Israeli Military Acknowledges Big Mistakes

Israel’s military is admitting big mistakes in the wake of the attack on a Palestinian aid flotilla.

The secretive Flotilla 13 marine commando unit was brought out of the shadows to try to explain the operation’s failings.

“We did not expect such resistance from the group’s activists as we were talking about a humanitarian aid group,” one unnamed naval lieutenant told Israel’s Army Radio.

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The images stirred undercurrents of disbelief and disgrace in Israel. Fabled for their silent exploits at sea, the fighters who rappelled onto the Mavi Marmara looked unfit for the melee — outnumbered, almost overpowered, though far from outgunned.

It’s clear that this was a mission gone awry.

Some of the troops wielded paintball rifles — non-lethal weapons designed to bruise, beat back and mark suspects for later arrest, but which apparently proved of limited use against activists who had the protection of life-jackets and gas masks.

“It’s clear that the equipment for crowd-dispersal with which they were issued was insufficient,” Israel’s armed forces chief, Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi, told reporters.

Hopefully, it will become clear that this should not have been undertaken at all.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.