Israel Proposes International Panel to Investigate Flotilla Incident

The Israeli government has proposed a framework for an international investigation of the Gaza-bound flotilla incident.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed a limited international investigation to look at the Gaza flotilla incident. The investigation would include as official international observers: Ken Watkin of Canada and David Trimble of Northern Ireland. Presumably this has been agreed to with the United States as an alternative to a UN-organized, anti-Israel investigation.

The members of the commission would be:

Retired Supreme Court Judge Jacob Turkel (chair);

Prof. Shabtai Rosen, winner of the Israel Prize for jurisprudence and the Hague Prize for International Law;

Former Technion President, Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Amos Horev

There are four points to be investigated:

1. Examine the security aspects of the naval blockade on Gaza and adjusting it in accordance with international law.

2. Examine Israel's actions to enforce the naval blockade and prevent the international flotilla from reaching Gaza on May 31, 2010 with respect to international law.

3. Examine the actions of the organizers of the (Gaza) flotilla and identifying its participants.

4. Examine whether Israel's process of looking into complaints of Israeli violations of the Laws of War--as was implemented during the said incident--corresponds with the country's obligations vis-à-vis international law.

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