Netanyahu likely to widen remit of Gaza flotilla probe after judge threatens to quit
Government to bow to pressure from Justice Jacob Turkel, who says law demands a wider scope for inquiry into Israel's deadly raid on a Turkish-flagged aid ship a month ago.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Israel news Gaza flotillaThe government on Tuesday looked set to widen the scope of an inquiry into Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, after a judge leading the probe threatened to resign unless his powers were increased.
Earlier this week, retired Supreme Court justice Jacob Turkel approached Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman, citing legal grounds to support a demand to extend his remit.
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From left, David Trimble and Ken Watkin with committee head Jacob Turkel. |
| Photo by: GPO |
According to Turkel, paragraphs 8 and 8a of the Basic Government Law grant an independent committee of inquiry the right to conduct a full judicial investigation, including the authority to subpoena any witnesses or evidence it requires and to take testimony under oath.
By late Tuesday, there were indications that the government would bow to Turkel's demand. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is believed to have discussed the issue with Neeman, as well as with Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein and Defense Minister Ehud Barak – with all four agreeing that Netanyahu should should formally consider the request.
The debate in government follows a petition handed to the Supreme Court this week by Gush Shalom, a campaign group, also demanding a broadening of the inquiry.
On Tuesday, state prosecutors, acting at Turkel's request, asked the court to delay its ruling on the petition for 10 days in the expectation that a decision at the political level would redraw the parameters of the inquest.
Turkel believes his commission should be granted the same rights as the powerful Winograd panel that investigated the Second Lebanon War, which had a much broader authority.
The Turkel commission held its first official meeting on Monday, nearly one month after the Israel Navy's May 31 raid on the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara left nine pro-Palestinian activists dead and a number of navy commandos wounded.
The internal investigation is being monitored by two foreign observers – Lord David Trimble of Ireland and Canada's former judge advocate general Ken Watkin.
Turkel expressed hope on Monday that his committee would complete its duty fast, and that the prime minister, defense minister and the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff would shortly be summoned to testify before the committee.
The committee members, including Shabtai Rosenne, a professor of international law, and Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amos Horev, met to create panel guidelines and a schedule for hearing witness testimony, and determine the extent to which the observers will participate in the hearings.
Most of the committee hearings will be open to the public and the media, though there will also be some closed meetings in which the panel will hear sensitive information that could affect Israel's security or foreign affairs.
The Turkel committee was appointed by the cabinet earlier this month to investigate the naval raid and its adherence to international law.
The committee will also examine the security-related reasons for Israel's imposition of a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip, which the flotilla was launched to protest, and the conduct of Turkey and the flotilla organizers.
The judge leading Israel's internal probe into a deadly navy raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla has threatened to resign unless the government agrees to widen the scope of his inquiry.
Retired Supreme Court justice Jacob Turkel approached Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman this week, citing legal grounds to support a demand to extend his remit.
According to Turkel, paragraphs 8 and 8a of the Basic Government Law grant an independent committee of inquiry the right to conduct a full judicial inquiry, including the authority to subpoena any witnesses or evidence it requires.
Ne'eman apparently promised to raise the issue with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who held discussions on the matter over the last few days with Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
Turkel belives his commission should be granted the same rights as the powerful Winograd panel that investigated the Second Lebanon War.
That committee was given a mandate similar to a state commission at inception and as such was given a much broader scope of authority, though its recommendations did not hold the same legal weight as an official panel appointed by Supreme Court Justices.
"The committee has no intention of dealing with anything other than the work we have been charged to do by the Israeli government," said committee spokesman, Ofer Leffler.
Turkel made his request following a petition submitted by the Gush Shalom watchdog to expand the authority of the committee investigating the events of the flotilla raid.
The Turkel commission held its first official meeting on Monday, nearly one month after the Israel Navy's May 31 raid on the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara left nine pro-Palestinian activists dead and a number of navy commandos wounded.
The internal investigation is being monitored by two foreign observers – Lord David Trimble of Ireland and Canada's former judge advocate general Ken Watkin.
Turkel expressed hope on Monday that his committee would complete its duty fast, and that the prime minister, defense minister and the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff would shortly be summoned to testify before the committee.
The committee members, including Shabtai Rosenne, a professor of international law, and Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amos Horev, met to create panel guidelines and a schedule for hearing witness testimony, and determine the extent to which the observers will participate in the hearings.
Most of the committee hearings will be open to the public and the media, though there will also be some closed meetings in which the panel will hear sensitive information that could affect Israel's security or foreign affairs.
The Turkel committee was appointed by the cabinet earlier this month to investigate the naval raid and its adherence to international law.
The committee will also examine the security-related reasons for Israel's imposition of a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip, which the flotilla was launched to protest, and the conduct of Turkey and the flotilla organizers.
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Now finally this looks and smells like the best investigation money can buy.
Things were pretty obvious well before this committee was choice-fully put together, so much so that one can easily assume the threatening by the judge is a mere theater play to gain points for the credibility of the whole thing. If Israel isn't guilty as charged then how hard can it be to let an "international credible committee" that contains equal amounts of bias to both countries involved, to do the whole probe???
If any soldier says anything against Pravda (the official truth), that soldier will be declared a liar just like in Cast Lead. The Zionist bastards running Israel have appear to have a death wish. Too bad the Israeli citizens are going to be forced to follow.
This inquiry just might surprise some by being objective and honest.
but this panel is obviously as objective as a first-time Martian... right. Is there anyone in Israel who actually believes the world sees this as anything but a kangaroo court? The problem with Israel is that when it tries to cover things up, it does it like an amateur...
Is there any pressure this weak, cowardly government will not bow to? I doubt it.
Because that means the government isn't completely deconnected from reality. I wish Iran would bow to pressure.
Please stop saying that David Trimble is Irish. He's not. He's a Unionist, he's British. He's fought his whole life to maintain that. Ask him, and he'll tell you. He'll also a member of Conservative Friends of Israel, Likud's beachhead in the UK. He's about as neutral as he is 'Irish'
His name starts with Turk. Is i t a joke or what???
not.
... at least he genuinely cares for Israel's honor...
Turkel is showing considerable integrity, right off the bat. He knows what he needs to do a proper job. Goldstone should have known better. No judge committed to the rule of law would accept an assignment from an organization that is anti- one of the parties of the investigation and who has assigned four other investigators to the investigating panel that is also on record as being anti one of the parties, namely Israel, of course. Good for Turkel and boo Goldstone.
According to Israel, most of the world is 'anti-Israel'. If a Jewish judge like Goldstone is appointed, he is a self-hating Jew; if he is non-jewish he is automatically anti-jewish. What will you call Turkel if his investigation finds Israel guilty of war crimes?
Goldstone always had a spine. And Turkel only finding it now makes me even more suspicious of the outcome.
He was given an one-sided mandate, and he is signalling that he will walk if that mandate is not expanded. In that essential respect Turkel is taking a leaf out of Goldstone's book, and all power to him for it.
... for the Goldstone report, which was right-on, under the limiting conditions that we ourselves imposed upon him...
Mr. Turkel, thanks for the services
Thank god that there are HONEST people in Israel .
This is a planned step to increase the credibility of the Israelis made up so-called independent committee. And then Turkel will be granted to vote. After that the committee will make a decision which would be closer to International committee will take. And, Israel will have gain an international credibility by judging himself. What a disgusting game to make the world how stupid they are :(
Then he shouldn't have agreed in the first place to be a judge. I think Israel has had enough of judges after Goldstone. The question is very simple, was Israel doing something illegal by boarding where it did? Nothing more and nothing less.
Yes and to be able to prove this, ALLLLLL parties involved need to questioned. Goldstone, Turkel and the like are just those acting according to reason and the actual law. Seems only the government and co. are not playing by the same rules. Nothing more and nothing less!
"...the right to conduct a full judicial inquiry, including the authority to subpoena any witnesses or evidence it requires.." Shades of credibility creeping in here.
Let's see what Bibi does.
WHY IS THERE NO COMMENTS FROM JEWS HERE.AFTER ALL ITS ONE OF THEIR OWN JUDGES WHO WANTS AN IMPARTIAL AND JUST INQUIRY,
WHY IS THERE NO COMMENTS FROM JEWS HERE. AFTER ALL ITS ONE OF THEIR OWN JUDGES WHO WANTS AN IMPARTIAL AND JUST INQUIRY, UNLESS IT IS ANOTHER JEW ROLE PLAY.
It would have been best to have an international commission with an Israeli, a Turk, and two neutral/foreign members that Israel and Turkey would agree on. This should have been arranged in negotiations between Israel and Turkey. A majority vote would have meant 3:1, a convincing majority with the two neutrals probably agreeing. Such an arrangement would have improved the relationship between Turkey and Israel, while a strictly Israeli commission will only create more distrust. Unfortunately, Israeli paranoia precluded this from happening. I hope the UN pushes for such an arrangement.