David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Friday 06 November, 2009

Goldstone

The Gaza conflict at the start of the year shocked and polarised opinion.  This week in New York we considered the Goldstone report.  Some say it is flawed and to be dismissed out of hand.  Some that the issues it raises are so serious we must endorse it.  I agree with both analyses, but disagree with both conclusions.  

The report is flawed but the issues grave.  Hamas rockets fired indiscriminately at Israeli citizens seriously violate international law.  Hamas should reject such actions and release Gilad Shalit.  But Israel should also see that their investigations so far have failed to convince not just dyed in the wool opponents, but those genuinely committed to Israel's security, that it has addressed some serious allegations.  We worked hard before the vote at the UN in New York yesterday to reach a consensus on calling for independent investigations.  In the end we had to abstain, with France and forty two others,  because voting for would have meant endorsing the report and ignoring its flaws.  But the issues are serious and the parties should address them.  

Posted at 16:53 06 November 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[5]

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I would like to know what are the specific flaws in the report Mr Miliband talks about. Is the Goldstone report flawed when it says that Israel's military killed more than 1,400 people, destroyed factories, food supplies, sanitation, a hospital and countless homes? Or maybe the report is flawed when it says that Israel imposed a blockade; a collective punishment which is still going on and costing people, such as those who are medically ill, their lives. Ironically, the so called 'flawed report' agrees with Mr Miliband when it says that Hamas should release Gilad Shalit. It should be noted that he is the only Israeli soldier held by Hamas. In contrast, Israel holds around 11,000 Palestinian prisoners. A significant number of these prisoners have been arrested during peaceful protests, for example, those recently arrested in Bil’in for protesting about settlement expansion.

Posted by Richard Hopper on November 06, 2009 at 10:19 PM GMT #

Can you explain why the report is flawed? This was a significant opportunity for you to make a statement on behalf of the women and children of Gaza but once again you failed. Israel, your friends, committed war crimes and need to be held accountable. The UN report was good, comprehensive and produced compelling evidence but you needed a way out so you stated that the report was flawed without providing evidence of how it is flawed. You support a Zionist position and you do nothing for the millions of Palestinians who are imprisoned. Shalit should be released but so should thousands of Palestinians or do you not think this is worth mentioning. You are outspoken about the security of Israel but I hear nothing from you about the security of the Palestinians. How many must die before you act. You will never act against you Israel Friends and this is wrong.

Posted by Paul Macdonald on November 06, 2009 at 10:24 PM GMT #

I despair at your attitude David. You write about Hamas aggression and name Gilad Shalit and yet write nothing about Israel's aggression or the names of the thousands of Palestinians 'arrested' and 'imprisoned' by the Israeli 'government'. You write about Israel's needs for security and yet, as usual, absolutely nothing about the Palestinians inalienable rights to justice let alone security. This isn't impartiality this is bias. In Russia recently you signed a statement about the Middle East and the need to offer support to countries there to bring about lasting peace. Then you abstain from the UN General Assembly vote on the Goldstone report. We will then all watch as the inevitable cowardly and shameful vetoes dash all hopes that the Palestinians will finally see the justice they have been so cruelly denied. If only the United Nations was a truly democratic institution!

Posted by L Pain on November 07, 2009 at 02:09 AM GMT #

Goldstone commission found both Israel and Palistine having committed war time crimes. According to my understanding it legitimises terrors and delegitimise right to self defence. I have seen hamas terrorist tactics in Gaza trip and am also aware of Israel war time criminal activities in Palestine. Goldstone also accused Israel of using disproportionate force in Gaza. But in my opinion both Israel and Palestine had been using torture and crime against each other. I think there should be fair analysis of the current situation.

Posted by Adeeba on November 07, 2009 at 04:52 PM GMT #

Too much fence-sitting is not good for you.

Posted by OwenE2 on November 10, 2009 at 04:32 PM GMT #

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