Media sceptics mull Goldstone vote

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Israel has been criticized for it's military campaign against Gaza

Media in the Middle East are sceptical about the prospects for the UN Human Rights Council report on the Gaza conflict, which accuses Israel and Hamas of war crimes in Gaza.

Some commentators suggest that the debate presents US President Barack Obama with his first test as recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

And in Israel - which opposes the findings of South African judge Richard Goldstone - commentators have continued to criticize the report as a threat to democracy and suggested that condemnation of Israel would have negative consequences.

MUHAMMAD ABU-AL-HADID IN EGYPT'S AL-JUMHURIYAH

We are waiting for US President Barack Obama's position on the Goldstone Report which accuses Israel and its military leaders of committing war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza. Will the man of the Nobel Peace Prize and his country stand by the victims at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and at the UN Security Council, or will he protect the aggressors?

RAFIQ KHURI IN LEBANON'S AL-ANWAR

The Goldstone Report is judicial par excellence. However, debates about it are political par excellence, whether through speeches delivered at the UN Security Council or deliberations at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). There is no way to evade the report, regardless of the result of the UNHRC's vote.

EDITORIAL IN QATAR'S AL-RAYAH

Some Western bodies and even some Palestinians do not want the UNHRC to condemn Israel over its Gaza operation, particularly after Israel warned that it would not negotiate with the Palestinians if such a resolution was passed. Palestinians should ease their tensions and give the international community a chance to bring Israel to account.

EDITORIAL IN JORDAN'S AL-DUSTUR

There is not much hope that Goldstone's recommendations will be endorsed as the USA seems to want to use the veto right in case the report is put to vote at the UN Security Council. If the USA reaches this decision… this will completely contradict the principles of the Nobel peace prize which Obama won.

RIDA MUHAMMAD LARI IN SAUDI ARABIA'S AL-RIYADH

If Palestinians unify their position, it will be possible to follow up the Goldstone report which accuses Israeli leaders of war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

DR ISAM SHAWIR IN PALESTINIAN GAZA-BASED FILASTIN

The Goldstone report has caused an upheaval in the entire region. It was also used as a reason to suspend or postpone the entire Palestinian dialogue.

EDITORIAL IN PALESTINIAN JERUSALEM-BASED AL-QUDS

We hope that the vote on the Goldstone report will end this shameful phase of wrangling and accusation between [Fatah and Hamas]. However, as we have learned from experience, there is a big gap between hope and bitter reality. Our leaders on both sides do not want face up to their responsibilities.

PROFESSOR EYAL BENVENISTI IN ISRAEL'S HA'ARETZ

World public opinion demands of Israel a credible and transparent explanation of the combat activity in Gaza. The decision to ignore this demand is equivalent to burying the head in the sand.

SHMUEL ROSNER IN ISRAEL'S MA'ARIV

US officials stormed a new question: what to do with the Goldstone Report? The Americans understand that Israel is under heavy pressure and that Goldstone could be the final nail in the coffin of Obama's initiative. They also understand that (Palestinian leader) Mahmud Abbas is also under heavy pressure and that it is impossible to demand of him now anything that can be interpreted as surrender to a US or an Israeli diktat.

HERB KEINON IN ISRAEL'S JERUSALEM POST

Regardless of how the vote turns out in the UN Human Rights Council one thing is certain: Goldstone is going to be with us for a long time and the report will have significant ramifications on a wide range of issues. (Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin) Netanyahu has made clear that if the Goldstone Report is adopted, Israel would think twice before taking risks again and making concessions for peace.

YOEL MARCUS IN ISRAEL'S HA'ARETZ

Hamas fighters carried out a massacre of Fatah supporters in Gaza and the entire world watched as the functionaries of Fatah were tossed to their deaths from the rooftops. Not one Islamic country demanded Hamas stop the massacre. How is it that no Goldstone panels were set up to examine the destruction Hamas sowed in Gaza or the murderous attacks that the terrorist organizations perpetrated on women and children in the heart of Israel?

YEHEZKEL DROR IN ISRAEL'S HA'ARETZ

The blow Israel received from the United Nations' report on Operation Cast Lead stems partly from a misunderstanding by its authors as to the essence of the conflicts in which Israel is embroiled, and of what security steps they necessitate. However, it was also caused by the poor Israeli decision not to cooperate with the investigation.

ABRAHAM COOPER, HAROLD BRACKMAN IN YNETNEWS.COM

Deep-six the Goldstone Report, once and for all, before it buries every democracy confronted by terrorists. We cannot afford to respond to the threat of the next September 11 by agreeing to the perverse notion that international law suddenly means signing on to a suicide pact.

<a href="http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk" >BBC Monitoring</a><i>selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.</i>