RAMALLAH, April 4, 2011 (WAFA) - Palestinian human rights organizations Monday expressed deep disappointment at Judge Richard Goldstone’s recent opinion piece published in the Washington Post last Friday.

In a press conference held in Ramallah, member of Palestinian parliament, Mustafa Barghouthi said that from a legal point of view Goldstone’s opinion is worthless.

He said that what has been named the Goldstone Report on Israeli war crimes during its military assault on Gaza late in 2008 was approved by the United Nations Human Rights Council and has become a UN document..

He said that Goldstone’s retraction was pitiful and it  shows the Jewish lobby’ pressure on Goldstone. He said the retraction paves the way for Israel to commit more crimes against Palestinians.

“Israel committed war crimes in Gaza and 29 members of the Al-Samouni family in Gaza were deliberately murdered by the Israeli armed forces. Ten of the dead were children,” he said.

“Goldstone’s retraction doesn’t deny the report’s credibility, particularly because it is based on tangible investigations on the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip,” said Randa Siniora, from the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR).

“This justification of such war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip gives Israel excuses to commit more crimes,” she added.

Siniora said she believes Goldstone’s remarks were part of an organized policy to exempt Israel from shouldering responsibility for its crimes.

Shahwan Jabareen, from al-Haq human rights organization, said that if there is any new information Goldstone should present it. Goldstone, he said, did not deny the events he had investigated.

During Israel’s 22-day military assault on Gaza launched on December 27, 2008, more than 1,400 Palestinians were killed, and over 5,000 were injured, mainly women and children.

The Goldstone report lists a number of incidents in which Palestinian civilians were intentionally targeted and attacked by the Israeli military, as well as used as human shields. It condemns Israel’s use of white phosphorous and missiles in built-up areas, and its deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, including the destruction of industrial infrastructure and residential housing.

Y.Y./M.A.