Rashomon in Gaza, Three Tales of One War……….
“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights says the Goldstone Gaza report paves the way for indictment of Israeli officials by international courts. Richard Falk, a special UN rapporteur, talked about the possibility of Israeli officials being tried in countries which abide to rules of international justice. The top UN official, however, predicted that the United States will try its best to influence the International Criminal Court not to bring Israeli officials to the dock. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has meanwhile demanded that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights drop support for Goldstone Gaza report and spare no efforts to convince his European counterparts to oppose its adoption. His attempts have however proved futile.……” Press Tv (Iran)
“Falk's report on the Palestinian territories focused on human rights concerns related to issues including the war in December and January between Islamist militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, as well as Israel's construction of a land barrier and disputed housing settlements. He said an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip means "insufficient basic necessities are reaching the population."Falk also spoke of the "unlawful, noncooperation" of Israel which prevented him from visiting the Palestinian territories. Israel did not respond to Falk's reports at the meeting...….” New York Times
“The UN Human Rights Council has backed a report into the Israeli offensive in Gaza that accuses both Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes. The report by Richard Goldstone calls for credible investigations by Israel and Hamas, and suggests international war crimes prosecutions if they do not. Twenty-five countries voted for the resolution, while six were against. Both Israel and the US opposed official endorsement of the report, saying it would set back Middle East peace hopes..……” BBC
Are they covering the same story? The New York Times and Iran’s Press TV? Is the NY Times brushing over the tough remarks of the UN official? Is Press TV exaggerating his explicit and implicit condemnation of Israeli officials at the time of the Gaza assault? The BBC report seems to be the more balanced of the three, it largely matches UN sources. Which tells us something about the credibility of both N Y Times and Press TV when it comes to the Middle East.
The Israeli assault (December- January 2008) did not help the Kadima party win the February elections as it was partly designed to do, although it seems to have stopped the firing of rockets from Gaza.
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