Report criticizes Israel PM over 2010 naval raid

AP foreign, Wednesday June 13 2012

AMY TEIBEL

Associated Press= JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision-making was badly flawed as he oversaw a deadly Israeli naval raid on a Gaza-bound ship two years ago, according to a government report released Wednesday.

The harsh findings were an embarrassing assessment of Netanyahu's handling of a military operation that sent Israel's relations with once-close ally Turkey plummeting and drew widespread international condemnation.

But it is unlikely to hurt his domestic standing. Netanyahu is popular and leads a powerful coalition that controls three-fourths of parliament's seats. Moreover, many Israelis think naval commandos opened fire in self-defense after pro-Palestinian activists attacked them and believe Israel has a right to keep ships from reaching the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas militants.

Eight Turks and a Turkish-American were killed on May 31, 2010, after the commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara, which had set out from Turkey at the head of a six-vessel flotilla trying to breach Israel's Gaza blockade.

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