Netanyahu Testifies on Gaza Flotilla Violence
FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010 file photo the then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, lawmaker Lyudmila Narusova, center, widow of the first democratically elected mayor of St. Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak, and Sobchak's daughter Ksenia visit the Nikolskoye cemetery to lay flowers at the grave of Anatoly Sobchak in St. Petersburg, Russia. ?I?m Ksenia Sobchak, and I?ve got something to lose. But I?m here.? This is what the 30-year-old blond socialite and TV personality said when she began her unlikely foray into political activism by taking the stage at a huge anti-Putin rally in December. Once considered untouchable because of her family?s close personal ties to President Vladimir Putin, Sobchak has since found that she does indeed have something to lose, as her apartment has been raided by police and she has been called in for interrogation. It has been a quick change of fortune for Russia?s It Girl, who like many Russians of her generation experienced a civic awakening after many years of political passivity. (AP Photo/Dmitry Astakhov, presidential press service, file) / Dmitry Astakhov
Israel's prime minister testified Monday before his country's inquiry commission into the bloodshed aboard a Turkish ship that tried to break the Gaza blockade in May, defending Israel's actions and suggesting Turkey had been seeking a confrontation.
The Israeli commission is looking into the government's decision-making leading up to the decision to send naval commandos to board the ship on May 31 and steer it to an Israeli port. The United Nations has also announced its own inquiry.
The commandos met with violent resistance on board the Mavi Marmara and opened fire, killing nine Turkish activists, including one with U.S. citizenship. The bloodshed drew an international outcry that eventually forced Israel to ease its blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Both the pro-Palestinian activists on board the vessel and the Israeli soldiers have accused each other of provoking the violence.
The protest flotilla was organized by a Turkish charity, IHH, with close ties to Turkey's Islamic governing party. Turkey's government has noticeably cooled ties with longtime ally Israel after the deadly raid.
In his testimony Monday, Benjamin Netanyahu suggested Turkey had been seeking a conflict with Israel.
Israel had tried to convince Turkey to stop the Gaza-bound flotilla before sailing, Netanyahu said, but "as we got closer to the date it became clear our diplomatic efforts would not stop it."
"Apparently the government of Turkey did not see potential friction between Turkish activists and Israel as something that goes against its interests, and definitely nothing that justified effective pressure on the IHH activists," Netanyahu told the commission.
He said the Israeli soldiers displayed "exceptional bravery in carrying out their mission and in defending themselves from genuine and lethal danger."
An Israeli military inquiry found that military intelligence had failed to predict the violent resistance on board the Turkish vessel, and troops went in unprepared, expecting only passive resistance.
"I am convinced that in the end of your investigation it will be clear that Israel and the Israel Defense Forces acted in accordance with international law," Netanyahu told the commission in his opening remarks.
The five-member commission, joined by two foreign observers, has no legal powers to punish decision makers. But its conclusions could be politically damaging if it establishes that any wrongdoing had taken place.
By Associated Press Writer Aron Heller
© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Israeli commission is looking into the government's decision-making leading up to the decision to send naval commandos to board the ship on May 31 and steer it to an Israeli port. The United Nations has also announced its own inquiry.
The commandos met with violent resistance on board the Mavi Marmara and opened fire, killing nine Turkish activists, including one with U.S. citizenship. The bloodshed drew an international outcry that eventually forced Israel to ease its blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Both the pro-Palestinian activists on board the vessel and the Israeli soldiers have accused each other of provoking the violence.
The protest flotilla was organized by a Turkish charity, IHH, with close ties to Turkey's Islamic governing party. Turkey's government has noticeably cooled ties with longtime ally Israel after the deadly raid.
In his testimony Monday, Benjamin Netanyahu suggested Turkey had been seeking a conflict with Israel.
Israel had tried to convince Turkey to stop the Gaza-bound flotilla before sailing, Netanyahu said, but "as we got closer to the date it became clear our diplomatic efforts would not stop it."
"Apparently the government of Turkey did not see potential friction between Turkish activists and Israel as something that goes against its interests, and definitely nothing that justified effective pressure on the IHH activists," Netanyahu told the commission.
He said the Israeli soldiers displayed "exceptional bravery in carrying out their mission and in defending themselves from genuine and lethal danger."
An Israeli military inquiry found that military intelligence had failed to predict the violent resistance on board the Turkish vessel, and troops went in unprepared, expecting only passive resistance.
"I am convinced that in the end of your investigation it will be clear that Israel and the Israel Defense Forces acted in accordance with international law," Netanyahu told the commission in his opening remarks.
The five-member commission, joined by two foreign observers, has no legal powers to punish decision makers. But its conclusions could be politically damaging if it establishes that any wrongdoing had taken place.
By Associated Press Writer Aron Heller
Popular on CBSNews.com
- Iran hangs alleged U.S., Israeli spies
- North Korea fires short-range missiles for second day
- Two imprisoned over killing Malcolm X's grandson
- Photos of the Week 21 Photos
- Afghanistan to ask India for military aid
- Plane catches fire on Moscow runway Play Video
- Assad: Syria transition talks are internal matter
- Dramatic video appears to show 747 crash in Afghanistan
1 Comments Add a Comment
- linkicon reporticon emailicon
- It's like Willy Sutton testifying on bank security.
- reply
