PA 'won't oppose war crimes trials for Hamas militants'

To Steve in Toronto ,since when was Hamas a resist ance movement ,as it is a criminal group led by criminals Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Meshaal.These two brave heroes live in Damascus or Beirut ,far from the action ,while they direct their criminal gangs to committ war crimes against Israeli civilians in Sderot and Askelon .Your comments are typical distortions and lies so common to the Arab world ,please see no.183.

Hey Dino ,you pontificate about right wing govt.s in Europe who supported Israel ,well welcome to the real world as they aren,t rightwing govt,s but centrist ones who are fed up with successive leftwing/marxist anti -Israel ones who cannot see the real dangers posed by the leftwing rabble.Those leftist students in the UK who tried to disrupt the BBC from allowing Nick Griffin of the BNP ,a right wing fascistpatry ,to have his say wouldn,t dream of trying the same stunt against a leftwing Muslim party as the consequences would be dire for them.So your leftwing claptrap is no different from the right wing claptrap .

To Dan in London ,you ask a pertinent question about Hamas and it,s own investigation into it,s war crimes during operation cast lead.Forget this as it can,t or won,t happen ,rather slap war crimes charges against the entire Hamas leadership ,from Haniyeh and Meshaal to commanders on the ground in Gaza and those who gave the orders to send salvo after salvo of Qassams into civilian populations of Sderot and Ashkelon.The same criminals who operated in the orchards and amongst the civilians in Gaza and beyond ,the very same who used ambulances to transport weapons and fighters in the war zone,the very same who used Mosques ,and schools as storage facilities for ammunition etc,the very same who smuggled army fatigues on UN aid trucks into Gaza ,the same who used UNHRWA warehouses as hiding places to hold Gazans as shields ,who used the basement of the main hospital in Gaza City as a Hamas command centre.The entire Hamas leadership no matter where they might be residing .

War criminals Ismail Haniyeh,Khaled Meshaal,Hassa n Nasrallah ,Mahmoud Abbas,Nabil Shaath ,Saeb Erekat ,Hanan Ashrawi ,Mohammed Dahlan,Moustafa Barghouti ,Amr Moussa and the Arab League,the complete Palestinian leadership on charges of crimes against humanity/Jews/Israel.A sovereign independent democratic ,secular Jewish state ,attacked,assaulted,intimidated by Islam and it,s cohorts .A Jewish state mandated by the League of Nations in 1948 ,living side by side with a Palestinian state(Jordan) in peace and prosperity.It,s now October 26 2009, yet no Palestine but yes Jordan the Palestinian state.It, s time to set the record straight once and for ever .

This sounds like appeasement for the accused by the PA.... As the Israeli historian Avi Shlaim explained in the following piece below Hamas did everything it could to keep the truce and its rockets rarely caused severe damage or bodily harm the yr prior to Gaza assault. Dutch http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/14/leading_israeli_scholar_avi_shlaim_israel

Palestinian sand niggers are to Isreal what shittskin niggers are to America. The only way to finish this once and for all is to kill every last shittskin on the face of the earth.

Glad to know that we're really on the same side and like minded.It's appalling the way that Israel is set up as the world's Aunt Sally for having the temerity to defend itself from ruthless,cynical terrorism.Me,I examine things for myself and make up my own mind and not just go along with the received wisdom of people with little discernment and their own questionable agendas. When the government of Israel deserves criticism,it gets it from me,including in these columns.But I always hold it in my mind that Israel is under constant attack and,like it or not,one has to allow for the expediencies of war.I'd rather live with the Israeli government than Hamas and Fatah and pity the Palestinian Arabs who have to endure their self-seeking masters. Israel is lucky to have such a strong democracy and I wish that Britain were so lucky.Can only wish that there were peace so that Israel could get the full benefit of it. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

UN=Useless Nobodies, they a fart in a wind who are their for status, when the ugly gets going UN peacekeepers runaway, in addition to passing resolution after resolution they havent accomplished much, whats the point of this silly organisation???

but the others you did not mention namely India and Indonesia could be just as bad. Come on have you noticed what India does to your fellow Muslims(assuming you are feel free to correct me) in Kashmir,Indonesia has slaughtered Timorese and New Guineans and is yet to answer for that(are the Aussie Israel bashers listening???) just a ferry ride from down under,yet I didnt hear a peep from you lot about it. back to you Najeeb as I mentioned above the top five are not the only draconian lot out there. btw how is Hezzbollah treating you??? hope they dont cause any trouble for both our sake.

After expulsions,pogroms,inquisitions etc, you think Jews would turn their own brethen away??? you are sadly mistaken, infact if Israel existed in the 1920's already with Jews of a hundreds of generations such as myself, If Hitler even tried his stunts in Auschwitz,Treblinka etc Dresden,Berlin,Hamburg would have been pulverised before the Allies could even think about it.

"if the US was getting rockets from Mexico or Canada ... " (Jeff) Has nobody told you yet, wise guy, that Mexico and Canada are two peaceful free and independent states, and that Gaza is no state at all just a tiny Islamist enclave we are now unable to live with, nor defeat? The noxious fruit of our deluded leaders' policy.

I was glad to see that I lost my bet, and that we have no dispute about Russia & China both deserving a UN investigation. Now what? Did I ever say anything to the contrary? And what has that to do with the Goldstone Report? Three cheers for Israel !!! And three boos for those who so misgovern us that we are now suspected of war crimes !!! And who so miserably failed to remember that Israel is not Russia nor China. And never will - hopefully. Can we agree on that too?

whom both are known to occupy,kill and maim ppl on a larger scale unabated. PS: we dont need sympathy from you miss know it all,it wouldnt have helped anycase. have a nice day. :-)

these fire crackers have bought life to a standstill in Sderot ,managed to maim and kill Israelis, some even fell off mark and killed their own ppl. in addition to running around in ambulances,and taking potshots with your firecrackers from schools and populated areas knowing the consequences. so Steve are these not war crimes??? So are these not war crimes

went and massacred Rwandan refugees a couple of days ago??? wow what brave and mighty principles the UN has,infact it doesnt so until the UN investigate themselves for warcrimes they are just a bag of hot air.

do the countries who voted in favour stand on??? Most of them none, China occupies and oppresses Tibetans and Uighurs,Pakistan persecutes minorities,India tortures and kills Kashmiris, Russia bombs the hell out of Chechnya making Gaza look like a summer camp, South Africa aids and abets mad uncle Bob up north in Zimbabwe who slaughters,starves and intimidates his own people, while Indonesia actually perpetrated horrific crimes against Timorese. It seems to me that those with dirty laundry will always point out somebody else. sickening double standards.

This false line of thinking needs to be challenged. Hamas are both the official leaders of the Palestinians and a resistant group - consistent with their right under INTERNATIONAL LAW to resist military oppression. They did not commit war crimes by any definition of the term. This is a case of appearing to be 'balanced' - so as to appease the Israel lobby. And it's false. When Israel gets out of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem and then Hamas sends rockets into civilian centers - THEN you can talk about war crimes. Until then Hamas is carrying out it's OBLIGATION to defend the Palestinian people from Israeli aggression. Perhaps if Hamas had proper armaments like those of Israel(like the guided missiles, bombs, rockets that Israel has used to target Hamas officals during offical cease-fires) then we'd talk about war crimes - but those firecrackers that Hamas has used are not proof of the purposeful targeting of civilians in Israel. They simply are not

their treatment of the Tibetans is abhorrent,yet South Africa(your country) deported the Dalai Lama one of the most peaceful ppl on the planet?? China and most of the countries in favour of the ruling have a poor human track record. MAKES ONE THINK DOESNT IT???

WHAT A JOKE!!! 1:China has occupied Tibet, with cases of ethnic cleansing and sterilisation. 2:Russia for their part made cast lead look like an innocent boyscouts camping trip in comparison to what the Russian military has done in Chechnya and Georgia. 3: Pakistan has oppressed and killed their own aswell as assasinated. 4:India has done pretty much the same in Kashmir torturing,kidnapping,extra judicial killing. 5:South Africa is run by a racist rapist with a morally bankrupt government that playsdown the inspiration of whites,Indians and Coloureds(mixed race ppl) while their unions go on strike killing ppl,xenaphobic behaviour towards African foreigners in which little was done to prevent the onsett. ITS EASIER FOR THE POT TO CALL THE KETTLE BLACK. thanks for the laugh haaretz you just made my day

Too late to protest, Mr. Goldstone. Your damage is done. Your well known arrogance blinded you to the real reason you were picked-as a fig leaf for the anti-Israel agenda. Even if the panel without you had come up with a worse report, your Jewishness gave it legitimacy.It is we Jews that are undermining Israel, Goldstone, Emmanuel, the ultra radical settlers,the corrupt politicians.

When I wonder if Russia and China would welcome UN enquiries into their activities,I mean just that.I personally think that they should be investigated,so it looks like Zeev has lost his bet.The difference between Zeev and myself may possibly be that I am not prepared to pre-judge the issue.I take into account the past anti-Israel bias of the UN human rights bodies and the one sided nature or the evidence that Goldstone gathered.But,of course,I wouldn't put words into Zeev's mouth,unlike he does to me. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

when the matter will be referred to the ICC, what than? Hamas

"I also wonder if Russia and China would welcome UN enquiry ... " (Ian) The perennial defence line of the scoundrels: Other countries have acted like damn bastards, why aren't we allowed too? I bet you believe that the International Criminal Tribunal should have never been established, and that Milosevic should have been allowed to go scot-free. Of all the countries that dared judge him, whose closet is free of any skeleton? Whose hands are clean enough?

How would I have stopped the qassam rockets ... ? We have a saying here, which I like much for its (sad, so sad) truth: The stone a dimwitted has thrown into a well, ten wise men cannot recover. Here I am, not even one wise man, being asked how would I recover one of the many, so many stones, the deluded leaders of my country have thrown into the well, in the course of their 42-year disastrous mismanagement of our June '67 victory. I have no idea how to answer you directly, on how to extirpate from Gaza the religious fanatics who took possession of it in the name of their god, on June 2007, after PM Ariel Sharon's foolish unilateral disengagement. All I can say is, had I been elected instead of him, in Jan 28, 2003, Israel wouldn't be today plagued by an islamist enclave, nor would there be anyone in Gaza to launch rockets at Sderot. Mahmoud Abbas would have taken care of them. For a price, of course - he is no quisling: The negotiated end of the occupation. Which is, after all, Israel's own interest as the only way to ensure - given the demographics - its survival on the long term as a Jewish and democratic country.

look to zionism as its source; NOT the koran! while the conflict obviously adds fuel to islamic extremism; it most certainly was NOT spawned by it, nor is it BECAUSE of it. the mid-east conflict is about land and oppression; religion is incidental! which is to say, that IF the palestinians had been of ANY other religion(including jewish), and the zionists had arrived in their midst to do what they've done and continue to do; there would STILL be a conflict in the middle-east.

The only reason Abbas agreed to cancle his objection on the Goldstone Report is hoping that the opponents in Gaza will be punished. what a dissappointment,,,,

look to zionism as its source; NOT the koran! while the conflict obviously adds fuel to islamic extremism; it most certainly was NOT spawned by it, nor is it BECAUSE of it. the mid-east conflict is about land and oppression; religion is incidental! which is to say, that IF the palestinians had been of ANY other religion(including jewish), and the zionists had arrived in their midst to do what they've done and continue to do; there would STILL be a conflict in the middle-east.

Just like every utopian, there will be consequences. Like having the despots of the world decide one's fate. I am amazed at all the applause. Liberals and leftists will rue this day soon enough.

Regardless of the HRC pedigree, which is admittedly beyond the pale the report should stand or fall on its own merits. All those judges are of first class repute despite the ham fisted efforts of those on these shouting forums to discredit each and every one. Is there a single legal expert on here who has the legal credentials to come even close to Goldstone? Maybe an attorney or two [Judge Northridge in today?) but otherwise... hmm, thought so. As for his unblemished record in examining and bringing to book outrageous crimes of war. Any here care to impugn his record? Uh huh. Then of course the tricky issue of him being a fully paid up member of the 'Red Sea pedestrian' tribe. Oh yes, and a Zionist to boot. Goldstone ran the South Africa "Friends of Israel" Office. Is even one of the 'Hebrew University Board of Governors' no less! Perhaps that was why Gordon Brown gave bibi such short shrift when Bibi rang to demand a vote against the adoption of the reports recommendations. So the usual cries of bias and anti-Semitism just seem to fall ever so flat in this case. What a masterstroke by the HRC this was. What an honourable man Goldstone turned out to be. Now that is what I call a *genuine* candidate for a peace prize :)

Goldstone is proof, if such were needed, that a clever person is not necessarily a wise person. By his naivete, he has been duped by the U.N.H.R.C. Israel cannot afford to have naive leaders who might be prepared, as the UN/world wishes them, to take chances or gamble with Israel's security. Thus the Goldstones of this world are not to be trusted or listened to. Israel cannot afford to take chances, or make mistakes, with its security. Goldstone will rue his decision to give a quasi "Hechsher" to this bunch of criminal countries who appointed him. He can only purge his mistake (if at all) by going to, and living in, Sderot or such other place in Israel at such time as it may in future suffer sustained rocket fire from Israel's sworn enemies.

Thanks you. One question for you. How would you have stopped the qassam rockets had you been in charge.

You are absolutely right, it is indeed impossible. This is what makes me say that those who decided on it were utterly irresponsible leaders - as were those who, in summer 2005, foolishly chose to end our 38-year occupation of the Gaza Strip by opening its gate wide before the worst of our enemies, rather than entrust the key to the man his people had elected for Chairman by a large majority, only six months earlier. The result we all know: On our border with Egypt, an islamist enclave we now cannot live with, nor defeat.

Even dropped a few comments on their page today.

where's the Irgun now that we need it?

There are so many arm chair generals here. Can one of you please advise how would a modern army fighting in a crowded area, where it is practically impossible to distinguish between fighters, who don't wear uniforms, and don't fight in military formation, and civilians; how would that army avoid harming civilians. Frankly it is impossible.

And they know it. It wasn't even permitted to be mentioned in the UN.

abbas will try to get hamas, hamas will try to get 'cast lead' gangsters. bibi will keep trying to avoid the hauge there by amitting guilt by default...abbas will get some hamas but will lose the election...bibi will fall

But what about the crimes against humanity perpetrated by the PA?

It is obvious now for Israel who their enemies are. It is also obvious who their undependable partners are.

To you posters who are happy with what the UNHRC did, i.e. pick and choose what they wanted out of the Goldstone report for their resolution - i.e. condemning Israel and ignoring his censure of Hamas - that's okay with you. You see no problem with that eh? I hope none of you, Dino, Dutch, US Pal defender, etc. preside as court judges. Because you certainly don't believe in fairness and even-handedness. We now see Mr. Goldstone is hopping mad about the way the UNHRC has manipulated his report. I don't blame him.

"Useless organization"you won't get any argument against that from me,i've said it all along. You seem to forget to name Muslim countries, when you talk about tyrants and dictators, howcome?we all know that there is nothing else but tyrants and dictators there. You are absolutly right about the"top five"mass killings all over,i've said that too,many times before and got"burned"by some of our posters. But again you forget the second half ot the truth,no one killed more Muslims than Muslims and you don't have to go 100 years back,just follow the news,only yesterday some hundreds Muslims were killed by Muslims in Afghanistan,Pakistan,and Iraq.

So Goldstone is upset about the UN resolution just condemning Israel. Is he really that nieve that he didn't know how the report he wrote would be used? Ego makes for amazing stupidity.

Of course they won't oppose trials for Hamas. They can't win in over Hamas on the "battle fields",and they can't win in democratic election.If the UN will put Hamas on trial(something they will never do)the PA might have a chance to take over.Keep on dreaming,the UN didn't put Nasrallah,or Gadhfi,Assad,Ahmadinejad and worse on trial for crimes against humanity, and they won't do that with Hamas or any Muslim dictator or arch-terrorist,unless he attacked the west.

So this report shows war crimes by both sides, but only tries to punish one side? What is new with this? The UN does nothing if Israel is showered with rockets on a daily basis, but the moment Israel fires back, the UN issues a press release! The UN is useless.

In the name of Goldstonian fairness, Let's send both leaders to the Hague and see what international justice comes up with. Haniyeh has announced his committment to annhiliate Israel. Olmert says the war was self defense. Seems like a slam dunk to me. Worst case, Olmert gets imprisoned in Holland where the conditions are much fancier than in Ramle. So it might be the smart move, it's simultaneously a lose, lose, win win situation for them both.. Luving it.

I am sorry to read that Holland voted against. Public opinion in the Netherlands nevertheless has become more and more critical of Israel and its politics. Including me.

Those who are already alienated needs no bibi to made them so. This conflict is a show, designed by those who hate the Jews and Israel. Its object is to paint the Jews in the wrong brush and brings the world attention to a lie among many other lies. A religious war for Islam, the ideology of hate. Palestine is just the Othman's shirt. You got it wrong & the world got it wrong. A story that started in the Koran and it will never end by diplomacy or a palestinian state. Those who thinks otherwise they will not see its end in their life time !

including the u.s.! this might get a unsc resolution after all! it's time to pop an overinflated balloon.

By trying to be "fair" ,and yet ignoring the cause of the war- Hamas' rocketting and hiding within the civilian population- Goldstone naively let himself be used by the Palestinian propaganda hate machine and the anti semitic crowds just waiting for an excuse. Bad move. speaking out now is too little too late to correct the real abuse. Hamas used it's own caused casualties for propaganda, cynically and cruelly, and Mr. Goldstone let himself be used..

ben you only will get credibility when you comment on all war crimes. british american russian chinese turkish iranian pakistani,french amd so on and on and on ! the vote for the report was so hypocritical we shall have to invent a new word for infamy !

(retry) "(Goldstone)... criticized on Friday the United Nations Human Rights Council's decision.." Of course the BIASED decision by the HRC is already a DONE deal. After all, it is the SAME agency who SENT Goldstone on a WITCH HUNT under a PRE-DETERMINED "ONLY Israel is GUILTY" mandate. And it is Goldstone who FOOLS himself with his own MANTRA that the HRC has "EXPANDED" the mission to INCLUDE hamas, even though the ORIGINAL resolution with its PREJUDICED focus remains UNCHANGED. Now he FEIGNS surprise that the UN agency CONDEMNS Israel ONLY! So much for the ACCOLADE that he is a WELL-RESPECTED international JURIST.

(retry) "In effect the vote was really 36-6 as the 11 countries that abstained from voting in effect gave further legitimacy to the report by not voting against its passing" REALLY, Johan? If the 11 countries really BELIEVE that the report is LEGITIMATE, they could EASILY have VOTED FOR the endorsement. They did NOT. It simply MEANS that they are UNDECIDED, i.e., they NEITHER agree NOR disagree with the report. How LAUGHABLE it is for Johan to MANUFACTURE a FALSE tally by CLAIMING that ABSTENTIONS also mean INDIRECT votes for YES.

What I'm surprised about when I read the posts here in Haaretz is that the pro-Israelis (and I am not anti-ISraeli btw) time and again use such simplistic reasonings as the situation in the person's own country (Goldstone in this case), that the Israeli army did its best to avoid civilian casulaties (which clarifies why 300 to 400 children and many innocent men and women were killed), and that all the world is an enemy of Israel. You should be blind not to see the blind support given to Israel by many countries including the U.S.A. (which I read harshly criticising and contempting posts about its president here just last week). You are losing your firends one by one, so stop blaming others and look at your acts first!

This organization has worn out its welcome. Not only for its bias toward Israel, but its ambivalence toward trouble spots elsewhere in the world that need more urgent attention.

And your report reflects the bias of the UN. It's too late to try to save your behind now.

And I Salute you sir

First this pathetic loser drags Israel to the UN and then he sort of complains that the UN was not fair by not accusing Hamas. This man makes me sick.He and people like him are responsible for the UN running out of contgrol and allowing Hamas to run out of control. Israel should sue him for defamation.

Only God might forgive Goldstone for his actions against Israel. He played into the hands of the Biased U.N and the terrorists. He will have to live with himself for this atrosity.

Now Goldstone now knows that all along he's simply been pimped by anti-Semites. Before long, he'll sit in seclusion asking himself "What have I done?"

This article is misleading in regards to Richard Goldstone and the issues surround the report from the commission he headed. It is stated in the first paragraph that Goldstone "criticized on Friday the United Nations Human Rights Council's decision to endorse the report his commission had compiled." That is simply not true. What he criticized was the RESOLUTION on the report, not the report itself. He was and is completely supportive of the report, which indicted both Israel and Hamas for war crimes. This fact is accepted de facto as part of the resolution, regardless of whatever else was written. Goldstone may feel that the wording of the RESOLUTION to endorse the report is one sided, which it undoubtedly is, but that does change the fact of central importance in this matter, namely that the report itself was adopted by the Human Rights Council. Which is what Goldstone endorsed in the first place. Misleading journalism!

Omg even when a real report comes out on the gaza war and says both sides commited crimes, some of you still think and post that israelis are above the law. Like really people wakeup, everybody is equal on this planet. no one race or religion is better than the other. accept the fact and bring those who committed these crimes to the hague. Why is this any different than the haulo cause. still until today,some germans are brought to court for crimes committed 60 years ago. So the same applies to anybody who commits them now. peace to the world

""China, Russia, Egypt, India, Jordan, Pakistan, South Africa, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ghana, Indonesia, Djibouti, Liberia, Qatar, Senegal, Brazil, Mauritius, Nicaragua and Nigeria voted in favor of the report."" China,Russia,Indonesia,Pakistan,Bangladesh? Maybe Goldstone should ask the Tibetans,the Chechens,the West Papuans how many of their people were killed by the security forces of those countries and what right do those countries think they have to accuse Israel when they themselves are the worst human right abusers in the world today As for Goldstone? He is just another Israel basher in disguise under the cover of His Honour Mr Absolute International Justice which applies only to Israel... Every other country can do what they please.Goldstone Justice doesn't apply to them.

His was thinking that his brain was bigger than his ego. He was wrong! Clearly he is a clever guy but even a blind man could see that the UNHRC was setting him up. Why couldn't he? This was always going to turn out this way. He will carry this stain of being duped by UN and doing a great diservice to Istrael and the Jewish people to his grave.

Shame on you Goldstone and Shame on you brazilian government to support this atrocity and supporting the terror against Israel.

he has been given the message that he is a golden calf-- by the very same people, the islamists and the dictators, for whom he had accepted to malign, libel and delegitimise the only jewish state.

Anti-Semitism at its best. Thank You World.

Lula da Silva's government vote represents another low in his shamefull foreign policy. I just cannot understand why people outside Brazil like this gentleman. Disgusting.

If this report did not put the blame on hamas for starting the conflict with its 6000 rockets fired into Israel then this report is even worthless as used toilet paper as are those hypocritical nations who supported this one sided view of the conflict. screw them all. About time you woke up goldstone

The UNHRC, whatever Sudan/Iran commitee is called, had a clear and preduged sham mandate: to inestigage Israel`s crime. Hamas was not mentioned because they are pro-Hamas. This is politics and any respected person should not get involved with a Sudanes/Iranian/Syrian mafia. Now he is crying that Hamas is not part of the resulution? I am not an international respected jurist and I knew that this would happen duhhhhhhhhhh goldyl.

no sympathy for Israel who seems to think that any noticing of their abuse of others is antisemitism, and any report pointing out their actions is unfair to them.

The best part of this thing that so many people on here actually think this is fair. Not sure but was Hamas not responsible for the start of the war, and does Hamas not have the track record of killing innocent people becuase they are Jews and that is ok. You people scream about justice against Israel, whe truely you are just so scared to admit that with every action there is a reaction, and that reaction was bombing Gaza. Bush and Obama are killing innocent people everyday, do you care no. Russia, Iran, NK, China kill innocent peole everyday because they disagree with the govt, do you care no. The common goal here is to rid the world of Jews and Israel, clearly the goal of the UN, Eu and Obama, but the joke will be on you as we will keep on going, you failed the first time no second chance, sorry

its almost as if you had no idea that the Security Counsel would react this way after reading your report. a Quisling is a Quisling. please think of what your report did every time you look in the mirror.

I categorically stated that said report will be rewritten in the eyes of the UN. Judge Goldstone, may lament. The damage has been done. Missiles will soon fly into Southern Israel. Hamas may well rejoice at said victory. Handed out on a silver platter. The problem lies further afield. It will most certainly be a set back for further Israeli Palestinian negotiations. By placing Israel in an intolerable corner, so to speak, one can only assume the the right wing settler movement will be encouraged. For they will recognize said resolution as a license for the Extreme Islamic Challenge to continue their onslaught on Israel unabated. Truly a sad day for all.

Those who support the Palestinian cause should go stay with them for a while. Check out the elementary school curriculum. Israel allows Muslims to be citizens and members of the government. By law Jews are banned from living in some Muslim countries. Who are the racists? Lebanon is turning into the Hezbollah/Palestinian state in the north. Jordan already is the Palestinian state to the east. Gaza and the WEST BANK are launch pads for terrorism and should be evacuated. Residents given a financial incentive and then off to one of the above mentioned states. Syria and Egypt merely bide their time before making their move. Iran is already in the party. Israel, stay strong, maintain your vigilance. Many Americans support you.

that they were going to be fair & accuse one of them? Remember that's the committee that brought Durban and only condamnations for Israel. Remember all the resolutions against Israel thru the years, and not against Libya (the chairman of that organization, LOL!), Iran, etc... You did their dirty work, and as a jew it weighs more against Israel. How naive of you!

Does anybody expect us to believe him now? He wants to have his cake and eat it too.

Chechnia and China's handling of the muslim unrest in it's western teritory.

drop a bomb right in the center of Gaza. Forget the phone calls warning Gazan's of an impeding strike(which the IDF did), forget dropping leaflets telling civilians to leave the area (which the IDF did), forget endangering soldiers lives by fighting house to house to minimize civilian casualties (which the IDF did). This spectacle is unbelieveable! No other military has ever behaved in such a respectable manner, yet they are depicted as war criminals. The job would have been completed with all of Hamas destroyed if the IDF acted as they are saying. SHAME ON THE UN!

He throws Israel to the hyenas of the un,completely biased in favor of the terrorists,expecting that the terror abiding and cowtowing un would be somewhat balanced??? This renegade "judge" gallswtone and the whole of the un snakes pitt should go to hell in a basket...

Richard Goldstone "criticized on Friday the United Nations Human Rights Council's decision to endorse the report his commission had compiled". The anti-Israel crowd at the UN had cherry picked Goldstone's report to only criticise Israel for retaliating against Hamas' attacks against Israeli civilians. The result is that Hamas has endorsed a report identifying Hamas as war criminals knowing that the anti-Israel crowd at the UN will take no action against Hamas. Goldstone can now see that his own report is a sham. A tad late there Richard...

I did not have enough room in the subject line to also type RED CROSS. 3 international bodies with huge media cannot do a thing for lowly SHALIT Shame on them ! ! ! !

Oh Goldstone what did you expect, Didn`t you understand for what you were sent on this mission, You were literally asked to incriminate only Israel by the UN HRC, They never cared about hearing anything about Hamas, We tried to explain this to you, time and time again! But you were convinced otherwise, What did you expect, that the UN would give your conclusion on Hamas any legitimacy, when from the start all the UN HRC asked is for you to incriminate Israel? Goldstone what a Naïve man you are!

Equating an abstention with an affirmation is proposterous and not seeing the one sidedness of the resolution is blindness and failing to recognize that Israel is entitled to defend itself, something Goldstone purposely stayed away from and thereby removed Israel's ability to defend itself from this allegations, is unconsciounable. So your a proposterous, blind, unconsciounable anti-semite, with a double standard, given what the Nords have stolen from the Sami people. Give all that back, leave the traditional lands of the Samis and then lets chat about why you think Jews are not permitted to exercise self defence.

You should have known, your Honour! Mary Nicholson knew and refused to chair the committee. The mandate was clear: vindicate Israel. So, were you naive? or did you collaborate? in any case, you are fully supported by a good company: China, Russia, Lybia, Pakistan, Egypt, Cuba and a few other such symbols of human rights.

The real problem with the report is that is based on a flawed concept of the laws of war. Historically they have been self enforcing. That is if one side violated them the the other side was free to reply in kind. Thus is you target civilians your civilians become fair game. The concept Goldstone was working under seems to be a football pitch where the players can be red carded when they break the rules. In the absence of a police force this becomes nonsense. A good example if the use of poison gas. With the exception of limited Japanese use of it in Burma it has never been used against a country that could reply in kind. Notice how quiet all the people who are screaming for Israeli scalps were when Iraq used poison gas against iran during its war of aggression against Iran. Notice also that when Lebanon launched a war of aggression against Israel a few years back none of these people called for the head if Nasrallah for Crimes Against the Peace.

UN has just endorsed terror as legitimate acts no matter where. Israel is surrounded by terror states and now has to defend itself in United Nation. USA should throw UN out of this country. let them locate in the Middle East, Iran is a good place for them. USA should stop any paiments to UN now.

If there was a Nobel Prize for hypocrisy, Goldstone should win it right away. My adjective for him cannot be posted here.

Am I missing something here ? I am a Jew and a proud one at that. I see Israel and I see her faults. I am not blind to any injustices that are put onto the Palestinians. But I am a little ...sorry am a lot pissed off at the status quo of the UN and all the tin cup countries that vote in a block against Israel yet are blind to the savage ways that Hamas and Islamic jihad treat their own people and constantly attack Israeli citizens with mortars and rockets. WHY is it that since Israel smacked Gaza badly in Operation Cast Lead that it has been quiet since then ?

Goldstone now realizes that he has been used as a DUPE by the forces of evil. He probably did his best to try to be fair, but unfortunately, he didn't realize how his naivete would be manipulated by the orcs. Wake up Goldstones of the world.

- a UN body like the URC. you should 've known better. the problem isn't so much the report which investigates a matter worth looking into, whatever the final verdict on the war crimes issue in this case rightly should be. the problem is who ordered this job, an institution already hijacked for the sole purpose of bashing & criticizing israel as part of an exclusively arab/muslim agenda. this is not a human rights council. a human rights council w/a global mandate would know how to distribute its time & resources within a proportionate consideration of the most pressing trouble-spots of the world, where a special focus on human rights is acutely needed. instead we get inaction, half-action, powerlessness & speeches, except of in the one case where israel is involved, where suddenly the whole of the UN apparatus is easily summoned to follow the drumbeat & battlecry of the arab bloc. the UN needs to be told it has become a circus & a travesty of its own high calling.

I'm very disappointed to read that my country voted against an objective report on a war based on facts. Why do people always tend to point their finger to the other party, instead of theirselfs? Hamas/Palestinians and Israel should try to imagine theirselfs to be on the other side of the border.

Apparently, as even Goldstone now laments, there are some people out there who indeed above the law. Namely Hamas.

Mary Robinson refused to lead the fact finding mission because the UNHRC's enabling resolution was so one-sided, & the UNHRC's record so biased. So, what did Goldstone expect from the UNHRC which is dominated by non-democratic states, most of which have horrific human rights records. Its like the mafia sitting on the police commission!

This majority rule is perverted, it's all about greed, about corruption, about revenge. And about blacks who hate the whites, a reversal of white racism. They have learned nothing, because they have no ability to learn. We will eventually move out of this country that, besides housing the dumbest and most corrupt egotistic people I have encountered in my life, is a paradise. But South Africa always sides with the wrong regimes, North Korea, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Iran. It is an immoral compass to the world. And it's backing of this perverted resolution is the evidence of that.

What did the man expect when he serves up fodder to the starving Human Rights Council -- just begging for another chance to condemn the archetypal scapegoat. The Jew -- no excuse me; in a world body the Jew goes by the name Israel. Ah Russia and China, those paragons of virtue... Russia especially. Who needs cossacks when you have the UN Human Rights Council?

Goldstone Displays Incredulous Naivety It seems that this South African "genius" doesnt read newspapers for the last 45 years. He has only two choices left:join the Jews for Jesus or the J Street. A real shlimazl.

we knew this is the outcome...kangaroo court...business as usual...where the hell are the murderous hamas not mentioned...DISGUSTING

So a Jew, Goldstone, was used to legitimize a UN report on Israel. They even named it after him!!! Fun stuff! May be Goldstone is a bit naive to understand it yet but many of those idiots in the UN are waiting and laughing at a Jew bashing on Israel. For the likes of Pakistan or China rule of law is a little different thing then for us normal people.

The result is a victory for justice. No one is above the law.

Chosen, yes. Chosen to be hyper-supervised, hyper-criticized, hyper-judged, not to mention persecuted, kicked around, and slaughtered throughout the ages. It is so nice to think Israeli Jews don't take that s--- any more.

....then of course Israel would buy into it. But you're dreaming.

You are 100% right. Obama is doing what Bush used to do. I feel AIPAC, the Jewish lobby is more powerful that any US President. I voted for Obama because he promised not deal with the lobbyist and promised to make many changes in the US foreign policies. I will not vote for him again.

Gold stone laments that maily Israel is accused by the human rights commision. What did he expect ??? Automatic majority at any U.N resulution will always blame Israel. His report will go down as the greatest damage done to Israel ever. He made many people very happy. He is either Naive, ignorat of world politics or not too clever. As he was taken advantage of. Damage will can never be undone.

I find it interesting that Egypt would vote in favor of this report. If Israel is guilty of war crimes for trapping Palestinians in Gaza during the war, then Egypt is just as guilty. I don't remember them lifting their blockade even as much as Israel did, which obviously wasn't much at all. Egypt acts like they're appalled, but in reality they could care less about the people of Gaza.

that the Netherlands voted against endorsing the Goldstone Report. Anyone who has read the report or even a summary of it will realize that Judge Goldstone has tried to be fair. But for Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen who is responsible for the Dutch no vote, that is of no consequence. No matter what crimes or violations of international law are committed by Israel, Verhagen will defend the Zionist state to the hilt, ignoring Dutch public opinion, the majority of which agreed that Israel's actions during "Cast Lead" amounted to war crimes.

The UN condems member countries and not organization who have no connection with the UN.

Useless organization. The world is reuled by dictators and tyrants from USA to EU, China and Russia. All those are on the top after masse killings of so many innocents. Just go back 100 years and inspect they way these top 5 came to power..

I am not sure who will suffer more from this decision by the UN Human Rights Council: Israel or UN?

How can this resolution be passed, regarding Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem when the Mandate does not cover this and regarding Al-Aqsa, the resolution makes no mentiono of wheelbarrows filled with Rocks. Reaffirming the notion that Israeli Citizens have no right to protection under these International Laws, rather they must take the risk and then complain about damages, rather than a pre-emptive protection idea, which is something we in the civilized modern world enjoy, and something we will most likely not give up. But yes, Israel, who after gaining the Temple, granted its administration back to the Waqf limits the right of prayer for no reason or just to inflame Palestinians, not for the safety and security of its TAX PAYING CITIZENS. Israel limited access to Al-Aqsa for how long, 2-3 weeks? Jordan limited access for 19 years how many resolutions were passed against Jordan? But the HRC is a non-bias inst. its members are a shining light of human rights. Pot calling the kettle black?

Out of 47 nations, only 6 opposed the report going to the General Assembly, the US and a handful of its cronies. If Abbas hadn't put three resolutions in one and left out any criticism of Hamas in his motion, it would likely have been an even bigger vote in favour of referral. Ron from California takes solace in the fact that "the 3rd World countries" voted for it. China, India, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Ron, aren't they all in the G20 now? Some pretty heavyweight opponents there I'd say. Obama will be rather on the spot in the Security Council, being as the US is so far the only one there opposing the report going off to the ICC. All eyes on the big last-minute veto button, but what price will Netanyahu have to pay? It's surely gone up considerably in recent weeks.

Who cares what is said in a house of Lies! Israel will continue to fight the terror, at his border and all other the world. Lets propose to change UN to UNAI (United Nations Against Israel)

talk about the kettle not calling the pot black we won't forget the next time china and russia commit human rights violations and as you know it's only a matter of time before they do what the chinese statement used for everything " this is a internal matter"

More and more americans are realizing that the way Israel treats the palestinians is unfair. Still more americans are realizing that Israel can't keep getting away with human right violations. What happened in Geneva today cements this idea!!

Always important to read all sides of the news, haaretz you're great, but to only read your views and report will not give one a well rounded understanding, hence the need to read the same articles in Maannews, JPOST, YNet and more. In Maan News I found a very interesting article which broke down the HRC meeting, it can be found at, http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=232673 What I find most intriguing. How did a commission mandate for GAZA, end in a resolution as Maan News Says. "The three-part resolution calls for Israel to cease settlements in East Jerusalem, to allow unhindered access to the Al-Asqa Mosque and for the council to refer the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict to the General Assembly. The omnibus resolution also called for the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to report on the situation of human rights in Palestine." How does Jerusalem and AL-Aqsa fit in this... TBC

also up for investigation. No wonder Israel is worried. The people of Sderot must feel rejected by their own Israeli government. The Goldstone report made reference to (homemade) rockets fired from Gaza into Sderot. So, what does the Israeli occupation war machine really want - the ability to keep hiding behind its civilians in Sderot?

WHERE WAS GOLDSTONE AND THE COUNTRIES THAT CONDEMNED ISRAEL ON WAR CRIMES WHENIRAQ BOMBED ISRAEL WITH SCUDS LANDING IN CIVILIAN SITES. WHERE WERE THESE COUNTRIES THAT CONDEMNED ISRAEL ALSO. WHERE WRE THESE COUNTRIES WHENALL THE SUICIDE ATTACKS KILLED THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS. WHERE WERE YOU CLEARCUT ALSO. SINCE 19 48 ISRAEL HAS TWOFRONTS TO CONTINUING EXISTING. WAR AGAINST THEIR ENEMIE - WHO COULD BE FRIENDS - AND AGAINST THE NATIONS THAT DEPEND OF THE OIL WELLS. BUT ISRAEL IS STILL THE DAVID AGAINST GOLIATH. ISRAEL WILL TRIUMPH AND WILL CONTINUE HELPING THE WHOLEMWORLD WITHEIR SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES, ENEMY OR FRIEND. ISRAEL YOU DESERVE MY RESPECT. SHALOM

what on earth are these particular countries doing sitting on such a body. there isn't a single one of them that hasn't been accused of worse than this report in the past. this is un justice?

China voted in favor,but refuses to do so with Iran,and Hamas,and keep on with the ethnic cleansing in Tibet.Russia voted in favor,but refuses to do so with Iran and Hamas after killing some hundreds of thousands Muslims. Mauritus and Nigeria are Islamist with Sharia law.Pakistan slaughter in Swatt-Valley their terrorist.Qatar,Dijbuti,and Bahrain,does it for Islam,and the rest of the African countries that voted in favor,are a joke.

Paves the way to nothing. The human rights council is a joke they applauded sri lanka. The human rights council didn't even go after hamas which was in the goldstone report. Even goldstone went after the draft that was passed. This is a huge waste of time. Norway is also committing atrocities in afghanistan. Time to fight back against the hypocrites. There is nothing worse than european hypocrites. The fight is now being joined.

Would the UN take Hamas on for kiling so many Fatah Gaza citizens? Russia for its crimes in Chechnia? China's for human right violations? so, Why would the UN take Israel on for defending itself? The UN is weakening itself by foolish resolutions that don't solve any problems.

This is a blow to the Jewish radicals that don't want to face the consequences of their actions. Jewish extremism is even more deadly than islamic extremism and today's victory proves it!

how sad for a democracy and "the only real democracy in the M.E" to be labelled a war criminal. I guess that happens a lot to democracies?? Probably not though.

Western nations either abstained or voted against. The third world nations voted for. And, then there is hamas, who will never investigate 8 years of rockets and Shalit.

...would welcome UN enquiry into the way that they dealt with their Muslim minorities when they resorted to violence. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

Its passage validates Goldstone's report and paves the way towards bringing those responsible for the alleged crimes to justice. In effect the vote was really 36-6 as the 11 countries that abstained from voting in effect gave further legitimacy to the report by not voting against its passing.

Now when he's done here,he must have a lot of free time to probe his country,because something is wrong there. Crime is a prominent issue in SA.High rate of murders,assaults,rapes,and other crimes compared to most countries.Many emigrants from SA state that crime was a big factor in their decision to leave.A woman born in SA has a greater chance of being raped than learning how to read. Goldstone,why not probe there a little?.

So I guess USA, GB, France, Holland etc.. are ca be ccused of wa crimes oncerning Irak, Afghanistan,

"I wonder if Russia and China would agree to sanctions against Iran in return for an American, French and British abstaintion when the Goldstone Report reaches the UNSC." I wonder if Russia and China would agree to be investigated for war crimes in Grozny and Tibet. "It is all about horse trading, and would Israel sacrifice a few for the needs of the many?" How about trading investigations for war crimes with investigations for war crimes? How clean do you believe Russia and China's hands are?

Its time for decent countries to leave the UN, which is political and does more harm to the world than help. As a US citizen I dont want to see my tax dollars funding this hateful UN organization that prevents human rights rather than helping them. Shame of those states who supported this. Its time to start boycotting those countries.

Just look at the list of those who voted in favor of the report. It is ridiculously sad: most of them are just the people whose place is in the jail. Stupid organization... It is time to close the door and let them go home to deal with their own problems.

Israel should recognize it's crimes. We should arrest our own war criminals, and not wait for others to do it for us. Covering up for criminals on our side, or crimes done in our name is not what we fought for.

Those countries that voted in favor represent 8 autocratic regimes,one illegal government,one Islamic republic,two Sharia law.occupation, ethnic cleansing,civil wars,and some 700 million Muslims. Surprised?.

With the exception of India (and they are probably worried about their 100m muslims and how they would react) the list of countries who voted for the report are hardly shining examples of human rights promotion. And how many are Islamic?

UN Human Rights Council prefer to "castigate" Israel rather than ending genocides around the world. The UN Human Rights Council seems more concerned with castigating the State of Israel than ending genocide in Darfur, stopping mass murder in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or ending human rights abuses in countries like Iran and North Korea. If the Human Rights Council wants to be fair, it should consider Iran's call for Israel's destruction.... There is a limit to hypocrisy. Why isn't Iran being investigated? Why does everyone remain silent? As a mather of fact, Israel's only real crime is that it does not have an automatic majority in the UN. More about peace and the ?Palestinians?: http://xrl.us/bfrfeo

While Israel is conducting investigations under the watchful eye of the UNHRC, HAMAS is executing anyone who doesn't agree with them.

The UN Human Rights Council has taken a bold step by endorsing eminent Judge Richard Goldstone's report despite all of Israel"s efforts to smear this distinguished Jewish person of conscience. Of course, it is understood that some of the states that endorsed this Report have questionable human rights records but so what as the reality still is the same? Instead of spending all ther efforts trying to distract away from the war crimes that Israel has committed against Palestinian civilians but particularly children, Israel supporters do have the choice to write about other issues that they say concern them so much such as Darfur, the Congo and Iran and so on. Instead Israel supporters continuously harp about others needing to write on issues of concern to them!!!! As such, I say to srael supporters that they can can stop wasting their time defending Israel's documented war crimes against Palestinians and instead take action on those other causes that they say say "concern" them so much

As the US (the great protector of Israel) continues its decline, so will the influence it can bring to bear against other nations. In the 'old days' the US would have ensured this all went away quitely. Things are now different. Like every other nation, Israel should and must be bound by international laws. This is a clear message to Israel that they can no longer hide behind the US and that the ways of the past will no longer be tolerated by the rest of the world. Before I recieve 'flames' in response to this I would like to say that I support Israels right to exist and wish them no harm - however we are all bound by the same international (and moral) obligations - to have exceptions, however well intentioned, is to invite anarchy........

The report said nothing about the actions that the IDF made to avoid civilian casualties such as SMS messages and leaflet drops saying we are about to bomb that building so leave It didn't mention the reasons for the war .. Hamas firing thousands of rockets at Israeli towns for 3 years ( targeting Israeli civlians ) actions no country can accept. The targets of the bombs were tunnels & arms dumps Goldstine counts bodies & doesn't diffierentiate between combatant & non combatant and it was generally agreed by most the majority of the dead were fighters. In urban warfare civilian casualties are unavoidable you can try keep them to a minimum which is what Israel did The IDF did at times use the wrong tactics I am sure but war isn't an exact science sometimes with hindsight you can say that decission was wrong but it seemed right at the time When was the last time the UN investigated powerful countries like Russia ( Chechneya, Armania, Afghanistan ) or China when they commit war crimes

Just annex area C and get it over with - hey, they cant be more against us!

We have reached a point where the UN doesn't even bother to cover what they are doing. The fact that they even dare to publish the countries that vote in favor means they don't think it is necessary anymore.The list of the countries that voted in favor cover the worst crimes committed in war and against humanity. Those countries are responssible for death of millions including their own population.The one that occupied Tibet and committing ethnic cleansing,and the one that have destroyed Afghanistan and Chechnia say that Cast-Lead is worse.

the world hate us, it does not matter if we do good or bad learn from history they simply hate us.

Agree, this is all about 'horse trading' and not about justice or human rights. I think that both Russian and Chineese jestures is just a show off towards their Arab friends. They hardly need any sacrifice from Israel. It may by fired back towards themselfs. In terms of 'war crimes' they live in a glass house.

The UN is Useless... so who cares really? This will just be another resolution which will not be adhered to... like all resolutions from this big time/money wasting entity called the UN.

I wonder why this passed? Let's look at the voting shall we. Those against are the moral western countries the US, Holland and Italy, while those against include countries with horrible human rights abuses and repression, namely China, Russia, Egypt and the rest of the Arab world (who by the way have way too much influence over the UN). Methinks that this thing passing is not about morality at all, but Arab countries wanting to take shots at Israel, and Russia and China trying to suck up to the Arabs for their oil. What a world we live in where a report like this can be endorsed because of Muslim nations hate Israel (and by the way don't care in the slightest about the Palestinians), and morality is thrown out the window.

Very interesting to see which European countries supported Israels position: France, Italy and Holland are all right-wing governements and Ucraine, Hungary and Slovakia are all very dependent on U.S. support/aid. Well, "human rights" have never been a big issue for the right-wing parties of this world, have they...??? I'm especially curious what the French citizens will think about Sarkozys "meddling".....

Each has killed far more Moslems in their own countries than Israel did, and in neither case had the country been attacked by eight years of missiles on their civilians as Israel was. So, will Goldstone and his ilk now investigate these war crimes in Russia and China? Or is only Israel not allowed to harm the hair of a Moslem in self-defense? What a display of hypocrisy by the "United Nations". United in Israel-bashing only.

the world doesn't care about the truth

From Israel's actions they are sacrificing the many for the needs of the few. Just look at Hebron.

he's my own personal hero right now ! Actually, my dear, he's a genuine Jew unlike so many posters on these forums.

do not defend oneself and the number of civilian death in the fighting - even if you tried your best - is not good enough even if it is low. I hope both the US, Russia, Turkey, UK , and all countries are watching this. If you are bombed for eigtht years so be it, you have now no excuse but to take it. We will see where this leads us.....

The UN High Commisioner defined the problem succinctly: "A culture of impunity continues to prevail in the occupied territories and in Israel ... ". Perhaps adoption of the Goldstone Report by the UN Human Rights Council will shatter this culture of impunity once and for all and make possible a genuine move towards peace - as opposed to current strenuous efforts to perpetuate the status quo.

If protecting your citizens from rocket attacks is a war crime than so be it. I would love to see if the US was getting rockets from Mexico or Canada what Obama would do. Maybe he would talk and make nice, nice.

Time to file resolutions of our own One for China who is deeply concerned for Human Rights One for Russia who is deeply concerned for Human Rights One for Egypt who is deeply concerned for Human Rights One for South Africa who is deeply concerned for Human Rights One should look what is going on in those countries, to know how ``deeply concerned`` they really are for Human Rights!

signifying nothing bur bigotry against Israel. Glastone is not welcome in any Shul in the world. A piece of shit.

because the chosen think they are perfect and have nothing to learn

...no war crimes should go unquestioned and unpunished.

would agree to sanctions against Iran in return for an American, French and British abstaintion when the Goldstone Report reaches the UNSC. It is all about horse trading, and would Israel sacrifice a few for the needs of the many?

that crimes have been comitted and looks the other way when the victims are helpless Palestinian civilians for political expediency. It is clear that the US is not an impartial broker in the Middle East.

all UNSC permant members,all voted for to send the report to the UNSC where they will force a US veto. Or can they convince the US President to abstain instead of veto? Maybe Benjamin Netanyahu will freeze the settlement activities now and hope that Obama isn't to angry with him over the public humiliation he has handed the first African-American President. A US veto on this isuue by a Nobel Peace Prize President isn't anything that Barack Obama is thrilled over.

it has set a precedent and Israel will be held to account for the first time. The eye of the world now counts for something and the propaganda is no longer working.

So Israel couldn't blag its way out of this one so what does this now mean ? will it be yet another resolution to be ignored by Israel or will it be a wake up call for nutty yahoo and doberman? Will the US try some 'magic' or will it take the 'hit' and chastise Israel too? watch this space....

It is deeply disturbing that both Nethanyahu and Clinton failed to persuade Gordon Brown to vote against this report. Once again Brown has demonstrated what a fool he is and in turn this will have grave consequences with other countries who in the future need to fight terrorism. At least he will be out of a job this next time year when hopefully some sense will come back to a country that has lost its way.

The vote is more symbolic than anything else the reason being the US would veto it in the Security Council, and I doubt if we will see any IDF personal or Israeli politician who authorize the stupidly executed operation cast lead in the ICC dock on war crime charges. For the record Goldstone is spot on both the IDF for indiscriminate shelling of civilians, the use human shields, shooting civilians surrendering and other acts and Hamas for indiscriminately lobbing rockets into Northern Israel have committed war crimes. All those in denial are just blind supporters of Israel or Hamas or somehow were Astronauts on the International Space Station when 'operation cast lead was played out in the full glare of television cameras in spite of concerted Israeli attempts to prevent it.

Oops forgot about them so that your article makes sense? Let me fill you in, they didn't vote against it.

And the two countries Israel has peace treaties with - Egypt and Jordan - voted against Israel. Israel does not need them just as we do not need Turkey.

To be american from italian parent and a Obama supporter I am shame of both country!! both country are hypocrite!!

just look at the list of those countries that voted against israel! hahahahahaha!

As a UNSC member the Israelis are already trying to depict France as the hope in case Obama should find his spine somewhere. More about that later. The report is passed and the Hamas and Israel is now joint at the hip.

the UN created israel, the UN needs to keep it in check, for their is no other entity willing to do so. we go from the 1948 partition to israel taking all of Palestine?

... for months avoidance-at-all-costs was the only strategy that official Israel employed... ... there was never a moment of sitting-down-and-thinking what all the international fuss was about... ... are we autistic, retarded, hallucinating?!... it simplt escapes diagnosis...

Egypt, for keeping Gazans PRISONER in Gaza for decades, even FORCING BACK thousands who managed to breach Egypt's Gaza border to flee for their lives into Egypt during Israel's retaliation to 8 years of missiles from Gaza? Yes folks, what of EGYPT's Gaza border, closed to Gazans for years, while tiny Israel saved and and absorbed almost a million Jewish refugees KICKED from Egypt and other Arab states? The double standard is SUPER-SICK. Those screaming "Israel's" Gaza siege and "Israel's" Gaza prison are so blinded by Jew-hate that they can't even look at a MAP.

and the reponsible member states that voted in favor.

Soon we will have the Hasbara version

now it is clear what some of us knew all the time. time to put israel in our agenda and not take for granted their stugle for our survival.

I wonder of Israelis, the pro-claimed civilized country, would admit its war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza. Now they have been accused by the UN Human Rights council. I guess the first thing they would say, they are anti semitic, and they have been patient waiting 8 years for Hamas to stop threatening Israeli civilian "settlers". Are we going to see Barak, Livni, Olmert, Ashkinazi, ... being presented to justice courts? I really want to see the impact of this "international community"

BRAVO! Accountability for War CRIMES/HUMAN Rights Abuses...MUST prevail!!! My Country's/WESTERN Powers'-- Handling of human rights issues/war crimes...has become INEXCUSABLE & deserves TOTAL CONTEMPT! It's UNCONSCIONABLE-- That "democracies"/supposed "beacons" of freedom, respect for human rights, rule of law, etc....seem to NEVER assume their roles/try hard enough to live up to our foundings/DECLARATIONS. Why Must OUR Leaders-- Be dragged to live up to what WE claim/to do what ultimately...SAVES &/or PROTECTS us ALL? ENOUGH!!! Gaza-- Was RECKLESS, MASS murder/killing; the TOTAL disregard for the CIVILIAN population; EXCESSIVE use of force...& INTENTIONAL war crimes! Israel(is)-- Did what they did...WILLINGLY/INTENTIONALLY...to a people with NO army/NO weapons even close to theirs/NO weapons that could EVER do the same amount of damage/harm to people...to people who sought shelter in INTERNATIONALLY accepted "SAFE" places! ALL...are accountable!