Friendly Fire?

When Israel attacked a US Navy ship and got away with it.

On June 8, 1967, just four days into the Six-Day War, Israeli jets and torpedo boats attacked the USS Liberty, a U.S. Navy intelligence ship sailing in international waters off the coast of Egypt. The assault lasted over an hour. Thirty-four American crew members were killed, and more than 170 were wounded. The ship was left heavily damaged and barely afloat.

The official Israeli explanation was that it was a tragic case of mistaken identity.

But survivors of the Liberty, along with independent analysts and former U.S. officials, have long insisted the attack was deliberate.

An "Accident" That Lasted Over an Hour

The USS Liberty was clearly marked. The American flag was flying. It was a bright, clear day. Israeli reconnaissance had reportedly identified the ship earlier in the morning. Yet the attack went on, even after the crew tried to signal their identity.

Napalm was dropped. Torpedoes hit the hull. Even the lifeboats were machine-gunned, something widely considered a war crime.

If a country like Iran, China, or Russia had done this, the international response would have been loud and immediate. But the attacker was a close ally. After some initial outrage, the U.S. accepted Israel’s apology and monetary compensation. No one was held responsible. The incident faded from public attention.

Why Would Israel Attack a U.S. Ship?

There are a few theories. One suggests the Liberty was intercepting signals that could have exposed Israeli plans to move on the Golan Heights, or even information about mass executions of Egyptian prisoners in the Sinai. Another possibility is simpler, that in the heat of war, Israel saw an opportunity to act without fear of consequences. And they were right.

Whatever the reason, the fact that a U.S. ship could be attacked so brazenly, and that it led to no real consequences, speaks volumes about the nature of that alliance.

Silence as Policy

Survivors were told not to speak about what happened. Official investigations were limited. Most Americans have never even heard of the USS Liberty, even though it was the deadliest single-day attack on a U.S. Navy ship since World War II that didn’t involve a declared enemy.

That silence was not accidental. It was useful. Like the war itself, remembered as a defensive miracle but in reality a calculated move for territorial gain, the story was shaped by what wasn’t said.

The U.S.-Israel relationship only grew stronger after 1967. The Liberty and the Americans who died on board became a footnote. An acceptable cost of doing business.

Some events are inconvenient. Others are simply erased. The USS Liberty was both.

---

All articles on Diaspora Dialogue are free to read for one year from publication. If you’ve enjoyed this piece and would like to support my work, you can do so by subscribing, or by buying me a coffee. Thank you for reading and being part of the dialogue!

Article Series Zionism