UNITED NATIONS — The UN General Assembly on Friday voted togive Israel and the Palestinians an additional five months to conductindependent investigations of alleged war crimes during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip.
It warned that if independent investigationsare not conducted "further action" may be taken by UN bodiesincluding the Security Council.
The resolution was adopted Friday by a vote of 98-7 with 31 abstentions. Fifty-six countries did not vote.
InNovember, the General Assembly gave Israel and the Palestinians threemonths to undertake "independent, credible investigations" into thefindings of a UN-appointed expert panel chaired by South AfricanJudge Richard Goldstone. It concluded that both sides committed warcrimes and possible crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict.