Israeli PM: Turkey looked for a fight on ship

[bemildred]

JERUSALEM — Israel's prime minister defended the deadly commando raid on an international flotilla protesting the Gaza blockade before an internal inquiry commission Monday, suggesting that Turkey had sought the violent confrontation on the high seas.

Benjamin Netanyahu told the commission that Ankara had rejected Israel's prior appeals to halt the flotilla and refused to intervene despite the prospect of violence between Israeli troops and the Turkish Islamic charity that organized the mission.

"As we got closer to the date it became clear our diplomatic efforts would not stop it," Netanyahu said. "Apparently the government of Turkey did not see potential friction between Turkish activists and Israel as something that goes against its interests."

The six-ship flotilla was trying to deliver aid to Gaza when it was intercepted by Israeli naval commandos enforcing the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the seaside strip. When troops encountered unexpected resistance on one of the vessels, the Mavi Marmara, they opened fire and killed nine Turkish activists, one of them a dual American citizen.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gXp6fvvgQLELYgmlMBK-EaQ8A1WQD9HG5N6O0

[Chulanowa]

1. So did they know Turkey was "looking for a fight" or was it "unexpected"?

Was there a lapse in communication between the people who knew and the people who didn't?

[bemildred]

2. It doesn't pay to analyze what he says too much. It's not really intended to make sense.

Bibi is in full blame-avoidance mode, shifting into 6th gear and pulling away ...

[Tripmann]

3. Ah yes, the ol' "she was asking for it dressed like that" argument

[azurnoir]

4. PM to quit UN panel if soldiers probed

Israel threatened Monday to pull out of a UN inquiry into a raid on a Turkish flotilla heading for Gaza, after the UN chief said there is no agreement that the panel will refrain from calling Israeli soldiers to testify.

<snip>

Officials said Israel's agreement was conditional on the panel relying on reports from Israel's own military inquiry, not testimony from soldiers.

But at a Monday news conference at UN headquarters on Monday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was asked whether he agreed not to call Israeli soldiers before the panel.

"No, there was no such agreement behind the scenes," Ban said.

In response, the prime minister's Office issued a harsh statement. "Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu makes it absolutely clear that Israel will not cooperate with and will not take part in any panel that seeks to interrogate Israeli soldiers," it said.

http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=184227

Hmmmm so Bibi doesn't want the panel talking witnesses sounds Goldstoneish to me

[Tripmann]

5. So its confiscate the footage and refuse to let the inquiry talk to the shooters

Truly the actions of people with nothing to hide

:sarcasm:

[azurnoir]

6. IMO Israel is playing the same game

Israel played with Goldstone no actual witnesses anything said by Turkey is biased and our career Legislators won't be able to bend over far enough to accommodate the obvious outcome