Comments on: Human Rights Watch Criticizes U.S. for Torpedoing Goldstone Report

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:13:32 +0000

If he makes peace, which I doubt, it will be a tremendous cost to the Palestinians.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:11:44 +0000

I don’t mind if Richard is a Zionist. What I mind is the duplicity and criminal behavior of Israel against a weaker group of people, and the criminal support given to Israel to continue this behavior. I am appalled and disgusted that this little country has so much control over US politics and has an influence that appears to be much stronger than the imperatives of right and wrong. This undignified, outrageous campaign by Israel to bury this report at all costs just shows me that there must be an ocean of crimes they are still afraid will be discovered. If Israel had nothing to hide, they would have cooperated. But even more importantly, if they had one ounce of morality, they would not have launched the attack on Gaza in the first place, nor would they be slowly killing the Gazans with blockades. And they would recognize the part they played in creating the reality everyone lives in, both Israelis and Palestinians.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:46:05 +0000

That gave me one of the best laughs of the day! Thanks. Glad we can laugh about these things.

By: Shirin

Shirin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:39:19 +0000

“…an “Anti-zionist” and worse“.

Horrors! An anti-Zionist – and WORSE?!

Would that Richard WERE an anti-Zionist, for then he would be virtually perfect.

By: Shirin

Shirin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:32:07 +0000

“What makes Israel an occupying power in Gaza is not actual occupation but the fact that it is under humanitarian obligations.”

No, Silvia. Not surprisingly you have got it exactly reversed. Israel has humanitarian obligations in the Gaza Strip because it occupies the Gaza Strip. But that is explained very clearly in the Report, so I think you are simply being disingenuous.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:23:35 +0000

Frankly, I heard the interview with Montell that was sponsored by Taanit Tzedek & though I agreed w. most of what she said, there were a few areas where I take exception to what she said & believes. She seems to believe that it is still possible for Israel to investigate itself & believes an ICC type investigation is counter productive. I thoroughly disagree, though of course like her I would PREFER that Israeli investigate itself. Unlike her though, I don’t have any faith that this is possible.

She is VERY cautious. One can understand why given how controversial B’Tselem’s work is. But that doesn’t mean we have to agree w. her 100%.

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:55:51 +0000

Israel plays the same game, except they keep up the pretense in the face of evidence to the contrary, which is infuriating. They also dehumanize the Palestinians to the point where it all just insults the intelligence.

You’re right, they’re pretty up front about the collective punishment thing. All the Zionists I know blame the Gazans for their suffering, saying it’s their fault for electing Hamas and for refusing to rise up and kick them out of power. They tout the puppet PA government as good little children, and why can’t Hamas be more like them?

By: Donald Johnson

Donald Johnson — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:48:42 +0000

Thanks for the link. There was one part of Montell’s article that I found a little disturbing–her claim that the evidence didn’t justify the sweeping conclusion that Israel was trying to punish civilians. She admits it’s possible and wants further investigation, but though further investigation would be welcome, I think the actions speak for themselves–besides, though I don’t have the quotes handy, I think there are quotes from Israeli military figures suggesting that they did intend to punish civilians. Quite apart from the fact that it’s been a pattern with many of Israel’s actions all along.

Not that the US is all that different. It’s a fact about Western countries that they sometimes target civilians while claiming that they don’t do it. Our sanctions on Iraq were meant to hurt civilians and at times people admitted it, but most of the time it was denied. It’s a game we play so we can pretend there’s a vast gulf between the tactics we employ and the tactics used by terrorists.