Bahrain, Kuwait push for action on Goldstone Report

Manama: Bahrain and Kuwait have urged the international community to work diligently for the implementation of the recommendations of the Goldstone report on the Israeli crimes against civilians in Gaza.

“We hope that the report will stimulate serious and sincere moves to achieve justice and put an end to the Israeli crimes and violations of human rights and international covenants,” Tawfeeq Al Mansoor, Bahrain’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations, said.

“The international community should take all necessary measures to protect Palestinian civilians, especially those living in Gaza.”

Holding those responsible for the war crimes accountable will definitely serve the peace process in a better manner as there can be no peace without justice, he said.

Addressing the 64th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Khalaf Bu Dhuhair, Kuwait’s acting charge d’affaires said that the world should join forces to implement the recommendations in the report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission into the Gaza Conflict and to support the draft Arab resolution as a rightful step against injustice and aggression.

"Kuwait wishes to extend its utmost appreciation and gratitude to Judge Richard Goldstone and his working group on presenting a professional and factual report, which clearly shows the brutal Israeli practices against the inhabitants of Gaza, who had to endure a frightful nightmare for a period of three weeks, from December 27, 2008, to January 18, 2009, and taking the lives of 1,400 martyrs and injuring over 5,000 people," Bu Dhuhair said, quoted by Kuwait News Agency.

This represented a serious violation by a professional army against unarmed civilians, whose right to live was usurped by the Israeli Armed Forces who have violated every custom, code and law, he said.

“The unjust blockade that Israel imposes on the Gaza Strip, in addition to the policy of collective punishment it pursues under the pretext that it wants to put an end to the launching of rockets on its territories neither justify nor grant Israel the right to use excessive power in response,” the Kuwaiti diplomat said.

According to Bu Dhuhair, the brutal Israeli military response, which damaged the entire infrastructure in Gaza Strip and destroyed government buildings, mosques, hospitals, and houses, was a clear indication of its arrogance and tyranny.