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Israeli Apartheid

The goldstone commission on Gaza

The Goldstone Commission on Gaza 
 
 
 Goldstone_team_gaza
In Gaza, the idea of the Goldstone Commission was received with resignation.
 
By Shafiq Morton – Cape Town

When the most recent Goldstone Commission, appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, announced its intentions to probe human rights violations and the possibility of war crimes during Israel’s 22-day invasion of Gaza, it did not exactly set the media on fire.

Nor did its lukewarm response in Israeli and Palestinian circles help much either, with Goldstone being described as a “passing cloud” by an Israeli spokesman, and Israel predictably refusing to recognize the commission.

Then there was the fact that Israel had already officially exonerated its forces in the invasion. It had contended there were no deliberate attacks on Palestinian civilians, and that there were only isolated mistakes leading to the deaths of 21 unarmed combatants.

How this fits in with the internationally-agreed death tally of about 1,400 Palestinians (with over 900 being unarmed civilians) is difficult to say. The BBC reports that ten Israeli soldiers (four by friendly fire) and three civilians died in the conflict.

In Gaza, the idea of the Goldstone Commission was received with resignation. Too many international commissions had come and gone in Gaza without promise, so was there really any reason to get excited about this one?

However, in the corridors of Israeli officialdom and the United States there was just enough edginess to hint that Goldstone was an influential enough figure to make the truth embarrassing. Indeed, if any legal figure had the prerequisite gravitas on Gaza, it had to be Justice Richard Goldstone.

He had not only played a pivotal role in the South African peace process via his commission on political violence in KwaZulu Natal (it had claimed thousands of lives) and his role in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but also as a Constitutional Court judge.

His progression to chief prosecutor at the UN International Criminal Tribunals in the Rwanda and Yugoslavia conflicts was seen by many as a natural step in his already illustrious career.

 

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Pr condemnation of Egyptian government for blocking relief convoy to Gaza

11 September 2008

Press Release

Condemnation of Egyptian Government for blocking relief convoy to Gaza

The Media Review Network (MRN) strongly condemns the Egyptian Government for blocking the relief convoy, “Egyptians against the Siege”, to Gaza carrying humanitarian and medical aid through the Rafah Border post.

About 500 specially selected, invited and noteworthy citizens made up of Egyptian judges, MP’s, doctors, professors, journalists and activists tried to break the siege imposed by the Zionists against the Palestinians. This criminal act can only be viewed as a crime against humanity.

It is a perversion of justice to allow the Zionist occupiers and persecutors of the Palestinians to tour Egyptian resorts & provide cheap fuel to Israel, and deny basic humanitarian aid, food and medicines to a besieged, starving 1,5 million imprisoned Palestinians.

This persecution of the Palestinians by the Egyptian Government is unethical and immoral by any standards. The Egyptian Government is deeply mistaken if they think that this type of provocation will produce security for the Zionist state. 

Where is the humanity of the world and the Arab governments in particular, during this cherished month of Ramadan that reflects compassion and empathy to the weak and hungry? The last thing the Palestinians need is another tormentor augmenting Zionism’s genocidal terror against their people.

The MRN would like to remind the Government of Egypt of that proud moment 35 years ago when you bravely flew the Egyptian flag once again over the Sinai Desert. We strongly advocate that you show similar courage and lift the siege of Gaza immediately and allow aid to get to Gaza by opening up the Rafah Border Post, for the sake of your own humanity. The  Egyptian Government is advised to establish a clear distinction between its sense of humanitarianism and its political convenience.

Issued by:

Dr. Firoz Osman
Secretary-General
Media Review Network
082 337 6976

(Media Review Network is an advocacy group based in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa)

 

 

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