Wow, just, WOW- National Association of Muslim American Women

[provincialfoot]

NAMAW Submits Goldstone Report to International Criminal Court

http://namaw.org/NAMAW_News.html

Whereas such actions on the part of the Secretary of State, and/or the US Ambassador would be unfortunate, our concern is that even if by some chance the Goldstone Report does reach the UN Security Council, the US will use its veto to prevent the Security Council from referring the report to the International Criminal Court, thereby preventing the initiation of an investigation into the allegations made in the report, as required by article 53 of the Rome Statute.

Webmaster's Commentary: 

The US Congress and the United Nations have just been rendered irrelevant to this matter.

Those wishing to contact the Prosecutor's Office at the ICC to urge that action be taken on the Goldstone Report can reach them at

The Hon. Luis Moreno-Ocampo

[provincialfoot]

 

Office of the Prosecutor
Post Office Box 19519
2500 CM The Hague
The Netherlands

or sent by email to mailto:[e-mail],
or sent by facsimile to [phone].

http://whatreallyhappened.com/

http://namaw.org/NAMAW_News.html

[sweetie00]

'Unfortunately, in response to the UNHRC endorsement of the Goldstone Report and its findings, the US Congress is preparing to vote on and perhaps pass a non binding resolution that advises US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice to do what ever is necessary to prevent the Goldstone Report from reaching the UN Security Council, or the International Criminal Court. '

[sweetie00]

I will never understand how America can not only ignore in-your-face facts, but support these crimes as well. I guess this would lead the way for all US leaders to be held accountable, and that willl never happen, sadly.

[tericared]

Quoting sweetie00:

I will never understand how America can not only ignore in-your-face facts, but support these crimes as well. I guess this would lead the way for all US leaders to be held accountable, and that willl never happen, sadly.

[cowgirlsr2]

And just why would Clinton and Rice stop this report? What do Americans have to gain from it? Talk about conspiracy theories.Seems to me you think we want this to work out for Israels favor.From what I have read and from this story below it seems she is doing her best to bring peace between Palestine and Israel and she is making small head way.

Clinton urges restraint in push for Mideast peace

AFP/File - Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit speaks during a press conference in September 2009. On Monday, ...

• 
  
• 
  

By ROBERT BURNS, AP National Security Writer Robert Burns, Ap National Security Writer - Tue Nov 3, 6:11 am ET

MARRAKECH, Morocco - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday urged Arabs and Israelis to set aside their historical differences, avoid inflammatory rhetoric and recommit to attaining a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

In a speech at an international forum attended by senior government officials from the Mideast, North Africa and several major industrialized countries, Clinton struck a serious, cautious tone as she raised the matter of pursuing a comprehensive peace deal.

"I know this is a matter that is of grave and pervasive concern among the countries represented here, but even far beyond this region," she said. "We are committed to a two-state solution," she added, referring to the long-running U.S.-brokered effort to establish separate Israeli and Palestinian states. "And we are determined and persistent in the pursuit of that goal."

After speaking, Clinton was flying to Cairo for a hastily arranged meeting with senior Egyptian government officials, including President Hosni Mubarak. She had been scheduled to fly home Tuesday but said late Monday she would be traveling instead to Cairo to continue consultations on the peace process that she began Saturday in separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. The decision appeared linked to Egyptian concern about signs of a recalibration of the U.S. approach to the peace process.

Clinton caused a stir Saturday in Jerusalem when she said at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government's offer to restrain - but not stop - settlement activity in the West Bank and east Jerusalem was unprecedented. She offered unusually strong praise for Israeli peace efforts without explicitly mentioning positive acts by the Palestinians.

Arab governments interpreted her comments in Jerusalem as a tilting of U.S. policy toward Israel, but on Monday in Marrakech, Clinton issued what she called a clarification, saying her words in Jerusalem were meant as "positive reinforcement" for the Israelis. She added that Israel's effort still fell far short of U.S. expectations, and she added strong praise for the Palestinians.

She said the U.S. still believes that continued Israeli settlement activity is illegitimate - a point she failed to emphasize in Jerusalem.

In her speech Tuesday, Clinton referred to the importance of language, although aides said she was not referring to her own remarks in Jerusalem.

She urged a united effort in pursuit of the goal of comprehensive peace in the Mideast. "And I think that does require that all parties should be careful about what we say - the kind of recriminations that are so understandable. But we need to work together in a constructive spirit toward this shared goal of a comprehensive peace. I feel very strongly that it is attainable."

Clinton said President Barack Obama will not give up in his efforts to work through "the difficult and tangled history" of the Mideast conflict.

"As leaders of countries that have a direct stake and care deeply" about the fundamental issues that have to be resolved in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, she said, "I would just ask you to think about how we can each demonstrate the commitment that is necessary for us to go forward. We can maintain an allegiance to the past, but we cannot change the past. No matter what we say about it, it is behind us."

Israeli-Palestinian negotiations broke off more than a year ago.

Palestinian leaders have said they will not return to peace talks with Israel unless it halts all settlement building on lands they claim for a future state, and they believe Israel has blatantly defied a U.S. demand for a settlement freeze.

Palestinians see Jewish settlement building as one of the biggest threats to their ability to form a viable state in the territories of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Some 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005

[hsteele]

OK, so basically its like this: "yes you murdered women and children, destroyed homes and committed many other crimes that would be considered war crimes, but in the interest of "peace" forget about it." ????? Really? So lets leave all these crimes alone, not like its gonna fester until after 5 - 10 years of "peace" it all explodes again. Both sides need to answer for crimes committed, resolve the issues. Only then can a REAL peace be made. Sweeping the shit into the corner only creates a big pile of shit in a corner.

Quoting cowgirlsr2:

And just why would Clinton and Rice stop this report? What do Americans have to gain from it? Talk about conspiracy theories.Seems to me you think we want this to work out for Israels favor.From what I have read and from this story below it seems she is doing her best to bring peace between Palestine and Israel and she is making small head way.

Clinton urges restraint in push for Mideast peace

AFP/File - Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit speaks during a press conference in September 2009. On Monday, ...

• 
  
• 
  

By ROBERT BURNS, AP National Security Writer Robert Burns, Ap National Security Writer - Tue Nov 3, 6:11 am ET

MARRAKECH, Morocco - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday urged Arabs and Israelis to set aside their historical differences, avoid inflammatory rhetoric and recommit to attaining a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

In a speech at an international forum attended by senior government officials from the Mideast, North Africa and several major industrialized countries, Clinton struck a serious, cautious tone as she raised the matter of pursuing a comprehensive peace deal.

"I know this is a matter that is of grave and pervasive concern among the countries represented here, but even far beyond this region," she said. "We are committed to a two-state solution," she added, referring to the long-running U.S.-brokered effort to establish separate Israeli and Palestinian states. "And we are determined and persistent in the pursuit of that goal."

After speaking, Clinton was flying to Cairo for a hastily arranged meeting with senior Egyptian government officials, including President Hosni Mubarak. She had been scheduled to fly home Tuesday but said late Monday she would be traveling instead to Cairo to continue consultations on the peace process that she began Saturday in separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. The decision appeared linked to Egyptian concern about signs of a recalibration of the U.S. approach to the peace process.

Clinton caused a stir Saturday in Jerusalem when she said at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government's offer to restrain - but not stop - settlement activity in the West Bank and east Jerusalem was unprecedented. She offered unusually strong praise for Israeli peace efforts without explicitly mentioning positive acts by the Palestinians.

Arab governments interpreted her comments in Jerusalem as a tilting of U.S. policy toward Israel, but on Monday in Marrakech, Clinton issued what she called a clarification, saying her words in Jerusalem were meant as "positive reinforcement" for the Israelis. She added that Israel's effort still fell far short of U.S. expectations, and she added strong praise for the Palestinians.

She said the U.S. still believes that continued Israeli settlement activity is illegitimate - a point she failed to emphasize in Jerusalem.

In her speech Tuesday, Clinton referred to the importance of language, although aides said she was not referring to her own remarks in Jerusalem.

She urged a united effort in pursuit of the goal of comprehensive peace in the Mideast. "And I think that does require that all parties should be careful about what we say - the kind of recriminations that are so understandable. But we need to work together in a constructive spirit toward this shared goal of a comprehensive peace. I feel very strongly that it is attainable."

Clinton said President Barack Obama will not give up in his efforts to work through "the difficult and tangled history" of the Mideast conflict.

"As leaders of countries that have a direct stake and care deeply" about the fundamental issues that have to be resolved in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, she said, "I would just ask you to think about how we can each demonstrate the commitment that is necessary for us to go forward. We can maintain an allegiance to the past, but we cannot change the past. No matter what we say about it, it is behind us."

Israeli-Palestinian negotiations broke off more than a year ago.

Palestinian leaders have said they will not return to peace talks with Israel unless it halts all settlement building on lands they claim for a future state, and they believe Israel has blatantly defied a U.S. demand for a settlement freeze.

Palestinians see Jewish settlement building as one of the biggest threats to their ability to form a viable state in the territories of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Some 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005

[sweetie00]

They would stop it because it would open the door for world leaders to be prosecuted for war crimes- including Bush and Obama. The israeli lobby is too powerful to let that happen. Also, regarding israel, Clinton is all talk and no action. Our actions actually show SUPPORT for what israel is doing-monetary support, inaction against the settlements, etc. All talk.

Quoting cowgirlsr2:

And just why would Clinton and Rice stop this report? What do Americans have to gain from it? Talk about conspiracy theories.Seems to me you think we want this to work out for Israels favor.From what I have read and from this story below it seems she is doing her best to bring peace between Palestine and Israel and she is making small head way.

Clinton urges restraint in push for Mideast peace

AFP/File - Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit speaks during a press conference in September 2009. On Monday, ...

• 
  
• 
  

By ROBERT BURNS, AP National Security Writer Robert Burns, Ap National Security Writer - Tue Nov 3, 6:11 am ET

MARRAKECH, Morocco - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday urged Arabs and Israelis to set aside their historical differences, avoid inflammatory rhetoric and recommit to attaining a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

In a speech at an international forum attended by senior government officials from the Mideast, North Africa and several major industrialized countries, Clinton struck a serious, cautious tone as she raised the matter of pursuing a comprehensive peace deal.

"I know this is a matter that is of grave and pervasive concern among the countries represented here, but even far beyond this region," she said. "We are committed to a two-state solution," she added, referring to the long-running U.S.-brokered effort to establish separate Israeli and Palestinian states. "And we are determined and persistent in the pursuit of that goal."

After speaking, Clinton was flying to Cairo for a hastily arranged meeting with senior Egyptian government officials, including President Hosni Mubarak. She had been scheduled to fly home Tuesday but said late Monday she would be traveling instead to Cairo to continue consultations on the peace process that she began Saturday in separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. The decision appeared linked to Egyptian concern about signs of a recalibration of the U.S. approach to the peace process.

Clinton caused a stir Saturday in Jerusalem when she said at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government's offer to restrain - but not stop - settlement activity in the West Bank and east Jerusalem was unprecedented. She offered unusually strong praise for Israeli peace efforts without explicitly mentioning positive acts by the Palestinians.

Arab governments interpreted her comments in Jerusalem as a tilting of U.S. policy toward Israel, but on Monday in Marrakech, Clinton issued what she called a clarification, saying her words in Jerusalem were meant as "positive reinforcement" for the Israelis. She added that Israel's effort still fell far short of U.S. expectations, and she added strong praise for the Palestinians.

She said the U.S. still believes that continued Israeli settlement activity is illegitimate - a point she failed to emphasize in Jerusalem.

In her speech Tuesday, Clinton referred to the importance of language, although aides said she was not referring to her own remarks in Jerusalem.

She urged a united effort in pursuit of the goal of comprehensive peace in the Mideast. "And I think that does require that all parties should be careful about what we say - the kind of recriminations that are so understandable. But we need to work together in a constructive spirit toward this shared goal of a comprehensive peace. I feel very strongly that it is attainable."

Clinton said President Barack Obama will not give up in his efforts to work through "the difficult and tangled history" of the Mideast conflict.

"As leaders of countries that have a direct stake and care deeply" about the fundamental issues that have to be resolved in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, she said, "I would just ask you to think about how we can each demonstrate the commitment that is necessary for us to go forward. We can maintain an allegiance to the past, but we cannot change the past. No matter what we say about it, it is behind us."

Israeli-Palestinian negotiations broke off more than a year ago.

Palestinian leaders have said they will not return to peace talks with Israel unless it halts all settlement building on lands they claim for a future state, and they believe Israel has blatantly defied a U.S. demand for a settlement freeze.

Palestinians see Jewish settlement building as one of the biggest threats to their ability to form a viable state in the territories of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Some 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005

[cowgirlsr2]

Wow is just right for this post 1st they are making some head way for Palestine and all everyone can talk about is war crimes.  Do you think if it was talked about and posted everywhere that they were going to punish for war crimes they would get anywhere with these guys?It would just make it worse .It's odd I say something negative about the Obama adminastration I am a reich wing nut you ladies do it is understandable.I say you might give Clinton a little wiggle room and see if she doesn't at least try to get somewhere.It's alot more than others have done.

[Della529]

HILLARY CLINTON....UGHHHHH!

[Della529]

Interesting to note the two who co-sponsored this resolution and how it's being supported by Jewish groups who adamantly deny Israel's culpability.

For those who aren't aware, Richard Goldstone is "a Zionist who loves Israel", but was the one who led the fact-finding mission to investigate international human rights and humanitarian law violations committed by Israel.  This is not the first time he has spoken out about war criminals and punishment READ.  He emphatically denies any bias in the report and regrets Israel's refusal to cooperate in the investigation HERE.  What does this say?  I wish people would look further than their nose!

Congress to weigh in on U.N.'s Gaza report

House resolution calls the findings 'irredeemably biased'

By Glenn Kessler

Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 31, 2009

 

The House of Representatives on Tuesday is poised to pass a nonbinding resolution condemning a controversial U.N. report on alleged Israeli war crimes in the Gaza Strip that has become a major complication in Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's diplomacy in the Middle East this weekend.

Clinton will meet in Abu Dhabi on Saturday with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who has seen his popularity plummet since he initially agreed under pressure from the Obama administration to defer U.N. consideration of the report. He later shifted course, and now the U.N. General Assembly will consider it on Wednesday. But Israeli officials have warned that any effort by the United Nations to add further legitimacy to the report will undermine the administration's efforts to relaunch peace talks with the Palestinians.

The resolution, co-sponsored by the two senior members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,  Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Calif.) and  Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), charges that the report by South African jurist Richard Goldstone for the U.N. Human Rights Council is "irredeemably biased and unworthy of further consideration or legitimacy," in part because it was based on "a flawed and biased mandate," and that the militant group Hamas was able to "significantly shape the findings of the investigation." Lawmakers expect it to win easy approval under a fast-track procedure that allows for no amendments.

The White House has taken no position on the House resolution, which is supported by many major Jewish organizations. The administration has previously said that the report is flawed but raises "important issues and serious allegations," and it has urged Israel to investigate its conduct in the conflict more closely.

"AIPAC, in concert with every mainstream pro-Israel organization in the United States, supports this important resolution," said Josh Block, a spokesman for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. "In echoing the administration's condemnation and calling for concrete action, Congress will be sending the strong message that the United States will not stand for turning the victim into the perpetrator."

However, a new Jewish organization, J Street, has taken a sharply different tack, saying it could not support the resolution as drafted. "The resolution will pass in its current form," said Jeremy Ben-Ami, executive director of J Street. "Yet it puts members of Congress in an uncomfortable box because it is factually inaccurate and contains gross misrepresentations" about the Goldstone report.

J Street this week held its first major conference in Washington, which included a major speech by national security adviser James L. Jones.

Israeli leaders say that they launched the Gaza war in self-defense, after years of Hamas rocket and mortar fire into Israel, and that the Goldstone study played down that part of the conflict. The Goldstone report focused on civilian casualties and whether Israeli military practices -- from the use of white phosphorus munitions to the conduct of combat soldiers -- did enough to minimize them. The report also charges that Hamas and its rival Palestinian faction, Fatah, have carried out attacks, including torture and assassinations, against each other's members.

Goldstone, in a letter to Berman and Ros-Lehtinen, has complained of numerous inaccuracies in the resolution about his report. But Lynne Weil, a spokeswoman for Berman, said that the chairman believes Goldstone's letter contains "a number of points that are inaccurate" and that he will "issue a complete response" to Goldstone before the House vote.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103003610.html