Occupied Jerusalem, August 09 (Saba) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday told an inquiry into the Israeli naval raid on a Gaza aid flotilla that he could not "afford to ignore a threat to Israel''s existence" and that Israel "acted under international law," according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).

He is appearing before a public commission examining the deaths of nine Turkish activists during the raid. The storming of the activists'' ship in international waters sparked a crisis between Turkey and Israel. Netanyahu, looking relaxed, took his seat before the seven-man panel and listened to a brief introductory address by its chairman before cameras were switched off.

"I am convinced that at the end of your investigation, it will become clear that the state of Israel and the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] acted in accordance with international law," he said.

At the time Israel said the activists were determined to attack its soldiers, although Turkey described the killings as "state-sponsored terrorism".

The commission of inquiry was set up only after international pressure, and some observers say it will not really get to the causes of why the operation went so badly wrong. The defense minister and the head of the Israeli army are also to give evidence this week.

Saba