Israel Fires on Humanitarian Aid Flotilla

[Kathryn]

If I hold up Hamas, and then hold up the Israeli government, there's no doubt in my mind which one deserves the most respect, and the most support from the international community.

That being said, the Israeli government is not immune to mistakes, and shouldn't be immune to review of it's actions.

I'm sure there will be quite a bit of investigation, discussion, diatribe and repercussions of this event.

[Seyorni]

OK, here's what's making the internet rounds so far:
Israel maintains the blockade is legal, recognised internationally, and that they had a right to intercept and inspect ships headed to Gaza. Here's Israel's position: Israel’s Maritime Blockade Explained | IsraelPolitik

From the videos I've seen it appears the aid convoy was warned that gaza ports were closed and that they would be permitted to deliver their cargo via an alternate route.

This is not the first aid ship/fleet to have challenged the blockade. Others have been able to successfully deliver their cargo after inspection and under Israeli supervision.

The other aid ships were boarded without incident. The larger Mavi Marmara could not be safely boarded ship-to ship. The Israeli inspectors/pilots rapelled down from a helicopter, armed with paint guns and personal sidearms (pistols) and were immediatly attacked by a mob with potentially deadly, albeit makeshift, weapons.

They were boarded in international waters. Israel claims this was the most feasible point of interdiction, and entirely legal.Their route would not have taken them through Israeli waters, and Israel claims Hamas planned to intercept the aid fleet as they approached port with "hundreds of vessels," rendering inspection at that point impossible and hazardous.

The boarding party was either an inspection party or were to take the helm and steer the ship to the port of Ashod, or both (accounts vary).

The fleet's cargo had been inspected, and passengers searched, before departure.
Israel claims a "cache" of bullet proof vests, night vision goggles and gas masks were found on board the Marmara, and someone had evidently been able to slip a Jambiya through the inspection. There are also some claims of two pistols being found on board.

Initially it seemed to me that a violent Israeli overreaction had occurred, however, it now appears the brouhaha was initiated by a group of thugs who had somehow sneaked on board the Turkish ship disguised as peace activists.
Now I'm outraged. There is no excuse for violence by peace activists. It's an egregious violation of the rules of Satyagraha. An activist must never resort to violence, even in self defense.
The aid activists can no longer claim the moral high ground. Their whole position as peace activists or aid workers has been undermined.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Kathryn

My point though, Diety Slayer, was that these activists willfully provoked Israel - for DAYS beforehand.

Should Israel have reacted as they did? Probably not. But like I said in an earlier post, it's easy to play armchair quarterback now.

During the Civil Rights movement there was more than a little training and preparation. We trained on how to deal responsibly and nonviolently with the police. We trained on how to respond effectively and nonviolently to racist attack. And we trained on how to deal with provocateurs. It was something about which we were constantly concerned. And we were, for the most part, naive kids.

The flotilla was a stunt and a provocation. To presume that it could be boarded without incident was irresponsibly amateurish.

[Kathryn]

Here are some video clips (and translations of what the people are saying) from the Middle East Media Research Institute.

These clips show the "peace activists" chanting songs of martyrdom and "Oh Jews,l Oh Jews, the army of Muhammed will return!" before the flotilla departed on the mission, as well as an Egyptian expert on international law claiming that it is the international community's RESPONSIBILITY to provide Palestinians, not only with humanitarian aid, but also WEAPONS for their revolution.

MEMRI - Middle East Media Research Institute

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by YmirGF

It would be quite instructive of you to tell us whom you think would more suitable than Netanyahu.

I'll ignore the sarcasm and simply admit that I do not know, and that I sincerely hope that the Israeli people prove themselves willing and capable of making that determination. I suspect it will be very difficult, particularly since a natural response is to circle the wagons in the face of antisemitic hyperbole. I'll also note that I'm sorry that you seem to think your comment relevant.

[FlyingTeaPot]

Originally Posted by DeitySlayer

Israel was equally at fault for walking into the fight, in an illegal manner in international waters, for not scouting out the situtation with their famed military intelligence, which in turn led to loss of life of both sides.

Loss of life of both sides? I beg to differ.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by FlyingTeaPot

Loss of life of both sides? I beg to differ.

As someone who childishly proclaims his religion as "Counter-Stupidism" you seem intent on proving yourself an apostate. That you find something to grin about in all this is more than a little despicable.

[FlyingTeaPot]

Originally Posted by Kathryn

Here are some video clips (and translations of what the people are saying) from the Middle East Media Research Institute.

These clips show the "peace activists" chanting songs of martyrdom and "Oh Jews,l Oh Jews, the army of Muhammed will return!" before the flotilla departed on the mission, as well as an Egyptian expert on international law claiming that it is the international community's RESPONSIBILITY to provide Palestinians, not only with humanitarian aid, but also WEAPONS for their revolution.

MEMRI - Middle East Media Research Institute

Yes, they are chanting songs of martyrdom. But what of it? Don't the religious chant about the second coming of Christ and everyone being slaughtered? I find it mind bending that one's own religion makes sense to oneself, but any other religion is either always violent or wrong.

Further, according to your link, the people who were being interviewed simply said "God willing, we will reach gaza or martyrdom". I do not understand how this can be construed as terrorism.

[FlyingTeaPot]

Originally Posted by Jayhawker Soule

As someone who childishly proclaims his religion as "Counter-Stupidism" you seem intent on proving yourself an apostate. That you find something to grin about in all this is more than a little despicable.

It was intended for deityslayer in response to something he said earlier about begging to differ. I do not find murder amusing. Quit the fake outrage.

[Kathryn]

An interesting article on the flotilla escapade from the Asia Times:

Asia Times Online :: Middle East News, Iraq, Iran current affairs

Excerpts:

Although it is true, as the New York Times misleadingly noted, that the Turkish sponsor of the flotilla - Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH - The Foundation of Humanitarian Relief) - does not appear on the

United States State Department's list of terrorist organizations, IHH belongs to an umbrella organization that US authorities have identified as a terrorist financier, namely Union of Good (Ittilaf al-Kheir).

Jonathan Schanzer, a former US government official specializing in terrorist financing, provides the details and links to the relevant US government documents in a post at the Weekly Standard blog [2]. Schanzer quotes US Treasury documents that report that the Union of Good "compensated Hamas terrorists by providing payments to the families of suicide bombers. One of [the charities], the al-Salah Society, previously identified as a key support node for Hamas, was designated in August 2007 ... The Society employed a number of members of the Hamas military wing and supported Hamas-affiliated combatants during the first Intifada."

Turkey's secular government of a decade ago banned the IHH from contributing to earthquake relief because of its terrorist ties, as Caroline Glick observes in the Jerusalem Post.

Israeli authorities offered to allow the flotilla to land at the Israeli port of Ashdod and ship its cargo of humanitarian aid to Gaza overland after appropriate security inspection; the flotilla refused.

Nonetheless, the international press persist in describing the flotilla as a humanitarian aid convey rather than as a transparent provocation by terrorist organizations, and the governments of the world will click their tongues hypocritically over the Israeli action.

Evidently, Israel has trouble accepting the reality on the ground, just as other governments do. There is not going to be a peace negotiation, but rather a war, and that the war will be terrible and bloody. Israel has lost Turkey as an ally; the United States, for that matter, has lost Turkey as an ally, as the leaders of Ankara compete with the mullahs of Tehran for the leadership of Islamism.

I don't agree with the entire article, but it makes for an interesting read.