Commentary and Newsletters

Anne Bayefsky

UPDATE OF DATES AND TIMES: The Goldstone Inquiry: The UN Blood Libel

Friday, September 11, 2009

The Goldstone report, whose release is imminent, will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in person by Goldstone on 29 September 2009, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Geneva time). The UN has scheduled an entire 3 hours for discussion of the Goldstone report and the report of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, Navi Pillay, also on Gaza – what is in effect another special session devoted to the UN blood libel against the Jewish state. Goldstone's oral presentation will be followed by a "dialogue" with the members of the Council. The proceedings will be webcast.

Back-to-back Goldstone and Pillay report discussions makes sense for the UN. Pillay's 80 paragraph report devotes 66 paragraphs to Israel and 8 paragraphs to Hamas. Her recommendations mention only Israel and never name "Hamas." In fact, she suggests that this antisemitic organization dedicated to genocide against the Jewish people is serious about human rights -"Hamas has also made public statements that it is committed to respect international human rights and humanitarian law."

Behind the scenes states will be negotiating the consequences of the Goldstone report – which will undoubtedly spawn one or more Israel-bashing resolutions. The resolution(s) will in turn undoubtedly call for a "follow-up" report on one or more libelous recommendations, which will lead to more resolutions (and so on and so forth). The Council has already adopted more resolutions and decisions condemning Israel than all other 191 UN member states combined.

The Obama administration, which will be seated at the UN Human Council as a member for the first time, will be faced with the real-life world of the UN and "human rights." In the past, Canada would call for the vote on lop-sided anti-Israeli resolutions, while the EU took cover.

Here is the current timetable for the forthcoming Human Rights Council 12th Session:

  • Agenda Item 7: Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories is scheduled for 29 September 2009, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3 p.m.- 6 p.m. (Geneva time)
  • Goldstone is scheduled to present his Report on 29 September 2009, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Geneva time)
  • Anti-Israel resolutions to be introduced on 1 and 2 October
  • Voting on anti-Israel resolutions is scheduled to take place on 1 and 2 October