:I think we can identify that as an opinion piece and a singularly perverse and worthless one. Goldstone's aim was to persuade Israel there are enough allegations to make it worth investigating them, hence it's full of unsubstantiated claims. Everyone understands that. 
 :But Norwitz's letter is aimed at pre-empting investigations. It repeatedly calls the claims false based on, by the look of it, no possibility of him knowing either way eg "To cite just one example, at 642 you state: “On 5 February 2003, for instance, Israeli snipers shot and killed two staff nurses who were on duty inside the hospital.” These unsubstantiated and often false allegations reflect a bias and a flagrant disregard for the basic principles of due process and all norms of fairness and justice." The contents of this letter would shame any reputable commentator.