Israel Matzav

State Department blames Goldstone for lack of 'peace talks'

In a comment to reporters at the State Department on Tuesday, spokesman PJ Crowley blamed the Goldstone Report for the lack of negotiations between Israel and the 'Palestinians.'

The aside by Assistant U.S. Secretary of State PJ Crowley in a briefing for reporters on Tuesday was the clearest signal of U.S. frustration with the United Nations Human Rights Council report into last winter's Gaza war, authored by Judge Richard Goldstone, that recommended war crimes charges against Israel and Hamas.

"It’s not a failure, because the process isn’t over," Crowley said of Palestinian-Israel talks. "The process is ongoing. But clearly, in the aftermath of the Goldstone report, we’ve seen this fairly substantial gap emerge and we’re seeing what we can do to move both sides closer to a decision to enter into negotiations."

After its publication in September, Israel insisted on quashing the report as a precondition for going forward with the peace process; the Palestinian Authority has insisted it be addressed.

A very bright silver lining in the Goldstone Report cloud. Heh.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:54 AM