The Third Way: Finding Balance In Mideast Analysis

Just to quickly note, some seem to have thought that the translation of Michael Sfard’s op-ed was mine. It wasn’t. Just don’t want to be taking credit where it is not due.

Last week, we at B’Tselem told you about a resolution in the House of Representatives that criticized the Goldstone Report quite harshly, while omitting any reference to the Obama Administration’s repeated calls for a credible Israeli investigation into Operation Cast Lead. If you have not already done so, please click here to send an e-mail to your Representative urging him or her to vote “No” on this resolution.

Israeli human rights groups have sent a letter to Congress explaining why this resolution is counter-productive and harmful to our efforts to ensure accountability in Israel for Israeli actions. You can read the letter by clicking here (it requires the Acrobat reader; if you don’t have it, you can download it here for free).

Also, Judge Goldstone has personally responded to the Resolution. In a letter to Congress (which you can see yourself by clicking here, again requiring the Acrobat reader), Goldstone points out the many factual inaccuracies in the Resolution.

The Resolution is expected to get to the floor of Congress tomorrow, and will be voted on then, or soon thereafter. Please take action today.
Mitchell Plitnick
Director of US Office
B’Tselem: The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories

Calls are mounting, both inside Israel and from the international community, for a credible, independent investigation into Israel’s conduct in Operation Cast Lead. But a new resolution in Congress calls on President Obama to do everything he can to bury the Goldstone Report, while giving no support to the Obama Administration’s repeated call for a domestic investigation by Israel. Click here to tell your Representative to vote “No” on H. Res. 867.

From day one, B’Tselem and the broader human rights community have been calling for a comprehensive domestic inquiry into Israeli behavior in Operation Cast Lead. Israelis across the political spectrum are now supporting this call. Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor (Likud), Minister of Improvement of Government Services Michael Eitan (Likud), Minority Affairs Minister Avishay Braverman (Labor), and National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau (Yisrael Beiteinu) have all called for such an inquiry, as has Aryeh Deri, former leader of the Shas party.

Israelis are raising important questions about their country’s conduct in Gaza, and they have a right to answers. The civilian population in Gaza has a right to have their claims heard and addressed.

The Obama administration also supports a credible Israeli investigation, as was repeated by National Security Advisor James Jones at the J Street conference.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clearly been feeling the pressure, and if this momentum continues there is a real opportunity to ensure genuine Israeli accountability – and move beyond the polarized debate around the Goldstone report. This irresponsible bill in the House threatens to derail this momentum.

Click here to send an e-mail to your representative asking that they vote no on this bill.

H. Res. 867 is expected to come to the floor of the House next week. Please take action today, and spread the word as far as possible.

Jessica Montell

Wednesday September 30 at 3:30 p.m. EDT

B’Tselem’s US office is proud to co-sponsor this informative conference call, hosted by Ta’anit Tzedek.
The call will feature Jessica Montell, Executive Director of B’tselem and Fred Abrahams, researcher for Human Rights Watch in Gaza and Israel during and following the war. Jessica will be speaking from Jerusalem and Fred from Geneva where he will be attending the sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Commission.  This conference is open to all participants in Ta’anit Tzedek and to anyone who wishes to join the call.

Fred Abrahams

To sign up for the call, click here.   Space is limited.

This call is also co-sponsored by The Shalom Center and the Tikkun Community.