Thursday
Oct082009
Israel-Palestine: Sacrificing the Goldstone Report to the War of Politics
Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 8:21
UPDATED Palestine: Pressure on Abbas to Resign in Goldstone Report Furour
Saudi King Abdullah in Damascus: Where is Syria Heading?
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The Goldstone Report on the Gaza War is no longer a set of findings on possible crimes by both sides during the fighting. So, an enquiry that was supposed to cast bring light on the bombed rubbleis now a political tool to be wielded against the "enemy". And that is not only the "enemy" in the Israel-Palestine conflict but also within Palestinian politics.
Yesterday the Palestinian UN Mission issued a press release saying asserting full support for the Libyan request for a meeting of the UN Security Council. However, Libya's proposal was rejected. Although the Council decided to move its next meeting from 20 October to 14 October, Washington's position was clear. US Deputy Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said that the Obama Administration would not approve any decision:
Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas tried to repair his political position, damaged by the PA's initial support for deferral of a UN vote on the Report. An Abbas associate said, "If Israel does not soften its positions on the peace process, the Palestinian Authority will resume pushing to get the Goldstone report moved to the Security Council, and thence to the International Criminal Court." Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told the French media that the PA could reveal the names of all the countries who pressured Abbas to defer the UN vote and, instead, negotiate with Israel without preconditions.
Hamas is increasing its bargaining power with the claim that Abbas deferred the UN vote because Israel threatened to expose his support for its war on Gaza. Egypt had announced that Hamas and Fatah would sign an accord on October 25, but on Wednesday, some Hamas officials said on Wednesday hat this was not the appropriate time for a deal. Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, reportedly told Egyptians to either postpone or call off the planned intra-Palestinian conference in the wake of Abbas's "high treason".
Saudi King Abdullah in Damascus: Where is Syria Heading?
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Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
The Goldstone Report on the Gaza War is no longer a set of findings on possible crimes by both sides during the fighting. So, an enquiry that was supposed to cast bring light on the bombed rubbleis now a political tool to be wielded against the "enemy". And that is not only the "enemy" in the Israel-Palestine conflict but also within Palestinian politics.Yesterday the Palestinian UN Mission issued a press release saying asserting full support for the Libyan request for a meeting of the UN Security Council. However, Libya's proposal was rejected. Although the Council decided to move its next meeting from 20 October to 14 October, Washington's position was clear. US Deputy Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said that the Obama Administration would not approve any decision:
The report needs to be discussed by the Human Rights Council, and decisions on what next steps and what is the appropriate disposition of this report are decisions that will be taken in Geneva. So, for Washington, it is not the Report itself [but] the peace process [that] is more significant.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas tried to repair his political position, damaged by the PA's initial support for deferral of a UN vote on the Report. An Abbas associate said, "If Israel does not soften its positions on the peace process, the Palestinian Authority will resume pushing to get the Goldstone report moved to the Security Council, and thence to the International Criminal Court." Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told the French media that the PA could reveal the names of all the countries who pressured Abbas to defer the UN vote and, instead, negotiate with Israel without preconditions.
Hamas is increasing its bargaining power with the claim that Abbas deferred the UN vote because Israel threatened to expose his support for its war on Gaza. Egypt had announced that Hamas and Fatah would sign an accord on October 25, but on Wednesday, some Hamas officials said on Wednesday hat this was not the appropriate time for a deal. Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, reportedly told Egyptians to either postpone or call off the planned intra-Palestinian conference in the wake of Abbas's "high treason".
tagged Alejandro Wolff, Egypt, Fatah, Goldstone Report, Hamas, International Criminal Court, Israel, Libya, Mahmoud Abbas, Mahmoud Zahar, Obama Administration, Operation Cast Lead, Palestine, Saeb Erekat, United Nations Human Rights Council, United Nations Security Council in Global, Middle East & Iran
Alejandro Wolff, Egypt, Fatah, Goldstone Report, Hamas, International Criminal Court, Israel, Libya, Mahmoud Abbas, Mahmoud Zahar, Obama Administration, Operation Cast Lead, Palestine, Saeb Erekat, United Nations Human Rights Council, United Nations Security Council in Global, Middle East & Iran
Reader Comments (3)
This report is just one big political campaign that has only one perpose - to harm Israel.
The one-sided mandate of the Mission, and the resolution established it, gave serious reasons for concern both to Israel and to the many states on the Council which refused to support it.
[Post from 2nd username of commenter --- please use only 1 username for discussion.]
I wonder, where were the UN and all others just BEFORE Israel had launched a military operation? Although Israel had clearly warned Hamas, that if it will carry on the rocket attacks on Israeli cities, Israel will strike back.
Wasn't it clear to UN guys at this stage, that fighting in such densely populated area, like Gaza strip will cause to civilian casualties?
So now, when everything is finished, those hypocrites are investigating what they call "Israeli war crimes". I want to suggest them to investigate their own "doing nothing to prevent the war" crime.