Links
Israel threatens to withdraw from talks if Goldstone Report is approved by UNSC
Israel has threatened to withdraw an offer of territorial concessions in the West Bank if a controversial report accusing it of war crimes in Gaza is adopted by the United Nations.
This threat, which would effectively end America's efforts to restart peace talks with the Palestinian leadership, came after the United Nation's Human Rights Council formally endorsed a report that was deeply critical of Israel's conduct during the Gaza offensive in January.
The study, compiled by Richard Goldstone, a retired South African judge, was approved by 25 votes to six and will now go before the UN General Assembly, which may refer it to the security council. Britain and France chose not to participate in the vote, despite America and Israel asking them to reject the report.
The Human Rights Council's decision pitched the Middle East peace process into renewed crisis. Israel threatened to rule out any concessions in future talks with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader.