InfoAnda - Israel PM defends flotilla raid as 'lawful'

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

North Korea: U.S. Missiles In Hawaii Are "Undisguised Moves For Nuclear War" | 29 June 2009
New satellites to extend China's military reach | | 29 December 2011
Chili Peppers dig up roots in Oral/Visual History | | 13 November 2010

Brad Pitt plans to stop acting in three years | 15 November 2011

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Israel PM defends flotilla raid as 'lawful'

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Israel PM defends flotilla raid as 'lawful' AFP - Tuesday, August 10 Send IM Story Print Israel PM defends flotilla raid as 'lawful' JERUSALEM (AFP) - – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Monday that Israel acted lawfully in a commando raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla which killed nine activists, in testimony before an Israeli panel. Netanyahu also accused Ankara of looking to gain from a high-profile confrontation between Turkish activists on board the boat and Israel forces looking to stop it. "I am convinced that at the end of your investigation, it will become clear that the state of Israel and the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) acted in accordance with international law," Netanyahu told members of the Tirkel Commission as he began testifying about the raid. "I believe that all the details will become clear and you will get to the root of the truth," he said. The Israeli leader looked at ease as he entered the room shortly after 9:00 am (0600 GMT), smiling at the hoards of journalists and members of the public waiting to hear his sworn testimony. Sitting in a chair facing the five-member panel and the two international observers, Netanyahu opened his testimony with an explanation of Israel's policy towards Gaza's Hamas rulers, and of the rationale behind the naval blockade. Turkey, he said, had made no effort to prevent the six-ship flotilla from breaking the blockade even though Ankara realised it was likely to end in confrontation. "Despite our diplomatic efforts, the Turkish government did nothing" to halt the flotilla, which was organised by the "radical Turkish organisation IHH which supports Hamas," he said. "The Turkish government did not consider the confrontation between Turkish activists and Israel to be against its interests." Even so, Netanyahu insisted he had ordered troops to make a "supreme effort" to avoid hurting anyone on their mission to stop the boats from reaching the Gaza Strip. "I asked for a, quote: 'supreme effort to be made to avoid harming anyone'," he said. He also reiterated Israel's long-held assertion that there was no humanitarian crisis in Gaza, just the perception of one. "There is no starvation in Gaza," he said, complaining about groups that "undermined the blockade through false claims of a humanitarian crisis." The panel broke for a recess in the late morning, with all further testimony to be heard behind closed doors, an AFP correspondent at the hearing said. Netanyahu is the first of three top officials to give sworn testimony about the May 31 incident in which naval commandos stormed six aid ships trying to run the blockade on Gaza, killing nine activists and wounding scores of others. The bloody raid caused a diplomatic crisis between Israel and Turkey and sparked global calls for an inquiry -- prompting Netanyahu's government to set up the Tirkel Commission to look into the legality of the operation. Israel says its commandos resorted to force only after they were attacked when they rappelled onto the deck of the Turkish passenger ferry Mavi Marmara. But the activists on board say troops opened fire as soon as they landed. Netanyahu was not likely to face any awkward questions on Monday as the committee has a mandate which is restricted to examining the international legality of the naval blockade and of the actions taken to enforce it. Panel members are not authorised to probe the decision-making process which led up to the operation, nor do they have the authority to question troops involved in storming the boats. Defence Minister Ehud Barak will take the stand on Tuesday, followed by Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi on Wednesday, with both likely to be quizzed over the operational aspects of boarding the ships. The creation of Tirkel Commission, its members and its mandate were all backed by Israel's cabinet. Its findings will be presented to the government, which has already blamed the bloodshed on the activists. Israel has repeatedly said it has the right to stop vessels from reaching the Gaza Strip since they could be carrying weapons for the Islamist Hamas rulers of the enclave. Hamas is sworn to the destruction of the Jewish state. Last week UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon named his own panel to look into the botched raid, which is set to begin work on Tuesday and includes representatives from Israel and Turkey. Recommend Send IM Story Print News Search Top Stories Campbell said she got diamond from Taylor: Farrow BP oil spill response costs hit $6.1 bln German trade data bodes well for European growth BP spends $6.1 bln on Gulf spill response Israel PM defends flotilla raid as 'lawful' More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Sauna contest in Finland cut short as Russian dies Massive ice island breaks off Greenland glacier Campbell said she got diamond from Taylor: Farrow Former HP boss reaches settlement with accuser BP spends $6.1 bln on Gulf spill response More Most Viewed » Argentine students crack three-decade-old murder mystery 40 US billionaires pledge half wealth to charity World's first full face transplant man appears on TV Calcium supplements linked to heart attacks: study Massive ice island breaks off Greenland glacier More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010

Other News on Monday, 9 August 2010
Iranian lawyer in stoning case flees to Norway
Afghan police probe foreign medic killings
US-TECH Summary
Chavez urges Colombian rebels to put down arms |
U.S. general eyes "first steps" toward Iraqi government
BlackBerry in bid to address Saudi security concerns
Actress, agent set to challenge Campbell diamonds testimony
New tack as fresh mine cave-in blocks Chile rescue |
Iran launches four home-made submarines
Turkish government, army agree on top posts: report |
Sanctions nothing to fear
Iranian lawyer in stoning case flees to Norway |
60 killed in Iraq ahead of Ramadan
U.S. general eyes first steps toward Iraqi government |
Afghan commission: Civilian deaths up in 2010
Aussies clinch field hockey's 11th Champions Trophy
HP says investors supportive despite CEO's ouster |
For most Cambodians, 'justice' has little meaning
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Will Ferrell cop comedy collars box office crown
Spain air traffic union to decide this week on strike
Will Ferrell cop comedy collars box office crown |
Martin Scorsese brings gangland drama to HBO |
Intelligence not required for 'Bachelor Pad' |
US service member, Afghan child killed in attacks
Landslides complicate Pakistan flood relief efforts |
Moscow chokes under smog as travellers trapped
Accuser of ex-HP CEO Hurd steps forward
China rescuers comb sludge for mudslide survivors |
Former HP boss reaches settlement with accuser
Group denies Afghan Taliban claims over dead workers |
Mia Farrow to challenge Naomi Campbell's testimony
Victims of Afghan massacre gave years of service
Netanyahu testifies on Israel's flotilla raid |
Onus shifts to US Fed after jobs slump
Libya frees Israeli photographer in Gaza aid deal |
Indonesian police detain radical cleric Bashir |
Taliban execute Afghan woman in public: police |
Floods strand 300 foreigners in India's Ladakh |
Iranian lawyer in stoning case flees to Norway |
Moscow deaths doubled in heatwave: Ifax |
Russia, NORAD shadow jet in Pacific hijack drill
Global minimum and maximum temperatures
Struggling PM regains slim lead in Australia vote
China rescuers search sludge for mudslide survivors
Frenchman to be executed in China on drugs charge
S.Korea urges N.Korea to release fishing boat
Radical Indonesian cleric Bashir arrested
Accuser of ex-HP CEO Hurd steps forward |
Landslides complicate Pakistan flood relief efforts
South Korean Elvis fan follows his dream
Taiwan stocks at nearly 4-mth high on banks, Chimei
Accuser of ex-HP CEO Hurd steps forward |
11 killed, dozens missing after Indonesia boat sinks
Intelligence not required for "Bachelor Pad"
Pakistani stocks down 2.6 pct on flood worries
Nagasaki remembers A-bomb after 65 years
Seoul shares edge up 0.4 pct on shipyards, banks
Jack Black reteams with "School of Rock" director
China milk powder blamed for 'baby breasts'
Taiwan sells T$40 bln 20-yr bonds at 1.789 pct yield
Deadline extended in Affleck sex harassment case
Indonesian police detain radical cleric Bashir
"Inception," "Toy Story 3" lead foreign box office
China Everbright Bank to raise up to 3.2 bln dlrs
Art from Lehman's European branches to be auctioned
PAKISTAN
Battered Balkan men struggle to overcome social stigma
Taiwan to release Q2 GDP figures on Aug 19
Cop comedy rules at US and Canadian cinemas
Seoul shares rangebound; shipyards, banks outperform
S.Korea traders add bets on rate freeze -survey
S.Korea bond futures edge up early, foreigners buy
Deadline extended in Affleck sex harassment case |
Will Ferrell cop comedy collars box office crown |
Jack Black reteams with School of Rock director |
Intelligence not required for Bachelor Pad |
Inception, Toy Story 3 lead foreign box office |
Taliban launch attacks on U.S., Afghan military posts |
German trade data bodes well for European growth
BP oil spill response costs hit $6.1 bln
Death rate doubles in Moscow's smoke, heat |
BP spends $6.1 bln on Gulf spill response
Israel PM defends flotilla raid as 'lawful'
N.Korea fires artillery near sea border |
Somalia's al Shabaab rebels expel three aid groups |
Balkan river still bleeds the dead of wars past |
Britain's spending cuts threaten Cameron's big idea |
China "concerned" about sailors said taken by North Korea
Accuser of ex-HP CEO Hurd steps forward |
Thai court hears case against ruling Democrats
Oman says no plans to ban BlackBerry services |
Australia's ruling Labor leads ahead of election
BlackBerry in bid to address Saudi security concerns |
iPhone exec departs Apple after Antennagate |
China auto sales continue to slow in July: report
Floods cut off parts of Pakistan
North Korea agrees to more talks as tension rises
Manila says US not needed in South China Sea row
Equal powers for Malaysia's women Islamic judges
'India may let foreigners invest in share market'
Aquino ponders 10bn dollar casino offer
India car sales leap 38 percent in July
Oscar-winning actress Patricia Neal dies aged 84 |
Naomi Campbell said Taylor gave her diamond: Farrow |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01