Goldstone report to be discussed at special session of UNHRC

Playing politics with the security of the Israeli people is something no human should ever advocate.

Mary Robinson knew that when she refused to Chair the UNHRC witch hunt against Israeli defensive actions earlier this year.

“the resolution is not balanced because it focuses on what Israel did, without calling for an investigation on the launch of the rockets by Hamas. This is unfortunately a practice by the Council: adopting resolutions guided not by human rights but by politics. This is very regrettable.”

Since it’s release the political football has been passed around the field. The UNHRC first were going to vote on the report only to have said vote delayed until March next year, apparently after Obama pressured Abbas to drop his demand for a vote, then a Libyan attempt to get the security council to look at the report failed, and now it would seem that Abbas, a man who has made an art out of doing nothing to further peace during his Presidency, has made public noises about requesting a special session of the UNHRC to debate and vote on the report.

The problem is the only reason why Abbas is making these moves is because he is fighting for his own political survival. Word on the Palestinian street is that Hamas were mighty miffed that the PA dropped their insistence of a vote the other week – so in a pathetic attempt to hold on to his political office, elections must be held next year, Abbas is hoping to bring forward a vote and use the UNHRC once again to demonise Israel, something that body does constantly.

The fall out from the Goldstone report is far from over – this is going to continue for some time. Speaking at the opening of the new Knesset session yesterday Binyamin Netanyahu attacked the report and its findings.

“Israel’s basic rights to self-defense and to exist as a Jewish state are under continued attack, which has become even stronger following the Second Lebanon War and Operation Cast Lead. Our first mission is to repel them,” the prime minister said as he attacked the Goldstone Report.

“This report, written by the warped [Goldstone] Commission, questions Israel’s very right to self-defense. This report encourages terrorism and also endangers peace. I want to emphasize this. Israel will not take chances for peace if it cannot defend herself.”

Warped indeed, but Israel needs to respond to the ongoing campaign by Palestinians and other in the UN who attack our basic rights to defend our population from the murderous intent of our so called peace partners.

A new website has been created by a number of bloggers who have been following events very closely since last winter. They offer analysis and challenge some of the issues raised by not just the report itself but the very make up of the team. Over the weeks and months ahead this will turn into a valuable resource to counter the huge anti-Israel campaign that will follow. Check them out.