Do you know the Israelis, particularly in Sderot and the Negev and Ashkelon, where Hamas manufactured? I doubt it

When HRW criticizes Israel, then most comments here start to cry "Antisemitism! Antisemitism!" Now when they criticize Hamas and approve Israel's stance, there is silence. Hmmm...

I don't follow what you are asking. What was manufacturered? The Israelis , the cities? what are u talking about Salma?

And howabout remembering to mention the Hamas war crimes since the inception of that organisation. Every attack on civilian target by HAmas, PLO, Jiihad, Hizbolla etc are war crimes. Every bus bomb, shooting, cafe, and other terror attacks are war crimes, yet fools-Goldstone doesn't mention this, nor do HRW.

use your head, cause before 2007 there wasn't any blockad what was the excuss to shoot at Sderot, in 2005 a child lost both of his legs because on of the rockets. I call it karma. after all the targets were school children. http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3511004,00.html

The rights group stressed that "under the laws of war nothing can justify an attack against civilians, and violations by one side do not justify violations by the other."

All current mass media is now distributing this what they call "claim", referring to the Gaza war only. Hamas and other terrorist groups have been firing directly and knowingly at pre-1967 Israeli towns, what they call "settlements". You can find huge loads of evidence from previous statements, videos, texts that terrorists enjoy targeting civilians, there's no "claim" or "accusation", its a true solid fact. Stupid media.

the blockad was only since 2007, I wonder y they kept silence than, they could prevented Cast lead if they filled offical complaint against hamas before 2009, 9 yeas of rockets at civilians and sucide bombing in the 90's don't forget those, I didn't hear them, someone (=human rights)mess up and blame Israel for their incompitance.

goldstone is not antisemitic. he is a pure pragmatic, cold, person with political interests... such as a fat position in the un or one of its offices. HE HAS AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE AND THE ONLY WAY TO REALIZE THESE AMBITIONS IS THROUGH SUCH A REPORT. IT'S LIKE SELLING YOUR SOULD TO THE DEVIL FOR PROFIT. what goldstone is is not an antisemite, but a profiteer via conduct unbecoming to a judge. when he himself claimed that none of the information in his report can hold in court, he BASICALLY ADMITTS THAT HIS REPORT IS REALLY BOGUS. which makes one understand that it was written and executed by him and his biased body of "experts" as his one step closer to a un position in the future. if one understands this report for what it is, no fair and impartial judge would even write it, much less sign his name to it. hameed aboughaze, iranian

I know, grad missiles landed right near my house.

Your rather incoherent question is stupid and irrelevant. Who cares where the rockets were manufactured? There is evidence aplenty that they came into the possession of Hamas (and other terrorist elements in Gaza) and were promptly fired at civilian areas in Israel? So what, pray tell, does point of manufacture have to do with anything?

*Both* the IDF and Hamas committed war crimes and targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure as per the Goldstone Report and the other HR Org reports. The only reason Israel will not allow an independent inquiry is because the inquiry findings would deeply embarrass Israel and humiliate the IDF as they would echo the Goldstone findings. Obviously Israel is terrified that the IDF would be shown up as a army soaked in the blood of innocent lives so Israel does what it does best it screams and labels such honest and objective findings as ‘anti-Semitic’ or ‘biased’. Israel’s two greatest failings are that it cannot take responsibility for its own actions and secondly it does not view all human life as equal. War crimes such as the use of civilians as human shields by the IDF is a prime example of this moral blind spot and the inability to respect human life. I hope that both the IDF and Hamas are brought before the ICC as clearly both parties have much to answer for.

career by putting native africans in jail.

HRW should be thanked for stating the obvious? The problem with HRW is that they attempt to hide Hamas's other war crimes, ie. hiding behind civilians. It's that war crime that means the civilian deaths are to be blamed on Hamas. Because the laws of war are very clear, you can kill civilians in certain limited circumstances.

And you think Israel will get a fair hearing in any international arena ? Look at the history of the U.N., the human rights orgs, NGOs and others. The Goldstone report ? It was a lie and biased from the first paragraph. Read what the report said it's mandate from the UNHRC was and then go back and read what the UNHRC resolution was setting up the commission that Goldstone headed. Then come back and tell Me the report didn't start off with a lie. Israel afraid ? Not on your life. The whole point is why cooperate with anyone who you know is going to issue a report whose content is known in advance. Wake up to reality Matty

HRW is supposed to be objective and just, and for years they avoided criticizing the "palestinian" terrorists at all, despite their targeting civilians for years before Cast Lead. The evidence is so overwhelming against Hamas that even HRW can't avoid it. Why does HRW need applause for doing the right thing - for doing what their mission statement actually says?? Should we give tips and constant applause to our politicians when they actually do their job? HRW did do the right thing, and I'm glad it finally happened. But I, as others, remain skeptical because they were silent for so long, while bashing Israel for things based on NO real evidence, and because NGOs purposely added such criticism of "palestinians" as a way of adding credibility to reports really targeting Israel. If HRW pushes for Hamas to be charged with war crimes and huma rights abuses, and fights for the rights of Gazans against Hamas oppression, then I will gladly provide them 24/7 applause. HRW has a long way to go to be objective and with fully, altrustic intentions.

“The only reason Israel will not allow an independent inquiry is because the inquiry findings would deeply embarrass Israel and humiliate the IDF as they would echo the Goldstone findings.” And you know this how? Didn’t you once acknowledge that you have never been to Israel, and have no interest in visiting a “fascist” state? So anything you have to say about Israel – or Gaza, for that matter – is necessarily irrelevant because nothing you say is based in personal experience. “Obviously Israel is terrified that the IDF would be shown up as a army soaked in the blood of innocent lives so Israel does what it does best it screams and labels such honest and objective findings as ‘anti-Semitic’ or ‘biased’.” LOL. If you consider the IDF to be “soaked in the blood of innocent lives,” how would you characterize the Allied forces that relentlessly carpet bombed Germany? How would you characterize the United States forces that rained incendiary bombs upon mostly-wooden Tokyo? How would you characterize the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki? How would you characterize the bombing of Vietnam and Cambodia? How would you characterize the relentless NATO bombing of Kosovo and environs? How would you characterize the punishment visited upon Iraq, Afghanistan and South Waziristan – civilian death toll 10,000 and climbing – at the hands of NATO? You are such a transparent fraud, “Matty.” “Israel’s two greatest failings are that it cannot take responsibility for its own actions and secondly it does not view all human life as equal.” You are not Jewish, you are not Israeli and you have never been to Israel. You are, therefore, woefully unsuited to address the subject of Israel’s failings. No matter. Israel and Jews throughout the world address the subject endlessly, and always step up and acknowledge when things need to be addressed, in a very public manner. We are not afraid of the truth.

“War crimes such as the use of civilians as human shields by the IDF is a prime example of this moral blind spot and the inability to respect human life.” I answered your comment on yesterday’s thread where you raised the same subject. I attempted to post several times, but Ynet appears to have locked the thread. The IDF did not use “human shields.” Hamas fired upon advancing Israeli troops and did so using civilians as cover. I suppose you would have preferred that Israel not return the fire? I know that you would like nothing better than a great big pile of dead Israeli soldiers but, alas, your uninformed sermon to the contrary notwithstanding, I would like you to point to one instance where soldiers when fired upon by terrorists do not return fire. Just ONE. “I hope that both the IDF and Hamas are brought before the ICC as clearly both parties have much to answer for.” We can address this just as soon as NATO is brought before the ICC to account for its actions in Kosovo and its ongoing activities in Iraq, Afghanistan and Waziristan. We can address your “hope” just as soon as Turkey appears before the ICC to account for the tens of thousands of civilian Kurds massacred by Turkish troops. How many thousands of Basque civilians do you suppose have been murdered by Spanish troops? When will Sudan be brought before the ICC to face charges with respect to the genocide of animists and Christians in the south? A little visit to The Hague would be very much in order with respect to Indonesia – they should be held accountable for the tens of thousands of defenseless Christians massacred in Banda Ace by Indonesia’s military. For that matter, I do believe that Iran should be held accountable for their repeated massacres of Kurds, the Ba’hai and even the harmless Zoroastrian community in Iran. Shouldn’t Russia be held to account for the massacre of tens of thousands of civilians in Chechnya? “Matty” – do you realize that by harping endlessly about imaginary war crimes allegedly committed by Israel while studiously ignoring real, devastating and ongoing war crimes throughout the world, you have effectively destroyed whatever minuscule credibility you may have had?

Anti-Israel elements are plenty in the UN and Europe. Your post included, the large majority of anti-Israelis discounted the IDF report immediately because it stood to discount the lies in the report which are completely unfounded. Here's one example of your ilk's thirst for blood - the Goldstone Report supported the fact that Israel DID NOT use white phosphorous in an illegal manner, yet you continue to claim Israel did use it illegally. Israel provides proof that it did NOT tagret certain buildings, proving their innocence, yet your ilk would believe Hamas' testimony over the video and forensic evidence to the contrary. If the UN and ICC were objective and simply focused on getting to the truth, Israel would submit willingly...but decades have shown this to not be the reality. The fact that HRW ignores the blatant use of human shields during Cast Lead and placing large IEDs next to housing complexes speaks louder than its meager attempt to placate detractors by slapping Hamas' hands for qassam rockets in january 2009, ignoring 9 years of rockets prior.

How about the thousands of rockets they have been firing at Israeli civilians for nearly 5 years when Israel pulled out of Gaza. I am sure the residents of Sderot could give them a first hand testament. HRW & the other human rightist organizations like to show they can be even handed and condemn the terrorists as long as they have an excuse to condemn Israel of something as well. When there are no military operations going on how often do you hear HRW accusing Hama of crimes against humanity. They can take their reports condemning both Israel and Hamas along with the Goldstone report and use it for toilet paper, there at least it might serve a purpose.

When you run out of Andrex, you know what you can do with the Goldstone report...you don't give up do you? Matty want war crimes? Hamas hid behind civilians and those are 'your' war crimes against innocents

The rights group stressed that "under the laws of war nothing can justify an attack against civilians, and violations by one side do not justify violations by the other."

So Matty, You do not give a d-mn to justice or truth, but lobby only for Hamas and the Pals, fair or unfair. Hamas started this mess and they are fully responsible for the Gaza people's misery. Also Grads are accurate enough to target and kill people. The fact that they were not effective in killing Jews is either because Hamas is really stupid or that providence was involved. As for the HRW, everybody knows how they treated the Darfur and Sri Lanka carnages. They did absolutely nothing when tens of thousand civilians died and suffered. Where was the HRW? But TRUTH is water under the bridge ehhh

Matty, have you served in the IDF? Have you been in combat against terrorists? I have and I can honestly say that the IDF is so moral. I have had friends who were killed because we could not shoot back when fired upon because the bad guys were hiding behing civilians. We were ALWAYS instructed to avoid civillain casualties. That is the IDF that you do not know.

Yet another example of Sarah B trying to weasel attention way from Israel. Lets take a look at how many non-related subjects that Sarah B tried to interject into the discussion to deflect attention way from Israel; NATO, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Waziristan, Turkey, Kurds, Basque civilians, Spanish troops, Sudan, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Chechnya, Allied forces, Germany, United States, Tokyo, Vietnam and Cambodia, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This is a standard fool’s defense eg: point out the failings/war crimes of every country under the sun except for Israel. This is like a serial killer standing up in court and saying that s/he cannot be judged until all other serial killers are judged and sentenced!! It is a good thing that Sarah B is not an attorney otherwise she would be laughed out of court with such a defense. Sarah B also shows her ignorance on common knowledge. She said: Clearly the IDF *do* use Palestinians as human shields to hide behind as it is recorded fact that the The Israeli Supreme Court issued a formal ruling in 2005 stating that the practice violates international law. Any child can Google this fact and see that it is true. Of course the IDF did not stop using innocent civilians as human shields to hide behind as reported by many international and Israeli HR Orgs, we also have testimony from IDF soldiers themselves confirming this cowardly practice. So Sarah B in light that the Israeli Supreme Court/international and Israeli HR Orgs/the IDF itself/etc have all acknowledged that the IDF use innocent Palestinian civilians as human shields the question is: Do you agree that the IDF have committed a War Crime by using Palestinian Civilians as Human Shields? It is a simple question Sarah B, yes or no?

Hamas tried to negotiate a cease-fire that broke down in November by throwing rockets. Barak thought long before the cease-fire broke down With Hamas, Barak didn`t want to negotiate. Israel launched the war. Hamas fired its rockets knowing it may hit civilians. It`s true, Hamas doesn`t quite have the capacity to really hit military targets. It hasn`t shown it knows where military targets are exactly to back the assertion. Israel claims it didn`t intend to harm civilians but kept doing so. Israeli civilians paid for it and so did Palestinians. Palestinian militants fired some 800rockets and mortar shells into Israel during the war, killing three civilians, wounding about 80. Israel used F-15s, Apaches, tanks and Bombs (dropped white-phosphorous bombs on civilians). About 1,400 Gazans were killed, many of them civilians and wounding about 5700. The UN commission said Israel intentionally targeted civilians, resulting in hundreds of deaths of children and women.

William did you know that you are just like Cynthia and Bob H? It’s true, I have asked you the same question again and again and you just keep ignoring it. Why only the other day in: Article: "Tibi: Shoah victims must understand Palestinians" post #33 I repeated my question once again to you, here I’ll do it again: “William: Do you agree that the IDF have committed a War Crime by using Palestinian Civilians as Human Shields? William you can easily Google this subject and you will see that the Israeli court ruled that this IDF procedure and policy of using Palestinians as human shields was illegal. William the question is: have the IDF committed a war crime by using civilians as human shields. I await your answer." This will be my *fifth* time asking you this simple question. What is your answer or will you disappear again and not answer it?