Ashkenazi: Goldstone report is deceitful

The Jerusalem Post ^ | 1 February 2010 | JPost.com Staff

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Photo by: IDF Spokesperson

IDF chief says army began investigating itself before "we heard of Goldstone."

IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi described the Goldstone Report as flawed and deceitful, and objected to the formation of an independent commission to investigate IDF officers and commanders.

Speaking to a forum of senior members of the general staff, the IDF chief said that “immediately following Operation Cast Lead we began to investigate ourselves in order to learn and to reach conclusions. We did this even before we heard of the name Goldstone. We are investigating and interrogating for ourselves and not for anyone else. We must contend with the challenges presented by this report, but not via a commission of inquiry.”

After months of opposition, the IDF chief and Defense Minister Ehud Barak recently modified their objections to the establishment of any independent commission, coming around to the idea of setting up a judicial investigative panel to review internal IDF investigations and determine whether they were thorough enough and lived up to accepted legal standards. However, they remain adamant in their demand that this commission not have the authority to examine officers and soldiers.

[anotherview]

The U.S. Congress has said it, President Obama has said it, the former British commander in Afghanistan has said it: Goldstone is a biased piece of political propaganda. Those who hate Israel continue to treat this discredited piece of nonsense as is it's the truth and so does much of the media.

A good blog piece published today on the subject: here.

[anotherview]

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