Israeli Cabinet OKs flotilla investigation

JERUSALEM, June 14 (UPI) -- An Israeli investigation into the May 31 flotilla raid will include two foreign observers and will show Israel's navy acted lawfully, the prime minister said.

Binyamin Netanyahu told Cabinet members Monday the main goal of the investigation is to prove that the naval operation -- in which nine people died -- was appropriate and met international standards, Ynetnews.com reported.

The Cabinet approved the inquiry commission in a unanimous vote.

"The government decision will make it clear to the world that Israel is acting legally, responsibly and with complete transparency," Netanyahu said.

The committee will examine the legalities of the blockade and of the navy's actions, Ynetnews.com said. The panel also will determine whether investigations of claims of war crimes and breaches of international law meet Western standards.

Leading the committee is retired Supreme Court judge Jacob Terkel. Among Israelis on the panel are international law expert Shabtai Rosen and retired Maj. Gen. Amos Horev, The Jerusalem Post reported. The international observers are David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist Party leader who is first minister of Northern Ireland and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Ken Watkin, former military judge advocate general from Canada.

In Washington, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement the United States "will not prejudge the process or its outcome, and will await the conduct and findings of the investigation before drawing further conclusions."

Israel has come under strong international criticism for the Israeli commando raid on a humanitarian aid ship that resulted in nine activists being killed. Israel said its commandos were attacked by the Turkish-flagged ship's passengers while trying to board the vessel, and were justified in firing their guns. Israel also said some of the activists had ties to terrorist organizations.