Israeli cabinet ministers break ranks, accusing army and Netanyahu of 'spin' over flotilla threat

Maan highlights a report in the hebrew-language daily Maariv that some cabinet ministers are accusing the army and Netanyahu of 'spin' over the threat posed by the flotilla.

From Maan

JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Several Israeli ministers have accused the army of "spin" over its claims that activists on board a Gaza-bound flotilla plan to harm Israeli soldiers, Maariv newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The paper quoted several unnamed members of Israel's security cabinet as saying the claims were "media spin" and "public relations hysteria."

On Monday, Israeli military spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovitz said there were "radical elements" among the activists participating in the sea convoy, including some carrying "dangerous incendiary chemicals."

But security cabinet ministers told Maariv they were given no such information when they were briefed on the flotilla this week, and even accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office of being behind the disinformation.

"Netanyahu decided to change the version about the nature of the flotilla for two reasons that are connected to the international community," one of the ministers, who were not named, told the newspaper. more

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