[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: This is the most that Israel could get from
President Obama after many days of negotiations.

"Important step" - but don't count on me to slam you if it serves my
interests. The "terms of reference of Israel's proposed independent public
commission can meet the standard" - that's "can".

"But we will not prejudge the process or its outcome, and will await the
conduct and findings of the investigation before drawing further
conclusions."

Now, here is the puzzler: It is one thing for President Obama to warn that
America insists that the Israeli commission operate in accordance with its
mandate. But that's not what his spokesman says.

In the tradition of the Left - "the ends justify the means" - the White
House warns that it won't really endorse the exercise before it knows its
outcome.

President Obama's knife remains very much on Netanyahu's throat.

And let's not forget: he and his fellow travelers (leftist American and
Israeli Jews) haven't given up on the dream of deposing Binyamin Netanyahu.
And they see the investigation as a device to remove DM Ehud Barak with the
idea that this will lead to either a take over of the government from within
via Livni joining the coalition - or developments that lead to snap
elections. ]

Gibbs Statement on Israel's Gaza Flotilla Probe
June 13, 2010
Statement by the Press Secretary on Israel's investigation into the flotilla
incident
http://thepage.time.com/gibbs-statement-on-israels-gaza-flotilla-probe/

Today, the Government of Israel took an important step forward in proposing
an independent public commission to investigate the circumstances of the
recent tragic events on board the flotilla headed for Gaza. Through a
presidential statement of the United Nations Security Council, the United
States joined the international community in condemning those acts which led
to nine fatalities and many injuries on board the flotilla, and supporting
the completion of a prompt, impartial, credible, and transparent
investigation.

We believe that Israel, like any other nation, should be allowed to
undertake an investigation into events that involve its national security.
Israel has a military justice system that meets international standards and
is capable of conducting a serious and credible investigation, and the
structure and terms of reference of Israel's proposed independent public
commission can meet the standard of a prompt, impartial, credible, and
transparent investigation. But we will not prejudge the process or its
outcome, and will await the conduct and findings of the investigation before
drawing further conclusions.

While Israel should be afforded the time to complete its process, we expect
Israel's commission and military investigation will be carried out promptly.
We also expect that, upon completion, its findings will be presented
publicly and will be presented to the international community.
###