[Wall Street Journal] Editorial - A new report from a UN "fact-finding mission" about January's war in Gaza marks a new low, employing logic and arguments that will be felt wherever the West confronts terrorism. The argument of the Goldstone report seems to be that Hamas can surround its combatants with civilians, and for Israel to strike back is a war crime. By this logic, FDR and Churchill could have been charged because the bombing of German industries and cities killed civilians in World War II. The UN also holds Israel accountable as Gaza's "occupying power," never mind that former Prime Minister Sharon uprooted all of Gaza's Jewish settlements in 2005. The report treats Israel as the aggressor in the conflict, though the Israeli government sat still for more than three years as Hamas transformed Gaza into a terrorist enclave while firing rockets at Israeli towns and cities. At exactly what point, if any, does Mr. Goldstone believe Israel is entitled to self-defense? If it is taken seriously, the Goldstone logic could (and eventually will) be applied to NATO tactics in Afghanistan, where civilians are also sometimes killed in the course of anti-Taliban operations.
2009-09-24 08:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive