The Goldstone rumor mill

Posted on 02/03/2010 by Soccerdad

From the Goldstone Report:

50. The Mission investigated several incidents involving the destruction of industrial infrastructure, food production, water installations, sewage treatment plants and housing (chap.XIII). Already at the beginning of the military operations, el-Bader flour mill was the only flour mill in the Gaza Strip still operating. The flour mill was hit by a series of air strikes on 9 January 2009, after several false warnings had been issued on previous days. The Mission finds that its destruction had no military justification. The nature of the strikes, in particular the precise targeting of crucial machinery, suggests that the intention was to disable the factory’s productive capacity. From the facts it ascertained, the Mission finds that there has been a violation of the grave breaches provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Unlawful and wanton destruction which is not justified by military necessity amounts to a war crime. The Mission also finds that the destruction of the mill was carried out to deny sustenance to the civilian population, which is a violation of customary international law and may constitute a war crime. The strike on the flour mill furthermore constitutes a violation of the right to adequate food and means of subsistence.

This paragraph is notable for a number of things. It accuses of Israel deliberately targeting the flour mill. From that it divines that the purpose was to “deny sustenance” to the residents of Gaza. And from there it concludes that Israel violated international law.

The Goldstone Commission compiled and analyzed the satellite imagery it used as part of its investigation.

Al Badr flour complex
The Al-Badr Flour Factory of Sudaniyya appears in the satellite imagery to be composed of multiple building sites situated along the north side of El-Bahar Street. Based on the
detailed assessment from the imagery, the only visible damages detected to the factory
complex are to the southernmost building which was severely damaged along the southeastern side. The damages appear to have occurred between 16 and 18 January 2009. Within the immediate 500m vicinity of the factory complex there are a total of 43 detected damage sites, including 33 destroyed or severely damaged buildings. The majority of this identified damages occurred between 10 and 18 January 2009. There are clear indications in the imagery of extensive IDF tank movement and related damage to both buildings and vegetation cover in this area during the last three days of the conflict. It is probable, given the damage signatures, that the majority of damage in this area was caused by intense IDF ground fire. It is important to note that because of the angle of satellite imagery acquisition, it is possible that severe damage to the north and eastern side of the flour factory buildings has not been detected. See figure 14 for satellite image damage overview of Al Badr flour complex.

This analysis suggests that there was more damage to the factory than was visible due to satellite imagery. Why didn’t anyone photograph the building from the ground?

While this analysis observes that there was “extensive IDF tank movement,” it doesn’t suggest any reason for that movement. Were the tanks in the area arbitrarily or for some military purpose? The Goldstone report attributed Israeli military activity in the area to a nefarious plan to destroy the sole source of flour to Gaza. Is there any evidence in the satellite imagery to suggest that conclusion? No. But then, as Elder of Ziyon observed, Goldstone apparently was not drawing conclusions from available evidence.

UNITAR, based on a time sequence of satellite images, finds that all the damage seems to have occurred a full week after Goldstone’s “credible witnesses” said it was strafed by multiple air attacks – while the IDF was on the ground, fighting. And damage on the upper floors done by Apache helicopters would presumably be visible on satellite images.

The satellite imagery as analyzed by the UN indicated that the mill was attacked by tanks and ground fire. There’s no evidence that Israel attacked the facility from the air. And yet the Goldstone commission, with no support, simply declared the eyewitnesses as “credible.”

Still, there’s something missing from UNITAR’s analysis. The analysis discusses the movements of the IDF as if the IDF operated in a vacuum. Its observation of the destruction that occurred with in 500m of the mill raises the question: why there?

The recently released Israeli report provides some answers that the UN and Goldstone were incurious about.

167. In the course of the operation, IDF troops came under intense fire from different Hamas positions in the vicinity of the flour mill. The IDF forces fired back towards the sources of fire and threatening locations. As the IDF returned fire, the upper floor of the flour mill was hit by tank shells. A phone call warning was not made to the flour mill immediately before the strike, as the mill was not a pre-planned target.

168. Several hours after the incident, and following a report about fire in the flour mill, the IDF coordinated the arrival of several fire engines to fight the fire.

169. The Military Advocate General reviewed the findings and the records of the command investigation and other materials. In addition, the Military Advocate General reviewed the information included in the Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Report, as well as the transcript of the public testimony of Mr. Hamada to the Fact-Finding Mission.

170. Taking into account all available information, the Military Advocate General determined that the flour mill was struck by tank shells during combat. The Military Advocate General did not find any evidence to support the assertion that the mill was attacked from the air using precise munitions, as alleged in the Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Report. The Military Advocate General determined that the allegation was not supported in the Report itself, nor in the testimony to the Fact-Finding Mission by Rashad Hamada,who had left the area prior to the incident in response to the IDF’s early warnings.Photographs of the mill following the incident do not show structural damage consistent with an air attack.

171. The Military Advocate General found that, in the specific circumstances of combat, and given its location, the flour mill was a legitimate military target in accordance with the
Law of Armed Conflict. The purpose of the attack was to neutralize immediate threats to
IDF forces.

172. The Military Advocate General did not accept the allegation in the Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Report that the purpose of the strike was to deprive the civilian population of Gaza of food. In t is regard, he noted the fact that shortly after the incident, the IDF allowed Palestinian fire trucks to reach the area and extinguish the flames, as well as the extensive amount of food and flour that entered Gaza through Israel during the Gaza Operation.120

173. Although the Military Advocate General could not conclusively determine that the flour mill was in fact used by Hamas’s military operatives, there was some evidence of such use. The Military Advocate General noted that Mr. Hamada testified before the Fact-Finding Mission that after the operation he found empty bullets on the roof of the flour mill. This could not have been the result of IDF fire, since – as was evident from the
findings of the command investigation – the IDF forces which occupied the mill’s
compound three days after the incident did not occupy the roof of the mill, where they
would have been exposed to enemy fire.

174. Accordingly, the Military Advocate General found no reason to order a criminal
investigation regarding the case.

Unlike the Goldstone report, the IDF’s report is specific about what happened. When the IDF didn’t know something, it didn’t speculate. Of special note are the following facts 1) The IDF was in the area responding to enemy fire 2) that the IDF made sure that fire equipment got to the mill and 3) Israel supplied flour to Gaza (a point made with greater detail by CAMERA), which disproves the libel of Goldstone that Israel sought to deprive Gazans of sustenance.

Israel Matzav addresses a charge made by the Guardian that Israel dropped a 500 pound bomb on the mill. The views of the roof of the mill taken by the IDF after the attack show fire damage, but no hole in the roof that would be consistent with an aerial bombing.

Reviewing this incident only reinforces my view that Judge Goldstone and his confederates were a lot more interested in reaching conclusions that condemned Israel than in uncovering the truth.

In his interview with the Forward Goldstone said:

“We couldn’t use that report as evidence at all,” Goldstone said. “But it was a useful roadmap for our investigators, for me as chief prosecutor, to decide where we should investigate. And that’s the purpose of this sort of report. If there was an independent investigation in Israel, then I think the facts and allegations referred to in our report would be a useful road map.”

This prompts the reporter to observe.

Nevertheless, the report itself is replete with bold and declarative legal conclusions seemingly at odds with the cautious and conditional explanations of its author. The report repeatedly refers, without qualification, to specific violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention committed by Israel and other breaches of international law. Citing particular cases, the report determines unequivocally that Israel “violated the prohibition under customary international law” against targeting civilians. These violations, it declares, “constitute a grave breach” of the convention.

I have no doubt that Goldstone would reject the IDF’s investigation as insufficiently independent. But it is clear the IDF was more cautious and careful in its investigation than Goldstone was. Goldstone mixed rumor and innuendo with incomplete information in order to find Israel guilty. If the point of Goldstone’s commission was to discover the truth, the IDF has more than answered its charges. The problem is that the commission’s job was to convict Israel. I hardly think that the UN will accept the inconvenient truths of the IDF’s report.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad.

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Tuesday morning briefs

Posted on 02/02/2010 by Meryl Yourish

Who done it? Now Ha’aretz is saying that Mahmoud al-Mabhouh’s assassins were Arabs. Which is actually even better, because all we need is a little more of that Muslim brotherhood and Israel would be perfectly safe.

Message in a bombshell: Palestinian terrorists in Gaza are sending floating bombs to sea in the hopes of killing Israelis with them. Say, you know what’s wrong with that idea? That thing called “currents”? Well, just watch what happens when the first one explodes on a beach in Gaza. And watch them blame Israel for it.

Another day, another kassam: Another missile hit Israel. Another non-issue for the anti-Israel press. However, the AFP did manage to carry an article about the IDF shooting a Palestinian on the Gaza border. Because only Palestinians matter, apparently.

The lying liars of the Palestinian Authority: Funny, I thought stopping incitement was high up on the list of things the PA must do according to the Road Map. And Mahmoud Abbas tells us over and over again that the Palestinians are adhering to the Road Map. Except they’re not. PMW quotes this interview with Abbas:

“The road map made demands of all parties. We were required to stop terror attacks, recognize Israel and even stop incitement. So come and see what we did. Although the joint committee against incitement is no longer active, we did act and are acting against incitement. They said there is a problem with incitement in speeches in mosques during Friday prayers. Today there is no more incitement at any mosque,” he said.

Really?

“The loathsome occupation in Palestine – its land and its holy places – by these new Mongols and what they are perpetrating upon this holy, blessed and pure land – killing, assassination, destruction, confiscation, Judaization, harassment and splitting the homeland – are clear proof of [unintelligible word – Ed.] hostility, of incomparable racism, and of Nazism of the 20th century.

Liar. And of course, this will never find its way into the mainstream media. But that’s why you all read blogs.

Posted in Gaza, Hamas, Israel, News Briefs, palestinian politics, Terrorism | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The news the wire services don’t report

Posted on 02/01/2010 by Meryl Yourish

Deep in the bottom of this AP report about Israel warning its military officers to be cautious about Hamas kidnapping plots while traveling overseas, we read this:

On Monday, an Israeli court indicted two suspected Hamas members on charges they plotted attacks against civilian targets across Israel.

Marad Kamel, 24, and Marad Namr, 25, allegedly were recruited by Hamas while living in Jordan, Israel’s Shin Bet internal intelligence agency said. The targets included central bus stations in Beer Sheva and Jerusalem, a Jerusalem mall, Tel Aviv’s hotel district and a military base in the Tel Aviv area, the agency said.

That’s called “Burying the lede.” The Jerusalem Post lede:

Two Arabs from east Jerusalem were arrested for allegedly enlisting in Hamas and gathering intelligence on potential targets for terror attacks inside Israel, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) revealed on Monday.

The two Israeli identity card holders – Marad Namer, 25, from Sur Baher, and Marad Kamal, 24, of Wadi Joz – were arrested on January 3 in the Beersheba central bus station. They were allegedly in possession of digitized intelligence information pertaining to various places in Israel that they had gathered on behalf of Hamas for the planning of terror attacks.

During their interrogations, the two said that they were recruited by Hamas during work and studies in Jordan and Dubai.

Funny how many stories the wire services manage to put out on Israel’s actions in Gaza and the reactions of the world to those actions, and yet, barely a mention of two Israeli Arabs—Israeli citizens, with ID cards that allow them to travel freely throughout the Jewish State—plotting with Hamas to murder their fellow Israelis. So, how many stories did the AP run about the Israeli terrorists going after Arabs? At least one more than this.

Posted in Israel, Media Bias | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Mahmoud al-Mabhouh – the man of a thousand deaths

Posted on 02/01/2010 by SnoopyTheGoon

It is amazing how many roads led a single person to the 72 virgins. Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, the Hamas assassin made into a martyr by the management, is still cooling down to the temperature of his new environment, but the list of maladies that caused his demise is growing daily. Let me see:

  1. Multiple stubbing wounds – check
  2. Electrocution – check
  3. Poisoning – check
  4. Strangulation (one pillow, lightly used) – check
  5. Injected by a drug that caused heart failure – check

And mind you, I am not following the news on the subject all that closely. Well, at least the poor darling didn’t suffer from head cold on his way to the paradise…

But this one just takes the cake:

Gaza – Ma’an – Hamas’ armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced the death of its co-founder in exile Mahmoud Al-Mabhuh, who died of terminal cancer in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.

Here is a snapshot of the page:


Notice the date of publication: January 21, 2010 – more than a week before the “news” about the martyr that was allegedly croaked by Mossad in an Abud Dabi hotel hit the air/TV/internets.

And we wanted to send a “Job well done” Hallmark card to Mossad… Now when any Hamas’ grunt shuffles off this mortal coil, Mossad will be credited, I guess. On the other hand, not such a bad idea. For Mossad, I mean. Some guys can claim expenses like there is no tomorrow. And the image…

Via Incognito from Michael Davison.

Cross-posted on SimplyJews

Posted in Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome, Terrorism | 3 Comments

Israel and the South Pacific Islanders

Posted on 02/01/2010 by Soccerdad

Last week the leaders of Micronesia and Nauru visited Israel. These South Pacific island nations (along with Palau) are among Israel’s biggest supporters. Israel Behind the News provides some useful background to this diplomatic effort.

Of course, the support of these tiny nations for Israel, is the source for much scorn in the MSM. The Washington Post’s Howard Schneider reports:

“The concept is that we reach out to every nation, whether it is small or big, remote or close,” said Michael Ronen, Israel’s ambassador to several Pacific island countries. The countries are among the smallest in the world — Micronesia has about 108,000 people and Nauru about 15,000 — but their votes count the same in an organization that routinely considers resolutions and issues related to the Arab-Israeli dispute.

Of course one could also frame that last sentence differently: Arab contries, which deny their citizens the franchise, yet their votes count the same as nations whose citizens are free in an organization that routinely considers resolutions and issues related to the Arab-Israeli dispute. True, not all democracies vote for Israel in the UN, but the Arab and “non-aligned” bloc is treated by many as sacrosanct simply on account of their numbers, even though they don’t grant the same freedom to their citizens that the UN grants them.

But this goes back to how Israel ought to be judged. I’ve already argued that Israel should be judged by its humanitarian nature.

For Micronesia and Nauru, however, it has been all “soft power” — something also on display in recent days through the Israel Defense Forces’ quick dispatch of a field hospital team to Haiti.

Along with visits to religious sites, which Mori said he found particularly profound, the delegation was given briefings on renewable energy, water management policies and other issues that the Pacific nations consider critical, given their concerns about global climate change and rising sea levels.

Israel has sent experts to consult about the area’s citrus crops and irrigation techniques, sent medical technicians to provide radiology training, and offered scholarships to Israeli colleges.

There is no quid pro quo, of course, but also no surprise that in the annual round of U.N. resolutions criticizing Israel, Micronesia and Nauru are regular members of what Israeli diplomats like to call their “moral minority.”

Of course Israel provides this kind of assistance to many less fortunate nations and it results in no diplomatic payback or even . Take Jordan, Egypt or even the Palestinian Authority (though the Palestinian Authority unilaterally refused such help since it launched the “Aqsa” intifada in 2000).

The point is that Israel offers aid to most countries who need it. Most, unlike Micronesia, Nauru and Paulu don’t show their appreciation.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad.

Posted in Israel | Tagged | 1 Comment

Still in with the old

Posted on 01/31/2010 by Soccerdad

Barry Rubin has read the new Fatah charter. The document was originally linked to at the Secrecy news blog. Secrecy News observes:

But what is perhaps most significant is what is not in the document.  The original Fatah charter (or constitution) from the 1960s embraced “the world-wide struggle against Zionism,” denied Jewish historical or religious ties to the land, and called for the “eradication of Zionist economic, political, military and cultural existence.”  None of that language is carried over into the new charter, which manages not to mention Israel, Zionism, or Jews at all.

But as Barry Rubin points that’s not necessarily so significant.

Now here’s an important lesson for you. When a radical group is portrayed as moderate based on some position it supposedly has taken or some statement made there has to be a catch somewhere. Here’s the tip-off in this case, a single sentence in the new charter:

“This internal charter has been adopted within the framework of adherence to the provisions of the Basic Charter.”

In other words, every detail of the original charter still holds; nothing is repealed, no error admitted, no explicit change of course accepted.

There is a good reason that there’s no discussion of Israel, Zionism or Jews in this new charter, as it appears to be a guide, in excruciating detail, how to join and remain a member in good standing of Fatah and its various committees and sub-groups. It is not a document that explicitly expresses a political view, though as Barry Rubin writes, one may be inferred.

What is intriguing, however, is that there is a detailed discussion of transgressions of Fatah rules and punishments for doing so. Clearly, if members do anything the leaders don’t like they are going to face severe penalties. Thus it is significant that no Fatah member has been ever disciplined for committing acts of terrorism against Israeli civilians or for making the most extremist statements. Indeed, it isn’t even clear that Fatah has the determination or ability to punish members for collaborating with Hamas against their own leaders.

This document in no way shows any moderation on the part of Fatah and there’s plenty of evidence the other way including last summer’s Fatah elections and Mahmoud Abbas’s anniversary celebration.

BTW, look at the different ways Arab News and the JTA report on this document.

First Arab News.

At its first congress in 20 years, Fatah stressed its commitment to a negotiated peace with Israel. But delegates stopped short of renouncing violence.

“Fatah stresses its commitment to the pursuit of a comprehensive peace but reiterates the Palestinian people’s right to resistance to occupation in all its forms in line with international law,” the new charter said.

Now the JTA.

U.S. Jewish groups, spurred by the Zionist Organization of America, have long called for Fatah, the party of the more moderate leadership of the Palestinian Authority, to renounce the negationist language of earlier charters. The calls have been repeated in a number of congressional resolutions in recent years.

Such language is absent from the new charter, although it maintains a militant tone in its preamble,which says, “You must know that our enemy is strong and the battle is ferocious and long.”

There is no renunciation of the earlier language, and the preamble says the new charter “has been adopted within the framework of adherence to the provisions” of the 1989 charter.

Nonetheless, missing entirely from the charter is the reported language of the 1966 version that called for Israel’s destruction and in the 1989 version that implied Israel’s replacement, albeit through peaceful means.

JTA, then subscribes to all the incorrect conventional wisdom about Fatah and even ascribes to it a change in ideology that has never occurred. Arab News may originate in the sands of Saudi Arabia, but it is the reporter for the JTA who has his head in the sands.

UPDATE: Barry Rubin piles on the JTA.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad.

Posted in Israel, palestinian politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

Sunday snowstorm briefs

Posted on 01/31/2010 by Meryl Yourish

Dude, where’s my bodyguards? The Hamasnik’s assassination is looking more and more awesome. Not only was the ex-terrorist (as in ex-parrot) one of the chief figures smuggling weapons from Iran to Gaza, but the intel on this operation was absolutely stunning. Why was he alone, when he was usually surrounded by bodyguards? Because they couldn’t get tickets on the same flight, so his bodyguards went on without him. This was a huge win for Israel, and a huge loss for Iran. One for the good guys! (And yes, HRW whines about “extrajudicial killings.” Tough.)

The new GOP strategy: Blame Obama. Well, it makes sense. The Republican playbook will include making sure that Democratic incumbents take their full share of the blame for the current economic conditions by pointing out that, hey, they voted for Obama’s bills. Cap and trade? Dems. Obamacare? Dems. Nationalizing car companies? Dems. Own your issues, Dems! Because the Repubs are going to make you, anyway.

Humiliating checkpoints still catching Palestinian terrorists: That’s funny, I thought the Palestinians wanted peace, and the “humiliating” checkpoints were just there to, well, humiliate them. And yet, this guy was caught with six pipe bombs. Gee, let’s think. What would he be using pipe bombs for? Hm.

Posted in Hamas, Israel, Terrorism | 1 Comment

The Richmond Snowpocalypse

Posted on 01/30/2010 by Meryl Yourish

I survived the Richmond Snowpocalypse. But it sure had its moments.

Sarah had a dog show today, and I volunteered to drive her and dog through the snow, what with my having a Jeep and her development not having snowplows come through until, oh, two days after the snow has fallen. Maybe three. So I get in the car this morning, drive through what are pretty horrific conditions, get to Sarah’s house in only twice the amount it usually takes, and wanted to bag the whole thing. We decided to see if 95 was in decent condition, because that’s the main road we’d be taking. We got out of her development, traveled back the way I had just been, and gave up after five or six miles. I figure when you’re in a Jeep in 4 wheel drive and you’re still slipping and sliding, it’s time to give up and go back home. So we stopped at the local market and bought meat. Sarah is now grilling steaks in a snowstorm. Yes, really. (Okay, she’s just popping out to check on them every so often, but still.)

Here’s the view from our back door this afternoon. The snow is about ten inches deep so far and falling lightly now. I’m here for the night (I packed clothes). And the kids are thrilled. I’m kinda glad myself. Snowstorms are much more fun when enjoyed with children.

Snow on Sarah's deck

Posted in Life | 6 Comments

Friday briefs

Posted on 01/29/2010 by Meryl Yourish

Awesome! The Mossad takes out a major Hamas murderer: Looks like the man who planned the kidnapping and murder of two IDF solders (among other murders) is now receiving his 72 raisins. His brother says he was electrocuted by someone holding an “appliance” to his head. Uh-huh. Must be one of those Zionist Death Rays we keep reading about. The AP reports that he was poisoned, electrocuted, and strangled with a pillow, not necessarily in that order. Regardless of the cause of death, a major terrorist is now pushing up daisies. And that’s a win. And oh yeah, Hamas is hot on the Mossad assassins’ trail. Try not to be too worried.

Profits trump politics: The Palestinians are upset with the French because two French companies are building the light rail system that runs from Jerusalem to outlying suburbs like Pisgat Ze’ev. They want the French government to pressure the companies to stop the rail line. Sure, because the French aren’t, say, trading with Iran or anything like that. Hey, good luck with that hissy fit, Palestinians. I’m sure it will all work out just swell.

We really, really really mean it this time! Following Obama’s toothless statement that Iran is increasingly isolated, Hillary Clinton stated even more forcefully that the U.S. is going to “apply greater pressure.” Wow. I can’t wait to see what happens after those two remarks! Iran must really be scared now!

Posted in Iran, Israel, Terrorism | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Legal lightweight

Posted on 01/29/2010 by Soccerdad

Judge Richard Goldstone was greeted at Yale University with an article in the Yale Daily News written by Noah Pollak and Adam Yoffie that made short work of his commission’s report:

Goldstone accepted a mandate from this council to investigate Israel, and only Israel, over its attack last year on the internationally-recognized terrorist group Hamas. The report he produced is a perversion of human rights and international law. It treats Hamas’ allegations with meticulous credulity, but Israeli claims with flippant skepticism. It is riddled with factual errors and twisted accounts of the war. The members of Goldstone’s staff have long histories of anti-Israel political activism. The report makes frequent and unsupported editorial declarations against Israel and included testimony from residents of Gaza who feared retaliation from Hamas. Justice Goldstone himself has admitted that nothing in the report would be admissible as credible evidence in a court of law.

However the Pollak/Yoffie op-ed was rather mild in comparison with the treatment Goldstone would receive from Richard Landes in recounting Goldstone’s talk later.

Perhaps the single most striking feature of the talk was its staggering superficiality. Goldstone might have a reputation (at least among those familiar with his report) for being biased, but not for being a lightweight. And yet in the less than forty minutes of his formal lecture, at no point did one get the impression that one was listening to a trained legal mind, much less a brilliant one. Most of the lecture could have been written by an undergraduate who combined entries at Wikipedia on International Law, Nuremberg Trials, Geneva Convention, and Rome Treaty, with a warmed over version of “war is not the answer,” and “why can’t we all just get along and follow the law?”

Landes’s account is, at once, entertaining and disturbing. Entertaining because Goldstone’s superficiality and acute sensitivity come accross in Landes’s telling. Disturbing because of the authority international organizations have invested in this man.

To sum up Goldstone’s defense of his report, Goldstone relies on “I hold Israel to a higher standard.” This is, of course, baloney. First of all “higher” implies a comparison. But there’s no comparison. Take a look at Elder of Ziyon’s Goldstone Wordle and see if you can find “Hamas.” Goldstone’s commission studiously avoided any serious scrutiny of Hamas.

Additionally a review of the Goldstone report finds the commission passing military judgments on the IDF’s conduct and attributing bad faith to Israeli policies. It is not the sign of holding Israel to a higher standard but of showing contempt for Israel. Israel, to Goldstone and his accomplices, had no business defending its citizens. Goldstones effectively held Israel to an impossible standard.

Not that this should be surprising, as the Goldstone Commission report is the logical outgrowth of a UN resolution passed in 1970. In “How the PLO was Legitimized,” the late Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick wrote:

Step by step the new doctrine was codified in the General Assembly. In 1970, with U.S. and Western support, the General Assembly adopted the “Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Nations” which further expanded the rights of “peoples” and restricted those of states by providing, inter alia, that “all peoples have the right freely to determine without external influences their political status and pursue their economic, social, and cultural development, and every state has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter.”

Moreover: “Every state has the duty to refrain from any forcible action which deprives peopIe … of their right to self-determination and freedom and independence. In their actions against resistance to such forcible action in pursuit of the exercise of self-determination, such peoples are entitled to seek and receive support, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter” (emphasis added).

With this declaration, the General Assembly, more clearly and unambiguously than ever, took the position not only that “peoples” had rights superior to those of member states, but that states resisting the rights of “peoples” could themselves become a “threat to peace.” The General Assembly thus subordinated the principle of the “sovereign inviolability” of states to the struggle of “peoples” against “colonialism” and put impor-
tant new restrictions on the right of states to self-defense.

To read these paragraphs is to understand the warped premises of the Goldstone report.

Finally, at the end of his account, Landes asks rhetorically:

Why didn’t Goldstone investigate whether Hamas used Shifa as a HQ?

Of course, Goldstone didn’t need to investigate this. The New York Times reported on this.

On Monday, Dr. Ashour was not the only official in charge. Armed Hamas militants in civilian clothes roamed the halls. Asked their function, they said it was to provide security. But there was internal bloodletting under way.
In the fourth-floor orthopedic section, a woman in her late 20s asked a militant to let her see Saleh Hajoj, her 32-year-old husband. She was turned away and left the hospital. Fifteen minutes later, Mr. Hajoj was carried out by young men pretending to transfer him to another ward. As he lay on the stretcher, he was shot in the left side of the head.
Mr. Hajoj, like five others killed at the hospital this way in 24 hours, was accused of collaboration with Israel. He had been in the central prison awaiting trial by Hamas judges; when Israel destroyed the prison on Sunday he and the others were transferred to the hospital. But their trials were short-circuited.

This was publicly available proof of an Israeli charge of a violation of international law committed by Hamas. But Goldstone wasn’t interested. His report was not a legal document but a political one. That’s why the justification of his work was so superficial. He didn’t need to justify it legally. And since it was a political document, the Goldstone report was successful as it accomplished its purposes of convicting and condemning Israel.

Crossposted on Yourish.

Posted in Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome | 2 Comments

Germany vs. the denier

Posted on 01/28/2010 by Soccerdad

Barry Rubin on how the administration has mis-handled its policy towards Iran:

First, the administration set a September deadline for instituting higher sanctions and then, instead of following a two-track strategy of engagement plus pressure, postponed doing anything while engaged in talks with Iran.

Second, it refused to take advantage of the regime’s international unpopularity and growing opposition demonstrations due to the stolen election. On the contrary, it assured the Iranian regime it would not do so.

Third, the administration set a December deadline if engagement failed, then refused to recognize it had failed and did nothing. It is the failure even to try to meet this time limit by implementing some credible action that has crossed the line, triggered the point of no return.

Fourth, the U.S. government kept pretending that it was somehow convincing the Chinese and Russians to participate while there was never any chance of this happening. Indeed, this was clear from statements repeatedly made by leaders of both countries. Now, this duo has sabotaged the process without any cost inflicted by the United States while making clear they will continue doing so.

Here is something tremendously ironical: The British, French, and Germans want to act. Obama has the consensus among allies that he says is required. But he’s letting himself be held back by China and Russia. The three European allies now have the opposite problem they felt with Bush. They wanted to pull back the previous American president. Now with Obama, they can’t drag this guy forward!

Yes you read that correctly, a number of our European allies – including Germany – want tougher sanctions against Iran in place.

“Germany has made clear that if Iran’s reaction does not change, we will be working on a comprehensive package of sanctions,” Merkel said at a joint news conference in Berlin with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Of course we would prefer it if these (sanctions) could be agreed within the framework of the United Nations Security Council,” she said, adding that officials would be working to that end in the coming weeks.

“But Germany will take part in sanctions with other countries that are pursuing the same goal,” she said.

Maybe that’s why Iran has targeted Germany in its latest propaganda:

Iranian news reports on Wednesday said that an official with Iran’s intelligence ministry told reporters in Tehran that two German intelligence agents — “Yogi” and “Ingo” — were part of a German team that helped recruit young people to join protests that turned violent during a normally somber Shiite holiday, Ashura.

“Individuals who were arrested on Ashura were from various groups, one of which was linked with the German intelligence services and was being led by German diplomats,” said the unnamed intelligence official, according to the semi-official ILNA news service.

The official told reporters that the protests were organized abroad and cited what he evidence to support his contention: a Facebook page in support of Mir Hussein Moussavi, an opposition leader, run by Iranian expatriates living in Germany; “incitement” from BBC Farsi and Voice of America; invitations from the People’s Mujaheeen, an exile group Iran considers a terrorist organization; and the fact that many arrested protesters were from outside Tehran.

But some details of the Iranian account were a matter of confusion; several Iranian new agencies reported that German diplomats had been arrested, while others said only that German diplomats had been involved. One report said that it was an aide to Mr. Moussavi who was arrested.

Perhaps there’s some confusion because it isn’t true. It seems awfully convenient that Iran blames Germany as Germany takes the lead in advocating sanctions; doesn’t it? I suppose it’s good that Germany at least, is providing some leadership here, isn’t it? If the American government isn’t leading at least some of its pundits are. (h/t Instapundit)

Crossposted on Soccer Dad.

Posted in Iran | Tagged | 4 Comments

Thursday pre-snow snarks

Posted on 01/28/2010 by Meryl Yourish

Will it snow? Won’t it snow? I don’t know. They say so. (Let it snow. I have a Jeep, and I’m here to drive it.)

Europeans are big fat liars: So, they say they’re cutting trade with Iran, and yet, Germany, France, and Italy are going gangbusters with the regime that just hanged two protesters. Also Spain, Italy, Holland and Belgium. Say, how many of those countries are criticizing Israel over Gaza? What’s that you say? All of them? Big fat hypocrites. (Yeah, like we didn’t know that already.)

Palestinian rejectionism: It’s the new “moderate”: Mahmoud Abbas is in Russia stonewalling about peace talks. Nothing new, except for the mention of the 1947 partition plan. Oh, wait. That’s not new, either. He’s done that before. Never mind. Wait, this is new: Someone mentioned Abu Dis as the capital of Palestine? Hey. Works for me.

I know you are, but what am I? Khalid Mashaal, the man who sleeps in a different bed every night in Syria for fear of assassination by the Mossad, is mocking Israel for being unable to take Gilad Shalit out from under wherever Hamas is guarding him. And, um, yeah—like the Israelis don’t know that they’d get him back in tiny pieces if they raided the place. Weak? I think the word you’re looking for is “smart.” Say, have fun moving around from safe house to safe house, dude. (I love snark. Snark is my bestest friend. Okay, really, it’s not, but my friends are generally snarky.)

Posted in Hamas, Iran, Israel, palestinian politics, World | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Thursday pre-snow snarks

Breaking the Obama code

Posted on 01/27/2010 by Meryl Yourish

During tonight’s State of the Union address, I finally realized why Barack Obama’s speeches drive me crazy. It’s not what he says (although I disagree with, well, almost everything he says). It’s the way he says them.

Tonight, he addressed the American people, and he addressed Congress. Go back and look at the speech. He was earnest, and his chin was down, his head relatively level, when speaking to Congress. When he spoke to us, his chin rose, and he talked down to us—literally.

Go ahead. Take a look. Note his posture. You’ll see it, too. You and I, we are not his equals. He is above us.

That’s what sets my teeth on edge every time I listen to him.

Instalink! Thanks, Glenn.

Posted in Politics, The One | Tagged , | 18 Comments

On International Holocaust Remembrance Day…

Posted on 01/27/2010 by Meryl Yourish

A Jewish Prime Minister spoke at Auschwitz:

“We will always remember what the Nazi Amalek did to us, and we won’t forget to be prepared for the new Amalek, who is making an appearance on the stage of history and once again threatening to destroy the Jews,” Netanyahu said in a possible reference to Iran.

A Jewish President spoke at the Bundestag:

The German parliament heard a translation of the speech, which was carried out in Hebrew. Peres said the Kadish prayer in honor of the Holocaust victims, which include his grandparents, who were burned alive in their town’s synagogue.

An Arab Israeli Member of the Knesset understood what a real genocide looks like:

“I knew exactly where I was going,” He said and added, “But being here, faced with the embodiment of human evil on the one hand, and the unperceivable misery of the victims on the other hand, things take on a different meaning. Everything is mixed into a human catastrophe.”

The United Nations chose today as the day to reject the Jewish origins of the eastern half of Jerusalem:

Mansour also accused Israel of attempting to alter the character of east Jerusalem, and said the “annexation of east Jerusalem” had been carried out in violation of Security Council resolutions.

And of course, the anti-Semites of the world didn’t stop just because today is the international day to remember the murder of six million Jews while on course to try to eliminate entirely Judaism from the world. A cemetery descration in France. Jews are leaving a Swedish city after dozens of anti-Semitic attacks.

To them, and to all the Jew-haters of the world, I say this: Here we are, and here we remain. You tried to kill us. You failed.

Let’s live.

Posted in Anti-Semitism, Holocaust | 1 Comment

54 representatives ask Israel to stop defending itself

Posted on 01/27/2010 by Soccerdad

Ha’aretz reports:

Fifty-four members of the U.S. Congress have signed a letter asking President Barack Obama to put pressure on Israel to ease the siege of the Gaza Strip.

The letter was the initiative of Representatives Jim McDermott from Washington and Keith Ellison from Minnesota, both of whom are Democrats. Ellison is the first American Muslim to ever win election to Congress.

McDermott and Ellison wrote that they understand the threats facing Israel and the ongoing Hamas terror activities against Israeli citizens but that “this concern must be addressed without resulting in the de facto collective punishment of the Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip.”

And at the end we learn:

In addition to members of Congress, several leftist organizations also signed the letter, including Americans for Peace Now and J Street.

Needless to say, MJ Rosenberg is thrilled that these Congressmen are “standing up to” AIPAC. (via memeorandum)

However as Sultan Knish shows, they are not standing up to AIPAC, they are standing up for CAIR.

It is of course no surprise that this list weighs heavily toward Minnesota and Michigan, where CAIR is strong. But it also includes twelve congressmen from California, 3 from New Jersey, 4 from New York and 6 from Massachusetts. These numbers are not mere statistics, they define the rising influence of the Muslim Brotherhood on American politics, state by state.

And it is instructive to note how many of the congressmen and congresswomen on the list are funded by CAIR money. Keith Ellison, John Conyers, Loretta Sanchez, Betty McCollum, Lois Capps, Bill Pascrell, Elijah Cummings, Bob Filner, Mike Honda, Barbara Lee, John Dingell, James Moran, Nick Rahall, Andre Carson, Mary Jo Kilroy, Carolyn Kilpatrick and Jim McDermott are among the top receivers of CAIR money in congress.

Remeber that the next time you hear that J-Street and APN are “pro-Israel and pro-peace.”

Also given that the vast majority of those signing this letter are Democrats – comprising roughly 1/6 of the Democrats in Congress – remember that the next time someone tells you that the Democratic Party is the natural home of American Jews.

UPDATE: The Astute Bloggers have the dishonor roll of those signing the resolution. It appears to be only Democrats as Daryl Issa is not on the list. But with 54 Democrats signing the resolution and 255 Democrats in Congress, that means that over 20% of Congressional Democrats were involved.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad.

Posted in Israel, Israeli Double Standard Time | 3 Comments