A8
The World
R
KLMNO
Netanyahu: Raid on aid flotilla was ‘last resort’ after talks failed
Israel threatens to quit inquiry panel if soldiers are called to testify
by Joel Greenberg
jerusalem – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday told an Israeli commission inves- tigating a deadly raid on a Gaza- bound aid flotilla in May that the action was ordered as a “last re- sort” after diplomatic efforts failed, and that the army was told to make every effort to avoid cas- ualties. Netanyahu, the first witness to testify before the inquiry panel, said that the Israeli government had anticipated resistance aboard the largest ship carrying Turkish activists and tried to plan for the public relations fallout of a confrontation. Statements by the flotilla or- ganizers indicated that they wanted to break Israel’s blockade on the Gaza Strip by “creating a provocation” and instigating “media-covered friction at sea with the Israel Defense Forces” that would create “international pressure to remove the naval blockade,” Netanyahu said. Yet in a ministerial consulta- tion a few days before the raid, the consensus was that “despite the expected propaganda dam-
age, the blockade must be en- forced because of the matter’s im- portance for Israel’s security,” Ne- tanyahu said. Late Monday, Israel threatened to stop cooperating with a U.N. inquiry into the raid if it tries to call Israeli soldiers to testify, the Associated Press reported. A statement from Netanyahu’s
office said the prime minister “makes it absolutely clear that Is- rael will not cooperate with and will not take part in any panel that seeks to interrogate Israeli soldiers,” according to the Associ- ated Press. The statement came in response to U.N. Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon’s comment at a news conference that there was no agreement to exempt Is- raeli soldiers from questioning before the panel. The raid disrupted Israel’s rela- tions with Turkey and sparked an international outcry that even- tually compelled Israel to ease its land blockade of the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the mil- itant Islamic group Hamas. The five-member Israeli inqui-
ry panel, headed by retired Israeli Supreme Court justice Jacob Tur- kel, is looking into the legality of the flotilla raid May 31 and of the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. Two foreign observers are taking part in the commission hearings: Northern Ireland politician Da- vid Trimble and Kenneth Watkin, a former chief military prosecu-
tor from Canada. During the pre-dawn raid, nine
Turks, including one with dual Turkish-American citizenship, were killed by commandos in vio- lent clashes that erupted after they landed on the largest flotilla vessel, the Mavi Marmara, from helicopters. The raid was carried out in international waters after the aid ships ignored warnings not to continue to the Gaza Strip. The flotilla was organized by
the Turkish charity IHH, or Hu- manitarian Relief Foundation, which has close links to Turkey’s Islamist governing party. “Beginning on May 14, my of-
fice held contacts with the high- est levels of the Turkish govern- ment,” Netanyahu said. “These contacts . . . were intended to pre- vent any confrontation with the Marmara flotilla. . . . But as we got closer to the date of the flotil- la’s arrival, it became clear that diplomatic efforts would not stop it. . . . Apparently the Turkish government did not see possible friction between Turkish activists and Israel as something that con- tradicts its interests.” At a meeting with senior min- isters to prepare for the repercus- sions of a confrontation, “I asked that the friction be minimized as much as possible, and that a su- preme effort be made to avoid harm to life and limb,” Netanya- hu said. “I know that the defense minister and army chief of staff
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2010
RONEN ZVULUN/ASSOCIATED PRESS Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu arrives to testify before an Israeli panel probing a deadly naval raid.
gave the same directive.” But the commandos, confront- ed by the activists on the deck, “faced a real danger to their lives, brutal attacks with clubs, iron bars and knives, and . . . fire- arms,” Netanyahu said. “The sol- diers acted in self-defense.” Netanyahu said that the naval blockade, imposed by the previ- ous Israeli government in Janu- ary 2009 during a military offen- sive against Hamas, was meant to
prevent the smuggling of arms to the Gaza Strip, which he de- scribed as “a giant weapons de- pot and base for attacks on Is- rael.” He added that 12 ships had tried to run the blockade since it was imposed, but none had reached Gaza. Asked by a panel member whether the govern- ment had considered letting the Turkish activists sail on, given the potential for confrontation,
Netanyahu said he would reply in a subsequent session Monday that was held behind closed doors. An Israeli military inquiry into
the raid, whose findings were re- leased last month, found that military intelligence had under- estimated the likelihood of vio- lence against the soldiers.
Greenberg is a special correspondent.
FBI will conduct autopsies on 6 American aid workers slain in Afghanistan Group’s director
reiterates that members were not proselytizing
by David Nakamura
kabul — The bodies of six American aid workers who were ambushed and killed along with four others in northern Afghani- stan last week will be flown to the United States for autopsies,
the head of the relief agency said Monday, though the families of several have asked that the bod- ies be buried here. The autopsies will be conduct- ed by the FBI as part of the in- vestigation into the killings. Dirk Frans, executive director of the International Assistance Mission, appeared at a news con- ference and confirmed the names of the 10 dead team mem- bers, whose mission to provide eye care for poor Afghans in dan- gerous and remote Badakhshan
province ended in tragedy. In addition to team leader
Tom Little, an optometrist from New York who had worked for decades in Afghanistan, the oth- er dead Americans were identi- fied as: Dan Terry, 63, of Wiscon- sin, another longtime aid work- er; interpreter Cheryl Beckett, 32, of Knoxville, Tenn.; videog- rapher Brian Carderelli, 25, of Harrisonburg, Va.; dentist Thomas Grams, 51, of Durango, Colo.; and nurse Glen Lapp, 40, of Lancaster, Pa.
Also killed were Karen Woo, 36, a surgeon from Britain; Dan- iela Beyer, 35, from Germany, and two Afghans — Mahram Ali, 50, and Jawed, 24, who went by only one name — the group said. The Taliban has claimed re- sponsibility for the attack on Thursday, alleging — without evidence — that members of the group were acting as spies and missionaries. But authorities in Badakhshan have not ruled out that unaffiliated thieves might have carried out the killings. At the news conference, Frans
repeatedly denied that the vol- unteers were proselytizing or working for the government. “Our faith motivates and in- spires us — but we do not prose- lytize,” he said. Frans said his organization will continue to operate in the
TOMORROWIS...
country but acknowledged that the loss of experienced staff members will set back some of the services the groups aims to provide in remote regions. The families of five of the eight foreign workers have requested that the bodies be buried in Af- ghanistan because they had dedicated their life’s work to that country, Frans said. “That might not happen be- cause the FBI is investigating and the bodies will be flown to the U.S. for autopsy,” Frans said. “It might take a week or two weeks and could throw things in a bit of disarray.” Frans said he has made con-
tact with two Afghan team mem- bers who survived the trip — one, Jassim, who left the group before the ambush after com- plaining of kidney problems, and
another, Safiullah, who report- edly was released by the attack- ers after pleading for his life. He said the Interior Ministry is holding Safiullah for question- ing, but did not know if he was a suspect. “I spoke briefly with him,”
Frans said. “He sounded okay. He is part of the investigation, and we’ll leave that to authorities.” Meanwhile, military officials announced that two U.S. Ma- rines were killed over the week- end in southern Afghanistan when a prisoner tried to escape during prayer time. The prisoner acquired a rifle and shot and killed the Marines, who were trying to subdue him, officials said in a news release. He was later shot and killed, and authorities are investigating.
nakamurad@washpost.com
Slain aid worker from Virginia found beauty in Afghans’ daily lives
by Annie Gowen
When videographer Brian Carderelli left Kabul three weeks ago to accompany a team of doc- tors on a medical mission to northern Afghanistan, the 25- year-old from Harrisonburg, Va., was well aware of the dangers ahead. He knew that other aid workers had been killed and that the long journey on pack animals through the Hindu Kush could be perilous.
But he had fallen in love with the country and its people when he moved to Afghanistan in Sep- tember, shortly after graduating from James Madison University with a degree in digital journal- ism. When the doctors asked him along on the trip to Nuristan province, he said yes — eager to see a remote area of the country where residents normally get lit- tle medical care. His father, Mike, is an admin-
8
istrator for an international school in Kabul, but his parents were home in Harrisonburg on summer break. They were get- ting daily updates via e-mail and satellite phone on their son’s progress as he slogged with the group of 10 through rivers swol- len by rain and up steep slopes. Then, Friday, nothing. “They started getting worried,”
said J.D. Patton, a family friend from Harrisonburg, about two hours south of the District. “Then they learned there was an attack.”
Authorities later said that gun- toting men with long beards set upon the team as it wound through the mountains on the way home to Kabul. The men forced the aid workers into near- by woods and shot them one by
CARDERELLI FAMILY PHOTO VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brian Carderelli of Harrisonburg, Va., sent his parents daily updates via e-mail and satellite phone. Of his many photos of everyday Afghans, he once wrote, “It’s not all war.” He was killed last week.
one. The Taliban later claimed responsibility and accused the aid workers of being spies and carrying Bibles written in Dari, the local language. The aid or- ganization — a Kabul-based Christian group called the Inter- national Assistance Mission — denies those claims. “Brian was a Christian, and so were some of the other team members, but their motivation wasn’t evangelistic,” Patton said. “It was a demonstration of the life of Christ by their actions in how they cared for the poor.” Friends and family, who said
they were devastated by the loss, described Carderelli as a quiet young man with a sharp sense of humor. He’d spent most of his life in Harrisonburg, where he was home-schooled and attend- ed the local Covenant Presbyteri- an Church.
On his Shutterfly and Face- book pages, he posted dozens of photographs of his far-flung travels — to Mexico, England and finally Afghanistan, where he captured the lives of ordinary Af- ghans, from rug merchants to burqa-clad women on dusty streets. He called one album about the country “.the Beauti- ful” and wrote, “It’s not all war.” “He often told me how beauti- ful Afghanistan was,” said Mike Albert, 24, a doctoral student at Duke University, who was a childhood friend. “I know that Brian had a pas- sion for what he was doing, and he would not choose to do things differently, I don’t think. He knew the risks associated with going and working in Afghani- stan, and he considered it worth the risk.”
gowena@washpost.com
DoubleAdWednesday. Once aweek. Twice the savings.
Did you know? TheWashington Post is printed using recycled fiber. NF407 3x1
Stock Up & Save
5 oz. Can, In Water or In Vegetable Oil
Reg. Price $1.09/EA. Reg. Price $1.49/LB.
11 oz. Box, Cocoa or Fruity Pebbles; 14.5 oz. Box, Honey Roasted or Almonds Honey Bunches of Oats; 14.75 oz. Box, Golden Crisp; 20 oz. Box, Raisin Bran
Reg. Price up to $3.69/EA. Buy 4, Save up to $4.76 MUST BUY THREE (3)
Additional or Lesser Quantities $3.33/EA. Reg. Price $5.00/EA.
Reg. Price $2.89/EA.
2$ 3$ 5$
for for
12 oz. Cans, All Varieties Pepsi
12 Pack Cans
59¢ 99¢ 5 9
StarKist Chunk Light Tuna
ea. Buy 2, Save $1.00
Fresh, Tender Green Beans
lb. Buy 2 lbs., Save $1.00
Selected Varieties Post
Cereals for Reg. Price $5.99/EA. Reg. Price $1.39/EA. Reg. Price $1.50/EA. 18 oz. btl., All Varieties Buy 6, Save $12.00
6.5-9 oz. pkg., All Varieties Lean, Calzone, Croissant Crust or Hot Pockets
Reg. Price $4.59/LB. Buy 10, Save $8.90
4-6 lbs. Avg. Wt., Fresh, Lean, Whole
Smithfield Premium Boneless Pork Loin
Custom Cut
FREE Reg. Price $3.99/LB. Buy 2 Loins, Save up to $12.00
Aquafina Water 24 Pack
Reg. Price $4.99/EA.
199 399
lb. Reg. Price $2.79/EA. 16.9 oz. btls. 10 Buy 2, Save $2.00 Pre-Printed Price $3.99
Week’s Ad 2$
First Day of This
USDA Choice, Boneless Beef Top Round London Broil
Buy 2 Family Packs, Save $9.60
99 388 299
Kraft Barbecue Sauce
Buy 2, Save 80¢ Sweet, Red Ripe
Whole Seedless Watermelon
ea. Buy 2, Save $4.22 Shoppers, Fresh coupon
Must Buy 2 with
12 oz. Cans, All Varieties Pepsi
24 Pack FINAL PRICE - MUST BUY 2 lb.
FAMILY PACK
3 lbs. or more
Prices in this ad effective August 11-August 18, 2010.
12 oz. Bag, All Varieties Doritos
Tortilla Chips for Buy 4, Save $7.96 4 Reg. Price $2.99/EA.
2$ 2$
for Buy 4, Save $3.16
10.7-12 oz. pkg., Selected Varieties
Kraft Singles
for Buy 4, Save $3.96 4 Prices in this ad effectiveWednesday, August 11, 2010. Salad Dressing
16 oz. btl., All Varieties Kraft
8/ / LIMIT 2 $10 ADDITIONAL PURCHASE REQUIRED
None available in store. Must buy 2. Limit one (1) coupon per customer. Limit two (2) 24 packs per coupon AND $10 additional purchase. Only one (1) $10 additional purchase is required for all coupons combined.
$4.00 savings on 2 with coupon Must clip coupon;
399
24 pack
VOID
when you purchase double the quantity of these front page features.
1 lb. pkg., Meat or Chicken
COUPON SAVINGS
and extravaganza
COUPON SAVINGS Store Coupon | Expires 8/18/10 | Do Not Double
Big Days Week’sAd
Final Day of Last
Prices in this ad effective Wednesday, August 11, 2010 only. Oincoupon savings VER $82
Pack 24
Days
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56