The UN Human Rights Council approved a Palestinian-backed resolution after two days of debate on the report, which it commissioned following the December 27 to January 18 conflict in which almost 1400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed.
The resolution passed 25-6, with developing countries mostly in favour and the US and five European countries opposing. Eleven mostly European and African countries abstained, while Britain, France and three other members of the 47-nation body declined to vote.
US diplomat Douglas M. Griffiths told the council Washington was disappointed with the vote. The US had wanted the report to stay in Geneva, and is likely to veto any action in the Security Council.
The resolution - which also condemns recent Israeli actions in the Palestinian territories and East Jerusalem - endorses the report's recommendation that both sides in the conflict should show the Security Council within six months that they are carrying out credible investigations into the claims of abuse.
Before the vote, Israel warned that any endorsement of the report would endanger the Middle East peace process.
Israel engaged in an intense last-minute effort, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to stop the report's endorsement. Mr Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak telephoned world leaders to ask their countries to vote against the report.
In one conversation, described as "robust", Mr Netanyahu was reportedly rebuffed by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who told him Israel could avoid being criticised by the UN if it held its own independent inquiry.
South African judge Richard Goldstone held an inquiry into the Gaza war, and his report said Israel and Hamas might be guilty of crimes against humanity.
Last night's vote means the Goldstone report can now be passed to the UN General Assembly and possibly the International Criminal Court, where charges could be brought against Israeli politicians or military officials in charge of the war.
Source: The Australian
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