World

Israel snubs UN Gaza war inquiry

by Barbara McPherson | April 16, 2009 at 09:34 am

111 views | 22 Recommendations | 8 comments

The Israeli ambassador to UN organizations in geneva has thrown cold water on the UN investigation into the recent Gaza conflict. Heading the inquiry is Richard Goldstone, a South African judge and former war crimes prosecutor who is also Jewish. The ambassador rejected the inquiry because he alleges that the conclusion has already been decided.
During the most recent conflict many Palestinian civilians were killed. There is evidence that white phosphorus shells were fired into neighbourhoods in violation of UN conventions. Phosphorus causes horrendous chemical burns on contact.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson has confirmed to Al Jazeera that it will not co-operate with a United Nations investigation into alleged war crimes during the 22-day assault on the Gaza Strip.

Up to 1,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children, were killed before Israel ended the offensive in January.

Thirteen Israelis, 10 of them soldiers, were killed during the same period.

Human rights groups have called for the UN investigation to look into allegations that the Israeli fired imprecise artillery and controversial white phosphorus shells in buillt-up neighbourhoods.

It is also expected to examine the indiscriminate firing of rocket into southern Israel by Palestinian fighters, Israel's stated reason for launching the offensive last December.

Sporadic rocket fire into Israel has continued since the war, and on Thursday Israel bombed a house in a Gaza refugee camp. No casualties were reported.

Israel is co-operating with a separate investigation into several attacks on UN facilities during the conflict, including one which destroyed a warehouse belonging to the UN Relief and Works Agency, which provides food aid for the Gazans.

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Paschen

at 15:45 on April 16th, 2009

Unfortunately no one expected any think else. Israel acted and reacted as it did before on so many occasions that it has become predictable.

As all states and governments that abuse Human rights and commit crimes of war and crimes against Humanity.

Barbara McPherson

at 17:47 on April 16th, 2009

It is a fact that judge Richard Goldstone is Jewish. He is an experienced and well respected person, having conducted inquiries into war crimes for the UN before. The Israeli ambassador has stated that he has no problem with Mr. Goldstone. I thought it relevant that the UN appointed a person of the Jewish faith to head this inquiry. The official Israeli line says that the committee has reached conclusions before investigating. These are not opinions.

Further, it is not an opinion that a great many civilians were killed during the 22 day attack on Gaza. Very few Israelis were killed. Those are facts.

There have been videos capturing what looks like white phosphorus raining down on closely built Gaza neighbourhoods. It is not an opinion that phosphorus on contact causes horrendous burns.

Is it propaganda when a different side is shown to an issue. Are you now lumping the Guardian, a British newspaper agency, a tool of the Arabs?

I am quite aware that no one in this long standing war has clean hands.

peace-n-love (not verified)

at 13:12 on April 24th, 2009

what a puerile cop-out. already reached a conclusion? yes, the fact is that israel is a child-murdering and ethnic cleansing regime. that has nothing of course to do with religion or culural heritage. it is a fact that israelis slaughter and beseige a people destroying their chances of ever participating without trauma on the world stage. but most persons who repeat cop-puts are cowards and really don't care about humanity. just frame and blame.

Amy Judd

at 10:47 on April 16th, 2009

There has been no conclusion though??! Unless I am really missing something...

tikun

at 11:53 on April 16th, 2009

You said, " Richard Goldstone, a South African judge and former war crimes prosecutor who is also Jewish. The ambassador rejected the inquiry because he alleges that the conclusion has already been decided.

During the most recent conflict many Palestinian civilians were killed. There is evidence that white phosphorus shells were fired into neighbourhoods in violation of UN conventions. Phosphorus causes horrendous chemical burns on contact."

I think that this is clearly an OPINION piece. What does being JEWISH have to do with the issue. Would you say that Obama is a black man so he will be less biased ? This is a racist remark.

2nd. There has been no issue if Israel used phosphorous shells on civilians by the UN. The issue of using them for any reason is the debate. Like lighting up the sky in the evening.

You really need to be more respectful of the issue rather then just re-hash the same old Arab-propaganda.

In all of the Israeli news papers and on-line news services no where does it say that Israel is is not going to cooperate. All that has been said is that there is TALK of not cooperating for a variety of reasons. Regardless if Goldstone is Jewish, Black, Christian, Moslem, or Hindu or any other religious or racial make up.

tikun

at 03:26 on April 17th, 2009

You said,"

Further, it is not an opinion that a great many civilians were killed during the 22 day attack on Gaza. Very few Israelis were killed. Those are facts."

The war was fought in Gaza and not in Israel. Therefore, more people, the majority, terrorists from Hamas, et.al. were killed. Thank goodness. If Hamas was interested in peace then this would not have needed to happen. But the only peace Hamas wants is the PIECE called Israel.

"There have been videos capturing what looks like white phosphorus raining down on closely built Gaza neighbourhoods. It is not an opinion that phosphorus on contact causes horrendous burns. "

My point exactly. It was used for lighting up the sky. That we know for sure.

"Is it propaganda when a different side is shown to an issue. Are you now lumping the Guardian, a British newspaper agency, a tool of the Arabs?"

There are two sides to every argument and then the truth. The Guardian is well known to take an anti-Israeli hard line. Nothing wrong with that except their commentary about the "truth" is suspect by many.

""I am quite aware that no one in this long standing war has clean hands"

No disagreement on this point.

tikun

at 03:32 on April 17th, 2009

I think that it is not money, weapons, sympathy or carte blanche that is the problem here. It is the DESIRE to eliminate the State of Israel that is at stake for Israelis. At least this is a serious issue for some of us living here.

btw, Abbas when asked today to recognize that Israel exists in order for a 2 state formula to happen HE REFUSED. This says more about the truth to this problem then all the rhetoric.