The reason the Haaretz editorial is opposed to the panel is that it has decided in advance not to consider what decision-making procedures were followed in the run-up to the attack
It will not be allowed to directly question the soldiers who took over the ships but will have to rely on summaries from an internal investigation headed by an Israeli general

Instead Israeli Prime Minister wants the panel to examine "whether Israel's Gaza blockade and the flotilla's interception conformed with international law and also investigate the actions taken by the convoy's organisers and participants."

According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, Judge Tirkel was opposed to bringing in foreign observers however, to give some veneer of credibility Netanyahu and the Americans have agreed on the appointment of Northern Ireland's Lord David Trimble and Ken Watkin, a former Canadian judge advocate general, to sit as observers in the inquiry.
Neither of the two men will have any voting rights nor any other ability to influence the inquiry in any way.

Doubts can be raised about the lack of impartiality, on Lord Trimble's part The Conservative peer recently joined an international "Friends of Israel" group set up by Dore Gold, a close associate of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.



Asked about the inquiry on Good Morning Ulster, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness quipped

                   "Sounds like another Widgery"