Livni. 'Taking responsibility'
Photo: Ofer Amram
Livni wants to testify before Turkel
Opposition chair says Netanyahu cannot explain reasons for Gaza blockade imposed by her gov't
Opposition chairwoman Tzipi Livni appealed Monday to a panel investigating the IDF raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in May, asking to testify before it.
In her letter to retired Justice Jacob Turkel, who is heading the probe, Livni wrote that her testimony is necessary as a member of the government which decided to impose a blockade on the Gaza Strip.
The panel began hearing testimonies this morning with its first witness, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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"The closure on Gaza is part of the policy of the former government, in which I served as acting prime minister and foreign minister. The prime minister's testimony does not accurately reflect the political and security aspects at the basis of our decision on the imposing of the blockade and the need for it," she wrote.
"This general policy is relevant to the circumstances that led to the flotilla as well as the more general issue of the way in which the flotilla affair was received in the national and international arena."
Livni's associates said her will to testify shows she is willing to accept responsibility for her actions as minister, "unlike Bibi (Netanyahu)".
Defense Minister Ehud Barak, however, refused to comment Monday on the prime minister's testimony. He is scheduled to give his own account on Tuesday.
In his testimony before the panel, Netanyahu appeared to shift responsibility to Barak, who he said was the man in charge while the PM was abroad.
"I left instructions and asked the defense minister to activate me and the top ministers if necessary. I wanted there to be one address here in Israel and he (Barak) was that address," the prime minister said.
Later, after being criticized for this aspect of his testimony, Netanyahu's office published a clarification saying that "as prime minister the general responsibility always belongs to me, whether I am in Israel or abroad, and it will be thus in this case, as well".
Roni Sofer contributed to this report
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