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Netanyahu: Israel Justified in Gaza Flotilla Raid

   VOA News 09 August 2010
   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Photo: AP

   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

   Israeli  Prime  Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a panel investigating
   the deadly May raid on a flotilla bound for Gaza that Israel's actions
   were justified.
   Israeli commandos killed eight pro-Palestinian Turkish activists and a
   Turkish-American.   The  aid  flotilla was trying to break an Israeli
   blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza.
   Mr.  Netanyahu  said Monday he is sure the Israeli panel investigating
   the   raid   will   find  that  military  forces  acted  according  to
   international law.
   He  is  the  first  of  several  high-level officials set to appear in
   Jerusalem  before  the  panel,  which  includes  five Israelis and two
   international observers.  Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is also
   expected to testify.
   The  United  Nations  is due to begin its own inquiry into the raid on
   Tuesday.   That  panel  will  be  led  by  former  New Zealand leader
   Geoffrey  Palmer  and  outgoing  Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, and
   will include one Israeli and one Turkish member.
   Israel  says its forces acted in self-defense after they were attacked
   by  activists  wielding  clubs and knives.  The military held its own
   investigation and defended the use of force.

   Some information for this report was provided by  AFP and Reuters.

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