Judge named to lead Gaza inquiry is known for fairness

[bemildred]

Reporting from Johannesburg, South Africa, and Jerusalem -- Richard Goldstone, a quiet, self-effacing jurist from South Africa, agonized for days over the job offer: unravel the accusations and counter-accusations of war crimes related to Israel's winter assault on the Gaza Strip.

The United Nations resolution ordering the inquiry was a hot potato. It focused on alleged "grave violations" by Israel, but not on rocket fire by Palestinian militants. Several experts invited to serve on the U.N. Human Rights Council's fact-finding mission had refused because they considered the mandate one-sided, a U.N. official said.

Goldstone, a Jew, insisted on a balanced approach. His proposal: Talk to the victims. All the victims.

When his appointment to lead the mission was announced Friday, it was clear that he had taken the job on his terms.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-goldstone8-2009apr08,0,5260353.story

[EFerrari]

1. Something has change if this is going forward.

I was ready for the whole thing to be dropped.

[Jefferson23]

2. If each side lets this go forward it will be one of the most important first

steps to be taken since the election, to refuse it will only lead to increased hostility.



"This is almost a no-win situation for Israel," said another official, who thinks the government might bar Goldstone and his team from Israel and Gaza. A decision will be made in the coming weeks as the new government gets organized, he said.

Hamas offered conflicting responses to the fact-finding team. Yousef Rezka, an advisor to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, said the team would receive "complete cooperation" from government officials in Gaza.

But Ayman Taha, a senior Hamas official, said there had been no decision. He told Al Arabiya television that the mission was biased "since its chairman is Jewish and . . . will no doubt side with the Zionist enemy."