Future Trigger-Happy Government Behaviour

Gush Shalom: We Hope The Goldstone Conclusions Will Deter Future Trigger-Happy Government Behaviour

The severe conclusions of the Goldstone Commission are part of the high and continuing price which the state of Israel must pay for the decision to conduct a brutal and unnecessary war in Gaza. The communications media in Israel imposed censorship on themselves and prevented the citizens of Israel from seeing the scenes of widespread destruction and the killing of hundreds of civilians, including many children – scenes which the rest of the world saw broadcast directly from Gaza. Therefore, Israelis find it difficult to comprehend the feelings which the acts of their army caused throughout the world.

The Gaza war could have been prevented by negotiations with Hamas and renewal of the cease-fire – as Hamas proposed at the time. The present situation of relative calm on the Gaza Strip border could have been reached also without staining with blood the hands of all the country's civil and military decision-makers. The conclusions of the Goldstone Commission, and the great damage which they cause and will continue to cause to Israel, might deter future governments from trigger-happy decisions – which would be a most welcome result.

ENDS

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