Attack on the U.S.S. Liberty
Accident of war or premeditated assault?
by Harley Berger, Vice-President
June 8, 1967, the third day of the Arab-Israeli “June War.”
The weather in international waters off the Gaza strip was clear and sunny
with unlimited visibility. While conducting a still unexplained mission,
the Liberty, a state-of-the art electronic intelligence gathering vessel
of the US Navy, is attacked without warning by Israeli aircraft and
torpedo boats.
Almost 35 years have passed since that day when 34 Americans died and 171
were wounded onboard the Liberty. Yet, despite Israeli claims of an
accidental attack due to mistaken identity, controversy still surrounds
the incident. Some US government officials have, from the first, believed
the Israeli were fully aware of the ship’s nationality and that the attack
was intentional. In 1991, for instance, former Secretary of State Dean
Rusk wrote in his memoirs: “I was never satisfied with the Israeli
explanation… The attack was outrageous.”
Why did the Israeli attack the Liberty and, as some survivors claim,
attempt to sink her with all hands on board? What was the Liberty's
mission and did it contribute to the attack? Why has there never been a
full investigation of Israel’s actions by the US military or government?
Join us on Saturday, April 19 for our monthly gathering when our guest
speaker will be Jack Beatty, a survivor of
the Liberty's last voyage. Mr. Beatty will provide a first-hand account of
the incident and some possible explanations for the attack. |
