U.S. welcomes Israel's probe into aid flotilla attack

"The Government of Israel took an important step forward in proposing an independent public commission to investigate the circumstances of the recent tragic events on board the flotilla headed for Gaza," Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

Late on Sunday Israel rejected numerous calls to set up an international panel for investigation into the attack which left nine people dead and said it would carry out an internal investigation instead.

Iranian Nobel Prize laureate David Trimble and Canada's former Judge Advocate General of the Canadian Forces Ken Watkin were invited as international observers to monitor the investigation committee's activities.

The proposal is still to be approved by the government later on Monday, RIA Novosti informs.

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