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Israel to UN: Gaza Report "Was Conceived in Hate and Executed in Sin"

[Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs] During a discussion of the Goldstone report, Israeli Ambassador Gabriela Shalev told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday: Terrorism deprives people of their most basic human right - the right to life. States have not only the right, but indeed the duty, to pursue those who engage in the barbaric tactics of terrorism. Yet rather than discuss how to better stop terrorist groups who deliberately target civilians, the General Assembly chose again to launch another campaign against the victims of terrorism, the people of Israel. The report before you was conceived in hate and executed in sin. From its inception in a one-sided mandate, the Gaza fact-finding mission was a politicized body with predetermined conclusions. It is the product of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, a body whose obsession with Israel has led it to pass more resolutions against Israel than on all other UN Member States put together. This same Human Rights Council rejected any investigation regarding the constant firing of 12,000 rockets and mortars by Hamas, over eight years, on towns and villages in Israel. The basic human rights of nearly one million Israeli citizens did not matter then. Are we now to believe that the Council's latest incarnation is honest, objective and fair? The report ignores overwhelming evidence that Hamas intentionally operated from densely populated areas and from within hospitals and mosques, and booby-trapped civilian structures. The report makes no reference to the exploitation of civilians by Hamas and its use of human shields. It undermines every democracy defending itself against terrorist attacks. Israel is committed to acting in accordance with international law. The rules of armed conflict are part of the training of every Israeli soldier. Israel is committed to investigating every allegation of misconduct by its forces. Israel believes in the vision established by the UN of two states for two peoples. But the Goldstone report and this debate do not promote peace. They damage any effort to revitalize negotiations in our region. They deny Israel's right of self-defense. If Israel is asked to make concessions for peace, we must be assured of the right to defend ourselves.
2009-11-05 06:00:00
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