The USS Liberty did not sink. Let me repeat that - it did not sink. They kept it afloat and were able make it back to the supporting fleet and eventually repair work done on Malta.
This, IMHO, is a huge mistake made by the article and brings into question its credibility.
The Israelis knew it was the American spy ship - USS Liberty. There was one Hebe linguist on board who was picked up in Rota, Spain. He was actually not needed since all Israeli air to ground transmissions were done in English. Where are those transcripts?
I am, BTW, very pro-Israeli. But, there was a huge coverup at the time as the survivors were threatened not to say a thing when they returned to the States. What happened and why has been a hot topic among my fellow Hebe and Arab linguist for decades. The truth is out there :-). Additionally, I became a Hebe linguist some seven years after the incident and know people who were involved indirectly. Still a mystery after all these years.
Nobody sane wants to see a second holocaust inflicted on the Jewish people in that part of the world. But in the long run, lies do not serve anybody, neither America or Israel.