Israel Ambassador Avraham Harman informed Secretary of State Dean Rusk yesterday that Israel was prepared “to make amends for the tragic loss of lives and material damage” resulting from the incident last week in which Israeli planes and torpedo boats attacked the U.S.S, Liberty, an American Naval communications vessel during the fighting north of the Sinai Peninsula. The tragic accident resulted in the loss of nine lives, with 24 others listed as missing and 75 wounded.
In a note delivered to Secretary Rusk, Ambassador Harman reiterated Israel’s “deep condolences to the Government of the United States and its sympathy to all the bereaved families” and transmitted Israel’s formal offer to pay compensation for the loss of lives and the damage. Earlier this weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eshkol sent a message to President Johnson expressing Israel’s regret over the incident and asked the President to convey Israel’s condolences to the bereaved families.
U.S. Navy officials, meanwhile, confirmed the fact that the Liberty did not inform the Israeli Government that the ship was near the coast of Sinai but said that this was not legally required since the vessel was far enough off shore to be in international waters. Officials at the Pentagon here said that a board of inquiry had been ordered to investigate the circumstances of the incident in an effort to determine why the vessel was not identified in the 20 minutes between strafing attacks.
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