Israel envoy to US rejects UN flotilla clash inquiry

Washington, June 7 (ANI): Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Michael B. Oren said Sunday that his country would reject an international inquiry into last week's deadly raid on a Turkish ship.

However, a formal announcement from Jerusalem is awaited, the New York Times reports.

"We are rejecting the idea of an international commission. We are discussing with the Obama administration the way in which our inquiry will take place. At the end of the day, Israel has the right, the duty, as a democracy to investigate any military activity," Oren told Fox News Sunday.

The remarks came after the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, conveyed a proposal to Israel for an international panel to investigate the raid on the ship, which was trying to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza.

The Israeli commando operation, which took place in international waters last Monday, left nine Turkish activists dead, stirring international outrage. Israel said that its soldiers opened fire only as a last resort after they encountered fierce resistance on the Turkish ship. (ANI)