U.N. body sends Goldstone report to Security Council

October 16, 2009

(JTA) -- The U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva sent the Goldstone report to the U.N. Security Council.

Meanwhile, Richard Goldstone condemned the council for ignoring his commission's findings on Hamas war crimes.

The Human Rights Council voted 25 to 6 on Oct. 14 to endorse the report and recommend that other U.N. bodies heed its recommendations.

The report recommends that Israel and authorities in the Gaza Strip prosecute fighters for alleged war crimes committed during last winter's Gaza war and, should that not happen within six months, for the Security Council pursue such prosecutions. The Human Rights Council resolution cites only Israel.

Goldstone, who agreed to lead the fact-finding mission only if he could investigate Hamas as well, said he was "saddened" by the resolution.

"There is not a single phrase condemning Hamas as we have done in the report," Goldstone was quoted as saying by the French news agency AFP.

Among those voting against were the United States, Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine. Those voting to recommend it included Russia, China, Argentina and Egypt.

Israel rejects the report, saying its original mandate predetermined bias.

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