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1. UN General Assembly Endorses Goldstone Report
by Hana Levi Julian
The United Nations General Assembly formally voted to adopt the Goldstone Report on Thursday by a vote of 114-18, with 44 abstentions. Those voting against the resolution included Israel and the United States, as well as Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and the Czech Republic. However, the European Union vote was split, with Britain and France both choosing to abstain.
The Arab-sponsored resolution adopted by the 192-member body calls for action by the U.N. Security Council if the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority do not within the next three months carry out "independent and credible" investigations into their own behavior during last winter's Operation Cast Lead.
The Goldstone Report harshly condemned Israel, accusing the Jewish State of committing war crimes and "possibly crimes against humanity" in Gaza during the course of the counterterrorist operation launched to put an end to eight years' of constant rocket fire aimed at southern Israeli communities from Gaza. The report also said that "armed militants" in Gaza may also have been guilty of committing war crimes as well.
The Hamas terrorist organization that seized control of the Gaza region in 2007, and which has been responsible for the constant rocket fire against Israel that sparked the conflict, is not mentioned in the resolution, which refers to the responsibility of the "Palestinian side" to investigate its own role in the war.
The report now goes to the U.N. Security Council, where the United States is expected to exercise its veto power to stymie any attempt to advance the report any further. The Arab bloc is hoping to push the report through a vote in the Security Council, which would allow it to be advanced to the International Criminal Court at The Hague for use as evidence in a war crimes trial against Israel and Israeli officials.
2. Goldstone Defends his Report in Brandeis Debate
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Dore Gold debated retired South African Judge Richard Goldstone at Brandeis University on Thursday night. Minutes before the debate began, the United Nations General Assembly adopted an Arab-backed resolution backing the Goldstone report by a lopsided 114-18 margin, with 44 abstentions.
Goldstone authored the recent United Nations Human Rights Commission’s investigative report that charged Israel with war crimes in the three-week Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist campaign that concluded last January.
The judge said in his opening speech that it was a given that Israel had the right to defend itself, that "Israel was fully justified in using military force," but that his committee had been "concerned about the manner in which the military force was used, and whether it was consistent with international law."
He prefaced his remarks by noting that Israel is a democracy and that its citizens are committed to preserving human rights, adding that ”sadly, the same cannot be said of Gaza.”
Although the report is likely to be used as evidence against Israel in any war crimes trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Goldstone said "We did not apply a criminal law standard of 'guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.' The findings that we made for the purpose of any future proceedings would have to be investigated afresh -- this is why we called for independent investigations in both Israel and Gaza."
The South African judge said from the outset that he refused to accept the original Human Rights Commission mandate, which he said was one-sided against Israel. He added that he accepted his position of heading the investigating commission after it accepted his changes that both Israel and Hamas would be investigated for alleged war crimes.
Goldstone claimed that 25,000 to 40,000 homes were partially to completely destroyed during Operation Cast Lead, and more than 200 factories were put out of action. The region's only flour-producing factory was put out of action, he said, and most egg factories were disabled as well. Water supplies, water treatment plants and sanitation plants were bombed, he claimed, adding that agricultural farms were bulldozed, "many, many square miles."
Goldstone also stated that unemployment in Gaza currently stands at more than 60 percent, and that 90 percent of the people in Gaza live on less than one dollar per day.
In justifying the accusations against Israel listed in his report, Goldstone said, "We relied primarily on what we were told, what we heard with out own ears, and what we saw with our own eyes." Moreover, he lamented, "If you regard people as equal human beings, you don't treat them that way. You don't fire rockets at them, and you don't bulldoze their land."
The United States has criticized the report as being biased, and most Israeli leaders from across the entire political spectrum have rejected the accusations.
The debate is the first time Goldstone has confronted a senior Israeli figure. Dore Gold is the president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Goldstone began the debate and Gold is responding to him, followed by questions from the audience.
The debate is a program of the International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life and the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University.
3. Dore Gold vs. Goldstone: What Would You Do?
by Maayana Miskin
Former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Dore Gold faced off Thursday night against Judge Richard Goldstone in a debate hosted by Brandeis University over the United Nations Goldstone Report, which condemned Israel for alleged human rights violations during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.
"Let me begin by being very direct. The U.N. Gaza report is the most serious and vicious indictment of the State of Israel bearing the seal of the United Nations since the General Assembly adopted the 'Zionism is racism' resolution,” Gold stated. “The report simply distorts the very essence of what Israel stands for.”
Before addressing the Goldstone Report, Gold mentioned the Iranian weapons ship that was halted in the Mediterranean on Tuesday, bearing thousands of rockets. “Those rockets were intended to kill Israeli civilians,” he stated.
As Gold began to describe the instructions IDF soldiers receive in avoiding civilian casualties, he was interrupted by a group of hecklers. The hecklers were silenced, and Gold went on to inform his audience that Israeli soldiers are taught to respect civilian life even at the risk of their own.
Report 'Went Beyond Evidence'
The Goldstone Report went “beyond its own evidence” to impune intentions and motives to Israeli leaders, Gold charged. In addition, the report went “months beyond its own research,” condemning Israeli actions before and after the report. “How does the Gaza report of the U.N. reach these conclusions?” he asked.
In contrast, Hamas “is almost protected” in the report, Gold charged, pointing out that Hamas officials themselves had interpreted the report as vindicating their position.
What Would You Do?
Gold challenged his audience to state what they would do in Israel's place. “What would you do if your population was facing repeated attacks for eight years?” Gold asked, after showing videos showing the damage wrought by terrorist rockets. He pointed out, with help from aerial maps, that Hamas positions were embedded within the Arab civilian population.
He presented three choices: attack the enemy indiscriminately, despite civilian casualties - citing actions by the Russian government against terrorists in Chechnya as an example -- give up and allow Hamas to kill civilians, or – as Israel did – attempt to separate Arab civilians from Hamas terrorists by sending multiple warnings, calling off attacks due to the presence of civilians, and more.
"A country that goes through all of these efforts to try to protect Palestinian civilians... is that a country that engages in deliberate attacks on the civilian population?” Gold demanded.
Hamas Not Mentioned
Gold challenged Goldstone over the report's cautious approach to Hamas. “Why doesn't Hamas appear as a responsible party for what happened? Hamas is not criticized for the policy that led to the disaster on the Palestinians,” he declared. Instead, Hamas terrorists were referred to as members of “Palestinian armed groups,” he said, and the connection between Hamas “policemen” -- many of whom have been found to be members of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations -- and terrorism was ignored.
As Goldstone continued to refer to destruction wrought by Cast Lead in Gaza, Gold said there was no question that Gaza had faced considerable damage. The real question is who bears responsibility for that damage, he said.
The report does not mention who boobytrapped the buildings in Gaza, who dug the tunnels under the civilian houses, said Gold. "This war never would have happened if rockets had not been fired at Israel," he stated. "Remember, Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, and never wanted to go back there," he reminded.
"One of our central disagreements is how to relate to the Hamas regime,” he said. Do you treat Hamas as the legitimate authority in Gaza, or do you treat it as a terrorist organization? “I don't think you deal with this adequately when you refer to 'armed groups,'” he said.
Can Israeli Investigators be Trusted?
During his initial statements, Goldstone called for Israel and Hamas to investigate the allegations in his report. However, during the question and answer period, and in response to Gold, Goldstone made it clear that he sees Israel's investigation as insufficient.
IDF investigations are taking place behind closed doors, Goldstone charged, and are therefore unreliable. He dismissed Israeli reports finding that the IDF had not bombed a mosque in Gaza during prayers, saying that he and his fellow investigators had seen the evidence themselves.
4. Abbas Confirms Resignation Rumor, Slams Israel
by Maayana Miskin
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas spoke Thursday night at a Ramallah news conference and confirmed that he would not seek reelection in January. Abbas stressed that his decision “is not meant as a tactic, or to manipulate.”
The PA head took advantage of the media attention to criticize Israel and Hamas. “The Israeli government is adopting a policy that ruins all peace efforts,” he charged.
Abbas has repeatedly accused Israel of ruining negotiation efforts for refusing to completely freeze construction for Jews in Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem prior to resuming talks.
He accused the United States of backing Israel at the PA's expense. The U.S. has pressured Israel to accept Abbas's terms for a complete building freeze, but has also praised the current near-freeze as an “unprecedented” step.
Abbas criticized Hamas as well, blaming the rival terrorist group for ongoing tension with his own Fatah movement. Hamas has made “excuses” not to reconcile with Fatah, “while keeping our people under siege,” he charged.
"Isn't it time for Hamas to stop cooperating with foreign interests and pay attention to the interests of the Palestinian people?” Abbas asked.
Following Abbas's speech, Fatah party members in Jenin held a protest calling on the chairman to reconsider his decision. Several PA stations played music and videos honoring the PA leader throughout the day.
Fatah has not promoted any candidate as a potential replacement for Abbas. Polls show the most popular Fatah figure besides Abbas to be arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison for his role in the murder of several Israelis.
5. Israel Warns IDF Ready to Roll Against Iran
by Hana Levi Julian
Israel's warnings that it will not tolerate an existential threat in the form of a nuclear Iran should be taken seriously, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon warned in an interview with the Britain-based Sky News on Friday.
"The one who's bluffing is Iran, which is trying to play with cards they don't have," Ayalon told the news network. "All the bravado that we see and the testing and the very dangerous and harsh rhetoric is hiding a lot of weaknesses."
Israel has repeatedly warned the Islamic Republic -- and the rest of the world -- that it will not allow Iran to complete its nuclear development program and create an atomic weapon to be aimed at the Jewish State.
"If Iranian behavior and conduct continues as they have exhibited so far, it is obvious that their intentions are only to buy time and procrastinate," Ayalon said. He pointed out that negotiations with Western nations have not resulted in any reduction in Iranian nuclear activities.
Iran has vowed to continue all of its nuclear development programs regardless of what proposals for alternatives are offered by Western nations in diplomatic talks. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared last Sunday that Iran is negotiating with the West from a position of power, and compared the power of Iran's enemies to that of "a mosquito."
IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi politely warned the Islamic Republic in September that the Jewish State is prepared to defend itself against any nuclear or other attack it might be inclined to launch.
"We all understand that the best way of coping [with the Iranian nuclear threa is through international sanction" Ashkenazi told an interviewer on IDF Army Radio. However, he added, "Israel has the right to defend itself, and all options are open."
6. Yishai: A Palestinian State Already Exists
by Maayana Miskin
Interior Minister Eli Yishai of Shas says there is no escaping the reality of an Arab state in Judea and Samaria (Yehudah and Shomron). Speaking this week with Arutz Sheva's Hebrew news service, Yishai said, “Regarding a Palestinian state – it already exists, unfortunately.”
"[At this poin the only debate is about the borders,” he added.
Despite his statement, Yishai insisted that Israel cannot negotiate with the Palestinian Authority at this time. “We cannot conduct a dialogue with Abu Mazen [PA Chairman Abbas – ed when Hamas then comes and conquers the territory,” he said. “We saw what happened in Gush Katif.”
The solution, he said, is the “economic peace” plan promoted by several Israeli leaders, among them Yishai and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The plan aims to stabilize the PA economically and politically before making territorial concessions.
Yishai declined to delineate his party's stance on “final status” issues or the “red lines” that, if crossed, would lead Shas to leave the government. “When Bibi [Netanya decides what he wants to do, then we will decide. At this point there are no specific plans in any case,” he explained.
Yishai had a similar response to questions regarding Hamas's demand that Israel release some 1,450 terrorists from prison in exchange for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. “When we get to the negotiating table, we'll decide... When we see the deal, we'll bring it to the rabbi to get his decision.”
He categorically denied accusations that Shas has failed to act on issues important to its religious Zionist voters. Shas is actively involved in fighting for funding for religious-Zionist education and in absorbing new immigrants in its schools, he said.
7. New Exhibit: 2,000 Year-Old Temple Mount Coins
by Hana Levi Julian
A very special exhibition opens next week in Jerusalem, revealing to the public for the first time all of the ancient coins uncovered in excavations at the foot of the Temple Mount.
The exhibit was organized by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the East Jerusalem Development Company with funding from the William Davidson and Estanne Fawer Foundation. It is intended to be the first of several exhibitions to be presented at the Davidson Center in the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden.
Davidson Center at Jerusalem Archaeological Garden (Israel news photo: Courtesy of IAA)
Among the artifacts to be displayed next week is a rare collection of 2,000-year-old coins that were burnt during the Great Revolt by the Jews against the Roman occupation, in which the Second Holy Temple was destroyed. The Western Wall, which was outside the Temple and not a part of it, is the only remaining part of the immediate area that remained standing following the destruction. The collection includes unique coins that were minted in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period.
Lilly King Yehonatan (Israel news photo: Courtesy of IAA)
One extraordinary find to be presented to the public for the first time is an extremely rare shekel that was minted by the Jewish rebels during the last months of the revolt, in the year 70 CE.
Also on display will be other coins that were found in different excavations in the region and have a wide geographic origin, from Persia, via North Africa and as far away as France. These coins attest to the centrality of Jerusalem for all of the people who visited the city thousands of years ago, while leaving behind a "souvenir" in the area.
It is interesting to note the difference between the Jewish coins and others on display. Contrary to pagan coins, the ruler was not usually depicted on coins of Jewish origin, due to the Jewish prohibition against making a "graven image" or idol. According to an IAA statement, it is for this reason that a variety of symbols of inanimate objects, such as a wreath or scepter and helmet, appear on many Jewish coins.
Aureus Tacitus (Israel news photo: Courtesy of IAA)
Another fascinating artifact to be displayed will be a fragment of a large sarcophagus lid, discovered during excavations conducted along the separation barrier north of Jerusalem with funding provided by the Defense Ministry.
The lid of the sarcophagus, which is meticulously fashioned, is engraved with an inscription in square script that is characteristic of the Second Temple period. It reads: "... Ben HaKohen HaGadol..." (son of the High Priest)
Numerous high priests served in the Holy Temple during the latter part of the Second Temple period, and so there is no way of knowing exactly who this inscription refers to. According to the IAA, however, it is likely the sarcophagus inscription refers to one of the priests who officiated at the Temple between the years 30 CE and 70 CE.
The exhibition comes at the same time that the Arab world is escalating its campaign to persuade the world that Judiasm has no roots in the Temple Mount.
