Thursday, October 21, 2010

Goldstone and the Guerilla Flotilla: An Emerging Pattern

UN Watch
20 October '10

Remarks of Trevor S. Norwitz
Delivered to the Lawfare Project Conference on October 5, 2010,
“Lawfare: Shared Implications for the U.S. and Israel.”
Published here by UN Watch by permission of the author.


One of the most troubling manifestations of Lawfare today is the increasing abuse of the instruments of international law, specifically to delegitimize and demonize one country (Israel) and to embarrass and weaken another (America).

I thought I would talk today about the latest contribution of the United Nations “Human Rights” Council to this phenomenon, namely its report on what might be called the Guerilla Flotilla (or, if you prefer, the Intifada Armada) which as you probably know was submitted to and accepted by that august body just a few days ago. After that, I’d like to offer a few general thoughts on the topic of Lawfare.

The Flotilla Report is the “Son of Goldstone.” Cut from the same cloth, it is a political manifesto masquerading as a fact-finding report. The main difference (aside from its scope) is that it does not bear the name of a prominent Jew and self-styled “Zionist” and so it is easier to just treat like all the other anti-Israel detritus that has come out of the UN over the years.

It is not surprising that the Flotilla Report looks, feels and smells just like the Goldstone Report given its genesis. Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal specifically called for the HRC to commission “another Goldstone Report.” After all, Goldstone excoriated Israel and exonerated Hamas (contrary to how many in the press have chosen to characterize it). Needless to say, Hamas - along with Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, Iran and all those other champions of human rights around the world - are simply thrilled with the results of this mission as well. They could not have written it better themselves.

(Read full presentation)

If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.
.

No comments:

Post a Comment