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UN Picks Judge to Probe Israeli 'War Crimes'

Jewish South African will investigate allegations of abuses

By the Associated Press

Posted Apr 3, 2009 5:39 AM CDT

(AP) – The UN has named a Jewish judge from South Africa to lead a high-level mission to investigate alleged war crimes committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip, reports the AP. Richard Goldstone, the UN's former chief prosecutor for war crimes in Yugoslavia and Rwanda, will head the probe ordered by the Human Rights Council in January.

According to the mandate, the investigation will focus only on Palestinian victims of the three-week war between Israel and Hamas earlier this year. Israel has refused cooperation with previous council probes, calling them biased.

Palestinians are seen on the rubble of building, following an Israeli army operation in Gaza, in the town of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009.
Palestinians are seen on the rubble of building, following an Israeli army operation in Gaza, in the town of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Eyad Baba)
Israeli soldiers place an Israeli flag on top a tank at a staging area near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Monday, Dec. 29, 2008.
Israeli soldiers place an Israeli flag on top a tank at a staging area near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Monday, Dec. 29, 2008.   (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Richard Goldstone, a South African judge and prosecutor, has been appointed by the UN to investigate allegations of Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
Richard Goldstone, a South African judge and prosecutor, has been appointed by the UN to investigate allegations of Israeli war crimes in Gaza.   (Wikimedia)
In this Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 file photo, a Palestinian woman covers her face as smoke rises following an explosion caused by Israeli military operations in Gaza city.
In this Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 file photo, a Palestinian woman covers her face as smoke rises following an explosion caused by Israeli military operations in Gaza city.   (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)
A Palestinian boy is seen on the rubble of a house destroyed in the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Sunday, March 15, 2009.
A Palestinian boy is seen on the rubble of a house destroyed in the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Sunday, March 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
riffran
Apr 4, 2009 5:16 AM CDT
not what I said or meant
riffran
Apr 3, 2009 11:03 AM CDT
to ignore the other side of the story is to not see the overall picture, there may be mitigating circumstances on either side.
wwwonderer
Apr 3, 2009 5:36 AM CDT
I see. So EVERY other judge would be biased of Israel, EXCEPT the Jewish one.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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