Israel, U.S. agree on nature of Gaza flotilla probe
Final decision held up for four days by the Americans, who were dissatisfied with the original proposal for the investigative committee's composition.
By Barak Ravid and Amos Harel Tags: Gaza flotilla Joe Biden Ehud Barak Israel newsIsrael and the United States agreed Thursday on the nature of the Israeli investigative committee that will look into the events surrounding the takeover of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla nearly two weeks ago.
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The Mavi Marmara cruise ship, part of the Gaza aid flotilla. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
An official announcement on the committee is due to be made Friday, though the declaration could be deferred to Saturday night. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to make the announcement; he will also say who will be on the committee and discuss its powers.
Channel 2 reported last night that the committee will be headed by a retired Supreme Court justice. It appears that the Prime Minister's Office has approached former Justice Yaakov Tirkel to fill the position.
Contacts with the United States on forming the panel have been handled by the prime minister himself and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Their main contact has been U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. It was the Americans who proposed the nature of the committee - similar to the one that investigated the sinking of a South Korean ship by the North Koreans.
The forum of seven senior ministers has met to discuss the matter, but the final decision was held up until a formula was reached that was acceptable to the Americans. There have been four days of discussions with the Americans on the subject following their dissatisfaction over the nature of the committee as initially proposed and its composition.
It appears that it was the Americans who insisted that the committee be headed by a retired Supreme Court justice to give the panel greater credibility.
The panel will be a government-appointed committee but will not be considered an official government inquiry convened in accordance with the Basic Law on the Government. Nor will it be a state commission of inquiry.
In addition to the judge heading the panel, members will include jurists specializing in international law as well as two observers - one American and the other European.
The committee will have a mandate to examine whether the blockade of the Gaza Strip is in accordance with international law, whether the Israel Navy's takeover of the aid flotilla in international waters was legal and whether the use of force by Israeli troops and other aspects of the operation were legal. Netanyahu, Barak and Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi are all expected to testify before the committee.
A team of military experts appointed by Ashkenzi and headed by Maj. Gen. (res. ) Giora Eiland began its own examination of the flotilla incident on Wednesday.
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Who gives a @#%^. Gaza is an encampment of HAMAS. HAMAS's purpose is destruction of Israel. Help to Gaza = help to HAMAS. GOT IT?!?! MORONS. Any attempt to help terrorists should prosecuted to full extend. Piece my ass.
I think he as a mensch who would handle this job with dignity and honesty.
My question is were is the political oppositon in israel? Is the opposition not interested in a credible investigation?
..even if it were the "political opposition"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOGG_osOoVg&feature=player_embedded
What? An Israel/American idea of an inquiry and mandate? No Goldstone approach like asking "facts" only from the Turks and Hamas? Even an American lady is upset at the "whitewash" in the making - meaning that both - the Israeli judges, and the American plus European observers, will lie about the facts and blame the blameless. Right? No! Wrong!! This is simply impossible! A whole world, not only the observers, will be watching what is being done. The only difference is that, this time, there won't be a Goldstone....Obama is doing an excellent job of ensuring fairness. Facts are facts, and their legality or illegality will be checked and declared. That's all...thank God!
America and Israel agree? Must be right.
1 why does nato member turkey illegally allow the use of its territory for the transit and delivery of missiles from iran to hezbollah 2. why is nato member turkey supporting the islamist terror group ihh. 3 why is american "ally" saudi arabia supporting the terror group "union of good," designated by the united states treasury department as a terror organisation. 4. who bought and paid for the turkish boat mavi marmara.
Israel is guilty until proven guilty. No, that is not a typo or misstatement. After forty years, we are used to it. Just what members of some minority groups have learned to expect in some judicial systems. Israel is the world's whipping boy, never mind Darfur, Sudan, etc., etc., etc.
Without Israel, this peaceful freedom loving world filled with nothing but brotherly love between religion of piece and religion of tolerance, would still be flying on magic carpets and talking through tin cans. Hang in there, Israel. We will keep the pressure on.
Nobody's waiting for action from governments. This problem will be solved by people despite their governments.
No point in having any EU person as an observer (unless it is Gert Wilders !) as they are all pro terror and Israel haters!
I hope that europe is declining and protesting against this decision. Turkey couldn't be satisfied with this probe and will loose more trust in his western allies. This incident gets more and more a disaster for the western alliance.
when elected, obama made it clear that he wanted to be friends with the muslim world. the muslim world decided that it did not want his friendship.
SO??? It doesn't stop him from bowing to Abdulla's balls whenever our new young president gets a chance. The Muslim world got all the friend it needs. :)
This will work only if the US send an impartial observer. Dershowitz, come to my mind. Just jocking.
the turkish mavi marmara was infiltrated by turkish thugs from the terrorist organisation ihh.
You might as well as Mr. Natanyahu to write the final report of the commission right now! What a gimmick!
Au Contrare. Two reasons. First, Supreme Court of Israel judges enjoy an impeccable reputation for brialliance, judgement and impartiality. Second, there will be observers, including a European observer. Europe is no friend of Israel. If I were Erdogan, I'd be more than a little nervous. The riidiclous and increasingly confusing stories coming out of Turkey are increasingly implicating those Turkeys.
Israels reaction to the flotilia does not have to be investigated, it was completely correct. The fact of the flotilia itself needs investigation.
Murderer investigating own murders committed.Great
The article indirectly makes it clear, that the commission of Israeli lawyers will have no permission to question the soldiers and officers involved into the capture. It is a shame, that the US has agreed to this. First of all, it really needs an international inquiry, since this is no inner Israeli matter. Second - this is a commission who is not allowed to investigate. They only can swallow, what Ashkenazy wants them to believe. Therefore it is really 100% sure, that the government is activly hiding the truth, whatever this might be. They don't even need to start with it. The result already stands firm.
Israel and U.S. agree on nature of whitewash
now there's some justice for ya. How Orwellian!
... the presence or USA and EU "observers"... ... let's call it a PRE-PROBE in the meanwhile...
what about the rest of the world?
And when will yhe world y\to investogate Turnkey
I am a Turkish citizen. Here is what i think : I really believe that Israel soldiers did not mean to kill anyone. Nobody predicted events would come to this point. I would expect better operation form the top notch army though. I respect Israel people for trying to exist among many hostility. In Turkey nobody cares or likes Hamas (as a Terrorist), but they do love the people of Gaza. You should make your point clear that you are fighting terror not all the people of Gaza? Then our relations will be back to Normal. Currently, from outside it doesn't look so? Both sides would benefit from good relations.
The need is not to placate the Americans; we're not your problem.
How can this possibly be a credible investigation when Israel controls the evidence and no one is representing the flotilla? Is anyone on the investigating team going to ask for the recording from Challenger I that would corroborate whether the "Auschwitz" and "9-11" quotes were part of the original exchange? Is the testimony of survivors and the few tapes and photos they have broadcast to the world going to be included? Will the appropriate questions even be asked?
Does anyone expect this probe to be impartial? Its conclusion is foregone! The guilty will once again 'find' themselves innocent. What a farce!
Since you already isssue the verdict,why do you comment about a probe?
evidences need to be gathered from cameras and cellulars belonghed to the activists and need to be given back to the activists.
Part of the conspiracy against Israel is based on distraction and dilution of energy and focus. Israels security is in grave danger yet every minute there are diplomatic crises to sap the leaderships energy. The Chinese are using a similar tactic on the US, keeping her embroiled in conflicts while they expand in all ways.
The committee will investigate whether a 3 year blockade by a powerful country against 1.5 million helpless civilians is legal, whether intercepting a foreign ship in international water is legal, and whether the killing of 9 peace activists in international water is legal. I do not think you need a former supreme court judge and a group of jurists to decide the legality of such actions, my 5 year old daughter can answer these questions. If the former supreme court judge is busy, her schedule is free.
Bazman. Israel's "blockade" is not against lazy idiots who cannot sustain their own garbage pickups. But against a regime whose sole purpose is the physical destruction of the state that provides them with fresh water, electricity, etc. Call them what they r
What gives the US permission to be a major player in this when most of the people murdered or assaulted were either Turkish or European? Also, theres no mention of interrogation of the commandos. What a farce - and they cover themselves even further by omitting to make it an official government inquiry. Looks like there will have be the international inquiry that Europe wants after all.
He is useless. Totally. Take him back. Please. As far as what gives US anything? Nothing really. We would like to be out of your affairs. Take the UN along with Odumbo, and deal with each other in your peaceful ways...
It was a Turkish ship and the dead are Turkish. Why aren't they doing the investigating? And the analogy with the South Korean ship is faulty. Did North Korea get to investigate itself?
An investigation has been opened at the Bakırkoy Prosecutors Office at Istanbul. However, to conduct an investigation you need the suspects testimony right? Will Israel extradite the commando's who opened fired? What about the military and political leaders who gave and order to intervene a civilian ship outside the 20 mile blockade zone on the high seas?
Turkey's role in supporting IHH, a terrorist orgainazation should also be examined, as well as the IHH on the boat.
How credible is that? U.S and Israel handling the investigation. well I can tell you the results before you waste anytime. I bet that the findings will be in favore of Israel. I bet I bet I bet...
In the South Korean case they were investigating the attack on a South Korean ship. The analogy here would be for Turkey to run the investigation.
America and Israel are redefining fundamental Laws of Human natural justice. Israel is now a judge in its own case. Justice will never be seen to have been done. In any case, whether right or wrong it is a preceedence that the rest of the World will expect America to obey at other times.
Already been factually discredited as an American own goal. Loose ends need tidying up to prove otherwise. Such loose facts as a German torpedo on an alleged NK submarine able to penetrate the world's most "alleged" sophisticated maritime empire [USA] engaged in naval exercises. If it's true, American's are dolts. If not true, American's are liars and provocateurs. Make up your own minds.
The South Korean vessel was attacked, and the South Koreans investigated that attack with the assistance of the international community. The Turkish vessel was attacked, and so it should be the Turks who investigate, and the int'l community should be assisting that inquiry.
America and Israel are redefining fundamental Laws of Human natural justice. Israel is now a judge in its own case. Justice will never be seen to have been done. In any case, whether right or wrong it is a preceedence that the rest of the World will expect America to obey at other times.
So what are you talking about ? (and the list goes on and on - Tibet, Darfur, NATO bombing of 20000 in Begrade, on and on) Where are the internatioinal committees dude?
Russians killed 34 million Chechen's, Turks killed 25 million Armenians and 155 million Kurds... no limits in the number game... the internet is free... and the bubonic plaque killed billions... so... so what is 9 civilians next to these numbers right...
Was it Israel who opened its borders unconditionally and accepted 1.5 million Kurdish refugees from Northern Iraq in 1991, when Saddam was massacring them with his conventional and chemical weapons sold to him by his western allies to be used against Iranians, back in the days when he was a "good boy" who listened who and where to attack. Sorry but it was Turkey, who accepted those civilians in need, who had unfortunately started and uprising against Saddam, believing that the US would keep its promise to protect them against Saddam's wrath...
Is this: if the byline includes the name "Barak Ravid" then you should wait 24 hours because - much more often than not - within a day there will be another article by Barak Ravid that contradicts the first. Regardless, ya' gotta laugh at: "will not be considered an official government inquiry" ... "Nor will it be a state commission of inquiry." So what is it then? A "govt sponsored" inquiry? A "govt stamp of approval" inquiry? A "two thumbs up from Bibiand three and a half stars from Ehud" inquiry? Laughable. No, really; laughable.
They agreed how to format the cover up.
..unless it was one that would find Israel guilty.....
Let's see if the same peace activists would investigate the occupation of Cypress by Turkey.
The guilty probing themselves. It won't satisfy the world. Only and International probe will get to the truth.
You are right......it wont satisfy all of the Muslim & PM Erdogan world who are nothing but a bunch of desert bandits.
and says "the guilty" probing itself.Then he wants an international probe to get to the truth. And what if the truth is "Israel is not guilty"? Then Chet will say "oh,that international probe was a whitewash".....
The best way to bring out the facts is to have an open international inquiry not controlled by the Natanyaho government or the US govt.
If the Israelis were doing an internal investigation there is a good chance that it would be honest and hard hitting. If the Israelis are doing an investigation which will have international scrutiny, it will be a whitewash. I don't care which Israelis are chosen to do the whitewash, it is sure to be one. That is just the way it is.
How could there be a white wash when there are pictures taken from the boat itself, statements taken from the crew. Pictures cannot lie except the ones modified by Reuter to which concurred to. So stop fanning the flame.
Nine drooling thugs itching for a fight dead. What's there to talk about?
If you have specific evidence of steps taken to perpetrate a whitewash, please post them. If you do not have specific evidence, then why are you posting vague innuendo? Israel's independent judiciary system is highly regarded in our country as well as in Europe. You are also specifically claiming that because we will have an observer and the European's will have an observer, that the investigation is no good. The observers and the composition of the panel were heavily influenced by the demands of *our* administration. If you are saying that because we insisted on certain ground rules that the process is corrupt you are besmirching the good name of our president and vice president. Again I ask, if you have specific evidence that a whitewash is being perpetrated, please post. If you have no such evidence then you should apologize for making claims that VP Biden is an idiot and President Obama is a lier.
Lets give it a chance to see where it goes before shooting it down
... at least let's see what sort of bird will fly out of this cosy nest... hoping that USA & EU presence will give it some credibility...
This hinges on who the European is. Quite likely that person won't be believed either.
I know for sure that it wont be a muslim, arab, palestinian or Turkeys PM Ergodan. As you know, the Turkish PM is the one who was aware of these 50 thugs that boarded the ship from Instanbul with $10,000.00 each in their pockets as comoared to the other activits. So, who is going to believe who???
Money was taken on the Viva Palestina convoy last year for distribution to the most needy families in Gaza. it was distributed by senior members of the group.