Resolution condemning Goldstone Report indicting Israel of war crimes passed in US House

Washington, Nov. 4 : A non-binding resolution condemning the Goldstone Report, which accuses Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza, was passed in the US House of Representatives with an overwhelming majority.

334 representatives voted in favour of the resolution asking the Obama administration to oppose the Goldstone Report, while 36 voted against it.

The voting came in the light of judge Richard Goldstone criticizing the resolution, which terms the fact-finding report into the IDF''s Operation Cast Lead as "irredeemably biased and unworthy of further consideration or legitimacy."

Ahead of a UN General Assembly debate on the report on Wednesday, European nations have engaged in a tug of war with Arab states on a resolution.

While Arab nations are pushing a resolution endorsing the Goldstone Report, the EU countries are lobbying for amendment in the existing resolution and send the matter back to Geneva, the Jerusalem Post reports.

In an attempt to scuttle efforts by Arab states to bring the matter to the Security Council, and from there to the International Criminal Court, EU states were emphasizing accountability for crimes against humanity and calling on Israelis and Palestinians to launch investigations into war crimes.

Austrian Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting, who is president of the Security Council this month, signalled that the Goldstone Report could be discussed in the council before the month''s end.

"It seems, evidently, highly likely to me that delegations and perhaps also the High Commissioner [for Refugees] or her designate will refer to this and other regional issues that involve the protection of civilians," he told reporters in New York.

--ANI