Goldstone denies intention to retract UN report

In AP interview, judge refutes Yishai's claims that he promised to seek nullification for his report on Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Goldstone 311 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Goldstone 311
(photo credit: REUTERS)
South African jurist Richard Goldstone denied Interior Minister Eli Yishai's claim that he planned to work to nullify his report on the the IDF's Operation Cast Lead in 2009, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
Goldstone, in an interview with the Associated Press, said that Yishai had called to thank him for his Washington Post op-ed piece, but that the two never discussed the actual report. Goldstone said that he had responded to Yishai's thanks, telling him his utmost concern was for "truth, justice, and human rights."
RELATED: 'Goldstone says he'll work to nullify report in UN'
Goldstone critics ponder their roles in about-face
On Tuesday, AP reported that the interior minister had said that Goldstone, “as a Jew understands well the story of the Jewish people’s suffering ... and it is very important for him to come and see this." Yishai added that Goldstone had made a promise to work towards an official retraction of the report.
Goldstone told the Associated Press that Yishai had invited him to Israel, and that he accepted the invitation but would not be able to come until July. He added that he ended his conversation with Yishai expressing his "love for Israel."
As for his report on the 2009 Gaza offensive, Goldstone reiterated that the "intentionality on the part of Israel" required review, and that "domestic investigation could lead to further reconsideration." The judge concluded, however, that no part of the report needed reconsideration at the present time.
On Monday, the UNHRC spokesman Cedric Sapey had told The Jerusalem Post that in order for the body to reconsider the report, that the judge would first need to write a formal letter to that effect.