Gaza report judge meets critics in South Africa after attending grandson’s bar mitzvah
By APWednesday, May 5, 2010
Gaza report judge meets critics in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG — An internationally respected jurist who accused Israel of war crimes has discussed his findings with fellow South African Jews who criticized his U.N. report.
In a statement Wednesday, the South African Zionist Federation said Monday’s meeting came after Richard Goldstone attended his grandson’s Johannesburg bar mitzvah. Goldstone was able to attend the weekend rite of passage after protests by his Jewish critics were called off.
The federation says neither side would add publicly to opening statements it released.
In his statement, Goldstone says it would have been hypocritical to denounce war crimes around the world “but remain silent when it came to Israel.”
Federation chair Avrom Krengel says Goldstone’s report was biased against Israel and caused “pain and anger.”
