Turkel committee clears Israel in flotilla case
The four Israeli members and two international observers who composed the Turkel Commission to investigate the flotilla incident on May 31 unanimously agreed that Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip and its overland import restrictions, as well as its military actions in capturing the Mavi Marmara were in accordance with international law.Here's also a witness account by a soldier who was attacked, and a video report here.
According to the concluding remarks of the committee members and international observers, "The naval blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip – in view of the security circumstances and Israel's efforts to comply with its humanitarian obligations – was legal pursuant to the rules of international law. The actions carried out by Israel on May 31, 2010, to enforce the naval blockade had the regrettable consequences of the loss of human life and physical injuries. Nonetheless, and despite the limited number of uses of force for which we could not reach a conclusion, the actions taken were found to be legal pursuant to the rules of international law."
If there's anyone who's not impressed with the findings, it's none other than Turkish premier Tayyip Erdogan:
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday dismissed the Turkel Committee's findings defending the actions of IDF troops in the interception of a Turkish-led protest flotilla to Gaza last year.Well gee, he's already brought his anti-Israel standings to the fore. This shouldn't surprise anyone.
Erdogan told reporters in Ankara that the report had "no value or credibility."
Update: more on the case at the Turkel site (via IsraeliGirl).
Labels: anti-semitism, islam, Israel, jihad, military, terrorism, turkey, war on terror
Good grief!
We needed to wait nearly a year to find out what we knew last year to be the truth?
And is the Pope Catholic? Why do I have the feeling Israel has to justify itself instead of telling the world to get lost!
If I was PM, that is what I would have done and I would not have appointed ANY commission of inquiry. The truth needs no defense.
Posted by NormanF | 1/23/2011 07:00:00 PM