Turkish newspapers are reporting that the Israeli Military’s report about the attack on the Gaza Aid Flotilla, during which eight Turkish citizens and one U.S. citizen were killed by Israeli forces on the Mavi Marmara, is due to be released today.
The newspapers also give some information about what is expected to be in the report.
According to Turkish newspapers the report is expected to put full responsibility for the botched attack on the commanders of the Israeli Navy and to discuss the intelligence collected (or not collected) and used (or not used) by the navy.
The report is also expected to contain strong criticism of the Israeli Navy and navy commanders and to call for the resignation or removal of Eli Marom, the commander of the Israeli Navy.
The newspaper reports contain the following information.
A retired Israeli Admiral is reported to have said that:
- Soldiers should never have been landed from helicopters onto the deck of a ship full of people.
- It is obvious that correct methods were abandoned in an attempt to make a show that would grab headlines.
- The operation was not successful and this failure is the responsibility of the navy’s commander.
- In the past there have been Israeli intelligence failures. However, this time the errors were completely operational and tactical and they are the navy’s responsibility.
- Concerns about incomplete information or intelligence should have caused the navy’s commanders to make careful plans and preparations for worst case scenarios.
Retired General Şlomo Gazit, who is a former head of Israeli army intelligence, is reported to have said that:
- He agrees that full responsibility rests with the Israeli Navy and its commanders.
- Since it had been known that the flotilla, with hundreds of people on it, would be coming for months in advance, the navy’s intelligence service could not be blamed for the operation’s outcome.
Another unnamed intelligence official is reported to have said that claims that the Israeli Navy had not had enough time to prepare were not valid because it had been known for months in advance that the ships would be coming.
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If this report comes out today I hope that someone will be able to do a diary about it.
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Update [2010-7-12 11:42:13 by InAntalya]:
Haaretz Article
After reading these in the Haaretz article ...
... failed intelligence and a lack of proper preparation for the operation ...
... characterized the failures made at the planning level as "mistakes," ...
... the navy had failed to sufficiently consider the possibility that the commandos would encounter violent resistance when attempting to keep the ships out of Gaza. ...
... It also criticized the navy for not cooperating sufficiently with the Mossad in gathering information ahead of the flotilla's arrival and to discuss the process by which the raid was approved. ...
... the investigation found no negligence or failures on any significant matters ...
... I just wonder what 'significant' means.
.