October saw a flourish of articles on five issues in both English and Israeli media. They were the Goldstone Report and its attendant calls for universal jurisdiction, the reconciliation talks between leading Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, rising tensions in Jerusalem and the decline in Turkish-Israeli relations.
The UN report written by Judge Richard Goldstone into Operation Cast Lead; its findings that both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, and its recommendations in that regard have continued to cause a furore more than six weeks after its publication. Israel refused to take part in Goldstone's investigation which greatly impacted on the international community.
And as a measure to counter the effects of the report, to pre-empt international war crimes investigations and universal jurisdiction cases being brought against its officials, Israel began discussions around the formation of an official commission inquiry. Some Israeli commentators have questioned Netanyahu's delay in calling for an official inquiry, while others criticised the Israeli government for refusing to cooperate with the UN delegation prior to the publishing of the damning report. A louder voice from within the Israeli media was that of condemnation of Goldstone and his 'anti-Israeli' stance, calling it a deliberate 'set-up' and conspiracy to 'de-legitimize the state of Israel'.
On October 2nd Palestinian Authority representative in Geneva called for a deferral of a vote with the Human Rights Council on the report. The PA suggested that a delay was needed in order to consolidate international support. This shocking decision came in the wake of 'intense diplomacy' by Washington and Tel Aviv to convince Abbas that the resolution would only harm the peace process. However, the backlash against Mahmud Abbas, both at home and abroad, on account of his decision forced him to backtrack apparently in a desperate attempt to restore his reputation and the PA's credibility. The Israeli media were none the kinder, with commentators questioning the ability of Abbas to govern and maintain his position as President effectively.
Despite one totally absurd assertion in the Guardian that the report was a 'moral atrocity', some allegations of Goldstone's partiality and the personal flack he has come in for, including being labelled a 'self-hating Jew', his courage & dedication in bringing war criminals to justice is commonly acknowledged. Quite contrary to being anti-Semitic, his actions were in fact pro- Israel. His report encourages and challenges Israel to investigate itself impartially; to allow its victims a platform and to bring its criminals to justice and thus to re-capture for itself a semblance of humanity.
On Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's recent visit to the UK, attempts were made to secure his arrest. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention individual contracting states are obliged to prosecute alleged perpetrators of serious crimes and grave breaches of the Convention. The application for Barak's arrest warrant was based on his alleged responsibility for war crimes committed during Operation Cast Lead. Although the attempt was unsuccessful as Barak enjoys state immunity, the episode sparked fears in Israel that its officials face the constant risk of prosecution when travelling abroad. The Barak case has set a precedent which along with the Goldstone report will boost the development of universal jurisdiction. Subsequent to Barak's attempted arrest, Israeli vice-prime minister Moshe Ya'alon turned down an invitation to Britain following legal advice that he could face arrest for an alleged atrocity committed in 2002. Israel's bid to force changes to British laws that allow for private citizens to request such prosecution warrants has been unsuccessful.
Reconciliation Talks between Hamas and Fatah
At the beginning of the month it appeared that Hamas and Fatah were on a dead set course for reconciliation in a unity and power-sharing deal brokered by Egypt. Both factions were optimistic about the compromises reached and were scheduled to finalise details of the agreement in Cairo on October 25th. The agreement sought co-operation between the two in the rebuilding of Gaza and preparation for elections. However, following Mahmoud Abbas' ill conceived decision to defer the UN resolution on the Goldstone report, Hamas issued a statement that effectively brought the deal to grinding a halt. Though Hamas recognises the importance of reconciliation, it branded Abbas' decision a "crime and scandal" and asserted the necessity that his actions be punished.
However according to Israeli media many in the Palestinian and Israeli camp are dubious of any reconciliation attempts citing doubts as to how the two parties could resolve their fundamental differences. One commentator in the Israeli media suggested that this 'reconciliation' between the two was 'a marriage' that neither of them wants. Both parties are unhappy with the details of the agreement and 'abhor each other' so much so that Egypt had 'to send them each a copy of the agreement by fax so they could sign it separately and return it to Cairo'. Hamas, at one point, accepted the reconciliation document in principle - before Egypt stipulated further conditions. Dr Sami Abu-Zuhri suggested that Hamas were being forced into a tight corner, with Egypt not being interested in further meetings due to the movement expressing their 'dissatisfaction' over the changes made without their knowledge. Egypt was further dissuaded from brokering any reconciliation by the US, who believes it will undermine any progress made in the peace talks between Israel and Palestine. One article in the Haaretz stated that any reconciliation would have to take on board 'particular terms…laid out by the Quartet'. Together with the controversial Goldstone report and unsupportive voices coming from the US, the reconciliation talks have come to a complete standstill, with one commentator in the Jerusalem Post noting that it was doomed from the start and was 'a marriage that neither the groom nor the bride want.'
Violence in Jerusalem
Al-Aqsa Mosque has, for over a month, been the focus of intermittent clashes between disenfranchised Palestinian youths and Israeli security forces. Sparked by the call from a group of radical Jewish extremists to march on Islam's third holiest site that is situated in Occupied East Jerusalem, eruptions of violence reflect an urgent fear among Muslims.
Israeli actions have incurred both Palestinian and international condemnation. The Organization of Islamic Conference and the Arab League protested the storming of the mosque by Israeli police. Jordan demanded an immediate halt to incursions into the mosque compound while Palestinian officials accused Israel of escalating tensions and stoking violence. In turn Israeli cabinet ministers pointed the finger at the charismatic Sheikh Raed Saleh, leader of the Islamic movement in Israel, while the Israeli press variously blamed the unrest on Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.
Israeli efforts to exert control over East Jerusalem; allowing over 200,000 settlers to set up camp; the heavy restriction of Palestinian planning permits; the enforcement of frequent house demolitions and Jerusalem's urban planning scheme in combination with Jewish extremism being allowed to enter the mainstream under Netanyahu, the ineffectiveness of secular and traditional Palestinian leadership and a phantom peace process have all left Palestinians feeling utterly frustrated.
The World Economic Forum held in Davos earlier this year saw Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan storm out of a session in outrage and protest at Israel's onslaught on Gaza. Tensions have continued to run high with Turkey withdrawing its invitation for Israeli participation in the planned joint military exercise, "Anatolian Eagle", scheduled to have taken place earlier this month. This freeze in diplomatic ties between the two states comes as blow to Israel who convened an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the damage incurred by its most significant relationship in the region. Nevertheless, many Israelis and their more blinkered officials appear at a complete loss faced with such keenly expressed Turkish indignation and are unable to digest that their conduct during the offensive could possibly be the source. The impact for Israel of the potential loss of Turkey as an ally cannot be overstated at a time when regional allegiances and friendships are being re-aligned and Turkey's influence grows.
The irreparable damage Israel has inflicted on itself in the eyes of the world; through its indiscriminate assault on a defenceless civilian population is clearly highlighted by popular Turkish backing for their government's stance. Most telling of all has been the response of the Turkish military that would in other times have resisted their government's position due to their strong ties with Israel. Within the Israeli media, the issue of Turkey has polarised opinions; on one end the more cautious commentators highlighting the loss of an ally and important source of trade such as the military industries, that treated Turkey as a huge potential client, but since the cancellation of the joint-military exercise, this has completely changed. It is also a source of natural resources, especially water, with Israeli commentators highlighting the depleting water reserves, although surprisingly the Israelis are currently in negotiations to purchase water from Turkey. On the other side, the more hard-lined commentaries are apprehensive of Turkey's 'special' relationship with Iran and suggest that Turkey is 'exploiting Israel[i] hatred in order to reinforce its domestic status and advance other issues'. Moreover, the European Union and other major powers should scrutinise Turkey's application to the EU. One commentator lamented the hypocrisy coming out of Erdogan's disengagement policy towards Israel and Operation Cast Lead and 'yet postpones to an unknown future date the question of addressing the Armenian holocaust'.
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