Gaza Latest: Israel's Flotilla Enquiry, Germans Ban Turkey's IHH, & Libyan Ship En Route to Gaza

Israel's Enquiry: Last week, the Israeli Government agreed to expand the powers of the civilian Turkel Commission to include the right to subpoena witnesses. However, this was not satisfactory for activist organization Gush Shalom who requested that the committee be given the power to investigate soldiers as well. The High Court's response was not to discuss the petition further unless the commission requests that it carry out such an investigation.

Meanwhile, the head of  the military committee, Maj.- Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland, has presented the Israeli Chief of Staff, General Gabi Ashkenazi with a 100-page report detailing findings over into the military operation against the Freedom Flotilla's Mavi Marmara.

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The report says that there were only "operational mistakes" but no "operational failures" made in the planning stage of the operation. The committee criticized the Navy for not preparing a “Plan B” for the operation and said the commanders should have reconsidered putting commandos onto the Mavi Marmara’s upper deck after noticing from sea and air that there were several dozen activists on board prepared to violently resist.

The committee also said that military intelligence did not designate Turkey or the flotilla's organiser IHH as a target for gathering of information. Eiland described Turkey as "a friendly country up until 2010" and assessed the relationship with Israel as a "deteriorating" one.

Germany Bans IHH: On Monday, Germany banned the International Humanitarian Relief Organization (IHH), the organiser of the Freedom Flotilla. German Interior Minister De Maiziere said organizations that "directly or indirectly work against Israel's right to exist lose their right to be active in Germany." The first response came from the European Jewish Congress (EJC):

Over a month ago we called on front-groups like the IHH to be proscribed and banned from raising funds in Europe, we encourage the European Union to give this the highest priority. Now that Germany has shown the way, we hope that European Union and other European governments will officially ban the IHH.

It is vital that the European Union and European governments act quickly to ban organizations which pose as charities or humanitarian agencies from raising funds that assist terrorism, murder and militant activity.

Libyan Ship to Arrive Gaza on Wednesday?: The Libyan-backed aid ship, the Amalthea, is to arrive at Gaza on Wednesday, according to Agence France Presse.

The website of the charity funding the ship, headed by Saif al-Islam Gadaffi, son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddaffi, stated that "the crew on board the ship maintains a positive mood".

Haaretz reports military officials' statements that IDF is ready for forceful interception despite continuing criticisms.

Israel & the US: Who is Offering Concessions at Home and Abroad? (Yenidunya)

The war continues between the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

After Ministry of Industry Benjamin Ben Eliezer's secret talks in Zurich with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Lieberman --- not informed of the mission --- forced Netanyahu step back and apologize.

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Israel-Turkey Analysis: Netanyahu Saves Face with Foreign Minister by Snubbing Ankara and Washington (Yenidunya)

On Sunday, there was another move to curb the Premier's power. The Ministerial Committee on Legislation considered a proposal giving the Knesset the power to veto an extension of a government-imposed freeze on the building of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party ordered its members to vote for the measure whereas Netanyahu phoned cabinet ministers from his Likud party in the hope of persuading them to oppose the transfer of authority.

On his eve of his meeting with President Obama in Washington, Netanyahu overcame another domestic challenge, as the Committee voted down the proposal. For now, there is no barrier to lawmakers continuing the "temporary and one-time freeze" in the West Bank.

Netanyahu has other "concessions" in his pocket before going to Washington. The Israeli Government voted on Sunday to expand the authority of the Turkel Commission investigating Israel's raid of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. According to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, new powers will allow the commission to subpoena witnesses and receive sworn testimony. However, the government added, "The decision excludes Israel Defense Force soldiers,"  a move designed to maintain the independence of a separate military investigation already in progress.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak will meet Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Monday, the first encounter between the two politicians since February and asign of progress in indirect US-mediated talks. And  the Foreign Ministry will publish on Monday its official "blacklist" of goods that will not be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip. The list  will mainly consist of weapons and "problematic dual use" material that could be used to create them. Any items not listed will be permitted to enter Gaza.

Before November’s midterm election, President Obama also wants to show progress to boost his credibility in handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, this time, instead of continuing the friction with the incoming Israeli delegation, Obama will  probably employ a very different approach.

The Jerusalem Post reports that Obama will accept Netanyahu's suggestion of  ultimate Israeli control over the major settlement blocs and an extension of the freeze in all areas outside these blocs in the West Bank. The newspaper portrays this as the acceptance of President George W. Bush’s 2004 letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.