The following is a translation of remarks made by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu from his address to The Marker Financial Conference this week regarding the Gaza flotilla operation.

“We meet here every year to talk about Israel’s economic policies, and I intend to do so today as well. However, before I speak about the economic policies, I would like to briefly touch on a topic on the international agenda.  We are consulting with several figures within the international community regarding the appropriate procedure of inquiry that will corroborate all the facts relating to the Gaza flotilla. We know the truth and the people of Israel know the truth. The Minister of Defense, Ministers, the Chief of Staff and I are prepared to testify and provide all the unembellished facts. But I remain firm to my position that, as always, the IDF will be the only organization to question our soldiers.

“This is the custom in our allies’ armies and we shall behave in a similar fashion.  But I ask that the whole truth come to light, and therefore the inquiry must also include answers to certain questions that many in the international community prefer to ignore.

“Who is behind the radical group on the deck of the ship? Who funded its members? How did axes, clubs, knives and other types of cold weapons find their way on to the ship? Why were extremely large sums of money found in the pockets of those people on the deck of the ship? Who was this money intended for? The world needs to know the whole picture and we will ensure that the whole picture is made public”.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)