UN adopts Goldstone report on Gaza war crimes

Saturday, 07 November 2009 11:02

The UN yesterday endorsed a resolution to act upon the Goldstone report's findings on war crimes in Gaza, paving the way for its progression to the UN Security Council.

The report was adopted as 114 states voted in favour, 18 states, including Israel and the US, voted against, with 44 abstentions.

The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) and the Board of Deputies of British Jews (BoD) lobbying the UK government issued a joint statement urging the Foreign Secretary that ‘nothing less than a principled vote against the resolution will do.’

The UK failed to cast a vote when the report was put before the UNHRC in Geneva last month. At yesterday’s UN vote the UK abstained, rejecting the JCL and BoD’s exhortations that it vote against.

In his reply to the JLC/BoD joint statement the Foreign Secretary wrote:

"The Goldstone Report does raise some serious issues which should be properly investigated. We have asked Israel to show the strength and rigour of its democracy by establishing full credible and impartial investigations. And we have continued to be absolutely clear in our condemnation of Hamas rocket attacks as a clear violation of international humanitarian law.

“As our officials have discussed, we are engaging strongly in New York to agree a resolution which does not endorse the Goldstone report, desists from unbalanced and inflammatory rhetoric, while recognising the real concerns and repeating our request for thr parties to take further action. I do not yet know how this negotiation will conclude but I can assure you that we will maintain our principled position: against any delegitimisation of Israel while pressing for further Israeli action to address real concerns.”

The UK’s position, in light of the furious and sustained lobbying that has been taking place to derail Goldstone, will be of some small comfort to those that have been pressing for the report’s recommendations to be taken seriously and acted upon.

Yvonne Terlingen, Head of Amnesty International's Office at the UN, speaking after the vote in the General Assembly said:

"Both Israel and Hamas in Gaza have been served due notice, in this defining General Assembly resolution, that they must immediately conduct credible, independent investigations into the alleged grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law committed during the conflict.

"The clock is now running and we urge both parties to act without further delay. The UN has spoken up today for accountability and for an end to the cycle of impunity that has for so long obstructed the search for peace and justice between Israelis and Palestinians."

"Almost one year on, those who suffered war crimes and other gross violations of their rights, are still waiting for justice. It is our fervent hope that today's UN General Assembly resolution will act as a catalyst to make justice and reparation a reality for the victims on both sides."

AI produced its own report on war crimes in Gaza: ‘Operation ‘CAST LEAD’: 22 Days of Death and Destruction’.

The FCO’s decision to resist the lobbying of pro-Israel groups is to be commended for its contribution to ending the culture of impunity that stands as a significant obstacle to peace and reconciliation in the region. Though the right thing to do would have been to vote in favour of the resolution.