Judge Goldstone refutes allegations in congressional resolution

[Scurrilous]

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"On Tuesday, November 3, a bipartisan resolution (HR 867) cosponsored by Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) in the House will be likely voted on that condemns the Goldstone report released in September by the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. This is a deeply flawed resolution and an extremely misguided move on the part of its sponsors that will do nothing to bring long-term security for Israelis or meaningful justice for Palestinians; and, in fact, will only make prospects for both that much more harder to realize. It begs the question whether the sponsors have even read Justice Goldstone's exhaustive report based on the fact finding mission he led on deputation by the United Nations.

Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA), one member of Congress who has read it asks, in a thoughtful response to his colleagues, why such a resolution is being brought forward without even giving Judge Goldstone the opportunity to explain his findings. And he notes, "As one of the first two American officials, along with Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), to enter Gaza shortly after the conclusion of major bombing from "Operation Cast Lead," then again several months later, I have seen firsthand the devastating destruction of hospitals, schools, homes, industries and infrastructure. Much of that devastation was wrought using U.S. manufactured and paid for weaponry. I have also spoken with health workers, average Gazans, nongovernmental organization relief workers and many others." Rep. Baird further asks: "What will it say about this Congress and our country if we so readily seek to block 'any further consideration' of a human rights investigation produced by one of the most respected jurists in the world today, a man who has led the investigations of abuses in South Africa, the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Kosovo, and worked to identify and prosecute Nazi war criminals as a member of the Panel of the Commission of Enquiry into the Activities of Nazism in Argentina?"

Bill Fletcher Jr., a former Board member of Grassroots International, reflected in the Black Commentator after viewing Judge Goldstone's interview by Bill Moyers on PBS that "Moyers, an outstanding interviewer, posed tough questions to Goldstone, many of which were derived from criticisms of Justice Goldstone by anti-Palestinian forces for alleged bias. In fact, a clip of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu addressing the United Nations (played during the show), made such charges quite explicit. Justice Goldstone never wavered. A committed Zionist and long-time friend of Israel, Goldstone described the Israeli behavior in no uncertain terms as an act of collective punishment against the people of Gaza for having elected Hamas (the Islamic resistance movement) in the first place."

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Bill Moyers talks with Justice Richard Goldstone.


Human Rights Watch: Congress Should Reject Impunity for Israel and Hamas

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"Members of the US House of Representatives should oppose a resolution that calls for the Obama administration to reject scrutiny of Israel and Hamas for laws-of-war violations in the recent Gaza conflict, Human Rights Watch said today.

House Resolution 867 calls on the US president and secretary of state to "oppose unequivocally any endorsement or further consideration of the ‘Report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict' in multilateral fora." Debate on the non-binding resolution is scheduled for November 3, 2009.

The UN Gaza report - known as the Goldstone report after its chief author Justice Richard Goldstone - documents war crimes and possible crimes against humanity by Israel and Hamas during 22 days of fighting in Gaza and southern Israel in December 2008 and January 2009. The UN General Assembly is expected to debate a resolution on the report on November 4.

"The congressional resolution condemning the Goldstone report has factual errors and would help shield from justice the perpetrators of serious abuses - both Israeli and Palestinian," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "Congress should oppose this rejection of a detailed and balanced report that the Obama administration says deserves attention."

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[Chulanowa]

1. "What will it say about this congress," Rep. Baird asks?

It'll say "The status quo has been maintained." This idiotic resolution will pass, and it'll pass with flying colors, and everyone who doesn't sign on will be a dirty, dirty filthy antisemite nazi motherfucker foreverandeverandever!

[shira]

2. Howard Berman shreds Goldstone easily in response

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x288006#292363