Israel to discuss Gaza war inquiry
Two ministries reportedly back probe in order to mount defence against damning report.
However, Ha’aretz said that the Israeli justice ministry and the foreign ministry would support an inquiry into the report in order to help provide a defence to it.
It also said that a foreign ministry plan to counter the report would be outlined at Tuesday’s meeting, with the justice ministry advising on the legalaties of such a plan.
UNHRC resolution
Twenty-five nations voted for a resolution at the UNHRC endorsing Goldstone’s report.
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Six countries opposed the resolution, while 11 abstained and five declined to vote.
The council’s resolution endorsed Goldstone’s recommendation that the war crimes issue be referred to the UN Security Council if the sides failed to conduct credible domestic investigations within six months.
In addition to endorsing the report, the human rights council resolution condemned “all policies and measures taken by Israel, the occupying power, including those limiting access of Palestinians to their properties and holy sites”.
It also called on Israel to stop digging and excavation work around the al-Aqsa mosque in occupied East Jerusalem as well as other Islamic and Christian religious sites.
The resolution was drafted by the Palestinians with Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tunisia, on behalf of non-aligned, African, Islamic and Arab nations.
About 1,400 Palestinians – the majority of them civilians – and 13 Israelis were killed during Israel’s three-week war on Gaza between December and January, which had the stated aim of stopping rocket attacks by Palestinian fighters from the coastal territory.