Muhammad Zidan
Photo: Elad Gershgoren
Arabs snub Turkel Committee hearing
Two Israeli Arabs slated to testify before panel probing flotilla raid fail to appear despite subpoena
Muhammad Zidan and Hamad Abu Dabus, two Arab Israelis who were aboard the Marmara – the lead vessel in May's aid sail to Gaza – failed to appear before the Turkel Committee, tasked with probing the flotilla raid, despite being subpoenaed.
The two were slated to testify before the panel on Wednesday afternoon, in an open hearing, and have yet to provide a reason for their absence.
The Turkel Committee subpoenaed both men last week, saying it was "part of the review of the actions taken by the flotilla's organizers and participants." Seeing how they failed to appear, the committee said it will now "consider its next steps regarding the two," later adding that it would be entitled to request police assistance to compel them to appear.
Wednesday also saw Prison Commissioner Chief-Warden Benny Kaniak testify before the committee. Kaniak's testimony was also an open one and it included a review of the Israel Prison Service Nachson and Mezadah units' operations, and the events which took place in Israeli prisons in the days after the events.
Meanwhile, the Turkel Committee has also asked various human rights group to compile data as to the humanitarian state of civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The committee will hear from representatives of B'Tselem, Gisha and Physicians for Human Rights on the matter.
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