Twitter
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Delicious
Digg
Newsvine
Google
Yahoo
TechnoratiIsrael and Gaza Deserve Better Than HR 867
Before House Members vote on H.Res. 867, regarding the U.N. Goldstone report on the Gaza conflict, there are a few questions worth asking.
First, why are we bringing this resolution to the floor without ever giving former South African Constitutional Court Justice Richard Goldstone a hearing to explain his findings? Have those who will vote on H.Res. 867 actually read the resolution? Have they read the Goldstone report? Are they aware that Justice Goldstone has issued a paragraph-by-paragraph response, available on my Web site at baird.house.gov, to H.Res. 867 pointing out that many of its assertions are factually inaccurate or deeply misleading?
Since scarcely a dozen House Members have actually been to Gaza , what actual firsthand knowledge do the rest of the Members of Congress possess on which to base their judgment of the merits of H.Res. 867 or the Goldstone report?
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 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?
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.
In addition, I have been to the Israeli town of Sderot , which has been the target of repeated rocket attacks, and to a number of Palestinian towns and Israeli settlements in the West Bank . Colleagues who have not been to the region may wish to view some of the images and interviews from these visits on my Web site.
With the information from these personal visits and on-the-ground knowledge, I read with care and interest the Goldstone report in its entirety, and my firm conclusion is that, although the findings may be unpleasant and troubling, they are, unfortunately, consistent with the facts and evidence. In my judgment, far from meriting the obstruction called for in H.Res. 867, the Goldstone report is without question worthy of further investigation.
I know this conclusion is not easily accepted, and I know it raises serious charges against entities and individuals on both sides of this conflict, Israel and Hamas. But if our own country is truly to stand for human rights and the rule of law, and if facts matter, how can we do other than insist that legitimate questions and evidence are followed by further investigation and, if necessary and warranted, appropriate consequences?
H.Res. 867 is very serious business. If, as Goldstone asserts and the evidence I have seen supports, there were in fact gross violations of international law and human rights on all sides, we cannot in good conscience support H.Res. 867.
This is about much more than just another imposed political litmus test that we are all too often asked to perform. This is about whether we as individuals and this Congress as an institution find it acceptable to drop white phosphorous on civilian targets, to rocket civilian communities, to destroy hospitals and schools, to use civilians as human shields, and to deliberately destroy nonmilitary factories, industries and basic water, electrical and sanitation infrastructure. This is about whether it is acceptable to restrict the movement, opportunities and hopes of more than a million people every single day.
At the end of the day, this is also about our own domestic security. If we are seen internationally as condoning violations of human rights and international law, if our money and our weaponry play a leading role in those violations, and if we reflexively obstruct the findings of someone with the credentials, history and integrity of Justice Goldstone, it can only diminish our international standing and our own security.
38 Comments so far
Show All*******************************************************
WATCH:
Hamas's "crimes against humanity" and israel's innocence:
http://palestinian.ning.com/forum/topics/the-other-side-of-the-story
*******************************************************
"Despite the mission’s charges over Israeli war crimes, South African jurist Richard Goldstone actually bent over backwards to protect Israel as much as possible"
Jeff Halper
http://www.icahd.org/eng/articles.asp?menu=6&submenu=2&article=552
.
My mission - and motivation
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1255694838474&pagename=JPArticle/ShowFull
By RICHARD GOLDSTONE
“as a Jew who has supported Israel and its people all my life.................I sincerely believed that because of my own record and the terms of the mission's mandate we would receive the cooperation of the Israeli government. Its refusal to cooperate was a grave error."
“Israel missed a golden opportunity to actually have a fair hearing from a UN-sponsored inquiry. Of course, I was aware of and have frequently spoken out against the unfair and exceptional treatment of Israel by the UN and especially by the Human Rights Council. I did so again last week. Israel could have seized the opportunity provided by the even-handed mandate of our mission and used it as a precedent for a new direction by the United Nations in the Middle East. Instead, we were shut out"
"As I stated in response to a recent letter from the mayor of Sderot, I believed strongly that our mission should have been allowed to visit Sderot and other parts of southern Israel...................We were prevented from doing so by, what I believe, was a misguided decision by the Israeli government."
.
I've read the report. The problem w/ it, that has led to H.R. 867, is that it names Israel and sets up a commission which is right now investigating accusations of war crimes against specific Israelis, while it calls those in Gaza who shot rockets into Israel simply "armed militants" or "armed groups" and has no plans to determine who they are. It specifically accepts Hamas' assertion that the groups were not of Hamas, and only says "IF the Gazan authorities" did not take adequate measures to prevent the attacks, then they should be held responsible. However, the commission has not been questioning Palestinians about the identities of the groups or asking whether they were operating from houses w/ civilians in them, or asking about what measures Hamas took, if any, to stop them. So the report has no provisions for determining the responsibility of Hamas, or any other Palestinian group or individual.
This MATTERS, because it means that even if it is acknowledged that war crimes were committed on both sides, only Israelis could be prosecuted in the International Court. That is the background for H.R. 867.
Knowing human nature, such a set-up is bound to make Israelis defensive, and understandably suspicious of the terms of future negotiations. As such, this, and the continual promotion by Europeans of similar measures, is a major reason why the world has not been able to enforce sanity in the region.
GOLDSTONE is a ZIONIST; hardly an objective report that comes from a ZIONIST and LOVER OF ISRAEL
This Goldstone report was cleansed by Goldstone to protect Israel and to include an occupied people, Palestinians, as being guilty of “war” crimes and “crimes against humanity” when Goldstone, as a judge, knows that an occupied people have EVERY right to resist the occupiers
===================================================
'My father is a Zionist, loves Israel'
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804583376&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
Quote: “Nicole Goldstone, the daughter of Richard Goldstone, whose report on Operation Cast Lead alleged that Israel committed war crimes in Gaza, maintained on Wednesday that her father "is a Zionist and loves Israel."
Speaking from Toronto, where she now lives, Nicole told Army Radio she had many conversations with her father after he was asked to head the UN inquiry…
She said she planned to host her parents in Toronto for Rosh Hashana, and that while speaking with her father following the report's release, he had quipped, "Are you sure we can still come?"
Nicole insisted that the fact the report also accused the Palestinians of crimes against humanity showed that her father tried to be balanced.
"I am not angry with him. I love him and respect him," she said.
"He is a Zionist," she added. "My dad loves Israel and it wasn't easy for him to see and hear what happened. I think he heard and saw things he didn't expect to see and hear, and I am 100 percent sure he [conducted the investigation] in the hope that the Israelis would come to cooperate, and he wanted to help find a long-term solution for the state of Israel."
Nicole, who lived in Israel for six months, said that the country "is the most important thing in my life, my heart is there.... I love Israel more than my family and friends and anything else."
.
Judge Goldstone is pro-Israel, a Zionist and Jewish. He is more likely to face the truth and report it honestly than corporate bought congress people. History will not look kindly on those who cover up crimes against humanity.
Goldstone never claimed to be a Zionist. You are simply making things up.
If Goldstone is "pro-Israel, a Zionist and Jewish", then how would you characterize Ariel Sharon or Netanyahu?
That ought to be clear by now, they are ultra right-wing, racist imperialists.
Are we suprised? HR 867 is a vote for genocide and crimes against humanity. AIPAC rules!
It is unfortunate, though not at all surprising that the house easily passed this resolution. That our Congress is an affront to people seeking justice anywhere is an understatement.
What would our congressmen and women likely find in the Goldstone Report? Probably exactly what they would find in a similar investigation of our own wars.
Just how many incalculable debts will we leave behind?
I pity my children.
It is unfortunate, though not at all surprising that the house easily passed this resolution. That our Congress is an affront to people seeking justice anywhere is an understatement.
What would our congressmen and women likely find in the Goldstone Report? Probably exactly what they would find in a similar investigation of our own wars.
Just how many incalculable debts will we leave behind?
I pity my children.
Bill passes in the House 344-36 with 52 voting present or not voting.
179 Democrats vote for the bill along with the majority of Republicans. Once again the Democrats show why they do not deserve support from Progressives. Every week it is something new. I'd rather have a wolf in office then these Democrats in sheep's clothing.
The Goldstone Report is central to the peace process.
Until now, Israel has steered the discussion of peace in terms of its own security. Israel portrays itself as the victim, the small outpost of democracy in the midst of backward Arabs. This is the image of Israel that its leaders would like the world to have.
The Goldstone report demolishes this image, and re-imagines Israel as an entity capable of committing war crimes. It describes how Israeli soldiers used Palestinian civilians as human shields, how Israelis targeted Palestinian civilians and civilian infrastructure, and how Israel used chemical weapons on a civilian population. These are not the actions of a helpless, morally just state.
Furthermore, the report would lead to real questions about the siege of Gaza and the right of Palestinians to resist the illegal occupation. Israel claimed it attacked Gaza to stop the rockets on Sderot, but in truth, those rockets were in response to the siege, targeted assassinations, the killing of civilians, and the occupation in general.
Aside from weaponry, Israel’s big advantage over the Palestinians is its PR abilities—it gets better press because it knows how to manipulate the press and because racist Americans want to believe that it’s the good guy. No doubt we can identify with Israeli theft of Palestinian land as our ancestors stole Native American land. But the Goldstone report would hang Israel’s dirty laundry out for all the world to see, and it would force Israel to acknowledge its illegal and inhuman actions.
At least Baird is beginning to see some light on this subject, much more than most Congress crooks (but that is really not a good standard to compare to is it?). He falls well short of the mark, but hey, he is risking a big donation from AIPAC and one can bet that his next re-election opponent will be well funded. Even milque-toast criticism of imperial policy will have consequences.
Brian Baird is my representative. In the context of Congress, this is a courageous stand to take. It is thoughtful, legally sound, and has a solid moral footing. Bravo Brian!
Dateline 1954 Greater Germany Southern Territories.
Richard Heydrich pointed with concern to the camps of Ukrainians on the Kerch Peninsula.
"They are all terrorists, they keep sending rockets into our Farms here in The Crimea. This same thing happens all the way up the Dnepr to Minsk. Wherever Slavs are left behind we have terror" Richard then showed the damage to his farm caused by Ukranian Rockets.
"See the Bird Feeder is destroyed" he muttered with disdain as he pointed to an old brush where the dilapidated Onion Dome of an old Orthodox Church pointed up through the trees.
"We pulled all our Settlers out of the Kerch Peninsula but that was STILL Not enough for them, they still launch their terrorist atacks on peaceful German Settlers"
Robert Heydrich spoke on the behalf of the Third Reich. "We have always wanted peace, all we ask is they Recognize greater Germany and our right to exist. " Referring to the Luftwaffe bombing of villages in the Kerch Peninsula Heydrich stated "It was totally justified. Opertain Valkyrie was a measure of self defense. What would you do if Rockets were landing on your territory killing YOUR Civilians.? Those Ukranians are nothing but terrorists just as were the Russians we expelled from the Minsk area. There was no living in peace with them!"
The Fuhrer also spoke on Operation Valkyrie claiming "We are willing to entertain the notion of a Free and Independent State for the Ukrainians in the Kerch but they first must respect the territorial integrity of the Reich from Hitlergrad in the North and through down to Kharkov to the Black sea. These are the lands promised to the Aryan race , the Holy Vaterland!"
In Washington the US Senate will vote on resolution hr567. This resolution has been drawn up to support the right of the Third Reich to defend its territories in West Europe from "Terrorist attacks" out of Vichy France and to condemn Slavic attacks on German Territories west of The Volga.
"Peaceful german stettlers in the Volga basin should not have to live in daily fear of terrorist attacks " said Senator Prescott Bush. "The Germans have long sought to seek peace with their neighbors and we find it Abhorrent that rockets are continually fired by terrorists across the Volga into German Settlements. "
The measure is expected to have the overwhelming support of the Senate and The House.
excellent reference, thanks. I was not aware of most of this. Where did you source?
(psst -- it's satirical)
doh!, my bad. My sense of satire needs some development
How much more will this resolution embolden Israel?
I've considered this with respect to their nuclear weaponry.
Many so-called pacifists have justified having nuclear weapons on the basis of mutually assured destruction: if each side knows the other has "the bomb" it won't use its own. Kind of like the argument in favor of allowing unconcealed sidearms, that the potential of violence is the deterrent of violence.
But this does not work if a country refuses to admit it has nuclear weapons, or if it repeatedly denies it. If the Palestinians, or Iran believe that Israel has no nuclear weapons, which is what Israel wants them to believe, all related deterrent of attacks from those countries is eliminated.
Is it possible that Israel has been intending for a long time to use nuclear weapons? Is it a combination of seeing how far the US will allow it to go with other war crimes and coming up with a plausible excuse to use nuclear weapons?
Are Netanyahu and Barak now listening to the news about HR 867 and saying: "This is it--the green light that will allow us to take the ultimate step in the final solution against our enemies"?
In a recent talk, Chomsky quoted Moshe Dayan: They [the Palestinians] will live like dogs, those who will leave will leave"
However, the Palestinians have no financial resources to move elsewhere. A final solution for the Palestinians is not that far-fetched, if the historical trend continues.
"If we are seen internationally as condoning violations of human rights and international law, if our money and our weaponry play a leading role in those violations, and if we reflexively obstruct the findings of someone with the credentials, history and integrity of Justice Goldstone, it can only diminish our international standing and our own security."
Congressman, by saying these words, and totally ignoring the genuine war crimes and mass murders that American Christians, especially those from your part of the country, have committed in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and many other places around the world, you shame and degrade all of us. I think everyone in the world knows perfectly well that if you, or anyone else, had any genuine concern with war crimes or with violations of international law they would be aggressively moving to prosecute the US and the UK, and the others in the "Coalition of the Willing". Not Israel. The fact that nobody mentions this and is using these farcical war crimes to distract attention from the real criminals (who, it must be said, are nearly all Christian) is overwhelming and indisputable proof of anti-semitism. Deny it all you want, there is simply no way that any rational human being can come to any other conclusion.
This whole "Which is worse Christianity of Judaism?" argument is specious. Of course there are many Jews and many Christians that believe strongly that violence is not the way to operate. And of course war crimes were committed in Vietnam and in Iraq and Christians were involved in prosecuting both. However, your rationality seems to have evaded you on the issue of the latter war. Israel was entirely behind the war in Iraq and Zionists in the US government such as Perle, Wolfowitz and Feith were leading the charge. Israel was standing on the sidelines, but its agents had precipitated the entire thing.
And you really can't help yourself can you? Every time we get the same old "anti-semitism" jibe.
I know you don't read anything we say but please realise that the "anti-semitism" jibe has worn out - it's yesterday's trick to prevent criticism of the Zionist policy. It has lost its bite.
You go too far, Mike. Of course the US and UK should be vigorously pursued for their war crimes, and I think this is a major reason for the Congress's unwillingness to endorse the Goldstone report. But that fact that you call the wanton killing of unarmed and already severely oppressed people "farcical" warcrimes makes me seriously question your moral fiber.
Hey Mike, here's something I thought you'd like, courtesy of Larry Derfner in the Jerusalem Post:
"The kill ratio was 100-to-1 in our favor. The destruction ratio was much, much greater than that. To this day, thousands of Gazans are living in tents because we won't let them import cement to rebuild the homes we destroyed. We turned the Gaza Strip into a disaster area, a humanitarian case, and we're keeping it that way with our blockade.
Meanwhile, here on the Israeli side of the border, it's hard to remember when life was so safe and secure.
So let's decide: Who was the victim of Operation Cast Lead, them or us?
No question - us. We Israelis were the victims and we still are. In fact, our victimhood is getting worse by the day. The Goldstone report was the real war crime. The Goldstone report, the UN debates, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Red Cross, B'Tselem, the traitorous soldiers of Breaking the Silence and the Rabin Academy - those were the true crimes against humanity. This is what's meant by "war is hell."
It is we who've been going through hell from the war in Gaza. It is we who've been suffering.
Gazans? Suffering? What's everybody talking about?
We let them eat, don't we?
This imaginary monologue is how we actually see ourselves today. We initiated the war in Gaza, we waged one of the most one-sided military campaigns anyone's ever seen - and we're the victims."
I think Derfner pretty well sums up the way you feel, no? Isn't it good to know you're not alone?
"I know it raises serious charges against entities and individuals on both sides of this conflict, Israel and Hamas."
Brian Baird
=============================================================
"One million Arabs are not worth a Jewish fingernail." -- Rabbi Yaacov Perrin, Feb. 27, 1994 [Source: N.Y. Times, Feb. 28, 1994, p. 1]
=============================================================
In 21 days of the “war” (Hamas’ “assault” on israel), 13 israelis were “murdered” (including 10 “innocent” Jewish soldiers), 6 of whom killed by friendly fire.
While israel killed ONLY 1400 “Arabs”, no were near the MILLIONS that should’ve been killed as an act of self-preservation of the “chosen” to make their colossal loss tolerable
AT LEAST 130 million Arabs should’ve been killed (one million for every Jew finger nail) to even begin comparing the “war crimes” of Hamas, and the act of “resistance” of the "oppressed" Jews
How dare the world question the integrity of the “holy” ones, with their “most moral” army in the world, who have the “ONLY democracy” in the Middles east!!!
Of course when we compare the “war crimes” of Hamas, to the acts of “self defence” of israel, it becomes evident how unfairly and harshly the Jewish israelis were treated by the “anti-Semitic world” !
Doesn’t the world realize that this not the correct way to treat the “holy” nation and its G-dly souls !!!
How could the world be so cruel, so anti-Semitic, so full of Jew hatred as to blame israel, and accuse it of war crimes, when the fact are there, speaking for themselves !!
Can’t the world see that Hamas is definitely the one who is committing “war crimes” against the “chosen” ones!!!
Of course, the misinformed world have been “bombarded” and “manipulated” by Hamas propaganda, through Hamas’ “control” of the world media and the world finance
Even with the existence of evidence of Hamas’ “war crimes” and ruthless Qassam rockets, the “anti Semitic” world still blames poor li’le israel
For once let the world be fair with israel and examine the evidence
The world NEEDS to see the other side of the story
HEY WORLD
LOOK, THIS IS THE EVIDENCE !!!
THIS IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY THAT YOU WERE NEVER BEEN TOLD, due to Hamas’ control of the world media
http://palestinian.ning.com/forum/topics/the-other-side-of-the-story
.
Thank you Congressman for your courage. To those about to vote for this horrendous resolution, I can only say: Condemning the Goldstone report is insane. The US House is an international disgrace. It is declaring to the whole world that it is the toady of Israel, Israeli-occupied territory, and the best government Israeli money can buy. Americans should be disgusted by this cowardly resolution because the House is speaking in the name of "we the people." Most likely not a single one of those irresponsible congresspersons even read the report. Certainly none of them bothered to call for a cease-fire as Israel was bombing and killing 1400 civilians in Gaza. Isn't it enough that we give this criminal country 3 billion taxpayer dollars each year--at a time when our government is telling us it doesn't have the money for health care (which, by the way, all Israelis have). It's time these pandering failures understood that they represent America, not Israel, and their constant support Israel's war crimes is UN-AMERICAN.
Interesting how Israelis have health care, but Palestinians do not. American citizens and Palestinians have a lot in common.
Thank you, Rep. Baird, for having a spine.
Nice piece by the congressman. Articulate and intelligent.
And naive.
What makes anyone believe that the powers who call the shots in this country want "security" in the sense we mean it, i.e. freedom from threat? Are you kidding? Threat is what enriches them. Threat is what causes us to spend more than all other countries combined on our military. You don't think there's a ton of money in that, and that those who feed at the trough don't wield a lot of power? They do. And do they want World Peace? Hell, no! Do they want peace in the Middle East? Hell, no. Do they want victory in the War on Terror to EVER be declared? Hell, no.
Wake up, people -- you're looking at the surface of things. Follow the money if you want to connect with the truth!
Any people who are violated, as the Palestinians have been by "Israel" have the right to resist. This right must be encouraged. The appalling persecution of the Palestinians must end.
By what right do fanatical zionists murder and maim? By no right, the zionist horror is inflicted in the name of greed and desire for the land and possessions of others.
Fizzbombs falling on Siderot? Siderot is Palestinian land occupied by foreigners backed by the military might of the USA. Shame.
When you speak of what Palestine and "Israel" deserve do not do it in one sentence.
The Goldstone report was to one sided.
Boycott, Embargo, Blockade and Dis-invest, no contact with the rogue state of "Israel". The international community must stand up to the menace of "Israel", it failed to contain nazi Germany don't make the same mistake with zionist "Israel".
Sophie Scholl-The Final Days
Thank you Brian.
Wow, a Congressman with a conscience. What a rarity......
It should be added that, if anything, Goldstone goes out of his way to show indulgence towards Israel in his report. This was asserted by his own daughter, in the Israeli press, among others. To my knowledge the report doesn't even address the question of DIME explosives or even white phosphorus (please correct me if I'm wrong), and it gives the required nod to the now-rote invocation of "war crimes" on Hamas's side for the use of its toy rockets. In an imperfect world this is probably the best Israel could hope for from an avowedly Zionist, Jewish judge respected worldwide. And still the psychopathic will to untruth and to a standing beyond moral judgment prevails over common human decency in our US Congress. In any case let us not forget that, aside from the Israel lobby's powerful grip on the Congress, there is also self-interest in the lawmakers' actions in this specific instance. For were they to endorse the more than justified condemnation of Israel in the Goldstone report, they would also be laying themselves open, by logical extension, to similar condemnations for US actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, in whose war crimes they are implicated up to their necks. Thus does the issue boil back down, as always, to the US's own cynical, immoral savagery.
Good points, from what I have read you are correct.
"For were they to endorse the more than justified condemnation of Israel in the Goldstone report, they would also be laying themselves open, by logical extension, to similar condemnations for US actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, in whose war crimes they are implicated up to their necks."
We are on the exact same page here and I have commented very similarly elsewhere. Israel serves US imperial interests in the region. This much should be clear. It's not just about AIPAC et al. Many see that the US policy is bought and paid for by Israel, but it is not quite that simple.
For the benefit of any who still doubt it, above is yet more proof that Israel lobbies have control over the US government.
Are there any members of the US government who are strong enough to disobey their Israeli masters? All of the big players have pledged their allegiance to Israel. There seems to be not one congressman or senator who is strong enough to disobey the dictates of Israel. As if controlled some combination of bribery and blackmail, one way or another, they all obey.
Is the US a democracy?
First and foremost, it seems that the US is an Israeli puppet government where each politician knows that his career depends on his demonstrations of loyalty to Israel.
Secondly, the US is a plutocracy, a government for the corporations and the wealthy that provide the bribes and campaign funds.
And only when the demands of the above are satisfied, then the demands of US population are counted. The "democracy" portion of the US government is just empty rhetoric continuously trumpted by the media. It is a series of rituals that provide a facade for propaganda purposes.
The two sides of the story are well represented in the following pictorial:-
http://palestinian.ning.com/forum/topics/the-other-side-of-the-story
My heartfelt praise to Baird, but he is up against institutionalized wickedness in our bought-out Congress. The whole stinking edifice must be brought down before the basic decency of his and Goldstone's positions are respected.
"Evil wins out... The wheel won't stop turning."
--Eugenio Montale