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Jerusalem: UN unlikely to retract Goldstone Report
Ronen Medzini
Published: 04.04.11, 01:10
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26 Talkbacks for this article
1. Um it's 2011 last time I looked
Joe ,   Ohio USA   (04.03.11)
nearing presidential campaign in the US in 2010 may be the ticket, as presidential candidates may choose to a gesture to that effect in order to wrangle the Jewish vote.
2. Why Let The Facts Get In The Way...
Mark from Georgia ,   USA   (04.03.11)
Why change such a great lie? After all as long as it's out there it can be used to delegitimize Israel, and we all know it's fun to vilify Israel. So why let the truth get in the way, who cares what the author of the report says, it interferes with the false narrative to demonize Israel, and we can't have that, right?
3. trash is the only product generated in the UN
jo   (04.03.11)
Having been paid their weight in gold, the UN whores are not about to retract the report. As far as tossing it in the trash can, no transfer needed since the whole UN is a trash can.
4. Israel Should Quit The UN
Reuven Brauner ,   Raanana, Israel   (04.03.11)
Israel gains nothing by being a member of this stupid organization. We waste a lot of energy just to tell the truth and defend ourselves, and we get no returns for doing so.
5. Now that Goldstone has recanted...
seadog1946 ,   OnTheHudsonRiver   (04.03.11)
(without duress of any sort) and revealed that inner demons were guiding his judgement, he can be accepted back into the tribe.
6. Reactions
shmuel ,   au   (04.03.11)
Members of the Goldstone committee are expressing outrage on his comments. This story is a long long way from over....the bemused way its being reported in the non israeli press is telling.. This could turn out to be PR disaster fro Israel.......
7. If the report was inconclusive...
Ernest   (04.03.11)
Because of the inability to gather precise details, after furthur details, reports, investigations and indictments, a follow-up report of a less ambiguous and presumptuous finding would appear to be justified. But, somehow, how things can just move on without resolution, this might too. Without knowing the reasons for Israel not to cooperate with the investgation at the onset, MK Herzog's comment on Israel having been better off cooperating with the investigation in the first place sounds like that would have avoided inaccuracies in the priliminary Goldstone report. Golldstone might just be able to make another report. People wouldn't have a feeling of contempt for the report if it's fair and balanced.
8. UN and the Goldstone Report
Saul ,   Houston   (04.03.11)
So Goldstone has changed his mind about his famous UN Goldstone Report. Well, that report was trash that the UN gladly accepted; it greatly damage Israel’s image. Please let me say what is in the mind of many people, Goldstone wrote trash because he is a piece of human trash, he threw a big dirty, filthy stone against Israel’s good name and no amount of chest beating will exonerate him, now or ever.
9. unretracted the UN will look more biased
bernard ross ,   st anns bay jamaica   (04.04.11)
10. Read the article!
Jon ,   Baltimore, US   (04.04.11)
Why is noone actually reading this article but just believing the Israeli politicians who say this is a retraction? He did not retract the report or deny all of it's findings. He clarified that from evidence he has later seen, it does not look like Israel intentionally targetted civilians as a matter of policy. This does not mean they did not on occasion target them or use them as human shields by making children open doors and packages for them. This article does not vindicate Israel and absolve them of all guilt in their actions during Cast Lead. it takes one small part of the findings and says he now believes he was mistaken on that one part. That is all it does. Anyone whoactually takes the time to read the article can see that easily. Israel is just begging for someone to get them off the hook on this one and are playing up the article to say it does that. Sorry, no such luck.
11. Israel's Fault for not Cooperating with Goldstone
Arik Silverman ,   Milwaukee USA   (04.04.11)
"The allegations of intentionality by Israel were based on the deaths of and injuries to civilians in situations where our fact-finding mission had no evidence on which to draw any other reasonable conclusion. " That doesn't sound like a retraction to me.
12. The truth hurts
Robert ,   Brisbane Australia   (04.04.11)
Doesn't Goldstone know that Israel has a perfect humanitarian record and it has never been known to any breach any human rights whatsoever?
13. It should be scrapped
Samuel Prime ,   Canada   (04.04.11)
If the UN wants to prove that it is a body that aims to do what is right, then it must correct itself and annul this Report, which was based on lies, propaganda, and lack of information.
14. on #3, jo
joel ,   usa   (04.04.11)
absolutely correct, "trash" is the precise word for the UN, and should israel be "scared" of this "babylon/UN" unless YAWEH is far from israel?
15. on #8, saul
joel ,   usa   (04.04.11)
yeah, mr goldstone is perceived to be a descendant of those SA "apartheid" whites, surely his conscience have not allowed him a good sleep, ha, ha, ha?
16. # 8
Birdi ,   Israel   (04.04.11)
We Israelis want the Goldstone Report deemed null & void by the UN. The Israel bashing because of Cast Lead has to stop. Whether Goldstone himself is exonerated becaues of his false report, we don treally care. As the saying goes, he made his bed, he now needs to lay in it!
17. Had Israel cooperated in the first place
Avi ,   Israel   (04.04.11)
Once again Israel is crying wolf. Israel didnt cooperate fully in the first place and therfore the information goldstone based his report on was limited.
18. #4 Reuvens tainted view on world politics
Avi ,   Israel   (04.04.11)
Your basic lack of intelligence is highlighted in your talkback. The arena of International politics is most important to Israels existance. I suggest you learn a baisc understanding of International politics before you annonunce to the world your stupidity
19. # 10
Birdi ,   Israel   (04.04.11)
I suggest you read the article in the Washington Post. Post Opinions. "Reconsidering the Goldestone Report on Israel & war crimes." by Richard Goldstone. Friday, April 1. (8.42 pm)
20. #10
richi ,   eilat israel   (04.04.11)
You also need to read the washington post article. What he stated was targetting civilians was not a matter of policy and that in the cases where indvidual soldiers or officers strayed from israeli policy that these matters where investeigated and that action was underway against these soldiers and officers, In addition he catergorically stated that Israel had the right to defend its citizens and that cast lead was a legitimate action taken by the israeli government. His comments about the Hamas and his current understanding alone nullify the finding of the intial report. 1. Purposefully attacking "only" civilian targets. 2. No attempt what soever to investigate those responsible for attacking civilian targets . 3. No serious attempt to investigate either policy or personal actions of combatants. Judge Goldstone when righting is accurate and we thoughtout. It is clear that there is no such thing as a war without casualities and no such thing as mistakes or misguided actions bit this is a long way away from accusations of war crimes. Sadly people seem to have lost touch with just how important "good faith" and "good name" are to creating dialogue. My suggestion would be to think extremely carefully if you need to stick to clearly tainted narrative is not infact the basis for a stumbling point for any future potential peace negotiations.
21. i hope israel gets justice
englishman ,   london   (04.04.11)
to the fullest extent of humanity's laws!
22. The UN
Israel Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (04.04.11)
The UN is a corrupt organization that aided the Rwanda genocide. It won't retract the Goldstone report because the UN agrees with the underlying concept: Jews do not have the right of self-defense in the face of genocide. Goldstone retracted the report just remove the stain of "war criminal" from Livni, Olmert and Barak who Obama wants to install as puppets.
23. 5, 10, 11, 12 and 21: please reply
Israel Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (04.04.11)
There is no doubt that Hamas calls for genocide of Jews and attacked Israel. "Cast Lead" was clearly a defensive action. Before you condemn Israel, can you explain what Obama and Cameron are doing in Libya and Afghanistan? Can you explain how their military actions are legal? Can you explain why they are not tried as war criminals for butchering innocent civilians? Why are you picking on tiny endangered Israel and not on the real criminals Obama and Cameron?
24. #21; englishman, Your Own
Mark from Georgia ,   USA   (04.04.11)
Here is what was said and ignored at the UN, in front of the Human Rights Council. Just go to the top of your page to the address bar, copy and paste this phrase "Colonel Richard Kemp Challenges Goldstone Report." It will take you directly to a video of the Col. Kemps testimony at the UN. It seems he disagrees with your sarcastic comment. Given his experience and expertise in terrorism, instead of your armchair cowboy remarks, who do you think has more credibility?
25. Can someone explain why
Chaim   (04.04.11)
we ought to care what a terrorist organization like the UN says and why this terrorist organization is not banned?
26. #21 Englishman
BEN JABO ,   ISRAEL   (04.04.11)
We have to start with getting the English their just due Scotland, Ireland, India, Pakistan & of course Palestine England during her rule of those unfortunate lands, brutalized the population and raped the countries of their natural assets Scotland still suffers under English rule, Ireland partially so. Let’s not forget the Falklands war, the most recent of the English initiated conflicts Every country that managed to get you the heck out, did so with a sigh of vast relief That's why in most instances, the English are referred to as "Bloody English" Colonial American was rather fortuante that she was able to rid herself of the English in a rather short period of time, other countries took centuries and some are still aren't rid of you
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