Israel Near Nixing UN Probe On Gaza Headed By Sympathetic Jewish Jurist

Jerusalem — In the past, when Israel blocked United Nations inquiries into its actions, it could sometimes point to the pro-Palestinian sympathies of those doing the probing. That’s more difficult to do with Richard Goldstone, a South African jurist chosen by the U.N. Human Rights Council to lead its investigation into Israel’s recent conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Goldstone, who is Jewish, has strong personal ties to Israel. He is a trustee of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a president emeritus of World ORT, a Jewish charity that runs dozens of educational projects in Israel.