Israel gov't report blasts Netanyahu's handling of Gaza flotilla

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference near the border with the Gaza Strip, March 11, 2012.

/ AP

(CBS News) JERUSALEM - An Israeli government report has sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the commando raid on an aid flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip two years ago that left nine Turkish activists dead.

The 153-page document penned by State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss describes Netanyahu's handling of the affair as "flawed" and "superficial."

"Substantive and significant deficiencies were discovered in the decision-making process... that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led and oversaw," the report says. "The Prime Minister's decision-making process took place without orderly, coordinated and documented team work, even though the senior political, military and intelligence ranks were aware that the Turkish flotilla was different from other flotillas."

The flotilla, which sailed from Turkey with hundreds of people on board, sought to break Israel's naval blockade on Gaza, which activists described as illegal and immoral. Israel says the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching the Palestinian militant group Hamas that rules Gaza.

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Israel was caught off guard when naval commandos raided the biggest ship, the Mavi Marmara, and were confronted by Turkish militants wielding knives and iron bars. The report charges that Netanyahu, "did not internalize that the forcible stopping of the flotilla was liable to spark a violent confrontation on the decks of the Mavi Marmara."

The deadly raid sparked international outrage and severely strained Israeli relations with Turkey, a Muslim country that was once Israel's strongest strategic ally in the region. Turkey demanded an apology for what it described as a "massacre" and a "war crime," but Israel refused, saying that it acted in self-defense against a provocation on the high seas.

The Turkey cuts Israel ties over flotilla raid plummeting ties with Turkey were followed by the collapse of another strategic alliance, when Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was toppled in the Arab Spring uprising. This, along with a three-year stalemate in peace talks with the Palestinians, has increased Israel's regional isolation.

Netanyahu has defended his handling of the affair and has praised the bravery of the naval commandos.

"Israeli citizens enjoy a level of security they did not have for many years," the Prime Minister said in response to the report, describing his claimed success as, "a direct result of responsible administration and resolute policy."

[groverclevelandsteamer]

Are you kidding me 1dshap? How does it feel to live in an alternate reality? I'm reading the same article as you and all I keep seeing are phrases like "Turkish militants" to describe the members of a humanitarian aid **** defending themselves with "knives and iron bars" against commandos with high tech lethal and non-lethal weapons. Why aren't the israeli commandos described as "militants"? Heck, if you want "anti-israeli" reporting, call the Israeli commandos a "death squad" because that's the function they performed.

[shapid]

No, groverclevelandsteamer, I kid you not. Your reply however clearly indicates you have no interest in truth, only in spreading your hatred of Israel and or Jews. The term "turkish militants" proves my point exactly... These were not "turkish militants". They are/were members of IHH an internationally recognized turkish terrorist entity. There were no high tech weapons. In fact it was not until after the Israeli Navy was denied access to board the ship after repeated requests to do so that attempts were made, first by sea and later by fast roping, to board the ship. In video footage of attempts to board by sea, it is clear they were repelled by the use of fire/high pressure water hoses, chairs and other debris being rained or thrown at the boarding vessel. The decision to board by fast rope was made. The commandos were armed with non-lethal paint ball guns, and what you describe as "high tech" was nothing more than holstered 9mm handguns. As for the commandos being a death squad... If that ere so, there would have been many more casualties. The video clearly documents the commandos were attacked as they were fast roping down to the ship and before ever touching foot on the deck. It also shows one commando who had been stabbed in the abdomen and thrown overboard. It clearly shows the commandos being set upon by a murderous mob. If they did not draw their weapons and fire in defense of themselves and their comrades in arms, Israelis would have been killed but the mob. They boarded a vessel illegally attempting to break a legal blockade. This has been determined by the UN and legal scholars, not me, not propaganda. They acted with sufficient force, as well as (in my opinion) incredible restraint, to complete their mission.

[1dshap]

What ever happened to honest reporting? This article clearly seeks ot sway the reader's opinion against Israel. First, you fail to illustrate proper perspective, by not mentioning that of the 5 ships in the "aid" flotilla, 4 were boarded without incident. it was only the 5th, the Mavi Marmara that had aboard, what you describe as "activists", but who are/were actually members of the Turkish IHH, an internationally recognized terrorist organization. Clerly terming the terrorists as activists elicits a sympathetic feeling from the reader against the Israelis who are defending their citizens with the blockade (more about that later). Calling them as they are, and describing what clear video evidence proves... The terrorists aboard the MM attacked, with clubs, chains, knives and guns, the commandos who fast roped aboard the ship after repeated warnings to stop for inspection (as the other ships had done without incident), and attempts to board by other means. You further articulate the "activists" opinion that the blockade is both "illegal and immoral". You pay only fleeting mention that Israel emplouys the blockade as a means to prevent weapons smuggling from reaching Hammas, another violent and internationally recognized terroist entity who has sent thousands of bombs, missiles, suicide bombers and other murderers to kill Israeli civilians. You make no mention that since the blockade and erction of the security barrier, the terrorist attacks have trickled to very small fraction of what they were before Israel began it's defensive measures. You fail to mention that Israel made huge efforts to, and the Turkish leader Erdogan had indicated he would prevent the flotilla and terrorists aboard from setting sail to break the blockade, but broke his word only a week later. You also fail to mention that relations with Turkey had been deteriorating for the last few years as Erdogan attempts to shore up his standing in the muslim world. Simply, your brand of journalism is manipulative and in fact misleading. shame on you.

[bakulaji]

I disagree with the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu's firm belief in his handling the situation. There is, however, an element of sincerety in his action. As long as Israel considers their neghbors as enemies and as long as US government plays no role in Israeli internal affairs, such acts may perpetuate in the future.

Israel has many good aspects, their paranoid thinking, is not a part of the nation of expatriated Jews.

Grow up, Binyamin, it helps in good governing.

...and I am Sid [e-mail]