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Israel grants wider powers to Gaza flotilla inquiry
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Israel grants wider powers to Gaza flotilla inquiry
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Retired Israeli Supreme Court Justice Jacob Turkel (L) and Major General in reserves Amos Horev attend the opening statement of a commission of inquiry into a deadly raid on a Gaza aid flotilla, in Jerusalem June 28, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Ronen Zvulun
By Ori Lewis
JERUSALEM |
Sun Jul 4, 2010 5:45am EDT
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's cabinet granted wider powers on Sunday to a commission investigating a deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, enabling the panel to compel witnesses to appear and testify under oath.
But the decision did not constitute a broadening of the inquiry's mandate to include an examination of Israeli political leaders' decision-making in ordering the May 31 interception in which nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists were killed.
A government statement said the cabinet granted the five-man panel led by former Supreme Court Justice Jacob Turkel subpoena powers and that witnesses would be sworn in, effectively exposing them to perjury charges for any false testimony.
Turkel had asked the government for those specific powers and has said he would summon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Israel's military chief, Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi to appear.
Netanyahu has said he, Barak and Ashkenazi would testify. Other military personnel are not due to appear before the panel but will be questioned in a separate military investigation.
Amid an international outcry over the raid, Israel had rejected a proposal by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for an international inquiry, but appointed two foreign observers -- David Trimble, a Northern Ireland politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Canadian jurist Ken Watkin -- to the panel.
INTERNATIONAL LAW
Turkel has said the commission's mandate calls for an examination of whether Israel's naval blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and the flotilla's interception conformed with international law.
It also will investigate the actions of the convoy's organizers and participants.
Due to the limited scope of the inquiry, it is seen as unlikely to pose any political threat to Netanyahu's government.
The flotilla incident has soured Israel's strategic ties with Turkey, an important Islamic ally, which recalled its ambassador and canceled joint military exercises.
Israel has said its commandos were enforcing a blockade necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas Islamists in the Gaza Strip and that they opened fire when activists with knives and clubs assaulted a boarding party.
In response to Western criticism, including from its biggest ally, the United States, Israel has since eased a land blockade of Gaza where 1.5 million Palestinians live, allowing most civilian goods through, while continuing to enforce the naval embargo of the coastal territory.
World
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See All Comments (1) | Post Comment
Jul 04, 2010 10:27am EDT
This step should have been taken immediately after what has come out both in print and electronic media. There is lot of resentment in the world about what exactly took place. Anyhow giving more powers to the inquiry commission is a very good step towards right direction.
Aftab68
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