Israeli’s Khiam report presented

Government Communications Unit

Press release 322/2006
15.9.2006

Finland has received Israeli’s written report into the Khiam event. The Israeli Defence Forces are of the opinion that the event was a consequence of their mistakes involving both technical and human errors. The Israeli representative offered their deep condolences over the event.

The United Nations also has an ongoing investigation into the event and a report is to be completed shortly. The Finnish Government has been in contact with the leadership of the UN investigation team which considers it important not to make the Israeli report public before their investigation is completed.

The Israeli report has been submitted for analysis and assessment to the group of experts appointed by the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday.

An assesment of the contents can only be presented after the completed UN report is available. The contents will be reported on at a time and in a manner allowed by the UN investigation process.

Further information: Risto Volanen, State Secretary, Prime Minister's Office, tel. +358 40 505 0089, Olli-Pekka Jalonen, Defence Counsellor, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 40 580 3247, and Kimmo Lähdevirta, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 40 587 1948