And cast ye the unprofitable servant [of Zion] into outer darkness: there shall be weeping...
"Yom Kippur, it has been said, has come months early for Richard Goldstone, the South African former judge who reported for the United Nations on the 2008-09 Gaza war between Israel and Hamas. According to Israel and other critics, Goldstone's 2009 report was always destined to be biased, and those fears were realised when it accused not only Hamas, but also Israel, of committing war crimes. The controversial report has been seized upon ever since to demonise Israel as a malicious aggressor. Now, in a staggering volte-face published in the United States last week, Goldstone effectively has admitted he was wrong. The Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur is about recognising past wrongs and repenting, but in this sorry case no amount of repenting will repair the damage done." (Editorial, Israel has its day of atonement, The Australian, 5/4/11)
... and gnashing of teeth:
"Judge Richard Goldstone is expected to stand trial for libel following his retraction of his Operation Cast Lead report, in which he accused Israel of war crimes. Knesset Member Danny Danon (Likud), currently in the United States, has enlisted the help of a number of Jewish-American attorneys who agreed to file a lawsuit against the South African judge at no charge. A petition will be filed with a New York District Court next week, in which the plaintiffs will demand a formal apology and a symbolic financial compensation for the State of Israel. A second lawsuit may be filed in an Israeli court if Goldstone arrives in Israel... 'The Goldstone report is the 2010 version of a blood libel. The twisted image Goldstone painted of the State of Israel caused damage, is still causing damage and will continue to damage Israel and its citizens for years to come. A public apology published in every country might lessen the harm already done', Danon explained. (Goldstone to face libel suit, Attila Somfalvi, ynetnews.com, 7/4/11)
1 comment:
Funny, what I remember of the release of the Goldstone report is that it was all but ignored by the mainstream media. After a day not a mention of it was made. As far as I know it didn't even make the tv news in Australia.
The Israeli media would have carried on about it for an entire week, but the Brits and Americans would have buried it just as effectively as we did in Australia.
The problem for the Israelis is the historical record, and they have their out now - Goldstone has recanted. From now on their rebuff to any challenge is that Goldstone has recanted. Goldstone will tell whoever is willing to listen that he stands by the report as it is, but thanks to his little NYT piece, the narrative in Israel is that he has recanted.
So now everyone is happy!
Hooray!
Peter D
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