Jurists call for forming committee handling reports instead of PA

Many law experts and human rights activists on Tuesday called for forming an independent Palestinian committee responsible for referring reports on Israeli violations of human rights to international bodies and organizations, rather than the Palestinian authority (PA) in Ramallah.

In a symposium held in Amman under the title “the importance of international reports of human rights…Goldstone’s report as an example” the participants called in their speeches for keeping Mahmoud Abbas’s hands off Goldstone’s report so as not to be subject to business deals and political blackmails.

During the meeting, international law expert Dr. Anis Al-Qasem called on human rights activists to file lawsuits based on Goldstone’s report in all European counties whose laws allow the prosecution of Israeli war criminals on their lands.

In another context, editor-in-chief of the London-based Al-Quds newspaper Abdelbari Atwan said in a statement to Al-Jazeera satellite channel that Abbas directed all his scathing attack against Hamas instead of lashing out at the Israeli occupation that commits serious violations against Palestinians and their land.

Atwan affirmed that he was expecting Abbas to confess to his withdrawal of Goldstone’s report and declare his resignation from office because of his disrespect for the Palestinian blood.

He pointed out that Abbas is insistent on leading the Palestinian people towards “freedom and independence” as if he is still the legitimate chief of the Palestinian authority.

He also emphasized that Abbas needs to be reconciled with Fatah first and then he can seek reconciliation with Hamas after that.