Middle East - Goldstone Report - UN

UN Human Rights Council hears opposing opinions on Goldstone Report

Article published on the 2009-10-15 Latest update 2009-10-15 17:46 TU

Hamas security force member stands guard as workers clear the rubble of the Palestinian parliament building in Gaza City
(Credit: Reuters)

The United Nations Human Rights Council heard differning opinions on Thursday after it opened the debate on the Goldstone report on the war in Gaza at the end of last year. The report accuses both the Israeli army and the Palestinian Hamas of war crimes as well as possible crimes against humanity. The 47-member UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, sat in an extraordinary session after the examination of the Goldstone report was postponed two weeks ago.

"What's unique about the Goldstone Report...is that it puts in an implementation mechanism, of what to do," says Raji Sourani, the director of the Palestinian Human Rights Centre in Gaza and a human rights laywer.

The report recommends that its conclusions be forwarded to the International Criminal Court prosecutor if Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas do not carry out their own credible investigations within the next six months.

The report also calls for the UN Security Council to set up an independent team to monitor the Israeli investigations, which has drawn ire from Israel. Israel also believes that this report is biased and could hamper peace talks.

"Israel should not enjoy the conspiracy of silence by others or legal and political immunity," says Sourani. When asked about Palestinian armed groups, he said: "Nobody's above the law. Anyone who committed offenses should be held accountable for their crimes."

 UN human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay expressed her support for the report at the opening of the session, "including its call for urgent action to counter impunity."

Pakistan, representing the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, also urged the council to endorse the findings. "The mission has presented an objective, impartial and comprehensive report which has been welcomed, widely praised and appreciated by the UN member states and international civil society," the Pakistani envoy said.

Israel urged the council not to "reward terror." "The resolution, as proposed, will be a reward for terror and will send a clear message to terrorists everywhere," said Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Aharon Leshno Yaar.