An Incomplete Story-- the aftermath of Goldstone

"Goldstone's Worthless Report"

From: The National Post
What follows is a statement delivered to the United Nations Human Rights Council this week by the NGO UN Watch, in response to the Goldstone Fact-Finding Mission on Gaza.

My name is Dr. Mirela Siderer. I am a gynecologist living in Ashkelon, Israel. Judge Richard Goldstone, in July you invited me to testify. I told you my story. I am known by my patients -- including many women from Gaza. For me, every human being is equal.

On May 14, 2008, my life was changed forever. I was working in my clinic. Suddenly, the building was hit by a missile, fired from Gaza. I was terribly wounded. Blood was everywhere. My patient was also wounded, and more than 100 others. Next month will be my eighth operation. Judge Goldstone, I told you all of this, in detail. I testified in good faith. You sent me this letter, saying, "Your testimony is an essential part of the Mission's fact-finding activities." But now I see your report. I have to tell you: I am shocked.

Judge Goldstone, in a 500-page report, why did you completely ignore my story? My name appears only in passing, in brackets, in a technical context. I feel humiliated.

Why are there only two pages about Israeli victims like me, who suffered thousands of rockets over eight years? Why did you choose to focus on the period of my country's response, but not on that of the attacks that caused it? Why did you not tell me that this council judged Israel guilty in advance, in its meeting of last January? Why did you not tell me that members of your panel signed public letters judging Israel guilty in advance?

Judge Goldstone, you, too, signed such a letter, saying you were "shocked" about Gaza. But where were you when Gaza attacked my medical clinic, in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law? Where was this council? Why were you all silent?

For more information, please visit the UN Watch site at http://www.unwatch.org/
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Published: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.htmlid=2044597#ixzz0SXs19KGm

This story is frustrating. Devastating. Infuriating. and blatantly unjust. As an official report of the United Nations, Judge Goldstone and his team had an upstanding obligation to do due dilligence and ensure their report was comprehensive. Through the always expanding means of social media, the report has become a "hot topic" amongst twitterers and bloggers alike. The problem is, blogging and social media has provided a forum for those who do not necessarily deserve one. There is no fact-checking, no screen to escape bias, and certainly no guarantee of validity . It's naive of me to expect that though. This is life. I am happy to have a way in which to help those like Dr. Siderer. Social media has given me that.
Social media gives the world an immediate forum in which to respond. tweet, post, comment, RT. Our platforms are being expanded by the minute. I want to be challenged, pushed, and forced to justify myself. In this case though, I think the evidence speaks for itself.

You cannot believe everything you hear-- despite the assumed credibilty of the U.N. or any other legitimate resource...but that isn't news.

Read with a critical eye.

                                                                          -- L.W