The anti-Israel Tikkun magazine has published an interview with Richard Goldstone regarding his report in to Israel’s actions during Operation Cast Lead – an interview that provides an added insight into Goldstone’s views and methodology.
This is part one of my fisking of his interview responses. I am hoping I’ll get the time for parts two and onwards.
ML: Was and is the blockade of Gaza a war crime?
RG: It was a violation of international law, it was not a war crime because there was no war. It was a violation of the 4th Geneva convention. There has to be an actual military armed conflict for it to be a war crime. It is also a violation of international human rights law.
Goldstone’s denial of a state of war leading up to Operation Cast Lead speaks volumes, considering Israel had been subjected to approximately 12,000 rockets and mortar bombs between 2000 and 2008, including nearly 3,000 rockets and mortar bombs in 2008 alone. This, and his denial of a nexus between the rocket attacks and Israel’s restrictions on supplies to Gaza, are also indicative of his adoption of the palestinian narrative, which is something Elder of Ziyon noticed in the framing of the report itself.
ML: What are the specific steps that Israel could have taken to stop the shelling of southern Israel before commencing an attack on Gaza?
RG: Well, it could have used greater pressure by diplomatic means. They could have used the security council for that purpose. Israel could have put the security council on notice and said “if you don’t stop this, if you don’t do something to stop it, we will have to resort as a last resort to military means.” But in our report we didn’t question the right of Israel to use military force.
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ML: Do you think Israel could have succeeded in stopping the bombing of Sderot had it gone to the Security Council?
RG: Well, I don’t know. If it didn’t work, then I have got no doubt that Israel was entitled to take a strong action to put a stop to the firing of rockets and mortars and has a duty to its own population to protect them.
Military force should be the very last resort. I think it is arguable here that other diplomatic means could have worked. If they didn’t work then the last resort is to use force, and whether it is military or policing action force, Israel was entitled to take active steps.
Once again, it seems as though Goldstone is completely ignoring the 8 or so years of incessant rocket fire on Israel’s southern communities. Not to mention our numerous complaints to the UN.
