Describing the UN report on Gaza conflict which had found strong evidence of human rights violations by Israeli forces as “one-sided”, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that Tel Aviv can redress the violations domestically.
“We believe that the mandate for the Goldstone report was one-sided and that many of the recommendations are appropriately dealt with by the institutions within Israel,” Ms. Clinton told journalists.
The report released on September 15, by the UN Fact Finding Mission, headed by South African judge, Richard Goldstone, finds strong evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Israeli forces during the military assault that lasted from December 2008 to January 2009, and claimed more than 1400 lives.
The main recommendation of the Mission is for the Security Council to require Israel to report within six months on prosecutions it carries. If the relevant authorities fail in this task, the Council should refer the matter to the prosecutor of the ICC.
If the matter comes to the SC, the United States is expected to wield its veto power if a resolution is tabled against its staunch ally Israel.
“We have grave concerns about the recommendations,” Clinton said. “We believe that that appropriate venue within the international system is the Human Rights Council,” she added.
