Helena Cobban writes about the recent casualty figures from Israel’s war against Hamas released by PCHR and B’Tselem.
I dare say that when we see the final report in English from PCHR, they too will be specific about the methodology they used. I have great respect for the careful work and documentary objectivity of the PCHR, which is Palestinian and operates under extremely difficult circumstances from its downtown Gaza headquarters. I would imagine that its researchers have the opportunity to do even more meticulous fieldwork than that done by B’tselem, which is based in Jerusalem and has faced many obstacles placed by the Israeli authorities in being able to get its research teams into Gaza.
“Meticulous” is an interesting way to describe PCHR’s approach. As Elder of Ziyon observed:
We’ve already demonstrated conclusively that literally hundreds of people that the PCHR called “civilian” casualties of Operation Cast Lead were, in fact, terrorists. (And the incredible team of t34zakat, PTWatch and Suzanne are still finding more.)
The problem is not only that PCHR was unaware of these people’s affiliations. PCHR’s weekly reports during Cast Lead detail a number of specific incidents that show that the organization knew quite well that the dead were terrorists – and chose to categorize them as “civilian” anyway.
“Meticulous” then, apparently means exaggerating the level of destruction caused by Israel. It isn’t surprising that Cobban believes this as there seems to be no libel about Israel that is too silly for her to ignore. Cobban doesn’t even seem to be bothered that the blurring of the lines between terrorist and civilian was a deliberate tactic practiced by her heroes of Hamas.
Daled Amos wonders if the funders of these groups feel that they’re getting their money’s worth. They certainly got their money’s worth from PCHR.
Crossposted on Yourish.
Insofar as there were civilians killed during Operation Cast Lead the responsibility lies with Hamas.
Blurring the differences between fighting troops and civilians violates the Fourth Geneva Conventions, and those treaties, which are settled international law, not the vaporings of academics like so much “international law” that is used to smear Israel and the USA, clearly put the responsibility for such civilian deaths on the side that blurred the differences. Hamas did the blurring. That is, international law says it’s Hamas’ responsibility.
The Palestinian Arabs continually violate international law in their war against Israel. When shall we hear the denunciations of the Good-thinkers against their crimes? I’m not holding my breath.
Ms. Cobban is part of that legion of westerners who will take as–you’ll excuse the expression–gospel truth whatever comes from a Palestinian source. PCHR’s office is in downtown Gaza City. Leaving aside any number of other considerations, it isn’t likely to come up with anything that doesn’t jibe with Hamas’s desires.
On the other hand the Israeli report is dismissed as mere propaganda, although it is generated through an open process in a country where anyone who disagrees with it, has other and contrary information, or can critique its methodology is free to do so and will.
In a small way this is yet another demonstration of the curious fact that by every proclaimed value of the left it should be passionately pro-Israel, and is instead passionately anti-Israel. There are, I think, a number of reasons for this and none of them are pleasant or inspiring.