Israel says Goldstone Report supports terror

Jerusalem, Sep.16 (ANI): Israel has described the Goldstone Commission Report as biased and nauseating, and added that it has created an unjust "equivalence of a democratic state with a terror organization".

The commission, established by the UN Human Rights Council and led by former South African constitutional court judge Richard Goldstone, concluded that "Israel committed actions amounting to war crimes, possibly crimes against humanity," during Operation Cast Lead from late December to mid-January.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the report "concludes there is also evidence that Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes, as well as possibly crimes against humanity," by firing rockets at cities in southern Israel.

The four-member investigative panel recommended that the UN Security Council require Israel to launch its own investigations.

American officials would not comment Tuesday about the report, or the possibility that the US would veto any effort in the Security Council to refer Israel to the ICC.

A US official said: "We've received a copy of Judge Goldstone's report regarding the alleged human rights allegations during the Gaza conflict. As the report is lengthy, and the issues it addresses are complex, the findings will take time to digest, and we are reviewing it carefully." (ANI)