by Joshua Lapide

Interior Minister Eli Yishai invites the South African judge to Israel to thank him for his “courage” on changing his view on the UN report, clearing Israel of the charge of war crimes. However, the minister’s and Goldstone’s statements over the UN report are at odds.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – South African Judge Richard Goldstone, who a few days ago retracted some of the possible war crimes accusations against Israel in Gaza, said that he would not ask for the nullification of the report he prepared for the United Nations. Israel’s Interior minister said the opposite and invited the judge for a visit to Israel.

Published in September 2009, the Goldstone Report concluded that both Israel and the militant Palestinian group, Hamas, had committed potential war crimes during Israel’s ‘Cold Lead’ operation in Gaza by targeting civilians.

Because of the report, Goldstone, a South African Orthodox Jews was vilified in Israel and among world Jews, and was banished from his synagogue.

A few days ago, he changed his earlier views. In an article published in the Washington Post, he said that Israel did not “intentionally” commit war crimes against civilians.

Goldstone’s change of heart has been praised by Jews, especially Israeli politicians who want to see the report cancelled.

Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai (pictured), speaking on army radio, said he invited Goldstone to Israel, to thank him for his “courage”, and that the judge would get the UN report nullified.

Goldstone, for his part, told AP that he spoke to Yishai, to thank him for the invitation to visit Israel, but did not tell him that he would demand the report’s nullification.

During operation ‘Cast Lead’ in December 2008-January 2009, at least 1,400 Palestinian died, hundreds of them civilians, as well as 13 Israelis, including three civilians.

• israel
• palestine
• gaza
• cast
• lead
• war
• crimes
• united
• nations