Writers found Palestinian agreement to the decision by the UN Human Rights Council to defer a report denouncing Israeli practices against Gaza perplexing and unacceptable Mohamed Saleh Al-Mesfer wrote that the Palestinian Authority has been taking the Palestinian issue from one catastrophe to another since it signed the Oslo accords. And what happened in Geneva will not be the last attempt to sell the issue at a cheap price. "The PA claimed that the postponement of the vote until March was in the interest of the cause. Does Palestinian interest involve refraining from referring Zionist leaders to an international tribunal because they committed crimes against civilians in Gaza according to an international report headed by a Jewish, South African judge?" Al-Mesfer asked in the London- based independent political daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi. However, he added, sources confirm that the deferral came after a US-Palestinian agreement. He ruled out the possibility that the authority did not interfere in taking the adjournment decision because in taking any resolution regarding the Palestinian issue, the well-known procedures in any international organisation stipulate that the Palestinian delegation issue a resolution and present it to the Arab and Islamic group for discussion. But the Palestinian consent is necessary for any amendment. But, he added, information from Israel confirmed that it threatened members of the PA for revealing information that showed they cooperated with Israel in its aggression against Gaza or refrained from providing the authority with its economic needs if the vote for the Goldstone report is carried out. The report says both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes, and possible crimes against humanity, during the Israeli offensive in Gaza which began late last year. The Saudi daily Al-Jazirah expressed fear that the PA's decision to adjourn the vote would affect Palestinian reconciliation attempts between Fatah and Hamas. The newspaper's editorial questioned whether a reconciliation agreement could be concluded at a time when there is controversy on the adjournment and widespread Palestinian and Arab fury over the decision. "Whenever the Palestinians take a step towards reconciliation, they usually surprise us by taking two steps backward. Can they reach reconciliation now when the Palestinians are in a state of shock after postponing a report that recommended trying Israeli officials for their crimes against civilians in Gaza?" the edit read. The newspaper expressed hope that the two issues will not be linked. The Palestinians could resolve the report issue by reviewing the motivations for the deferral and taking a suitable decision that does not come at the expense of Palestinian unity. Palestinian differences detract from the report row and other issues and Israel is the only party that benefits as a result, the edit concluded. Mamdouh Taha wrote that one would not be able to conceal his shock and wonder that the decision to postpone the vote on the Goldstone report was taken at the request of the Palestinians amid Arab and Islamic acceptance. He questioned whether the decision indicates a deferral to justice in the hope of achieving peace, or because of the PA's long-term vision at the expense of human and Palestinian rights; or because of an Israeli threat, a European warning or a US direction that can shape the Arab stand. Taha asked who should be blamed for the decision: the UN Human Rights Council for bowing to Arab demands to launch an investigation despite European and US opposition, or ourselves for letting down states and international organisations which investigated and accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, or our enemies who threatened to withdraw from the peace process and punish the PA if the report was referred to the Security Council. "We should only blame ourselves, our reluctance to stick to our rights and our division in facing the world. And that weakens our stand and strengthens our enemy," Taha wrote in the United Arab Emirates daily Al-Bayan. Belal Al-Hassan wrote that the Goldstone report marked a political change on the level of international politics, the UN, the US, Europe and the PA which proved to be ready to thwart a report that defended the rights of the people that it represents. However, the media is currently focussing on the report. The main issue, the Israeli war against Gaza, is nearly absent. The whole world watched the Israeli aggression against unarmed civilians during the Gaza war. But as soon as the report was issued, it became the main issue and the plight of Gazans was forgotten. Al-Hassan described the Palestinian stand as strange and unacceptable. He asked how the PA could defer the vote that was supposed to refer the report to the Security Council and the International Criminal Court. "The PA took the decision at the expense of its interests and the interests of its people. By so doing it proved that it does not possess the freedom to take action or decisions. It acts according to US directives, even if they are entirely in the interests of Israel," Al-Hassan wrote in the London-based political daily Asharq Al-Awsat . As a result, the authority lost its status among its people and appeared as a toy in the hands of the US. In the end, the Goldstone scenario is likely to recur in peace negotiations conducted under US supervision. Washington would adapt the same policy in resolving the Palestinian issues related to pivotal issues. While Israel managed to defer a report denouncing its ferocious practices in Gaza, it carries on the same practices at Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Qatari political daily Al-Watan warned that the Israeli threat to Al-Aqsa is serious. These practices are taking place under the nose of the international community that fails to react to any issues related to Israeli expansionist policies. But, the newspaper editorial read, these practices require from Arab and Muslim states that they move quickly and firmly to confront Israeli plans regarding the holy shrine. "The serious danger facing Al-Aqsa involves a clear and brave move from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Conference to hold two summit meetings in order to recruit all Arabs and Muslims to protect the holy shrine," the edit added.
