RAMALLAH, 8 June (JMCC) - Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu’s office is proposing to form a commission of inquiry into the events surrounding the deadly naval raid on the Turkish flagged Gaza
aid sail. This comes in addition to the previously announced internal Israeli Defense Force investigation. Seven of the most senior Israeli government officials are charged with creating the jury panel in time for a government vote on Sunday.
The proposed commission would be headed by Israeli experts on international and maritime law, who would be joined by foreign observers. It would question only members of the political echelon, and the IDF's position would be presented via the military inquest into the raid, which determined that Israel, for the most part, operated appropriately.
Possible candidate Former Minister Prof. Amnon Rubinstein told Ynet he had not been approached on the matter, adding that should he be asked, he would agree to be a part of such a commission only if it were given full authority (to question witnesses)
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Ynet...
Reports suggest however that the implementation of the inquiry is contingent upon the support of the United States.
A senior government source noted that if the type of panel proposed, and its mandate, is not acceptable to Washington and does not enjoy the backing of the Obama administration, there is no point in establishing it.
The proposed panel must ultimately be approved by the full cabinet, but a vote will be held only after the U.S. promises to back it.
We want to announce the makeup of the committee and its mandate only after we receive legal authorization, and also a positive response from the U.S., a senior official in Jerusalem said yesterday.
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Haaretz...