How ironic that Richard Goldstone’s retraction of his libelous report alleging Israeli “war crimes” — commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council — came just two days after the Obama administration announced it would seek re-election to that same body.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Goldstone’s stunning admission, in a Washington Post oped, that — contrary to his report’s conclusion — Israel did not intentionally target civilians during the 2008 war in Gaza.
But Netanyahu is being way too charitable.
After all, Goldstone is merely acknowledging what was apparent to nearly any reasonable and objective observer. That it took him this long to realize the truth is shameful, not praiseworthy.
As Jeffrey Goldberg writes in The Atlantic: “It is somewhat difficult to retract a blood libel once it has been broadcast across the world.”
And once it has been used, not just by the United Nations but by Israel-haters everywhere to demonize the Jewish state.
Goldstone, of course, made sure to blame Israel for not cooperating with his sham investigation, suggesting that his report “would have been a different document” otherwise.
But Israel recognized a kangaroo court when it was hauled into one — and, anyway, Jerusalem’s evidence was available, even if not submitted formally.
Amazingly, Goldstone only now acknowledges what he should have admitted at the outset: The Human Rights Council’s “history of bias against Israel cannot be doubted.”
All the more tragic, then, that Team Obama, which reversed George W. Bush’s decision to shun the HRC, now says it wants another three-year term.
The State Department claims there has been “a significant positive change in the council’s trajectory” since the US came aboard — by which it means investigations into women’s and gay rights.
As for the HRC’s “biased and disproportionate focus” on Israel — just last week, it voted to refer the Goldstone Report to the International Criminal Court — Washington “will continue its robust efforts to end it.”
Fat chance.
Yesterday, in fact, the HRC refused to retract the Goldstone Report, saying the author hadn’t formally asked it to do so.
Washington’s “robust efforts” should instead be directed towards abolishing this international laughingstock completely — not giving it an enthusiastic American endorsement.