Israel to launch quiet diplomatic campaign in wake of Goldstone retraction

[whosinpower]

Published 02:52 06.04.11
Latest update 02:52 06.04.11

snip - According to a senior official in Jerusalem, it was decided that the government should initiate quiet diplomatic steps aimed at urging the United Nations to adopt the op-ed as an official statement. The decision was made following a meeting convened by National Security Adviser Ya'akov Amidror.

Since the publication of Goldstone's op-ed, Israel has been seeking to halt legal proceedings that were launched as a result of his UN report. Government officials are looking for ways to use the article as leverage for a renewed diplomatic push against the Goldstone report.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-to-launch-quiet-diplomatic-campaign-in-wake-of-goldstone-retraction-1.354320

And just when things couldn't possibly get stranger......

US lawyers to file civil suit against Goldstone
04/07/2011 01:51

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=215466

MK Danny Danon (Likud), who is visiting the United States, initiated the push for the lawsuit. During his US visit, he met with a group of attorneys who are interested in pursuing the case on a voluntary basis.

According to the Danon’s office, the suit will be submitted to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan by attorney Steve Goldberg.

In the civil suit, filed as a class action complaint, the plaintiff says that he and others were “victims of libel by and through allegations and distortions publicly stated in the report on the State of Israel’s military actions during” the IDF’s offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip during the winter of 2008–2009.

I wouldn't call that "quiet diplomatic steps"....not quiet at all. Incredibly stupid but not quiet.

[Jefferson23]

1. The lawsuit is interesting, so far a Likud and Kadima joint effort. Can't wait

to see the full list of "others" asking for an apology and symbolic compensation.

[azurnoir]

2. It appears Israel needs a distraction or something

Goldstone said himself that

As for his report on the 2009 Gaza offensive, Goldstone reiterated that the "intentionality on the part of Israel" required review, and that "domestic investigation could lead to further reconsideration." The judge concluded, however, that no part of the report needed reconsideration at the present time.

http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=215347

doesn't sound like absolution or retraction to me

[whosinpower]

3. I agree

The stories are flying fast and furious....

[bemildred]

4. I think rational analysis must fail here. Not enough to go on, no agreement on principles.

Just lots of emotional thrashing around, anger, denial, resentment, etc. However:

The lawsuit idea could get interesting, pawing all this over in a court of law could bring something new or interesting to light, but I suspect it's just a talking point, another random "threat", since the thrust of things is also to avoid litigation of the merits of that war. Even Mr Danon cannot be such a moron as to think such a threat would do anything but amuse someone like Goldstone. Well maybe he could. But I still think it's just talk, PR, spin.

It does strikes me as out of the ordinary the amount of attention and energy still being directed at Mr Goldstone and his report. Maybe it's the EU threat to recognize some sort of Palestinian State that lies behind all the activity, and I suspect that Mr Goldstone's OpEd was seen as significant and potentially useful in that context.

And of course there is Israeli domestic politics, a distraction or the like, as you say.