THE U.S.S. LIBERTY INCIDENT

June 8, 1967

Israel's attack on the U.S.S. Liberty has remained an issue that has

been distorted by the pro-Israel lobby and Israel's supporters, and remains a

national shame because of the loss of life involved and the manner in which

the attack was later covered-up.

The motive for Israel's attack is clear, and to those who have taken the

time to research the issue (See a Bibliographic notation on a book published

by survivor James M. Ennes Jr. below) the attack was premeditated, and at the

least, was not an accident based on Israel's alleged mistaken identification

of the American ship.

President Lyndon Johnson had made his views clear to Israeli Foreign

Minister Abba Eban that the United States would only intervene in a potential

Middle East war on the side of Israel if the Arabs attacked first, not if the

Israelis attacked first.

That meeting took place in May, 1967 following weeks of tension between

Israel and Egypt. Eban was trying to pursuade Pres. Johnson that contrary to

military evidence, the Arabs were planning an attack against Israel.

By June 4, Israel had decided to exploit the highly explosive atmosphere

created by Arab rhetoric and recent actions involving the closing of shipping

to Israel and withdrawal of UN observors from the Sinai. And, their plan was

clear: to attack Egypt and destroy the Egyptian army, and to also attack

Jordan in the hopes of capturing Jerusalem, and to attack the Golan Heights,

mountain ranges the Syrians had used in its previous skirmishes with Israel.

The Israelis began their assault on the morning of June 5.

As war raged on June 7, the Israeli army assembled at Lake Tiberias in

preparation for an attack against the Syrians. The invasion was to begin at

11:30 a.m. the next day. But five hours before the invasion of Syria was

to begin, Israeli aircraft sighted the U.S.S. Liberty, an American flagged

ship cruising off the coast of the Gaza Strip. Less than 90 minutes before

it was to begin, Israel delayed its scheduled attack against Syria for 24

hours because of that sighting.

By noon, Israel prepared to attack the Liberty and at 2 p.m., the attack

began. The U.S.S. Liberty, identified by Israeli aircraft on eight separate

occasions as flying the American flag, came under Israeli attack. When it was

over 34 American sailors had been murdered. And, the ship was disabled.

On June 9, 1967, at 11:30 a.m., Israel launched its attack against Syria.

With no witnesses, Israel claimed it had been provoked by the Syrians. That

was a lie that the Israelis knew the U.S.S. Liberty could later have confirmed

had the Israelis not first attacked and disabled the ship.

The next day, Israel issued a formal apology, offering financial

compensation and claiming it was a mistake.

[The following is the American reply to Israel's apology:]

`The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the

Ambassador of Israel and has the honor to refer to the Ambassador's note of

June 10, 1967, concerning the attack by Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats on

the United States naval vessel U.S.S. Liberty, which was carried out at 1605

and 1625 hours local time, respectively, on June 8, 1967, while the U.S.S.

Liberty was engaged in peaceful activities in international waters.

`At the time of the attack, the U.S.S. Liberty was flying the American

flag and its identification was clearly indicated in large white letters and

numerals on its hull. It was broad daylight and the weather conditions were

excellent. Experience demonstrates that both the flag and identification number

of the vessel were readily visible from the air. At 1450 hours local time on

June 8, 1967, two Israeli aircraft circled the U.S.S. Liberty three times, with

the evident purpose of identifying the vessel. Accordingly there is every

reason to believe that the U.S.S. Liberty was identified, or at least her

nationality determined, by Israeli aircraft approximately one hour before the

attack. In these circumstances, the later military attack by Israeli aircraft

on the U.S.S. Liberty is quite literally incomprehensible. (At) a minimum, the

attack must be condemned as an act of military recklessness reflecting wanton

disregard for human life.

`While the Ambassador of Israel has informed the Secretary of State that

"the government of Israel is prepared to make amends for the tragic loss of

life and material damage," the Secretary of State wishes to make clear that the

United States Government expects the Government of Israel also to take

disciplinary measures which international law requires in the event of wrongful

conduct by the military personnel of a State. He wishes also to make clear that

the United States Government expects the Government of Israel to issue

instructions necessary to ensure that United States personnel and property will

not again be endangered by the wrongful actions of Israeli military personnel.

`The United States Government expects that the Government of Israel will

provide compensation in accordance with international law to the extent that it

is possible to compensate for the losses sustained in this tragic event. The

Department of State will, in the near future, present to the Government of

Israel a full monetary statement of its claims.

Washington D.C.

June 10, 1967

[For further information on the Israeli attack on the U.S.S. Liberty, an

excellent reference source was written by one of the military personnel

aboard the ship: Ennes, James M. Jr., `Assualt on the Liberty' 1979,

Random House, N.Y. The following list is based on the list provided by

Mr. Ennes:]

THE DEAD AMERICANS:

Lt. Commander Philip McCutcheon Armstrong, Jr., USN

Lt. James Cecil Pierce, USN

Lt. Stephen Spencer Toth, USN

CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS:

Raymond E. Linn

Melvin D. Smith

PETTY OFFICERS:

William B. Allenbaugh

Ronnie J. Campbell

Jerry L. Converse

Curtis A. Graves

Warren E. Hersey

Duane R. Marggraf

Francis Brown

Robert B. Eisenberg

Jerry L. Goss

Alan Higgins

James M. Lupton

Alexander N. Thompson

John C. Spicher

Thomas R. Thornton

Anthony P. Mendle

John C. Smith, Jr.

Phillipe C. Tiedtke

Fredeirick J. Walton

THE SEAMEN:

Gary R. Blanchard

James L. Lenau

David W. Marlborough

David Skolak

Lawrence P. Hayden

Carl L. Hoar

Richard W. Keene

Carl C. Nygren

THE MARINES:

Sgt. Jack L. Raper

Corporal Edward E. Rehmeyer

CIVILIANS:

Allen M. Blue