'We view the mandate as ... one-sided and basically unbalanced,' she said. She also objected to Goldstone's recommendations, including one for the 15-nation Security Council to investigate and refer the war crimes to the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

The US is holding the rotating presidency of the Security Council for September. It is unlikely that the council would follow through with the recommendations this month because of a series of already scheduled meetings.

Rice urged both Israelis and Palestinians to look to the future in order to resolve their conflict.