CONDEMN THE GOLDSTONE REPORT

On September 15, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) released the report (dubbed the %u201CGoldstone Report%u201D) of a UN Fact Finding Mission to Gaza to investigate the actions taken by Israel during Operation Cast Lead in the winter of 2008-09. The Report condemned Israel for attacking Gaza without making any mention of the history of rocket attacks that led to Israel%u2019s decision to take action, and falsely accused Israel of international war crimes. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton deemed the Goldstone Report %u201Cone-sided.%u201D

Unfortunately, on October 16, by a vote of 25 to 6, the UNHRC voted to endorse the Report. The United States voted against endorsing the report. Following this vote, Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Howard Berman, Dan Burton, and Gary Ackerman introduced H.Res. 867. This legislation calls on President Obama to oppose unequivocally any endorsement or further consideration of the Goldstone Report. H.R. 867 roundly condemns the Goldstone Report, asserts Israel%u2019s right to defend itself, and reaffirms United States support for Israel.

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America applauds this measure and urges the Jewish community to show its support for this resolution by calling their Representatives in Congress and urging him or her to join co-sponsorship of H.Res. 867.