Israel's elite naval Shayetet 13 criticised over botched operation
Sheera Frankel, JerusalemIsrael's elite naval unit faced intense criticism yesterday after the botched operation against a pro-Palestinian flotilla on Monday.
Shayetet 13, the Israeli equivalent of Britain's Special Boat Service, is one of the most decorated units in the Israeli military. The group was responsible for a number of high-profile operations, including the seizure of a cargo ship last year, that the Israelis said was carrying Iranian-financed weapons to the Gaza Strip.
But Israeli military experts have questioned whether it was wise to send a unit trained in covert operations behind enemy lines into a scenario with so many civilians present.
While publicly the Israeli political and military establishment has heaped praise on the unit, privately an internal investigation has already begun.
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Speaking to The Times, one Israeli naval commander said that the unit had been "surprised, even shocked" at the level of resistance they faced.
Amir Buhbut, a military analyst for Maariv, the Hebrew-language daily, said that Shayetet 13 should have been sent with a police force, or other security unit more accustomed to riot control and civilian disturbances.
Speaking to The Times, one naval official said that although a number of scenarios had been rehearsed, the commandos had not been prepared for the type of resistance they faced. Another officer, identified as "R", was one of the first to abseil from a Black Hawk helicopter on to the ship. He said that he was armed with a paintball gun, but did not manage to prepare himself before he receive blows from passengers wielding batons and metal rods.
Israeli officials said that despite the criticism, Shayete 13 was likely to take part in future operations against flotillas attempting to breach the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.
One Israeli navy commander told the Jerusalem Post that Israel would use even more aggressive force in the future to prevent ships from breaking the sea blockade.
"We boarded the ship and were attacked as if it was a war," the officer said. "That will mean that we will have to come prepared in the future as if it was a war."
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