Tel-Chai Nation: Israeli navy official who took part in raid on flotilla defends the effort

A soldier who was part of the raid on the flotilla from Turkey makes clear their actions were justified (Hat tip: Jihad Watch):

"I don’t think we've done anything wrong," said N., a Navy combatant who was involved in the raid on the Mavi Marmara in 2010. "We did the right thing. I'm not ashamed of it and we have nothing to apologize for."

"This apology doesn't imply anything," N., who sustained injuries in the raid, added. "It's meant to promote reconciliation. On a personal level there's no need for apologies, but on a national perspective… it seems like the right thing to do."

A former combat soldier with the Navy told Ynet he was ambivalent about the apology. "On the one hand, there's something very unfair in this – when you're in battle, you fight. And we did nothing wrong. But on the other hand, maybe it's time to end this saga."

As for the decision to compensate the families of the Turkish citizens who were killed in the raid, many Navy soldiers were outraged, saying that IDF soldiers who sustained injuries in the incident have yet to be compensated.

Former Navy commander Eliezer Marom, who was the commanding officer of the 2010 raid told Ynet he was against the Israeli apology. "We must back IDF soldiers. If you start apologizing for combat errors, where will it end? An IDF soldier must be backed.

"I ask myself how this may affect the soldiers," Marom added, "that's what bothers me."

"I might be joining politics soon," the former commander admitted, noting that he was aware of "the prime minister's right to make such a decision – to sacrifice support for the soldiers in order to advance national interests that mean nothing."