RAMALLAH, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Saeb Erekat condemned Saturday Israel's rejection to the decision of UN Human Rights Council to investigate Israeli "violations" in the Palestinians territories, particularly in the Gaza Strip.

Erekat said in a statement at the official Voice of Palestine that "Israel's rejection to the probe and not allowing it to enter is concealing its crimes against the Palestinians."

He reasserted that the "Palestinian side is ready to cooperate with the investigation committee and respond to all its questions and the right to go wherever it may need to."

Meanwhile, PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi applauded in an emailed statement on Saturday the UNHRC decision, and thanked the member states that voted in favor as taking a "principled position."

She went on saying that this decision "sends a clear and strong message to Israel that there is a price to pay for its unilateral actions and immoral, illegal violations."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the UNHRC decision on Friday of backing terrorism by launching the war crimes probe.

He said that "Israel completely rejects the resolution that was adopted by an automatic anti-Israel majority whose results were known from the start," adding that "Israel will continue to defend its citizens and soldiers as it has the rights to defend itself."

The 47-member UNHRC voted with 29 in favor of, 2 against, and 14 abstained on launching an investigation commission into Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories, with focus on its treatment of Palestinian protestors on the Gaza border.

Over 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers during the mass rallies that went on for about six weeks since March 30 in the Gaza border with Israel.