Even perfidy is now gutless in Albion

Michael

And here they go again:

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO HOLD SPECIAL
SESSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
ON 15 OCTOBER

Adam Nordheim

Melanie, there's a nice write-up in the NYT about Dr. Tina Strobos, who helped save Dutch Jews during the German occupation. She risked her life to save people who in many cases were strangers, only because it was the right thing to do. It's sad to know that after the Holocaust and with all our progress agaisnt anti-Semitism, the British government is today afraid to take sides with the Jewish state against the enemies of all mankind. Dr. Strobos is 89 years old now, and still has bigger balls than anyone running England.

Mladen Andrijasevic

In this world full of Javier Solanas and Miguel Moratinoses, one man’s integrity, courage and decency stands out so vividly in contrast to the appeasement and cowardice that has swept the West. Colonel Richard Kemp shows that men like Orde Wingate still exist.

steve bronfman

Goldstone (the man) made a big song and dance about how he was being "balanced" in his report by also criticising Hamas as well as Israel. Israel and her supporters knew full well what would happen in advance, that Israel would not receive a fair "trial" by the UN and that Israels critics would simply use Goldstone's Jewish name as camouflage for a completely one-sided anti-zionist attack on Israel without criticism of Hamas.

Now this very scenario has eventuated. Israel is being made an example of with no sense of balance by a UN dominated by Muslim countries and their allies (Latin America, parts of Europe etc) and Goldstone (the man) has been proven to have been used as a propaganda tool by these anti-Israel anti-Jewish forces. He should really be ashamed of himself.

Fabio P.Barbieri

Let us not forget that the hated and despised Berlusconi, currently under concentric onslaught by hostile judges, an opposition that believes itself entitled to rule by divine right, and the Murdoch media empire (Robber Murder is mad at Berlusconi for not having allowed him special terms to invade the Italian media), has been acting decently. So, incredibly, have the Dutch. Under the Prodi government, the Foreign Minister d'Alema had been seen walking arm in arm with the leader of Hezbollah, and Prodi had actually sent thousands of Italian soldiers to rescue Hezbollah from annihilation when Sarkozy had decided that that would be one perfidy too far. Berlusconi may be ridiculous on the surface, but look at him under the surface and you will see that he, one, does the actual work of a Prime Minister - Prodi was even unable to stop Naples drowning under garbage; Berlusconi settled the problem in three weeks flat - and, two, tends to choose the right side more often than not. At one point, he had proposed that Israel should be invited to join the EU; this may not be the most desirable end for the Israelis, but it is certainly better than the obsession of Washington and London with bringing in the Turks.

GeoffM

Surely if Israel opened its borders to millions of Muslims to come and live in Israel and then denied its own religious and cultural heritage things would be fine.

They could ban Jewish symbols and religious days whilst celebrating the immigrants culture. The Jews could stop teaching their history to children and encourage them to embrace Sharia.

Obviously anyone who suggests that Jews should marry Jews or speaks out against these progressive changes should be vilified and shunned.

I'm sure it would work out well.

Just look at how successful it has been in the UK....

JOHN ROOSEVELT

What really makes a mockery of the UN and Goldstone is that, even by its own specious criteria, Hamas is unequivocally guilty of War crimes and/or Crimes against Humanity. Is it not true that they have never denied - indeed openly claimed responsibility for - deliberately targeting Israeli civilians with their rockets?? This is not a partizan view. The admissions are in the public domain for all of us to refer to.

The only defense put forward on Hamas's behalf, in this context, is that it has every right to do what it wants, when it comes to Israel, because it is an organisation of "freedom fighters". Perhaps so, but then the UN should stop blowing smoke and erecting mirrors and just come clean. They must just say that anything goes for an organisation like Hamas which the UN itself has defined as a "terrorist organisation". let the gloves come off and see where it leaves this hallowed forum...

Most tragically of all is that the con artists of the HRC are in fact condemning the impoverished peoples of Palestine to indefinite suffering. The future, I fear, will make Cast Lead look like a minor skirmish. The UN will have to take it's fair share of the responsibility for this eventuality - for all the good it will do us.

elixelx

I received a call from an incognito voice the other evening which demanded an immediate ransom of £5million to return my wife safe and sound!

I told it that it must have the WRONG NUMBER, since my wife was sitting beside me at that moment watching "Sex and the City"....

That's how the incognito voice, Britain, has tried to blackmail Israel, me, with a vote that it believes I can't live without!!

Sorry, Britain! WRONG NUMBER!

Andy Gill

Thank you Melanie for keeping this travesty of justice in the public eye.

Col. Kemp's comments show how far removed the UN is from reality. The lies it tells in its efforts to appease Islamic power truly beggar belief.

Britain's collusion in the UN's anti-semitic campaign of demonization is testament to the government's fear of the Islamic terrorists in our midst, and its spineless unwillingness to stand up to that threat.

Carl

Two points:

Colonel Kemp wasn't there
Colonel Kemp is paid to lecture in Israel, by Israel

just Louise

(I don't think the esteemed moderator likes me any more - this is the third comment of mine he's rejected in the past few days. I gave up with the previous two but I'm trying this one again!):
On its 4 pm bulletin on Thursday, the BBC led with this story, bringing into the studio as a sit-down commentator a triumphant Jeremy Bowen, who intoned interminably in that self-righteous way of his. Nowhere on the BBC, as far as I can tell, was Colonel Kemp's speech reported.
In contrast to the execrable BBC, Sky News, via reporter Dominic Waghorn, made clear to viewers that this vote in the UN was no surprise given the "bias" of so many of its member countries against Israel.
Incidentally, another of the craven Brown Government's ministers, Peter Hain, is challenging the BBC's decision to give an airing to the BNP. Lest anyone is tempted to think that Hain (who is doubtless positioning himself as a Labourleadership contender) might prove a better leader than the hapless, gutless Brown, I'd remind them that back in the '70s Hain was one of the most vociferous campaigners against Israel's very right to exist, calling for it to give way to a secular state of Palestine; he's been silent of late on this issue but I doubt he's changed his spots.

Mailman

You can see Milliband now, falling over himself to appear as fair as possible, while at the same time demanding that Israel make concessions otherwise they wont get Britains support!

Yes indeed, with friends like the UK, who needs enemies.

Mailman

phil

The UN Human Rights Council is for uncivilised people and cowards -I have said before and will repeat it now Israel needs to look after itself and to hell with the racist agenda of these people. The truth is not a subject of concern there .

Augustus

The Human Rights Council's malevolence towards Israel is legendary. Most members harbour deep hatred for Israel, and wish for no less than its destruction. It had even declared in advance that Israel was guilty of war crimes, and Judge Goldstone can only have underestimated or ignored this one-sided bias, and he should have been warned off by the refusal of several people before him to accept the job, including former Irish President
Mary Robinson. Israel was the Council's target, and because Goldstone is a Jew and enjoys international status his report
is deemed to carry more weight.

To present a valid report regarding Israel's intentions in Gaza it should be done properly with careful research and assessments in order to present a fair mix of historical, religious, cultural and political background which make up the complex situation. That knowledge is missing, and instead Israel is only presented as bad throughout. It follows the usual line of Israel's enemies, treating it as though Israel were a unique source of evil, not even considering the experience elsewhere where the military have taken on terrorists in a civilian setting. Israelis themselves need have no fear that, if any wrongs were done during Cast Lead, Israel will have the moral fibre to recognize and address those concerns. But what is certain is that Goldstone's accusations are skewed and unjustified.

Philip

I think that what has to be remembered here - and presented prominently in the public domain for Mr. & Mrs. Average - is the fact that the UNHRC is essentially a proxy for the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement (think Chavez' Venezuela, Mugabe's Zim, Burma etc.).

It is consequently headed up by the very, very last people on earth you would put in charge of human rights - the very embodiment of the argument that the UN has become irrelevant and impotent. Here are a couple of examples of its handiwork:

- Voted in 2007 to remove its own human rights investigators from Cuba and Belarus - and now relies on official state evidence in these particular beacons of excellence

- Rejected a proposal by Canada last year the war crimes charges be applied to the genocidal régime in Darfur (but naturally, delighted to have them slapped on Israel)

There is much, much more for anyone prepared to dig a little.

As I have argued more than once on my blog (undhimmi.com), any resolution passed by this coterie of despots should be regarded as the fruit of a very poisonous tree indeed.

Mr R

Carl: Two points.
1) YOU weren't there.
2) You always make anti-Israel comments, so of course you have done so again. That is what you do; it's as mindless and routine as that. Who knows who pays you to do so?

just Louise

Boy Miliband is going to a dinner of Jewish leaders tonight farewelling former Board of Deputies President Henry Grunwald.
Oh to be a fly on the wall!
What price Jonathan Hoffmann's petition re Goldstone now, though? It was framed in the expectation of a March vote. I'm happy to see that it's still gaining signatures, on principle.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/NoToGoldstone/

Ian C

Unfortunately the French did the same - so giving the UK some cover.

But it is safe to conclude that the peace process is almost dead and Obama's first attempts at getting heavy with israel have failed. He will no doubt now try to exert greater pressure. The idiot Milliband has no idea what he is dealing with.

Nick Cohen

Oi you nicked my column in today's Mail. That means lunch, with wine (not a cheap option let me assure you Madam) and free legal advice from Joshua whenever I need it

dominic lennon

It makes me ashamed to be British.

Brad Brzezinski

Carl makes a valid point about Col. Kemp; he could be biased. On the other his claims are so strong they cannot be ignored because if true, they make nonsense of the case against Israel.

But they have been ignored; by the Goldstone crew, the UNHRC and you. The nefarious agenda is still obvious to anyone able to think clearly.

George

Carl,

I HAVE spoken to soldiers who WERE there. I WAS in Sderot during a rocket attack. I HAVE read the Order of the Day given by the IDF's Paratroop Brigade's CO before he lead his troops into Gaza. I HAVE read the executive summary of Goldstone's report and have also read selected parts of the report itself. It isn't worth the paper it is written on.

Truthtriumphs

Carl.
Neither was Goldstone there.
If Kemp were after money, he could make much, much more by being pro-Arab. Unlike you he has integrity.

John Roosevelt.
The Palestinian Arabs are anything but impoverished.
They have/are receiving more money in aid per capita than any other people on the planet.
The Darfurians would be more than grateful to receive a fraction of that.

Fabio Barbieri.
LONG LIVE BERLUSCONI.

Philip

To Brad Brzezinski:

"Carl makes a valid point about Col. Kemp; he could be biased"

We are all biased in one way or another, but someone has to be right.

Here's a little of what I know about this:

Col. Kemp claims:

"The IDF did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare"

There is ample evidence to support this. The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes public information detailed data on these measures, including leaflet samples, transcripts and breakdowns by area and leaflet numbers of drops.

The material covers Gaza and the South Lebanon war of 2006.

There are also translations and audio files featuring recorded samples of the phone calls made to residents and examples of radio announcements/Break-in transmissions to local radio stations. The information can be viewed here:

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/IDF_warns_Gaza_population_7-Jan-2009.htm

The IDF make mass SMS message broadcasts well ahead of any action. I personally have copies of photographs of actual leaflet drops in Gaza.

Despite its sophisticated media network, Hamas offers little or nothing in the way of hard evidence, apart from the occasional waving of dead and injured bodies to the cameras of sympathetic agency stringers - very often the result of their habit of forcing civilians to remain in place in public buildings, whilst they are used as launch sites or gun positions - and the usual rhetoric of course.

Hamas is also becoming tech savvy and has started to send out text messages of its own to Israeli citizens. Here's one of them:

"Come on into Gaza. Lots of surprises waiting for your sons - the least of which is death".

Philip
www.undhimmi.com

just Louise

Speaking to the "Australian Jewish News", Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev described the Goldstone Report as "a Stalinist Show Trial" and the report as "born in sin". See www.ajn.com for the full report.

Carl

To Philip. At last, somebody here has finally grasped that the sending of mass sms messages is nothing more than psychological warfare, designed to terrify the civilian population of Gaza.

Well done!

To George, all very well, but soldiers fresh back from such a one sided campaign against civilians will be too ashamed to tell the truth.

Brandon

The Goldstone Report isn't going any further because the Coalition are as guily as Israel if Israel is convicted of War Crimes. The actions in Afghanistan and Iraq go beyond anything Israel is accused of. Remember one incident. The coaltition fired missiles into a civilian restaurant at the start of Gulf War II in order to try and kill Saddam Hussein and his sons alleged to be dining there. Deliberately firing at a civilian restaurant is SURELY a War Crime. If USA and UK put Israel in the dock then they will be next. It won't happen.

John Edwards

Good comment from Carl.

A look at his record shows that Col Richard Kemp is not some unbiased "military expert"

Philip

Nice line in debate Carl.. throwing stones and running away.

You ascribe an absurd conclusion to the facts I presented, then completely fail to justify it.

I'm sure you can do better than that - if you know your subject, that is - all I'm hearing from you so far is Gallowayesque rhetoric.

George

Carl,

You have no proof, so you simply retort to name-calling. You really are pathetic.

badile

Now look at what the former British commander in Afghanistan, Colonel Richard Kemp, told the UNHRC about Israel’s actions in Cast Lead:

Mr. President, based on my knowledge and experience, I can say this: During Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli Defense Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare. Israel did so while facing an enemy that deliberately positioned its military capability behind the human shield of the civilian population.

Was Richard Kemp even in Gaza during the conflict? I have seen nothing to suggest he has first hand knowledge of the conflict.

Philip

@ John Edwards

Explain what you mean by 'one look at his record..'.

His record looks highly distinguished and decorated from where I'm sitting.

Are you another Carl, lobbing in grenade-like comments you fail to substantiate; and running away?

mostly harmless

just Louise
'Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev described the Goldstone Report as "a Stalinist Show Trial" and the report as "born in sin".

Must be true then.

phil

both carl and edwards have long and undistinguished records on these threads -always attacking Israel -the truth is always a casualty and it is pointless even responding to them -yes I did ,no I didnt will get us nowhere ,they are a waste of time and for me beneath contempt .

Derek BLADES

Augustus, 19 October, argues that a fair review of Cast Lead should take account of Israel's "historical, religious, cultural and political background which make up the complex situation." The Gazan refugees would no doubt like their own “historical, religious, cultural and political background" to be considered too. If that were done the Gazans would be clearly identified as the victims and Israel as the aggressor.

Fortunately, Judge Goldstone focussed on the facts of the case. War crimes committed by the Gazans were trivial compared to Israel’s vicious bombing, artillery and naval shelling of a captive and virtually defenceless civilian population. Please move into the real world Augustus.

alan stoddart

See Tom Gross Media: Dershowitz discusses Goldstone’s extraordinary interview last week with the liberal American Jewish newspaper, The Forward, in which Goldstone now says his report contained no actual “evidence” of wrongdoing by Israel and he “wouldn’t consider it in any way embarrassing if many of the allegations turn out to be disproved.”
“If this was a court of law, there would have been nothing proven,” Goldstone now says.

“Ours wasn’t an investigation, it was a fact-finding mission,” he said, sitting in his Midtown Manhattan office at Fordham University Law School, where he is currently visiting faculty. “We made that clear.”
“We had to do the best we could with the material we had. If this was a court of law, there would have been nothing proven. ”

Goldstone emphasized that his conclusion that war crimes had been committed was always intended as conditional. He still hopes that independent investigations carried out by Israel and the Palestinians will use the allegations as, he said, “a useful road map.”
“We couldn’t use that report as evidence at all,”

John Edwards

"I wasn't there at the time of the "war" I don't know the precise evidence that Judge Goldstone has brought forward"

Richard Kemp interviewed on BBC Hardtalk 29th September 2009.

It's worth watching, the interveiwer makes him look a bit of an oaf.

Raymond in DC

What I find especially pathetic is Richard Goldstone's repeated op-eds in the Jewish Forward, the NY Times and the Jerusalem Post still defending his work and his report. He plays on his Jewish identity, providing just the "cover" the HRC hoped for.

I'm reminded of the movie "The Bridge Over the River Kwai" where the British soldiers collaborated with their Japanese captors to build a first rate bridge. Only at the end does the British officer, realizing his work will be used to aid the Japanese in their fight against allied forces, ask himself "What have I done?" before he blows up the bridge.

The Goldstone Report is a gift to terrorist forces everywhere, and will live in infamy as an act of perfidy. Goldstone is still far from that "What have I done?" moment, which makes his post-report defenses all the more pathetic.

Baron Pipin

In wars atrocities happen, but I cannot help feeling that those accountable for any such horrors are more likely to get punished in Israel, which is a democracy than on the other side. If you doubt the democratic angle I suggest you go to Gaza and shout 'down with Hamas', and follow it with a trip to Israel where you should shout 'down with Netanyahu and his lotl'. On second thought, reverse the visits, and write a will before you depart from Israel.

Noa Zrk

Whilst at my butchers today I purchased two sets of sheeps testicles and posted them to replace the ones mislaid by the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. I trust they will arrive before the postal strike causes them to rot, like the previous sets.

Lucy

The UN is a joke.

Teddy Bear

badile at 7:17pm writes:

"Was Richard Kemp even in Gaza during the conflict? I have seen nothing to suggest he has first hand knowledge of the conflict."

Very unlikely he could have first hand knowledge, since he isn't an Israeli soldier. However, he has visited Israel several times, and having commanded UK troops in Afghanistan, would have had in depth consultations with Israeli commanders about the similar problems they were facing, and how they dealt with it. From this perspective he would have a far greater insight of what went on there than just another voice on the subject.

Teddy Bear

Derek BLADES at 8:36pm writes:
"...The Gazan refugees would no doubt like their own “historical, religious, cultural and political background" to be considered too. If that were done the Gazans would be clearly identified as the victims and Israel as the aggressor."

Just like the Germans were victims in World Wars 1 and 2?

The Gazans were given their own state to run and improve their lot. Instead they chose to launch rockets at Israel on a daily basis until it was no longer tolerated. They could have used the millions of dollars in aid available to them to enrich their lives, instead they chose to purchase arms and a route of violence.
Did Israel make them victime? Or is it their own stupidity?

They prefer to perpetuate this dead end street of negativity, knowing their propaganda will be echoed by the likes of the BBC, irregardless of the damage done to their society as a result. 'Palestinians have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity', and the Gazns ruled by Hamas are excellent examples of this saying.

Teddy Bear

John Edwards at 10:02pm writes:
"Richard Kemp interviewed on BBC Hardtalk 29th September 2009.

It's worth watching, the interveiwer makes him look a bit of an oaf."

In your dreams - no doubt it is.

Richard Kemp was interviewed by the BBC back in January about
operation Cast Lead. The BBC interviewer was doing her best to put the Israeli troops into a negative light but Kemp was having none of it. They even cut some of his replies because it was the antithesis of what the BBC wanted to hear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0lakLGcKGM

The BBC won't be inviting him back to talk about Israel again. They haven't even dare mention his recent address to the UN on the subject that Melanie refers to above.

Adam B.

Two points:
1.Carl has openly stated his support and admiration for the anti-semitic terror group Hamas on this blog. So I'm sure he's really interested in the truth (!)
2. He never answers questions, just lobs accusations.

Adam B.

Does anyone realize that more civilians have been killed in Sri Lanka this year alone than in every Arab-Israeli war since 1948? Where's the discussion, the UN reports? During the same period as Cast Lead, more civilians were killed in Turkish bombing raids on the Kurds than in Gaza. Where are the howls of outrage?

It's called rank hypocrisy, as exemplified by Carl, Blades and Edwards.

Truthtriumphs

John Edwards.
Carl.
Derek Blades.
mostly harmless
and the rest of the miserable bunch of Israel haters that plague this site.

It was recently announced that this year's Nobel prize winner for chemistry (a real discipline),is an Israeli Jewish woman scientist by the name of Prof. Ada Yonath of the Weitzman Institute, Herzlia, for her discovery of the structure and function of the ribosome, a discovery crucial for the development of advanced antibiotics, which will benefit people of all races and creeds worldwide.

That, in a nutshell, is what riles the likes of you, ie.the fact that the tiny country of Israel, with its back against the wall for all 61 years of its existence, has, yet again, outclassed by a long way, all those wealthy neighbours with their vast lands and huge oil wealth, who wish to destroy her.

You just can't stomach it, can you?
That's at the root of your supposed righteous indignation about the "poor Palestinians",(for whom you don't give a fig) isn't it?
Jealousy.
You just can't stand it that the tiny Jewish people (some 12 million worldwide), have won 27 per cent of the Nobel prizes in science and medicine since its inception, whereas the Muslim umma (with a population of some 1.2 billion) have won precisely none of the same coveted awards.

Whilst we're on the subject of people who actually benefit mankind with their ingenuity, hard work and decency, I'm sure we would all like to know what your individual contributions are to humanity, what any of you have actually done to benefit the human condition.
I suspect the answer is --- nothing.
That is why you fill sites like this with your bile, to counter your own feelings of inadequacy.

Augustus

Derek BLADES - My comments were designed to highlight shortcomings in the Goldstone Report and it's very one-sided opinion of Israel's reasons for action. I cannot see that it is unrealistic to believe the IDF when it says that it behaved correctly under the circumstances. Some regimes would no doubt have acted sooner
and possibly with a heavier hand
when confronted with all those years of terrorist attacks. How can you expect a fair report commissioned by people with pre-determined views of Israel's
'war crimes'? How can you, by listening only to Palestinian views, determine whether any one particular military action was a legitimate reason for an operational manoeuvre or not? How trustworthy are witnesses who live in a totalitarian environment, and who would be tortured and hanged if they became collaborators? How do you decide exactly how many civilian deaths could be expected during operations? And how can you really investigate anything if you don't even talk,
or want to have anything to do with, the Israeli military or military experts? And even if Israel refused to co-operate, that doesn't prevent you from your duty to be impartial and jump to conclusions of which you are not certain, and cannot be certain. And why do people so
supportive of those 'Gazan refugees' never actually mention how those rocket attacks got steadily worse after Hamas came to power in Gaza? The West Bank's economy is projected to grow by 7% in 2010, something of which Gordon Brown and Obama can only dream. That's the real world Derek which Israeli knowhow is capable of delivering.

badile

Teddy Bear writes:

Very unlikely he could have first hand knowledge, since he isn't an Israeli soldier. However, he has visited Israel several times, and having commanded UK troops in Afghanistan, would have had in depth consultations with Israeli commanders about the similar problems they were facing, and how they dealt with it. From this perspective he would have a far greater insight of what went on there than just another voice on the subject.

So when Richard Kemp said "Mr. President, based on my knowledge and experience" he really meant I am pulling the following crap out of my arse. Richard Kemp is nothing more than an Israeli propagandist wth an eye for the main chance.

Biggy

Who is more believable, reliable and trustworthy: "Carl", an anonymous internet chump who hurls ad hominem attacks and proposes ludicrous hypothetical situations at British Army Officers, or Colonel Richard Kemp CBE, who has served in NI, the Gulf, Bosnia, Macedonia, Iraq, Afghanistan, has been a member of the JIC, COBRA, counter-terrorism strategies and advised the US.

But Carl knows best.

It reminds me of the minority of people who complained when Gen Dannatt publicly criticised the dire state of British troops' equipment. Rather than hearing the facts, these oddballs prefer to live in a bubble - where soldiers can win wars with a pair of sandals, a white flag and sweet words, and Israel is the Little Satan right after the Great Satan of America.

It seems suitable the Britain under Labour should follow France in its cowardly stance of silence.

David

Adam says “It's called rank hypocrisy, as exemplified by Carl, Blades and Edwards.”
Actually, “Carl, Blades and Edwards” (CBE!) constantly post comments which are ill-informed and biased. When confronted with a wider context to - or even direct refutation of - their accusations, they generally drop any semblance of debate quickly and resort to insults (e.g. “You, no doubt, support the slaughter of innocent women and children…..”; “This may be too difficult for you to understand, so I’ll try to make it simple for you…..(another stream of bias then follows)). They finally exit the debate when counter-points become too compelling and then reappear on the next blog with the same biased content and process.
Three possible explanations (not mutually exclusive!)…..One, they deeply resent Israel and no reasoning will impact that. Two, they’re fundamentally unable to forge any constructive exchange of ideas, research and debate. Three, their objective is simply to “wind” you and other posters up (Successfully, too!).
Whatever the explanation you think most probable, the response – of completely ignoring them - is fairly obvious I suggest.
Cheers, David

Leslie

In an article in the J-Post, poor Goldstone is bemoaning how he has become the victim of personal attacks. He's complaining he doesn't sleep well at night and he's worried about his childrens' well-being.
What did he expect? Did he expect that Israelis and diaspora Jews would thank him for sacrificing their safety? He wanted the Jew-haters at the UN to think the world of him. He wanted to show them that he wasn't prejudiced in favour of Israel. In fact, he went out of his way to make it clear that he had no pro-Israel sentiments. People who are so full of themselves are very easy to manipulate and they sure played this fool. Now he's ready to be taken out with the trash.

just Louise

Writes Badile:
So when Richard Kemp said "Mr. President, based on my knowledge and experience" he really meant I am pulling the following crap out of my arse. Richard Kemp is nothing more than an Israeli propagandist wth an eye for the main chance.

Really, Badile, and what "main chance" would that be? The chance to be abused, slandered and reviled, as many people these days who publicly speak up for the beleaguered little Jewish State are? The chance to alienate the Arabists at the FO and MoD and perhaps risk his career?
Thank Providence that Colonel Kemp is one of that increasingly small band of people who put honour before self-interest.
In speaking up so clearly for Israel he has proved that he's not only a man of physical courage like all soldiers, but of moral courage also.

Frank P

Nick Cohen

Hold on - which came first - the chicken or the egg? :-)

I would have thought you were on the same bandwidth anyway. Are you not one of those on the telepathy frequency? Tut, tut!

Mailman

Badile,

I guess by experience he means his experiences with the British army over many years of distinguised service.

Lets not also forget that information is constantly exchanged between services of countries and also the contacts he would have made through his service career.

In the end, Im more likely to listen to someone like Kemp, who speaks with reason and from a position of knowledge, than any member of the UNHRC, who speak from ignorance and hatred...or even Barry the bringer of light!

just Louise

Well, good on Sir Harold Evans, in the Grauniad, for castigating Goldstone's failure to notice that “Hamas is committed not just to fight Israeli soldiers; it is a terrorist organisation hellbent on the destruction of the state of Israel” and for saying Israel
had risked its troops by “imposing unprecedented restraint” during its Gaza operation.
Sir Harold gives nGrauniad readers another taste of the truth: “Now we have the sickening spectacle of Britain failing to stand by Israel, the only democracy with an independent judiciary in the entire region”.

patricia

Richard Kemp again?

Wow - you re desperate!

What you should be doing, of course, is crowing over the success of the UK Israel Lobby, who managed to derail Brown in the same way that AIPAC appears to have derailed Obama.

Frank P

Nick Cohen

Sorry to persist, but I can't find the piece you cite as evidence of Melanie's plagiarism (jokingly ... I know) in the content of Mail on Line. Does this mean I have to go out and buy the paper? Or can you give us the link?

Original Tony

What has happened to the Lionheart spirit Britain once had? It's a pc nanny state now with gutless, back-stabbing, double-dealing politicians in charge. How I miss the old fashioned 'tell it as it is' politicians like Thatcher and Churchill, who stuck to their guns and generally, but not always, kept a promise to an ally.

Shame on this spineless lot in power now, it makes me feel sad I am British

Frank P

Oh btw Melanie, excellent piece. Once again you expose the deep treachery that exists within out FCO and cohorts under the guise of dissembling diplomacy';'twas ever thus, but in recent years the infiltration seems to have increased exponentially. What are the chances that Israel will withstand this latest contribution to the existential threat towards Israel? 5000 (yrs) to one on, imho. Keep on truckin' gal; the weapons of rationality, truth telling and persistence are the best to employ against duplicity and depraved deceit. You possess an armoury of them unequalled in international journalism. Nil desperandum.

mostly harmless

Truthtriumphs
John Edwards.
Carl.
Derek Blades.
mostly harmless
and the rest of the miserable bunch of Israel haters that plague this site.

Thanks TT, I am truly honoured to be included in your list.

Mary Seacole

Most of us are resigned to this demonisation of Israel now Melanie.
To be a good all round bloke like Rod Liddle you have to do nothing and say nothing. Perhaps choose a soft target like the BNP and have a go there.
Why don't you forget standing up for 'values' like truth, Melanie, and try to be more trendy and affable like Rod. It's the best way to win Big Brother, and it works in the real life popularity contest too.

solemnman

My initial reaction, before the sobering reality set in, was surprise -that Britain, of all nations -with it's record of perfidy,was the only one boycotting the farce!!my realization that Britain had not improved but had actually got even worse- made me feel a bit silly.They were now blackmailing Israel in order to receive what they normally got for nothing- A mere abstention- which is the best israel has ever received from the perfidious one.

YA

If Israelis really targeted Gaza civilians deliberately, they would easily mow hunderds of thousands. Only idiot can't understand this.

So what all 60 posts are about? Oh - to convince Carl and Derek BLADES and patricia.. I see. Good luck, philantropes!

Derek BLADES

Teddy Bear, 19 October, should know that the history of Gaza did not start with the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces and settlers from the Gaza Strip. A relevant piece of the Gazans’ history occurred when they were driven from their homes in Sderot and other border towns to make way for the Israeli state. That is why the Gazans support firing rockets into these towns. They see the Israeli occupants as thieves who have stolen their farms and homes.

Instead of trotting out the party line Teddy Bear should try to see the world through other eyes. He might, just, learn something.

phil

Somebody with a better knowledge than me on borders should tell the great twister of truth aka the blade ,that if the Arabs had not invaded the legitimate fledgling state of Israel in 1948, and many other times ,places like Sderot would have have been contained within their own territory .The real point is that blade does not agree that Israel should exist at all but does not have the courage to say it .

Teddy Bear

In reality, the Palestinians deserve an enemy that would treat them the way that has been done through the ages. The way the British have treated the aborigines and other indigenous people around the world. The way the Americans treated the Indians, the way EVERY other regime that had rights to their land has dealt with an enemy that attacked them - simply vanquish the foe.

Instead Israel has tried to negotiate, supply humanitarian aid, give back land in an effort to achieve peace. The Palestinians DON'T DESERVE IT as evidenced by their sheer stupidity. They should feel lucky to be neighboured with such a merciful neighbour, instead of the bitter twisted bilious mentality that they show. THEY'VE NEVER MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY.

Blades, badile, et al - do you really think you fool anybody here as to your real intent. We know it has nothing to do with truth or reason.

mostly harmless

Truthtriumphs
October 20th, 2009 12:24am

Wow! You managed to work out all those things about me, based on a few posts and an anonymous username, who's a clever boy?

mostly harmless

Teddy Bear
October 21st, 2009 1:49pm
'Blades, badile, et al - do you really think you fool anybody here as to your real intent.'

Please tell us, the suspense is killing me.

phil

mostly harmless TT has you exactly right ,you are like a stupid kid with his tongue stuck out singing ner ner ne ner ne -nothing to say of any worth but plenty of time to do it .It obviously did not take TT much time to work you out,you are of course mostly harmless because your stupidity arrives simultaneously with your name.

Teddy Bear

Mostly Gormless - let's put it like this. Susan Boyle is a virgin - imagine 72 others like her.
Think about that as a view of heaven!

Any wonder very little has been contributed to modern society by those that think this way?

Linda Smith

Instead of trotting out the arab apologist party line, Derek Blades should try looking at facts. The 1947 Partition Plan set up two democratic states, one Jewish, one Arab, equal civil rights and no requirement to relocate. The Muslim Arabs refused because it is against their religion to recognise the equality of non-Muslims. The Partition Plan also signalled the British planned withdrawal in 1948- there was no alternative for the Jews but to declare their own state and fight for their lives. The Arab invasion was a jihad, a holy war. Nothing’s changed.

Archie

Spot on, GeoffM! Courage Israel!

stanley Jerusalem

phil
October 21st, 2009 4:47pm
"mostly harmless TT has you exactly right ,you are like a stupid kid with his tongue stuck out singing ner ner ne ner ner."
phil, I love you very much but have you actually tried sticking out your tongue and simultaneously singing 'ner ner ne ner ner?'

mostly harmless

phil
October 21st, 2009 4:47pm
so the big boyz want to bully the new kid on the block, nice.

phil

stanley Jerusalem I can,t but willie boy has been practising-he has been missing since I told him probably with thumb stuck in mouth .x-d

mostly harmless

patricia
October 20th, 2009 12:16pm
'Richard Kemp again?
Wow - you re desperate!'

Spot on patricia, check out this guys resume, talk about an Israeli stooge, he's going to put Mark Regev out of a job soon, come to think of it I haven't seen Mark for a while.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Kemp

scroll down to 'Support for Israel's 2008-2009 actions in Gaza' says it all.

phil

mostly harmless the only block you are involved with is one on the brain -why do you give me so many opportunities to show your Stupidity -I would much rather be writing constructive comments here ,but sadly can,t resist the temptation to humiliate you -I realise you are too thick to feel it but I feel better for it and it gives Stanley a laugh -try a broomstick ride with patricia ,it will clear your mind and maybe get you as far as the font of all truth the HRC ,entrance is free for all bigots and a free copy of the guardian is included -enjoy .

PS is this better STANLEY ?I feel a little like dr Strangelove when I see the posts from these people ,but I need a bit of fun in these serious times and I cant control the arm .;)

mostly harmless

phil
October 22nd, 2009 12:33pm
'I cant control the arm .;)'

Please keep your sordid habits to yourself phil.

mostly harmless

Teddy Bear
October 21st, 2009 7:36pm
'Susan Boyle is a virgin - imagine 72 others like her.'

Maybe she's just waiting for the right person, TB, how about it or phil, if he can be dragged away from his twitchy right arm.

LES

Car you're a prat. You know nothing and acn't help showing it go and play with your friends from Hamas.

So louise the boy Millipede is going to a dinner with"Jewish Leaders" Leaders of what? These unelected fawning self publicists spend most of their time with their heads buried in the sand hoping that the bad man will go away -- well he won't. These people do not lead or speak for me -- they are no better than the kapos who helped in the murder of my relatives and millions of other Jews.

logdon

From Arutz Sheva

Former Ambassador Says Damage Control Needed on Goldstone
by Gil Ronen Gold: Time for Damage Control

Former Israeli Ambassador to the U.N., Dore Gold, said Wednesday that Israel can do much to minimize the damage caused by the Goldstone report as it is transferred to the U.N. General Assembly and Security Council.

The name of the game now, said Gold, is the Security Council and the Hague International Court. “These are the determining bodies because if the General Assembly decides to transfer the report to the Hague Court then we could find ourselves in a similar situation to the one we were in several years ago, with regard to the [securit fence.”

Gold, who heads the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, told Arutz Sheva: “This is a very complex strategy, but first of all we need to remember that there are several states that are also dealing with terrorism that we need to bring over to our side. It was very jarring that the French suddenly walked out of the vote.”

“The British who are dealing with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Iraq can understand the situation we are in, when all sorts of Islamic groups operate from within civilian areas. Countries like France and India also deal with this in North Africa and those countries need to be made to realize this and identify with us. We also need to strengthen the United States in which large sections identify with Israel. We need to show them that this report contains many untrue facts – such as, for instance, the claim that terrorists did not operate from within mosques. This is a claim we can easily refute.”

Dr. Gold rejects the contentions that Israel was wrong not to cooperate with the Goldstone Committee's investigators. “There are enough Israeli elements that tried to give the committee materials and were rejected by its representatives. We in the JCPA sent materials to the committee but they ignored them. There were IDF officers and British officers who wanted to testify but they were ignored.”

Derek BLADES

Phil, 22 October, asked mainly harmless "why do you give me so many opportunities to show your Stupidity..."

But Phil did not take this opportunity. He stated that mainly harmless is stupid but that is not the same as showing that he is. Phil should have explained why he has come to this conclusion. Instead what followed in Phil's post was a semi-literate and ungrammatical tirade about nothing in particular.

From earlier correspondence I gather that Phil is an elderly man and may have suffered brain-damage from boxing. Is it time to throw in the sponge, Old Chap?

mostly harmless

Derek BLADES
October 22nd, 2009 7:14pm
'Is it time to throw in the sponge, Old Chap?'

I can barely contain myself.......... just make sure he washes it first

phil

Well ,well blade I finally got you out of your box ,your friend harmless demonstrated his stupidity as soon a he got out of his bed this morning by applauding your childish remarks --

You are a lucky man blade as you can freely say mostly what you like here ,but even you must realise how much you are despised not only for your racial hatred ,but also we do not forget the disgusting comments aimed at the Camerons on the loss of their child .It seems you now can only find criticism of my grammar ,that in itself is an improvement on what you usually disgust us with so I happily bear that burden ,you need to get a life maybe even take up boxing, a few whacks on your head might help your brain back to normal although I am not offering you a spar -that would be far to dangerous for you -you could hold my sponge though and the spit bucket -it pays well .

Please send in the grammatical errors at least that will keep you out of trouble .

stanley Jerusalem

Blades said "Is it time to throw in the sponge, Old Chap?"
What is he on or on about? I always thought it was towels that are thrown in.
Sponge?

phil

Is this really you ?or is the use of his name just another piece of nastiness -it is off his web site -

--"Derek Blades has been playing the clubs and pubs of South London for the last seventy years. Now in his eighties, he lives alone in abject misery near to estranged brother (Ron), in sheltered accomodation next to the New Den football stadium, home of Derek's most reviled team, Millwall. Intensely bitter, he blames his sibling Ron for most of the misadventures and trials that have been visited upon him"---

If it is it explains a lot -how sad

Adam B.

I'm glad mostly harmless amuses himself, he's made the same juvenile masturbation "joke" three times now.

What a sharp mind.

phil

Adam B.Its probably because that is what his expertise is in .

phil

stanley Jerusalem
October 23rd, 2009 11:40am

I think perhaps we have found out the blades problem and he has not been able to answer if it is him or not -maybe he knows we would not believe him anyhow .

Sergey

I am sorry to state the ugly truth: position of Britain in Arab-Israeli conflict is now increasingly irrelevant, just as her positions on anything else. The same is true about UN, HRC, International court of justice and all other international bodies. Israel's best policy in future would be to ignore all the above altogether, as most nations are already doing.

mostly harmless

So, no argument that Col Kemp is an Israeli stooge then? Great let's take that as a given.