Israel

[Nightwatch]

IDF set to counter Goldstone Report

The IDF report to be submitted in response to the Goldstone Report will include photographed evidence contradicting war crime charges against Israel.

The New York Times published Saturday findings from the IDF report that contradict some of Goldstone's claims regarding destruction in Gaza during Israel's Operation Cast Lead.

Among other things, a flourmill that was said to have been targeted by Israeli warplanes was in fact hit by Hamas fire, according to Israel's rebuttal. In another case, Israel will argue that a sewage facility said to have been deliberately targeted by the IDF was mistakenly hit during a firefight with Hamas.

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"I have read every report, from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Arab League,” Mandelblit was quoted as saying. “We ourselves set up investigations into 140 complaints. It is when you read these other reports and complaints that you realize how truly vicious the Goldstone Report is. He made it look like we set out to go after the economic infrastructure and civilians, that it was intentional. It’s a vicious lie.”

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EDIT

Netanyahu: Settlement blocs forever Israeli

Ahead of Tu B'Shvat holiday, prime minister plants trees with West Bank settlers, says 'vast majority of Israel's citizens accept settlement blocs as inseparable part of Israel'

"The message is clear – we are here and will remain here. We are planting and building; this is an inseparable part of the State of Israel," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday during a tree-planting tour of the West Bank settlement blocs.
[...]

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