Netanyahu slams U.N. report

JERUSALEM, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu blasted a U.N. report that accuses Israel of war crimes in Gaza and said Israel has the right to defend itself.

Speaking Monday at the opening of the Knesset's winter session, Netanyahu declared Israel will not agree to a situation whereby government leaders will be called to The Hague, Maariv reported.

South African Justice Richard Goldstone headed a U.N. fact-finding investigation of alleged human rights violations during the military offensive in Gaza between Dec. 27-Jan. 18. Goldstone presented the findings to the Human Rights Council in Geneva in September.

"This distorted report, written by this distorted committee undermines Israel's right to self defense and encourages terrorism and endangers peace," Haaretz quoted the prime minister saying.

Netanyahu's speech came just days before a scheduled debate on the report at the United Nations in New York, The Jerusalem Post said.

"We will not agree to a situation in which Ehud Olmert, Ehud Barak and Tzipi Livni who sent Israeli soldiers to defend cities and civilians will be called to the defendants' benches at The Hague," Maariv quoted the prime minister saying.

Israel's basic right to self-defense and to exist as a Jewish state are constantly attacked, and such attacks have increased since the Gaza offensive and Second Lebanon War, Ynetnews.com quoted Netanyahu saying.