Russia told Israel Sunday evening that it will oppose a discussion at the United Nations Security Council or at the International Criminal Court in Hague of the Goldstone Report on alleged war crimes by Israel during last winter's Cast Lead counterterror campaign in Gaza, according to Foreign Ministry officials cited by Ynet. Russia made the reassurance even though its representatives voted in favor of adopting the report at the UN Human Rights Council.
At an event in Holon on Sunday, Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon expressed his deep disappointment over Russia, India and China's vote in favor of adopting the report. The meeting between Russian Ambassador to Israel Peter Stegney and a Foreign Ministry official, during which Stegney relayed messages from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, may have been the first of three meetings with those states that Ayalon suggested take place to clarify their vote.