Two questions must be answered regarding the Israeli attack on Mavi Marmara. The first is whether the Israeli use of force was "lawful", and the other is whether the use of force was "proportional". Information that we have so far suggests the Israeli attack was unlawful because it took place in international waters. And even those who think it was an act of Israeli self-defense are not claiming that killing the only U.S. citizen on board by shooting him one time in the chest and four times in the head is "proportional" by any measure.
Despite the information we have so far, the Obama Administration has refrained from taking on either of these issues, claiming that more information is needed before they give a final judgment. That is why, according to the Obama folks, they have supported the UN Security Council resolution calling for a "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent" investigation.
Unlike the U.S. government, the Israeli government has been very vocal on what they think of the attack. They think it was justified, legal and necessary. Not only that, today the British Times Online reports that an Israeli commando who has killed six out of the nine casualties on the Mavi Marmara is now being considered for a medal of valour to reward his actions on the ship.
The Israeli government’s policy in the last few days, added to its poor track record of investigating killings by its armed forces, highlights the need for an international investigation. An Israeli-only investigation will not be seen as "credible" to all of the parties involved in the incident, and will not be seen as "impartial" by the international community.
Unless the investigation is international, it will not meet the standards called for in the UN Security Council.
