At first meeting, Tirkel commission sets guidelines for flotilla inquiry

    Israel's committee of inquiry into the May 31st commando raid on the privately sponsored Turkish flotilla to Gaza, convened for the first time on Wednesday. Committee chairman Supreme Court Justice (ret) Yaacov Tirkel said the panel hopes to finish its investigation as quickly as possible.

Tirkel, along with two other Israeli members, Shabtai Rosen and Amos Horev, set up guidelines for future hearings. The two foreign observers, David Trimble and Ken Watkin, were not at the session. A statement issued by the panel afterwards said future proceedings would be held in Hebrew with simultaneous English translation for the international participants.

The commitee has a mandate to examine whether the Gaza blockade and the flotilla's interception conformed with internaitonal law, and also investigate the actions taken by the convoy's organizers and participants.

Navy commandos killed nine Turkish civilians on board the lead ship. A number of commandos and passengers were injured.(15,29)