April saw Goldstone's 'retraction' bringing the 2009 UN report back to the fore; MEMO pays tribute to ISM activist Vittorio Arrigoni, and highlights other stories that made the headlines last month.
On Friday April 1st, Judge Richard Goldstone wrote an op-ed article in the Washington Post in which he gave a whitewashed apology to Israel for publishing the UN-commissioned report in 2009; he wrote, "If I had known then what I know now, the Goldstone report would have been a different document."
Following last month's escalation in Israeli hostilities against Gaza, including airstrikes against the Rafah tunnels, anti-tank missiles were fired into Israel from Gaza by unknown militants wounding two. Israeli Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, ordered a swift response with tanks opening fire indiscriminately across the border killing one and wounding several others. An attack was also launched against a Hamas training camp. Israeli aggression and a series of strikes resulted in the deaths of 19 Palestinians. There were fears of a large scale escalation including a ground invasion, but both parties have conceded that restraint would be preferable.
Hamas and Fatah have reportedly reached a historic deal brokered by Egypt to form a caretaker government composed of independent figures. It is thought that during talks, all outstanding issues were resolved and the following was agreed;
- Elections within a year
- The release of prisoners on both sides
- Reform of the security forces
- Reform and activation of the PLO and PLC
International authors, including prominent Israeli authors have come together to campaign against the deportation of Palestinian bookseller, Munther Fahmi.
On Thursday 14th April, news broke of Italian human rights activist, Vittorio Utopia Arrigoni's kidnapping by an unheard of 'Salafi' Palestinian group. He was later found dead by Hamas security forces in Gaza City. His murderers were eventually captured.
The High Court ruled on Tuesday 26 April that the Knesset must explain the reasons behind revoking Hanin Zuabi's privileges as a MK, which occurred after she participated in last year's flotilla to Gaza. "In the petition, Zuabi claims the aim of stripping her rights was to limit MKs' "political activities, especially those of minority representatives." The petition also accuses the Knesset of overstepping their authority."
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