Israel’s Cabinet yesterday backed the creation of an internal committee to probe its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, in a move swiftly dismissed by Turkey.
The Israeli committee, which will include two foreign observers, was formed to conduct an investigation into the legal aspects of the operation in which Israeli commandos killed nine Turkish activists and wounded many more.
But Ankara slammed the move, saying it did not believe the Israeli commission would carry out an “impartial” probe of the pre-dawn attack.
“We have no trust at all that Israel, a country that has carried out such an attack on a civilian convoy in international waters, will conduct an impartial investigation,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters in Ankara.
Turkey wants the circumstances surrounding the May 31 attack to be investigated by a commission “under the direct control of the United Nations ... an impartial one with the participation of Turkey and Israel,” he said.
Hours after the announcement by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cabinet members voted unanimously to back the make-up and mandate of the inquiry committee.
The committee, which will be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Yaakov Tirkel, will conduct an internal investigation into the legal aspects of the flotilla raid.
In a move to boost the credibility of the probe, the government also named two international observers: Irish Nobel Peace Prize winner David Trimble and Ken Watkin, a former judge advocate general of the Canadian armed forces.
However, it was not clear what powers Trimble and Watkin would have, and the statement from Netanyahu’s office said they would not able “to vote in relation to the proceedings and conclusions of the commission.”
The two men could also be denied access to documents or information if it was “almost certain to cause substantial harm to national security or to the state’s foreign relations,” the statement said.
Netanyahu’s office said the commission’s mandate was to examine the legality under international law, of Israel’s naval blockade and of the actions taken to enforce that blockade.
It would also examine “the actions taken by the organizers of the flotilla and its participants, as well as their identity.”
Speaking to Cabinet members yesterday, Netanyahu said the committee would also seek “to give a credible and convincing answer” to the international community.
“I am convinced that uncovering the facts will prove that Israel acted in an appropriately defensive fashion in accordance with the highest standards. The committee will clarify to the world that Israel acts according to law with responsibility and full transparency,” he said.
The US welcomed the Israeli announcement as “an important step forward,” but said it expected the investigation to be carried out promptly with the findings “presented publicly” to the international community.
Canada also welcomed the Israeli announcement but said it also understood Israel’s reasons for wanting to prevent ships from reaching Gaza in defiance of the naval blockade.
The UN Security Council had called for an “impartial” investigation into the incident, stopping short of calls by Turkey and other countries for an independent, international investigation.
In related news, Hamas yesterday dismissed reports that Israel planned to ease its Gaza blockade, accusing it of “fleeing” international pressure after a botched raid on an aid flotilla. It also slammed Israel’s formation of an internal committee to investigate the May 31 raid.
“The international community should strive for a complete halt to the Gaza siege and not give Israel the opportunity to escape from its responsibility for the crimes it has committed,” Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said.
“By refusing the formation of an international committee to investigate the massacre Israel is condemning itself,” he said.
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