Proposal to widen flotilla panel's powers unanimously accepted.
By JPOST.COM STAFFFlotilla Committee 311(photo credit: Moshe Milner)
The government on Sunday approved increasing the authority of the Terkel Committee, which was appointed to investigate the circumstances of the IDF's interception of the Mavi Marmara and five other boats heading for Gaza.The proposal was unanimously accepted by the government on the grounds that the committee should be given the right to fulfill its role and receive the authority it requests.RELATED:Terkel parley may summon army officersUN remains lukewarm toward Terkel CommitteeThe committee will now be able to invite witnesses who will testify on an oath.Army operations will still only be checked by an army inquiry and not within any other framework.The commission currently has three members, Terkel, international law expert Prof. Shabtai Rosenne and security expert Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amos Horev. In addition, two international representatives, Lord David Trimble of Ireland and Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Ken Watkin of Canada, were appointed to observe the proceedings.The panel held its first public meeting last week.In contrast to previous state panels, the Terkel Commission plans to begin from the “top” and will first summon officials such as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF chief Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. It will however reserve the right to summon additional government officials and IDF officers if it feels it requires additional information and clarifications.
