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| UN votes to endorse Gaza report | UN votes to endorse Gaza report |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The UN Human Rights Council has backed a report into the Israeli offensive in Gaza that accuses both Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes. | The UN Human Rights Council has backed a report into the Israeli offensive in Gaza that accuses both Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes. |
| The report by Richard Goldstone calls for credible investigations by Israel and Hamas, and suggests international war crimes prosecutions if they do not. | The report by Richard Goldstone calls for credible investigations by Israel and Hamas, and suggests international war crimes prosecutions if they do not. |
| Twenty-five countries voted for the resolution, while six were against. | Twenty-five countries voted for the resolution, while six were against. |
| Both Israel and the US opposed official endorsement of the report, saying it would set back Middle East peace hopes. | Both Israel and the US opposed official endorsement of the report, saying it would set back Middle East peace hopes. |
| The Palestinian Authority initially backed deferring a vote, but changed its position after domestic criticism. | The Palestinian Authority initially backed deferring a vote, but changed its position after domestic criticism. |
| Palestinians and human rights groups say more than 1,400 Gazans were killed in the 22-day conflict that ended in January, but Israel puts the figure at 1,166. Thirteen Israelis were killed. | Palestinians and human rights groups say more than 1,400 Gazans were killed in the 22-day conflict that ended in January, but Israel puts the figure at 1,166. Thirteen Israelis were killed. |
| 'Culture of impunity' | 'Culture of impunity' |
| Before the vote in Geneva, from which 11 countries abstained, the Palestinian representative argued that the matter was simply about respect for the rule of law. | Before the vote in Geneva, from which 11 countries abstained, the Palestinian representative argued that the matter was simply about respect for the rule of law. |
| Earlier, the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner had insisted that now was the time to end the "culture of impunity" which pervaded. | Earlier, the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner had insisted that now was the time to end the "culture of impunity" which pervaded. |
| The report accuses Israel of using "disproportionate force" in Gaza href="/2/hi/middle_east/8258147.stm">UN seeks close Gaza scrutiny Key extracts from UN statement Full UN report on Gaza war | |
| In contrast, Israel had lobbied intensively against the resolution. | In contrast, Israel had lobbied intensively against the resolution. |
| The Israeli government says that the Goldstone report is biased against Israel, and removes the right of nations to defend themselves against terrorists. | The Israeli government says that the Goldstone report is biased against Israel, and removes the right of nations to defend themselves against terrorists. |
| The US representative at the Human Rights Council agreed, saying that the resolution - which also criticised Israel for its recent actions in East Jerusalem - only made the prospect of a meaningful peace process more difficult. | The US representative at the Human Rights Council agreed, saying that the resolution - which also criticised Israel for its recent actions in East Jerusalem - only made the prospect of a meaningful peace process more difficult. |
| But he also urged both sides to launch independent investigations. | But he also urged both sides to launch independent investigations. |
| The BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says momentum behind the Goldstone report will grow. | The BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says momentum behind the Goldstone report will grow. |
| The UN, at its headquarters in New York, may take it up, our correspondent says. | The UN, at its headquarters in New York, may take it up, our correspondent says. |
| The report demands that unless the parties to the Gaza war investigate the allegations of war crimes within six months, the cases should be referred to the International Criminal Court at The Hague. | The report demands that unless the parties to the Gaza war investigate the allegations of war crimes within six months, the cases should be referred to the International Criminal Court at The Hague. |
| In the short term, the resolution will also provide some political relief for the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, our correspondent says. | In the short term, the resolution will also provide some political relief for the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, our correspondent says. |
| Mr Abbas had been the butt of intense criticism among the Palestinian public and from his Islamist rivals in Hamas, for initially trying to delay a vote on the Goldstone report, he adds. | Mr Abbas had been the butt of intense criticism among the Palestinian public and from his Islamist rivals in Hamas, for initially trying to delay a vote on the Goldstone report, he adds. |