The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Friday that Israel rejects the UN General Assembly's vote on the Goldstone report. The report alleges Israeli war crimes were committed during the counter-terror operation in Gaza in December and January.
"The result of the vote, and the large number of countries that voted against [the resolution] or abstained, show clearly that the Assembly's resolution does not enjoy the support of the moral majority,” the ministry stated.
"Israel rejects the Assembly's decision, which bears no connection to the reality which Israel faces. In operation Cast Lead, the IDF showed standards of fighting and morality that were higher than those of any of the resolution's initiators."
"Israel will continue to act, like other democracies, to protect its citizens from international terror, as was proven this week,” the ministry continued.
The UN General Assembly voted to adopt the Goldstone Report on Thursday by a vote of 114-18, with 44 abstentions. Israel and the United States voted against it, as did Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and the Czech Republic. The European Union vote was split, with Britain and France both choosing to abstain.
The Arab-sponsored resolution adopted by the 192-member body calls for action by the U.N. Security Council if the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority do not within the next three months carry out "independent and credible" investigations into their own behavior during last winter's Operation Cast Lead.