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Last update - 22:57 19/10/2009
Russians deal Lieberman 'slap' by endorsing Goldstone report
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: israel news 

Click here for more on the Goldstone commission report on the Gaza conflict

Israel relayed a sharply worded protest to the Russian government following Russia's vote in favor of adopting the Goldstone report at the Human Rights Council in Geneva Friday, according to senior Foreign Ministry officials in Jerusalem.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman suffered a personal blow by the Russian vote, which went against the promises he received from his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, days prior to the vote at the United Nations body.
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Russian officials clarified that Moscow would oppose any discussion of the Goldstone report by the UN Security Council, Israel Radio reported on Sunday night.

Russia's envoy to Israel met over the weekend with Foreign Ministry official Pinchas Avivi to hand him a letter of clarification from Lavrov about Russia's vote at the Human Rights Council, according to Israel Radio.

Sources at the Foreign Ministry, however, said that the Russians' behavior was tantamount to a "slap in the face for Lieberman," whose policy has been based on a "strategic dialogue" with Russia.

Notwithstanding his disappointment, Lieberman was careful not to attack the government in Moscow publicly. Other countries who were critical of Israel, such as Sweden, Norway, Turkey and China, were slammed by Lieberman.

However, Lieberman opted to keep a low profile, as he did earlier this year when Lavrov met with senior figures from Hamas. His office also refused to comment on this report.

Following the vote in Geneva Friday, the Russian government sought to appease Israel and Lavrov sent a message to Lieberman clarifying the Russian stance in the vote. However, a source in the Foreign Ministry said that Lieberman refused to accept the Russian's message.

In the end the message was relayed by the Russian ambassador to Israel to the deputy director for Euro-Asian affairs at the Foreign Ministry, Pini Avivi.

During the meeting with the Russian ambassador, Avivi relayed Israel's protest on its vote with regards to the Goldstone report. He said that "you could have joined the group of countries who voted against or abstained," adding that "we were very hurt by your behavior, especially following the assurances you had given us on the matter."

The Russian ambassador said that he had been asked by Lavrov to relay a series of messages regarding the Russian vote. He said that Russia voted in favor because it had no choice, and went as far as to blame the European Union.

"We sought to moderate the wording of the resolution but we failed because of the stance of Western countries," the Russian ambassador claimed.

He also said that even though Russia supported the resolution on the adoption of the Goldstone report, it opposes the transfer of the matter to the Security Council or the commencement of legal action at the International Criminal Court at The Hague. The Russian diplomat added that Moscow believes that "Israel should investigate itself," and reiterated that the most important things is for "the peace process not to be damaged."

The Russian ambassador also charged that the Goldstone report contains statements that "are unsubstantiated and are subjective."

Senior Foreign Ministry officials said that Lieberman had been personally insulted by the Russian vote. Since the release of the Goldstone report a month ago, Lieberman spoke some 10 times with Lavrov and asked that Moscow not support the report.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke prior to the vote with President Dmitry Medvedev.

Senior Israeli officials said that other Russian figures relayed to Israel positive messages on the issue, and had even made promises on not voting in favor of the report.

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      1.   Lieberman should be slapped by all nations 04:25  |  shelly 19/10/09
      2.   Lieberman vs Russians 04:29  |  dee 19/10/09
      3.   No choice 04:37  |  Suzy 19/10/09
      4.   observation 04:43  |  potobac 19/10/09
      5.   Why would Lieberman take Russia`s vote so badly? 05:04  |  Maureen Ann 19/10/09
      6.   They didn`t want the "peace process" damaged but they damaged it 05:17  |  McQueen 19/10/09
      7.   what he needs is a punch 05:34  |  Bruce Normal 19/10/09
      8.   Russia`s interest 05:38  |  Mike 19/10/09
      9.   self defense?? 05:11  |  bob 19/10/09
      10.   russia is run by cossaki...US by cowboys 06:01  |  get a clue 19/10/09
      11.   Lieberman living in disney land! the cossak putin spits in your 06:05  |  face 19/10/09
      12.   #3 There is no peace process they could possibly damage 06:14  |  Kris Lazar 19/10/09
      13.   I AM WITH YOU, SHELLY, # 1. 06:19  |  EL 19/10/09
      14.   A slap to Liberman or a bone to the UNHRC ? 06:24  |  PETER SM 19/10/09
      15.   A slap to Liberman or a bone to the UNHRC ? 06:41  |  PETER SM 19/10/09
      16.   You deserve it, Israel !! 07:01  |  Westwell 19/10/09
      17.   Lieberman 07:04  |  Philip 19/10/09
      18.   Ha, ha, "Russian" Lieberman slapped by his brothers...... 07:35  |  Swiss (Dino) 19/10/09
      19.   Maybe Lieberman has more influence elsewhere 08:08  |  Colin Wright 19/10/09
      20.   WESTWELL your side gets rebuffs,like no EU boycott 09:01  |  PETER SM 19/10/09
      21.   Russia played by the book...Period. 09:51  |  Stephen. 19/10/09
      22.   Who cares? 09:54  |  Acadian Canadian 19/10/09
      23.   #17 how about just a mole, colin? 09:57  |  eric 19/10/09
      24.   How Russia treat those willing to "influence" them 10:25  |  Uri 19/10/09
      25.   no 6 Mike 10:54  |  guy 19/10/09
      26.   Russia has always supported Israel`s enemies 11:12  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 19/10/09
      27.   I am ashamed of our Minister Verhagen 11:16  |  John 19/10/09
      28.   19# really now Stephen??? 12:02  |  Israeliguy 19/10/09
      29.   #22: what countries? 12:07  |  Edward 19/10/09
      30.   How does Israel know 17:56  |  Chris Linthwaite 19/10/09
      31.   Russian anti-semitism is alive and well 12:09  |  US CITIZEN 19/10/09
      32.   Why no war crimes investigation into Russia`s Chechnya campaign? 12:20  |  Jane Hamber 19/10/09
      33.   #30 All war crimes shall be investigated 13:08  |  Daniel 19/10/09
      34.   27# my sentiments exactly Edward 13:19  |  Israeliguy 19/10/09
      35.   Liberman 13:22  |  dave 19/10/09
      36.   lieberman needs to resign 13:51  |  eyal 19/10/09
      37.   What about Chechnya? 14:04  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 19/10/09
      38.   Face it, Cast Lead was unsupportable 14:36  |  r cummings 19/10/09
      39.   Israel enforced her friends go for Goldstone! 14:41  |  Ismail Imadudeen 19/10/09
      40.   Leading with your chin 15:04  |  W 19/10/09
      41.   Lieberman & Russia 15:28  |  Jane 19/10/09
      42.   #41 Lieberman & Russia 16:23  |  Helder Vieira 19/10/09
      43.   Russia Has More Respect for Palestinians Than USA 16:25  |  Vladek 19/10/09
      44.   charge russia with war crimes for chechnya 16:37  |  jon 19/10/09
      45.   # 41 jane 16:50  |  Axel 19/10/09
      46.   #.28.Israeliguy. The Russia of today. 17:16  |  Stephen. 19/10/09
      47.   Self defense 17:21  |  Murray 19/10/09
      48.   30#Chris Linthwaite 17:48  |  Israeliguy 19/10/09
      49.   Bravo Russia 17:48  |  Fawaz 19/10/09
      50.   Acadian Canadian 18:09  |  Israeliguy 19/10/09
      51.   Self-defense ends were war crimes start 18:14  |  Observer 19/10/09
      52.   40# in all honesty 18:25  |  Israeliguy 19/10/09
      53.   OBSERVER/Murray Col Kemp at UNHRC debate on Goldstone enquiry!! 21:08  |  PETER SM 19/10/09
      54.   leiberman and netanyahu are both a joke!! 22:07  |  european citizen 19/10/09
      55.   Russian report??? 00:41  |  Michelle 20/10/09
      56.   if you lie, then you will be lied to 01:36  |  VIPER 20/10/09
      57.   israeliguy, being cute is actually being stupid... 01:49  |  BBSNews 20/10/09
      58.   Lieberman & Russia(to # 45) 01:49  |  Jane 20/10/09
      59.   #26 - Chaim, nor the last 14:59  |  TruthSetMeFree 20/10/09
      60.   54# Viper now that 15:08  |  Israeliguy 20/10/09
      61.   BBS being a hypocreit is being even more stupid 15:16  |  Israeliguy 20/10/09
      62.   54# for once I actually agree with you Viper 15:20  |  Israeliguy 20/10/09
      63.   53# Michelle they were opposed to the maltreatment 15:24  |  Israeliguy 20/10/09
      64.   49# bravo whaaaaaaaaat??? 15:30  |  Israeliguy 20/10/09
      65.   51# Observer 15:35  |  Israeliguy 20/10/09
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