UN backs Gaza 'war crimes' report
Byrnzie
Posts: 21,037
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8310754.stm
UN backs Gaza 'war crimes' report
Friday, 16 October 2009
The UN Human Rights Council has backed a report into the Israeli offensive in Gaza that accuses both Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes.
The report by Richard Goldstone calls for credible investigations by Israel and Hamas, and suggests international war crimes prosecutions if they do not.
Twenty-five countries voted for the resolution, while six were against.
Both Israel and the US opposed official endorsement of the report, saying it would set back Middle East peace hopes.
GOLDSTONE REPORT VOTE
For: Argentina, Brazil, China, Russia and 21 others
Against: US, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Ukraine
Abstentions: Belgium, Bosnia, Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Japan, Mexico, Norway, South Korea, Slovenia and Uruguay
No vote: UK, France and 3 others
The Palestinian Authority initially backed deferring a vote, but changed its position after domestic criticism.
Palestinians and human rights groups say more than 1,400 Gazans were killed in the 22-day conflict that ended in January, but Israel puts the figure at 1,166.
Thirteen Israelis, including three civilians, were killed.
Before the vote in Geneva - in which 11 countries abstained and five others, including the UK and France, chose not to vote - the Palestinian Authority's representative argued that the matter was simply about respect for the rule of law.
The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, meanwhile insisted that now was the time to end the "culture of impunity" which continues to prevail in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
In contrast, the Israeli government had lobbied intensively against the resolution, saying the Goldstone report was biased against Israel and removed the right of nations to defend themselves against terrorists.
It also complained that the vote was not simply on the Goldstone report, but on a Palestinian-backed resolution that criticised Israel and ignored Hamas. The resolution also made references to recent Israeli actions East Jerusalem that were not in the document.
The US deputy representative in Geneva agreed, saying that the resolution's approach and "sweeping conclusions of law" made the prospect of a meaningful Middle East peace process more difficult.
Asked why it did not vote, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the BBC that the British and French governments had been "in the middle of detailed discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel about three key issues - the establishment of an independent inquiry, humanitarian aid to Gaza and the restart of the peace process".
"The vote was called in the middle of those discussions and we thought it right to continue with our work on the three fundamental issues so that could really contribute to a reversal of what is a dangerous spiral of trust and mistrust in the Middle East," he said.
The 575-page report by the South African judge concluded that Israel had "committed actions amounting to war crimes, possibly crimes against humanity" by using disproportionate force, deliberately targeting civilians, using Palestinians as human shields and destroying civilian infrastructure during its offensive in Gaza.
It also found there was also evidence that Palestinian militant groups including Hamas, which controls Gaza, had committed war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity, in their repeated rocket and mortars attacks on southern Israel.
The report demanded that unless the parties to the Gaza war investigated the allegations of war crimes within six months, the cases should be referred to the International Criminal Court at The Hague.
In the short term, the Human Rights Council resolution will provide some political relief for the Palestinian Authority (PA) President, Mahmoud Abbas, our correspondent says.
Mr Abbas had been the butt of intense criticism among the Palestinian public and from his Islamist rivals in Hamas, for initially trying to delay a vote on the Goldstone report, he adds.
In Ramallah, a spokesman for Mr Abbas welcomed the endorsement of the report and said international action should not end there.
Israeli and Palestinian representatives addressed the council ahead of the vote
"What is important now is to translate words into deeds in order to protect our people in the future from any new aggression," Nabil Abu Rudainah said.
A Hamas spokesman told the BBC it also supported further UN action, but said nothing about the charges against the group.
"We thank whoever voted for it, and we hope that this vote will be the beginning of the process to bring the Israeli war criminals to justice," Taher al-Nono said.
The Israeli foreign ministry rejected the "one-sided resolution", which it said ignored "the murderous attacks perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorist organisations against Israeli civilians" and the "unprecedented precautions taken by Israeli forces in order to avoid harming civilians".
"This resolution provides encouragement for terrorist organisations worldwide and undermines global peace. Israel will continue to exercise its right to self-defence, and take action to protect the lives of its citizens," the statement added.
If the report comes before the UN Security Council, the US is expected to veto any call for ICC action against Israel.
UN backs Gaza 'war crimes' report
Friday, 16 October 2009
The UN Human Rights Council has backed a report into the Israeli offensive in Gaza that accuses both Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes.
The report by Richard Goldstone calls for credible investigations by Israel and Hamas, and suggests international war crimes prosecutions if they do not.
Twenty-five countries voted for the resolution, while six were against.
Both Israel and the US opposed official endorsement of the report, saying it would set back Middle East peace hopes.
GOLDSTONE REPORT VOTE
For: Argentina, Brazil, China, Russia and 21 others
Against: US, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Ukraine
Abstentions: Belgium, Bosnia, Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Japan, Mexico, Norway, South Korea, Slovenia and Uruguay
No vote: UK, France and 3 others
The Palestinian Authority initially backed deferring a vote, but changed its position after domestic criticism.
Palestinians and human rights groups say more than 1,400 Gazans were killed in the 22-day conflict that ended in January, but Israel puts the figure at 1,166.
Thirteen Israelis, including three civilians, were killed.
Before the vote in Geneva - in which 11 countries abstained and five others, including the UK and France, chose not to vote - the Palestinian Authority's representative argued that the matter was simply about respect for the rule of law.
The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, meanwhile insisted that now was the time to end the "culture of impunity" which continues to prevail in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
In contrast, the Israeli government had lobbied intensively against the resolution, saying the Goldstone report was biased against Israel and removed the right of nations to defend themselves against terrorists.
It also complained that the vote was not simply on the Goldstone report, but on a Palestinian-backed resolution that criticised Israel and ignored Hamas. The resolution also made references to recent Israeli actions East Jerusalem that were not in the document.
The US deputy representative in Geneva agreed, saying that the resolution's approach and "sweeping conclusions of law" made the prospect of a meaningful Middle East peace process more difficult.
Asked why it did not vote, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the BBC that the British and French governments had been "in the middle of detailed discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel about three key issues - the establishment of an independent inquiry, humanitarian aid to Gaza and the restart of the peace process".
"The vote was called in the middle of those discussions and we thought it right to continue with our work on the three fundamental issues so that could really contribute to a reversal of what is a dangerous spiral of trust and mistrust in the Middle East," he said.
The 575-page report by the South African judge concluded that Israel had "committed actions amounting to war crimes, possibly crimes against humanity" by using disproportionate force, deliberately targeting civilians, using Palestinians as human shields and destroying civilian infrastructure during its offensive in Gaza.
It also found there was also evidence that Palestinian militant groups including Hamas, which controls Gaza, had committed war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity, in their repeated rocket and mortars attacks on southern Israel.
The report demanded that unless the parties to the Gaza war investigated the allegations of war crimes within six months, the cases should be referred to the International Criminal Court at The Hague.
In the short term, the Human Rights Council resolution will provide some political relief for the Palestinian Authority (PA) President, Mahmoud Abbas, our correspondent says.
Mr Abbas had been the butt of intense criticism among the Palestinian public and from his Islamist rivals in Hamas, for initially trying to delay a vote on the Goldstone report, he adds.
In Ramallah, a spokesman for Mr Abbas welcomed the endorsement of the report and said international action should not end there.
Israeli and Palestinian representatives addressed the council ahead of the vote
"What is important now is to translate words into deeds in order to protect our people in the future from any new aggression," Nabil Abu Rudainah said.
A Hamas spokesman told the BBC it also supported further UN action, but said nothing about the charges against the group.
"We thank whoever voted for it, and we hope that this vote will be the beginning of the process to bring the Israeli war criminals to justice," Taher al-Nono said.
The Israeli foreign ministry rejected the "one-sided resolution", which it said ignored "the murderous attacks perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorist organisations against Israeli civilians" and the "unprecedented precautions taken by Israeli forces in order to avoid harming civilians".
"This resolution provides encouragement for terrorist organisations worldwide and undermines global peace. Israel will continue to exercise its right to self-defence, and take action to protect the lives of its citizens," the statement added.
If the report comes before the UN Security Council, the US is expected to veto any call for ICC action against Israel.
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
And shame on Britain and France for not voting. Spineless, immoral bastards!
i think teh bigger shame is that people can vote to not release this information. i guess freedom of information is eroding.
No, it doesn't say that both are committing war crimes. It says that both committed war crimes during Israel's bombardment of Gaza. It also condemns Israel for the ongoing settlements and demolition of Palestinian homes.
please read the article agian. it comdemms isreal in their attacks and also pal. in their attacks agianst isreal.
I did read it, twice. It condemns Hamas for their rocket attacks during the conflict. Though you make it sound like both sides were equally to blame, which of course is pure horseshit. Israel broke the ceasefire. Israel had planned to attack months before Operation Cast Lead. Israel attacked Gaza and killed 1600 Palestinians, including an estimated 800 civilians and 400 policemen. Israel destroyed U.N safe houses and storage compounds. It dropped white phosphorous on civilian areas. It shelled densely populated civilian areas. It deliberately shot unarmed civilians, some of whom were carrying white flags, e.t.c.
Hamas' crappy rockets killed 3 civilians.
Of course the Americans tried to block it because the U.S does whatever Israel wants. And America's attempt to block the report just goes to show that the supposed 'peace plan' is a joke. It's just another stalling tactic designed to give Israel more time to steal more land and build more illegal, racist settlements.
please read the article agian. it comdemms isreal in their attacks and also pal. in their attacks agianst isreal.[/quote]
I did read it, twice. It condemns Hamas for their rocket attacks during the conflict. Though you make it sound like both sides were equally to blame, which of course is pure horseshit. Israel broke the ceasefire. Israel had planned to attack months before Operation Cast Lead. Israel attacked Gaza and killed 1600 Palestinians, including an estimated 800 civilians and 400 policemen. Israel destroyed U.N safe houses and storage compounds. It dropped white phosphorous on civilian areas. It shelled densely populated civilian areas. It deliberately shot unarmed civilians, some of whom were carrying white flags, e.t.c.
Hamas' crappy rockets killed 3 civilians.[/quote]
first off thank you for finally stating that the article does state that Hamas also committed war crimes. i never said that both sides were equally to blame. Israel has done way more (ofc ourse you can say that if Hamas had more power they would do the same) Israel in my view point is guilty but for peace to happen both sides have to realize that they have done bad things.
killing 3 civilians is still a big deal so just because its not as much as israel has killed doesn't mean that it is OK. again, if Hamas had less "crappy rockets" would they be killing more people.
its not just america there are other countries too
Probably, but then we can hypothesize all day. If Israel were to abide by international law and retreat to the '67 border would there be peace? Who knows? They've never tried that tactic.
You're joking, right?
The U.S tried to have the report shelved until March 2010. You think those other countries that cast a negative vote weren't pressured to do so by the U.S?
true on both counts. a risk has to be taken from both sides. isreal has to cave in to international law and hamas has to not shooting too. its not easy and who knows if it will work but like you said.
Meanwhile:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/ga10791.doc.htm
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS SIX RESOLUTIONS ON MIDDLE EAST, PALESTINIAN RIGHTS
26 November 2008
'Regarding the question of Palestine, the Assembly adopted by a recorded vote of 107 in favour to 8 against (Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 57 in abstentions, its draft resolution on the “Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People” (for voting details see Annex I). With that text, the Assembly requested the Committee to keep promoting the Palestinians’ realization of their inalienable rights, including their right to self-determination, as it mobilized assistance for them.
By a recorded vote of 106 in favour to 8 against ( Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 57 abstentions (Annex II), the Assembly adopted the resolution on the “Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat”. By this draft, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to continue providing the Division with the resources needed to carry out its work, which included monitoring developments, organizing international meetings and working with civil society.
By a recorded vote of 162 in favour to 8 against (Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 4 abstentions (Cameroon, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga) (Annex III), the Assembly next adopted the resolution on the “Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat”, by which it requested the Department to continue its programme for the 2009-2010 biennium.
This request included the dissemination of information on all United Nations activities relating to the question and the peace process; putting out publications on the various aspects of the question; and organizing fact-finding missions for journalists to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.
The Assembly also adopted by a recorded vote of 164 in favour to 7 against ( Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 3 abstentions ( Cameroon, Canada, Tonga) (Annex IV), the resolution on the “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”.
By that text, the Assembly reaffirmed the illegality of Israeli actions meant to change the status of Jerusalem, including the so-called E-1 plan, which aimed to connect Jerusalem to the West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. It also reaffirmed the illegality of other unilateral measures that tried to alter the character, status and demographic composition of the city and the Territory as a whole. This included Israel’s construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem.
Goldstone Report on Israeli War Crimes in Gaza *
The House is expected to overwhelmingly vote today to condemn a UN inquiry that
found Israel committed scores of war crimes in its three-week assault on the
Gaza Strip. Headed by the South African jurist Richard Goldstone, the inquiry
also accused Hamas of war crimes and said both sides should investigate the
allegations or face international prosecution. Over 1,300 Palestinians were
killed in the Israeli attack, a majority of them civilians. Nine Israelis were
killed by Palestinians and another four by so-called friendly fire. The
bipartisan, non-binding House measure calls the Goldstone inquiry "irredeemably
biased and unworthy of further consideration or legitimacy." The vote comes one
day before the United Nations General Assembly is expected to take up the
inquiry's findings.
Listen/Watch/Read
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/11/3/i ... _house_for
Israel has become very smart in how it has learned to circumvent the administration and get they want through Congress.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)