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The Goldstone report, Inside Story [Al Jazeera]

18.10.2009

Can the Palestinians and Israelis meet the recommendations of the report?

The legitimacy of international law is being tested.

Despite being heavily criticised by Israel, the Goldstone report on the Gaza war, one of the most controversial documents sanctioned by the UN in recent years, was finally adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council this weekend amid unprecedented Israeli denials, objections, and concerns.

Out of the 47 members on the council 25 voted in favour of the report, including several Arab and African states, six voted against - including the US, 11 countries abstained, and five didn't vote at all, including the UK and France.

Israel's leadership has rejected the UN decision to back the Goldstone, calling it a one-sided and unjust resolution.

Does the report pose a threat to Israel? Or is a US veto likely to block the implementation of Goldstone's recommendations anyway?

Can Palestinians or Israelis meet the recommendations of the report to the satisfaction of the UN or will the international community have to intervene?

Inside Story presenter Sohail Rahman is joined by Alon Liel, the former director of the Israeli foreign ministry, Abdel Bari Atwan, editor-in-chief of the Pan Arabic newspaper Al-Quds al-Arabi, and Eyal Sivan, an Israeli filmmaker and commentator.

This episode of Inside Story aired from Sunday, October 18, 2009.