Ashkenazi: 'Soldiers acted correctly'

IDF Chief of Staff discusses flotilla at ceremony honoring soldiers.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
ashkenazi GOOD 311 (photo credit: IDF Spokesperson)
ashkenazi GOOD 311
(photo credit: IDF Spokesperson)
The IDF will act against any enemy that threatens Israel's sovereignty, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said, speaking of the commando raid on the Mavi Marmara at a ceremony honoring injured infantry soldiers.
"A few days ago, I met the naval commandos that were injured during the raid on the Mavi Marmara ship," Ashkenazi said.
He added that the flotilla was part of an attempt to de-legitimize Israel. "The confrontation between [the naval commandos] and the terror activists that were on the ship is part of a plan of de-legitimization that did not begin with the flotilla and did not end when the ships reached the Ashdod port."
"We are currently in the middle of the process of investigating the flotilla," the chief of staff explained, "but for now I can say without a doubt that the fighters acted correctly, considering the dangers they faced."
Last week, Ashkenazi announced that he had appointed former head of the National Security Council Maj.-Gen (res.) Giora Eiland to head a panel of experts to investigate the raid. The panel will submit its findings to Ashkenazi by July 4. Eiland was tasked with investigating the entire decision-making process.