Abbas U-turn on war crimes report

[IndianaGreen]

Abbas U-turn on war crimes report

Sunday 04 October 2009

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas faced growing outrage at home on Sunday over his decision to withdraw support for a United Nations report that accused Israel of committing war crimes in last winter's Gaza war.

Mr Abbas's U-turn is the result of intense US pressure, Palestinian officials said.

<snip>

Palestine Liberation Organisation leaders met on Saturday night and demanded action.

Planning Minister Ali Jarbawi said that he would seek an explanation at a cabinet meeting today.

"The government decided to go ahead with the Goldstone report until the end, but someone made a mistake," he said. "There was a wrong decision and this is terribly bad."

Abbas aides defended the decision, saying that the Palestinians needed more time to win international support for the Goldstone report.

But Mr Abbas's spokesman said that Palestinian Economics Minister Bassem Khouri had resigned. It was unclear whether this was in protest at Mr Abbas's decision and Mr Khouri declined to comment.

In Gaza City, hundreds of school and university students skipped classes to stage a protest march on Saturday, while Gazans injured during the war - some missing limbs or using wheelchairs - organised a news conference.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/world/Abbas-U-turn-on-war-crimes-report

[Scurrilous]

1. Palestinians protest over UN report delay

<snip>

"Hundreds of people protested on Monday against the Palestinian Authority's support for delaying the endorsement of a UN report on possible war crimes committed during Israel's Gaza offensive.

The demonstration was held as anger mounted over the UN Human Rights Council's decision to delay consideration of the report compiled by former international war crimes prosecutor Richard Goldstone.

In the West Bank political capital of Ramallah, hundreds of people protested against the decision, waving placards saying the delay "insults the blood of the martyrs and wounds our people."

Another sign read: "Delaying the vote on the Goldstone report frees the hand of (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu in Jerusalem," referring to clashes earlier this week between police and Muslim protesters in the Old City.

The decision was also heavily criticised in the Palestinian media, with an editorial in the Al-Ayyam daily calling it a "scandal."

more

[oberliner]

2. Are you aware that "morningstaronline" is a Communist news organization? nt

[IndianaGreen]

3. It is a very good newspaper, that tells the truth, unlike your Jerusalem Post

that has American neocons on its board.

I'll take any of our British comrades over a single of your pro-settler allies.

Now that we know you are Joe McCarthy in disguise...

[oberliner]

5. I generally avoid posting from the Jerusalem Post

It seems to more often be posted as an example of RW opinion in Israel by those who wish to present Israel negatively.

Joe McCarthy accused people who were not Communists of being so.

The news source you used here proudly declares itself to be Communist.

[IndianaGreen]

8. They are British communists that opposed the war in Iraq, unlike AIPAC

Your "red scare" fear mongering smacks of Republican rightwing.

[oberliner]

10. AIPAC had no position on the merits of a war against Iraq before it started

Even so, if I were to post something that came from AIPAC (which I have not done) I would have no problem identifying the source as such.

[IndianaGreen]

12. Oh, please! We posted and debated how AIPAC held forums with neocons

during their convention on the lead up to the war, and how AIPAC's spokesman (it was a man) would say that they were not pushing for the war, but by the way, we are having so-and-so to tell us about Iraq's WMD program.

Why do you think so many Democrats lined up next to Bush in the Rose Garden to celebrate passage of Iraq War Resolution? Do you think for one minute that they really believe Saddam had WMD, or was it perhaps domestic politics that made them behave like good little soldiers?

[LeftishBrit]

13. Why do you think Blair and New Labour collaborated with Bush to invade Iraq?

Do you think that AIPAC controls the UK too?

[IndianaGreen]

14. No AIPAC in the UK

Tony Blair was just Bush's poodle, as the Downing Street memo showed:

As originally reported in the The Sunday Times, May 1, 2005

SECRET AND STRICTLY PERSONAL - UK EYES ONLY

DAVID MANNING
From: Matthew Rycroft
Date: 23 July 2002
S 195 /02

cc: Defence Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Attorney-General, Sir Richard Wilson, John Scarlett, Francis Richards, CDS, C, Jonathan Powell, Sally Morgan, Alastair Campbell

IRAQ: PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING, 23 JULY

Copy addressees and you met the Prime Minister on 23 July to discuss Iraq.
This record is extremely sensitive. No further copies should be made. It should be shown only to those with a genuine need to know its contents.

John Scarlett summarised the intelligence and latest JIC assessment. Saddam's regime was tough and based on extreme fear. The only way to overthrow it was likely to be by massive military action. Saddam was worried and expected an attack, probably by air and land, but he was not convinced that it would be immediate or overwhelming. His regime expected their neighbours to line up with the US. Saddam knew that regular army morale was poor. Real support for Saddam among the public was probably narrowly based.

C reported on his recent talks in Washington. There was a perceptible shift in attitude. Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy. The NSC had no patience with the UN route, and no enthusiasm for publishing material on the Iraqi regime's record. There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action.

CDS said that military planners would brief CENTCOM on 1-2 August, Rumsfeld on 3 August and Bush on 4 August.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/1

[oberliner]

16. Well I don't believe I've ever posted anything from AIPAC

Whereas you, on the other hand, have posted from Communist news sources.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

[IndianaGreen]

18. There you go again...

[LeftishBrit]

6. No, 'Joe McCarthy in disguise' isn't Oberliner

He's the right-winger who posts every now and then from your account, accusing all AIPAC members of treason.

[IndianaGreen]

7. Oberliner played the role of Joe McCarthy

Give me a frakking break!

[oberliner]

9. I just asked if you knew if the source was Communist

I do not question your right to post it, nor do I have any problem with you yourself being a Communist if you so choose.

Zero similarity to Joe McCarthy and no "Red Scare" tactics.

[IndianaGreen]

11. Just like a rightwinger would do!

I suppose you would also disapprove of socialist and anarchist sources.

[oberliner]

17. Or a Democrat?

There aren't too many Communists among the Democratic party that I am aware of.

Far more AIPAC supporters, that's for sure.

[IndianaGreen]

19. of which you are one?

C'mon, fezz up. You love AIPAC.

[oberliner]

20. A Democrat? Yes - are you?

It's not entirely clear to me.

[IndianaGreen]

21. There is no such thing as a Democratic Party card or dues

If by Democrat one means someone that votes in the Democratic primary, then I fall in that category.

[oberliner]

22. Well I guess it is one hell of a big tent! nt

[IndianaGreen]

23. What did you expect from a 2-party duopoly!

If America were more like Israel when it comes to elections, we would have a rather different political landscape, and I would be in a political party that I would be totally comfortable with.

[LeftishBrit]

15. And I 'm Queen Victoria!

Well, it makes as much sense as your claim.

[Scurrilous]

4. Syria postpones Palestinian president's visit

<snip>

"Syria has postponed a planned visit by the Palestinian president amid controversy about his decision to suspend efforts to have Israeli officials prosecuted for war crimes over last winter's military offensive in Gaza, a Syrian official said Monday.

The official refused to specify the exact reason for postponing Mahmoud Abbas' visit, which was scheduled to begin Tuesday. But the decision came a day after Syria criticized the Abbas-led Palestinian Authority for backing down against Israel. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3785832,00.html