Reply #4: Feinstein Calls for Inquiry Into Israeli Raid on Aid Flotilla

[Scurrilous]

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"In a significant departure from most of her colleagues, Sen. Dianne Feinstein called Tuesday for an “impartial inquiry” into the Israeli commando raid on a humanitarian flotilla carrying aid to the Gaza Strip that left nine activists dead, including one American.

The California Democrat, one of Israel’s most dependable supporters on Capitol Hill, also urged Israel to “reassess” its “forced isolation” of the Gaza Strip and allow more humanitarian assistance and other materials to reach its beleaguered Palestinian population.

“There should be an impartial inquiry to determine exactly what took place,” Feinstein said in a statement, referring to the May 31 raid, which has drawn widespread international condemnation."

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"The call by Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee and commands respect as a moderate voice on foreign and national security affairs, stands in sharp contrast to those of most other lawmakers, who have sided with Israel in the incident. Most have affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself and accused the activists aboard the flotilla of deliberately provoking a confrontation.

Feinstein’s call for an impartial inquiry into the incident and an easing of the Gaza blockade are far more in line with the approach favored by President Obama and his top foreign policy aides, who have made similar calls."

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=cqmidday-000003678545