By deciding not to by review the sadly flawed Goldstone Report, the Security Council has finally made an important contribution to the Middle East peace process. 

We believe that the United State and many European nations correctly understood that if Israel could be thrown in the dock for defending itself, there was no likelihood that it could be persuaded to take the additional risks which will be necessary in any peace deal.  

Israel is already investigated whether any violation of international law took place during Operation Cast Lead. The Libyan effort to bring the issue before the Security Council was an attempt to make mischief at the expense of peace-making. The Obama administration is to be applauded for standing up to the pressures to press Israel further.