The United Nations Human Rights Council appointed former U.N. war crimes prosector Richard Goldstone to head the investigation into potential human rights violations by Israel and Hamas during the Gaza offensive several months ago. Israel notified Goldstone that it is "impossible to cooperate with the committee." Hamas is yet to declare whether or not it will cooperate. Despite Goldstone's Jewish background and involvement in Israeli institutions, such as Hebrew University, Israel protested the investigation on several grounds, including the claim the mandate was one-sided. One official also claimed the Human Rights Council resolution giving way to the committee was not supported by most democratic countries.
Human Rights Watch urged Hamas and Israel to cooperate with the Goldstone investigation.
HEADLINES
Palestine
Palestinians have no peace partner: Marwan Barghouti (AFP)
Jailed Fatah leader calls on rival factions to end political rift (Xinhua)
Tension builds in Jerusalem as settlers threaten to invade the Al Aqsa mosque Thursday (IMEMC)
Palestinian ex-intelligence chief doubts about Hamas' acceptance of holding legislative elections (Xinhua)
Israeli military kidnaps Palestinian man at checkpoint in northern West Bank (IMEMC)
Exiled Hamas leader meets British MPs (Reuters UK)
Palestinian waging long battle to live in his home (The National)
Fatah, Hamas to resume unity talks on April 23 (Ha'aretz)
Woman Recalls "Horrific" Israeli Detention (Islam Online)
Fayyad: Israel must take bold steps if it wants peace talks (Ma'an News Agency)
Israel
BBC panel finds broadcaster breached guidelines on Israel (Ha'aretz)
The Neighbors
Jordan jails 'Hamas spies' (Aljazeera.net)
Egypt detains Palestinians, finds TNT near Gaza (Reuters)
Hezbollah denies Egypt accusations (Aljazeera.net)
Egypt, Israel, boost military presence on borders (IMEMC)
Israeli troops arrest Syrian in Golan - army (Reuters)
Jordan convicts three Hamas militants who operated in country (The Associated Press)
US Foreign Policy
US envoy meets Algerian president (The Associated Press)
George Mitchell to promote 2-State solution in West Asia (All India Radio)
Mitchell meets Moroccan FM, Algerian President (International Middle East Media Center)
Obama to drop uranium precondition for Iran nuclear talks (guardian.co.uk)
International Law/Relations
Ahmadinejad’s Plan to Attend Durban II Prompts New Boycott Calls (CNSNews.com)
Blair: Netanyahu will back establishment of Palestinian state (Ynetnews)
Iran complains to UN about Israeli 'threats' (Reuters)
Activism
Event stresses Palestinian plight (Red and Black)
Art
Finding a sense of home in "Salt of this Sea" (Electronic Intifada)
Palestinian government sends delegation to Jacir exhibit in NYC (Palestine News Network)
Commentary
Manuel Hassassian: Settlements endanger the two-state solution (Gulf Times)
George Giacaman: Why new Palestinian talks will fail (Daily Star)
Kathleen and Bill Christison: Solving Palestine While Israel Destroys It (CounterPunch)
Yossi Alpher: Lieberman's racism is helping ruin a constructive idea (Daily Star)
Daniel Levy: No Sphinx, But A Peace Challenge From Damascus (TPMCafé)
Ariela Rutkin-Becker: A Passover Message Re: Resistance (Cornell Daily Sun)
Ron Kampeas: Mapping the possible Netanyahu-Obama fault lines (Canadian Jewish News)
Views expressed on this post or on linked web pages do not represent the Palestine Center, the educational program of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development. All content is for educational purposes only.
