Report slams Netanyahu over 2010 raid on flotilla

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israel’s state watchdog Wednesday sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his handling of a 2010 military raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla which left nine Turkish nationals dead.

“In the process of decision-making, which was led by the prime minister and under his responsibility, regarding the handling of the (flotilla), there were significant shortcomings,” said a report published by State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss.

In the 153-page report, the comptroller slammed the decision-making process which led to the botched pre-dawn raid on a six-ship flotilla on May 31, 2010, which was headed by the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish ferry carrying more than 600 people. The bloody raid triggered a diplomatic crisis between Israel and Turkey, with Ankara demanding a formal Israeli apology and compensation for the families of the victims.

Netanyahu, the report said, had not held a formal discussion with top ministers about the flotilla, and had only held separate talks on the issue with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

“The only discussion that took place on the issue was in the Forum of Seven just before the flotilla arrived, an ‘ad-hoc’ discussion without any preparation,” it said, referring to Netanyahu’s inner forum of senior ministers. — AFP