RAMALLAH, August 10 (JMCC) - Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday took “full responsibility” for Israel’s deadly naval raid on the Turkish Gaza bound flotilla. He admitted that the government had authorised the launch of the operation in full knowledge of the potential risks.
The statement came in a testimony before the Israeli investigative committee that precedes a United Nations probe. Barak said he was responsible for military instructions in all six interceptions of Gaza-bound ships.
I carry overall responsibility for everything that took place in the systems under my command. I carry responsibility for the orders given on the political level, Barak told the panel headed by retired Supreme Court judge Yaakov Turkel.
But while holding himself accountable, the defense minister was quick to take aim at the Israel Defense Forces.
The decision making process at the political level was not the reason for the reality that emerged at the end of the operation, Barak said, calling the move to intercept the ships a reasoned decision by a group of senior cabinet ministers.
Barak's testimony apparently contradicts Monday's testimony before the committee by Netanyahu, who said that discussions before the raid focused largely on the likely impact on public relations, while the chance of violent confrontation was mentioned only in passing.
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Haaretz…