Number 199 | June 18, 2012
On Wednesday, Israel’s state comptroller, the government’s watchdog, issued a report sharply criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his handling of a 2010 military raid on a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla. The raid, which took place in international waters, led to the death of eight Turkish citizens and a Turkish American youth aboard Mavi Marmara- the lead flotilla vessel.
The 153-page report concluded that the decision-making process leading to the military raid under the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu was flawed and had “substantive and significant shortcomings.” The military operation was conducted “without plans having been presented in a detailed, orderly manner and without any real alternative courses of action having been presented.”
The deaths resulting from the Israeli military raid on Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara led to international condemnation in 2010 and created a rift in Israel-Turkey relations.. Turkish demands of an apology and compensation for the victims of the deadly clash continue to be met with resistance by the Israeli leadership.
