms, which prohibit the use of gas and toxic weapons.
Silwan defense committee member Fakhri Abu Diyab said: We collected some of the grenades that were tossed to determine their type, and we discovered that they had been expired for a year or six months; and doctors confirmed that the gas found inside them was oxidized and could cause serious damage to humans and the environment.
In turn, Quds Information Center director Mohammed Sadiq called for an international investigation into the types of weapons used in Jerusalem during the protests, saying: Jerusalem has turned into a laboratory to test weapons, gas, and bullets, and has also become an arena for them to be used indiscriminately.
Rajih Horin, vice-president of the Arab paramedics federation, cited a decision issued by the central court of Tel Aviv in 2005 classifying tear gas as a very toxic substance used against people intended to cause deliberate harm to them. The Israeli Supreme Court recognized tear gas as a poisonous chemical in 2006, he added.
In a separate development, clashes broke out on Thursday in the Isawiya district of occupied Jerusalem when the Israeli army raided and launched an arrest campaign in the district.
Local residents said the Israeli forces arrested three men after storming their homes in Isawiya. The arrestees were taken to an unknown destination.
Israeli police and border guards carry out regular arrest campaigns against Palestinians in Jerusalem for allegedly throwing stones at cars belonging to Israeli settlers and participating in demonstrations and marches opposing the occupation and continued demolitions of the homes of Palestinians in the holy city.
http://bit.ly/cgpCqZ
