Update (April 2, 2011): In an opinion article published in The Washington Post, Richard Goldstone retracted the central findings of the Goldstone Commission Report. More>>

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New York, NY, October 16, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called today's decision by the U.N. Human Rights Council endorsing the Goldstone Commission Report "outrageous" and yet another demonstration of the Council's "unwavering and biased focus on all things related to Israel."

Twenty-five nations voted in favor of the endorsement; six voted against, and 11 abstained.  Five nations did not register a vote.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

We are outraged, but far from surprised by the Human Rights Council's endorsement of the Goldstone Report.

Despite the efforts of the United States to fend off adoption by the Council of a one-sided resolution, this vote continues the Human Rights Council's unwavering and biased focus on all things related to Israel.  Given the makeup of the membership of the HRC, it is virtually guaranteed that certain countries, among them some of the most notorious human rights violators in the world, will automatically vote in favor of anything that singles out Israel for condemnation.

The fundamentally biased Goldstone Report, with its outrageous and overreaching panoply of recommendations, is the product of an illegitimate mandate with a predetermined outcome.  The HRC's initial call for an investigation focused exclusively on Israel.  And its endorsement of the report is again focused exclusively and punitively on Israel.  It completely disregards the well-intentioned, but weak and ultimately vain attempt by Judge Goldstone to recast the council's mandate to provide an appearance of balance by including Hamas in the investigation.

We express profound appreciation to the United States and the five other nations who showed their commitment to principles of fairness and moral responsibility by voting against this resolution: Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Ukraine.  We are disappointed and dismayed by those nations who did not stand with these six countries and abstained or chose not to vote.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.