The 192-member assembly overwhelmingly approved an Arab-sponsored resolution that endorsed a UN report accusing both Israel and the Palestinians of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the 22-day genocidal conflict that ended in January.
The move capped a two-day debate on the controversial, 575-page report by a panel led by respected former international prosecutor Richard Goldstone.
The vote was 114 in favour and 18 against, with 44 abstentions. A simple majority was needed for adoption.
Israel, which had strenuously opposed the non-binding resolution and the UN report that it endorsed, voted against it as did its staunchest ally, the United States, along with Australia and a few European countries.
A majority of European Union countries, including Britain, France, Sweden and Spain, abstained after failing to secure amendments to the text, including one that would have dropped references to possible Security Council action if the report’s findings are not implemented. Russia also abstained.
Goldstone, a South African Jew, had recommended that Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas that rules Gaza face possible prosecution before the International Criminal Court in The Hague if they fail to conduct credible, independent investigations within six months.
The assembly resolution also called on both Israel and the Palestinian side to conduct, within a period of three months, investigations “that are independent, credible and in conformity with international standards.”
Israel’s deputy UN ambassador Daniel Carmon slammed the resolution as “deeply flawed, one-sided and prejudiced.”
“It disregards Israel’s inherent right to defend its citizens in the face of ongoing terrorist attacks,” he added. “It represents yet another pretext to bash Israel at the UN and is detrimental to any positive diplomatic engagement in the region.”
Prior to the vote, Carmon asked the sponsors to clarify exactly which entity is supposed to conduct the investigation on the Palestinian side: the Palestinian Authority led by Mahmoud Abbas or Hamas.
Explaining his country’s “no” vote, US deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff stressed that Washington “strongly supports accountability for human rights and humanitarian law violations in relation to the Gaza conflict.”
“Our goal is to achieve genuine accountability in a way that respects internal processes and the ongoing efforts to restart permanent status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians,” he added.
Meanwhile Israel is keen on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas staying in office despite his announcement he will not seek re-election, Israeli officials said on Friday.
France urged the Palestinian leader to press on with his peace efforts and the Arab League called on him to reconsider his decision amid small demonstrations of support for Abbas in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli government has refrained from officially commenting on Abbas’ announcement late on Thursday that he would not stand in the Palestinian general election he has called for January.
“This is an internal (Palestinian) affair,” Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told public radio. “We don’t interfere in others’ internal affairs.
“But it is evident that Israel and the United States are interested in a Palestinian leadership that is responsible and pragmatic,” he said. A senior Israeli official told AFP that hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sees Abbas “as a partner for peace.” “We would like to start negotiations as soon as possible with the moderate Palestinian leadership,” he said, requesting anonymity.
The popular Ynet news website quoted an official it did not identify as saying: “It’s in Israel’s interest to have Abbas stay in office.” “Netanyahu does not want Abu Mazen (Abbas) to leave,” another told the Maariv newspaper. “He is careful not to embrace him too tightly, but clearly he is the candidate who is the lesser evil among the Palestinian leadership.”
The left-leaning daily Haaretz said Israeli President Shimon Peres had telephoned Abbas a day before his announcement to try to talk him out of his decision.