Follow-up: European Parliament backs the Goldstone Report

The EU takes action by following up on the UN report on the Gaza war. (Note that 'follow-up' is often neglected, but is actually essential to progress and a key time to continue producing efforts.)

The European Parliament has officially passed a resolution backing the findings of the Goldstone Report and demanding that Israel open Gaza war crimes investigations. According to The Washington Post, the parliament also called on Israel to immediately open border crossings with the Gaza Strip, saying its blockade is worsening the humanitarian crisis there.

The parliamentary move, which will give the EU an "unprecedented role" in evaluating the progress of Israel's war crimes probe, was strongly criticized by Israel. "We find this resolution flawed and counterproductive", said Yoel Mester, spokesman for Israel's mission to the EU.

The move will likely "chill" Israeli-European relations. 

This is significant progress/a large step forward from the EU's official response to the Goldstone Report when it was first presented to the Human Rights Council in September 2009. On behalf of the EU, the representative of Sweden merely stated "the report will be seriously considered". Read more on the Goldstone Report here.

Update on the Goldstone Report!

On Friday (26 February), the United Nations' General Assembly passed, by 98 to 7, a resolution "put forward by Muslim countries that once again urges the two sides to undertake independent investigations into allegations of war crimes raised by the Goldstone Report last year". Ban Ki-Moon, the UN's secretary general, has been asked to report back to the assembly "within a period of five months on the implementation of the present resolution, with a view to the consideration of further action".

According to The National, the previous deadline for independent investigations passed in February with Mr. Ban acknowledging that he could not determine whether each side had fulfilled its obligations.

While many have sharply criticized Mr. Ban's 'inaction' - I can agree that I am disappointed that the deadline was not met, though I will decline to comment about Mr. Ban - some progress is better than no progress at all!

Richard Falk, the UN's special rapporteur on Palestinian human rights, said on Thursday that further delay would only lessen the likelihood of any war criminals being held accountable. "The delays remove the reality of what happened in Gaza from the collective memory of world society".

Riyad Mansour, the PLO's representative to the UN, however, rejected this criticism and said that the process was a long one. "The Goldstone report is like a bulldozer and it is moving. Sometimes it is moving fast, sometimes is is moving slow."

According to Geroge Giacaman, a Ramallah-based analyst, the next five months will thus probably prove "crucial", though not necessarily for any outcome of investigations. He said, "Israel will use this time to lobby governments against taking any action on the Goldstone report. This, is much better equipped to do than the Palestinian side. It is nevertheless an open contest because the Palestinian side, in urging that action be taken, will be joined by human rights organizations from across the world."

The Goldstone report is not yet "dead and buried", he said, but the next five months will determine is faith.

A Review of 2009: The Human Rights Council - 12th Special Session on the Human Rights Situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem

The Human Rights Council’s 12^th Special Session on the Human Rights Situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem took place on 16 October 2009. Ms. Navanethem Pillay opened the Session reiterating her support for the fact-finding mission and expressing her dismay over the “culture of impunity [that] continues to prevail in the occupied territories and in Israel”. “It is [thus] necessary to carry out prompt and effective investigations in compliance with international standards.” “Human rights are not obstacles to peace, but the preconditions to trust and on which durable peace can be built… Addressing impunity for human rights and the humanitarian crisis is essential in order to carry on the peace process.” 

Israel strongly rejected the gathering of the meeting stating, “Such meetings like today should only be called in case of emergencies. Everyone knows today’s meeting is not about human rights but the abuse and integrity of this organization.” The representative continued, accusing the Goldstone Report as biased and flawed and “wrong in spirit” and as ignoring Israel’s right to self-defense. “Action here today will set back hopes for peace – it will not be a special session of this international organization but dialogue that will offer clear benefits and mutual trust. The only beneficiary of today’s session is Hamas and their allies… The political weapons proposed here today have nothing to do with human rights.”

Palestine welcomed the Goldstone report and OHCHR, and called to putting an end to violations and to respecting human rights. “We called this meeting to address the grave situation, submitting a draft resolution that condemns [current Israeli] practices”, which violate international law, human rights law, and humanitarian law. The representative called to putting an end to these practices and to respecting human rights.

Member States responses were for the most part linear. Member States condemned Israel’s continuous military campaign and outright violations of international law. They maintained their support for the Goldstone Report, called upon both parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and respect all international norms, and stressed the need for Israel and Palestine to enter into serious peace negotiations as soon as possible.