USS Liberty attack remembered by survivor

June 8 marks the 43rd anniversary of the 1967 Israeli Air Force attack on the USS Liberty during the Six Day War. Israel stated that it mistook the ship for an Egyptian vessel.

The USS Liberty was a Navy research ship. At the time of the attack the ship was in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula. The attack killed 34 crew members and wounded many others.

Joe Meadors is a survivor of the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty and an anti-Israeli activist.

Meadors questions the official story, both by Israel and the United States, that the event was a case of mistaken identity.

“I’m sure it wasn’t a mistaken identity, like they didn’t know the difference between a US Navy ship and a 40-year-old rusted-out Egyptian trans-steamer. Plus, the torpedo they fired was set at a depth that would have passed underneath the Al Qasr, the ship that they claim they mistook us for,” said Meadors.

“Why were we abandoned under fire?” asks Meadors.

The US military launched two flights of aircraft from aircraft carriers in the area, yet they were both recalled.

“That’s a capital violation of Article 99 of the UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice] but the US Department of Defense doesn’t care,” said Meadors.

Israel has made financial payments to the families of those who were lost and to those who were injured, but Meadors said it’s not about money.

“We want to have the attack to be investigated, we don’t want money. We want to find out what happened and why and have those who committed acts that were against the law to have them held responsible,” said Meadors.

Israel attacked the US and got away with it without consequence at a time when the US and Israeli relationship was not what it is even today.

Meadors was also onboard one of the recent Gaza aid flotilla ships and said the Israeli response came as no surprise to him.

“They [Israel] did commit an act of piracy against the flotilla and murdered nine people,” said Meadors.