The US is sticking it to Israel. What I don’t understand is why the world has any standing to call for an enquiry.
The Daily Telegraph reports that in exchange for decreased world pressure for an international probe into Gaza flotilla events, Israel is expected to ease the Gaza siege; U.S. says international probe into Gaza flotilla raid is ‘essential.’
By Natasha Mozgovaya and Barak Ravid, HAARETZ
Israel is expected to agree to a British proposal in which it will ease the Gaza blockade in exchange for international acceptance of Israel’s internal investigation into the events that led up to the deaths of nine Turkish activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla last week, The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday.
According to the report in the conservative British daily, Britain has taken upon itself a central role in mediating the crisis that has erupted following the Gaza flotilla events and has drawn up a confidential document proposing ways of easing the blockade on Gaza.
Israeli officials said that in light of growing international criticism over Gaza’s humanitarian situation, they would agree to permit a substantial amount of aid to pass through Israel’s land crossing into the Gaza Strip.
Israeli officials denied any direct link between their readiness to cooperate over the blockade and the decrease in international support for the UN-led proposal for an international probe. However a Western source involved in the discussions with Israel said that there are talks of a mutually beneficial deal.
Moreover, British Foreign Secretary William Hague also hinted that pressure for a UN investigation was easing after he said that a probe with simply international presence may also be acceptable.
U.S.: International probe into Gaza flotilla raid is ‘essential’
Echoing countless calls on Israel to subject itself to an international investigation of the events that led up to the deaths of nine Turkish activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid ship last week, the U.S. on Tuesday demanded that some international body be involved in the probe of the events.
This, after a senior official said earlier Tuesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nearly completed a draft of guidelines for the establishment of a commission of inquiry comprised of Israeli jurists.
The future commission would investigate the clash between Israeli navy commandos who were rappelled onto a Turkish ship, participating in a flotilla attempting to break Israel’s three-year blockade on the Gaza Strip and deliver aid, and Turkish activists aboard the ship.
The incident sparked harsh criticism against Israel and international calls for an independent investigation. Israel has so far rejected any external investigation, insisting that any investigation by an external body would be biased against Israel.
“International participation in investigating these matters will be important to the credibility that everybody wants to see,” said U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley on Tuesday. “We are discussing with Israel and others the prospective nature of international participation in the investigation. And we’re sharing different ideas on how to best accomplish that.”
“We want to see an impartial, credible, prompt, thorough investigation. We recognize that international participation, which lends itself to countries and entities being able to vouch for the results of the investigation – will be an essential element to putting this tragedy behind us,” he went on to say.
Meanwhile Tuesday, Netanyahu demanded that he and his forum of seven senior ministers be allowed to testify before the investigation committee that will be established, comprised of Israeli jurists, and said that he and his top ministers would supply any future committee with all the required information.
In drafting the guidelines for the future investigation, Netanyahu insisted that Israel Defense Forces soldiers will not be personally interrogated, and asked that the investigation committee use instead the findings of internal military investigations already conducted. Netanyahu added that IDF Chief of Staff would testify.
According to the senior official, the guidelines for the panel of investigation have been almost finalized by the forum of seven during a meeting they held Monday morning. However, the forum is expected to convene an additional meeting on the topic on Wednesday. The draft of the guidelines has been approved unanimously by the forum ministers, who supported Netanyahu’s demands.
The Prime Minister’s Bureau has neither made the draft public nor the names of the individuals who will serve on the committee. The reason, according to the official, is the fact that the cabinet has yet to complete coordinating the investigation with the U.S. administration and other Western countries in order to ensure their support. The aim, he said, is that these countries will send observers to oversee the investigation. In addition, the official added, conflicts of interest must be examined in regard to the possible members of the investigation panel.
The Prime Minister’s Bureau approached several top litigators to inquire whether they would be interested in taking part in the work of the committee. Several of the candidates are former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Meir Rosen, former legal adviser to Israel’s Foreign Ministry Alan Baker, and Bar-Ilan University professor Yaffa Zilbershatz, who is also a candidate to become Israel’s next ambassador to the United Nations.
Even some in the Turkish press (while Turkey still has a press) want to investigate Turkey and IHH’s role in the Marmara. Israel needs to be patient on this because it is better that the EU tackle Turkey. Having neutral international participation in an Israeli-led investigation that does NOT include the UN will be helpful in keeping down the Big Lie chant that ‘Israel lies about everything’.
whatever happens is good for Israel – the growing anti-Semitism will let the thuth about the goyim come out faster and the Last War will hopefully come as soon as possible
Don’t Know. I remember a case a couple of years ago where a guy on death row was rushed to ER where they were able to save his life; then right afterward they executed him.
Hymie whenever I am reminded of you I say a very short prayer to myself about you.
Seems so far my prayers have not been answered.
Guess I’ll just have to pray a little harder.
Peskin whenever I am reminded of you I say a very short prayer to myself about you.
Seems so far my prayers have not been answered.
Guess I’ll just have to pray a little harder.
Bibi is following in the well travelled path of every Israeli Prime Monister since the creation of the state. And there has not been one exception. That is bending to American pressure (for obvious reasons).
Israeli conditions for any agreement to establish an investigating committee ”
That Russia be investigated for Chechnya.
N Korea , investigated for sinking S korean ship
Britain , investigated for Falklands aggression.
France, investigated for Indochina, and Algeria
America, investigated for in Vietnam, Iraq, Serbia and Afghanistan.
Release of Pollard
Release of Shalit
International members of must include Micronesia and no country that consistently votes against Israel in the UN.
Bibi is weak. He should have told the british where to stick it. Then he should have demanded an investigation into the actions of turkey. That they are always allowing themselves to be put on the defensive is a persistent problem with the Israeli government. They have yet to learn that they must take the offensive. Start by demanding turkey be investigated for its role in the IHH terrorist ship incident.
THERE IS NO HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. This fact should be widely known by now that Israel already lets tons of aid through to Gaza every day. The only thing that can’t get through is weapons for hamas. Now here again Israel can go on the offensive by confronting the british government as to why they want hamas to be allowed to rearm. That must be the case since Britain is calling for an end to the blockade of Gaza, knowing full well that humanitarian aid already goes through. There’s no other explanation as to Britain’s call for easing the blockade.
This is a crock. An international investigation will most certainly NOT be objective given the already harsh condemnations of Israel within hours of the flotilla incident.
Those video tapes already provide enough irrefutable evidence as to who initiated the violence aboard the flotilla.
Meanwhile there has yet to be an inquiry into the North Korean sinking of the South Korean ship which killed 46 South Korean sailors. The Israeli government needs to stop giving in to the international community’s hypocritical demands of them. The Israelis should refuse an investigation and refuse to ease the blockade. Israel needs to learn how to play offense.
GAH!