Former National Security Advisor Giora Eiland announced on Monday that preparations for the Mavi Marama flotilla were not started on time – and they should have begun months ahead of the flotilla’s arrival. The senior officials added that there were two options, permitting the vessel to make its way to Gaza or using force to halt it. There was no avoiding the use of force he stressed.

Eiland, who heads the military probe of the commando operation, addressed a forum marking ten years since the IDF’s unilateral withdrawal from the security zone in southern Lebanon. The former IDF major-general alluded to the fact that both the IDF and the government failed to properly prepare for the flotilla, and the results are now history, the deaths of 9 Turkish nationals on board and the condemnation of the international community.

In short, he explained that the lack of preparation did not permit enough scenarios and thereby allowing commando forces to train for every eventuality.

He added that regarding the unilateral withdrawal from the security zone, as a major-general he was of the position that the move was not correct, in line with the members of the General Staff, but the only other option was continuing indefinitely, maintaining the status quo. Therefore, he now says the move was a correct one.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)