Mr. President, Justice Goldstone,
The EU underlines the importance it attaches in all contexts to ensure accountability and counter impunity for violations of international law, including investigations into possible violations. In the view of the EU, you and the other members of the Fact-Finding Mission have produced a serious report which merits serious consideration and follow-up by this Council.
We recognize that you took on the mandate with a focus on all parties concerned. Focusing on the obligation to investigate violations, could you specify how further investigations could be conducted by both sides to the Gaza conflict given the situation on the ground?
The EU would like to know how the Mission took into account the lack of input from Israel into the investigation. How do you consider that it impacted on the Mission's methodology, legal analysis and conclusions drawn?
Justice Goldstone,
The recommendations in the report are elaborate and inter-connected. There have been articulated fears that your report in some way could negatively impact ongoing peace talks. Could you please comment on these views?
Justice Goldstone, your report was requested by the Human Rights Council and you have now presented it to us here. How could the Human Rights Council – leaving aside for the moment the issue of referral – best deal with your recommendations?
Thank you, Mr. President