Jews To Israel: Stop Villifying Goldstone

By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent
Last update - 16:04 04/11/2009
Courtesy Of Haaretz NewsPaper

A letter appealing for the support of the Goldstone report's findings was articulated by the leftist Jewish organization "Jews say no!" and signed by hundreds of Jews worldwide on Wednesday.

"When it comes to Israel, hard-core censorship and intimidation by those claiming to speak in the name of the Jewish people have been the order of the day," the letter said regarding Israel's response to the Goldstone report findings.

The letter also accused the worldwide Jewish community of unsuitably attacking Justice Goldstone and said "when those within a community try to "excommunicate" and dishonor truth-tellers, it is our obligation and responsibility to speak out vehemently on their behalf and on behalf of the truth they bring."

It further elaborated that Judge Goldstone should be "applauded for his honesty" and for "following where the truth led him and releasing a report detailing human rights abuses and violations of international law by Israel, as well as by Hamas."

Also, the letter called for Israel's government to be held accountable for "attempting to vilify a truth-teller and for suppressing the truth about Israeli government crimes against the Palestinian people."

The letter also criticized the Obama administration's reaction to the report and called for "a fair and impartial investigation of the report's allegations by non-military institutions in Israel."

Well known intellectuals like Tony Judt and Howard Zinn are among the signatories, as well as organizations such as ICAHD-USA, Jewish Voice for Peace, American Jews for a Just Peace, and the Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians.