Member-only story

The Trials of Richard Goldstone: A Journey of Reconciliation and Redemption

Herman Melville

·8k Followers· Follow

Published in The Trials Of Richard Goldstone

5 min read · 2 weeks before

268 View Claps

50 Respond

Save

Listen

Richard Goldstone is a South African judge who served as the first chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). In 2009, he was appointed to lead the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (FFMGC),which investigated allegations of war crimes committed by both Israel and Hamas during the 2008-2009 Gaza War.

The FFMGC's report, published in September 2009, concluded that both Israel and Hamas had committed war crimes. The report was highly controversial, and Goldstone himself later said that he regretted some of the s that he had reached.

The Trials of Richard Goldstone

by Christopher Hitchens

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	15744 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	398 pages

In 2011, Goldstone published a book entitled Goldstone Recants: Reclaiming the Human Toll of the Gaza Conflict. In the book, Goldstone apologized for the errors that he had made in the FFMGC report and said that he no longer believed that Israel had committed war crimes during the Gaza War.

Goldstone's apology was met with mixed reactions. Some people praised him for his honesty and courage, while others criticized him for changing his mind. However, the apology did not end the controversy surrounding the FFMGC report.

In 2012, a group of Israeli lawyers filed a lawsuit against Goldstone in Israel. The lawyers accused Goldstone of libel and defamation, and they sought damages of $100 million. The lawsuit was dismissed by an Israeli court in 2014, but it was later reinstated by the Israeli Supreme Court.

The lawsuit against Goldstone is still ongoing, and it is unclear how it will be resolved. However, the lawsuit has cast a shadow over Goldstone's legacy and has raised important questions about the role of international law in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A Journey of Reconciliation and Redemption

Richard Goldstone's journey from chief prosecutor of the ICTY to defender of Israel is a complex and fascinating one. It is a journey that has been marked by both triumph and controversy. But through it all, Goldstone has remained committed to the pursuit of justice and reconciliation.

Goldstone's apology for the errors that he made in the FFMGC report was a courageous act. It was an act that showed that he was willing to admit his mistakes and to take responsibility for them. Goldstone's apology was also an act of reconciliation. It was an attempt to bridge the divide between Israelis and Palestinians and to promote healing and understanding.

The lawsuit against Goldstone is a setback for reconciliation. The lawsuit is an attempt to silence Goldstone and to prevent him from speaking out about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, Goldstone has vowed to continue to fight for justice and reconciliation. He has said that he will not be intimidated by the lawsuit and that he will continue to speak out against human rights violations.

Goldstone's journey is a reminder that reconciliation is a difficult and often painful process. It is a process that requires courage, compassion, and perseverance. But it is a process that is essential for building a better future.

The Cost of Speaking Out

Richard Goldstone is not the first person to face legal challenges for speaking out about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In recent years, there have been a number of cases in which human rights activists have been sued for libel, defamation, or other crimes. These lawsuits are often brought by powerful individuals or organizations who are trying to silence their critics.

The cost of speaking out about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be high. Human rights activists have been subjected to threats, harassment, and violence. They have also been sued for large sums of money. But despite the risks, human rights activists continue to speak out. They do so because they believe that it is their duty to speak up for the oppressed and to defend human rights.

Richard Goldstone is an example of a human rights activist who has paid a high price for speaking out. But he has not been silenced. He continues to speak out against human rights violations and to promote reconciliation. Goldstone's journey is a reminder that the cost of speaking out can be high, but it is a price that must be paid.

Richard Goldstone's journey is a complex and fascinating one. It is a journey that has been marked by both triumph and controversy. But through it all, Goldstone has remained committed to the pursuit of justice and reconciliation. Goldstone's journey is a reminder that reconciliation is a difficult and often painful process. But it is a process that is essential for building a better future.

The Trials of Richard Goldstone

by Christopher Hitchens

4.2 out of 5