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Last update - 20:16 22/08/2008
Israel threatens protesters against sailing to Gaza
By Ofri Ilani, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel, Gaza Strip, Cyprus

Israel on Friday issued a tough threat against a group of activists who hope to sail to the Gaza Strip this weekend with a delivery of humanitarian supplies, calling the mission an unacceptable provocation and saying all options were under consideration.

The two boats carrying members of a U.S.-based activist group left Cyprus for Gaza earlier Friday to try and break Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory.

The boats - the 70-foot (21-meter) Free Gaza and 60-foot (18-meter) Liberty - left the southern port of Larnaca about 10 a.m. (0700 GMT) for the estimated 30-hour trip.
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Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Aviv Shiron said Israel was closely following the boats.

"We will make sure that this provocation is not taking place," he said. He declined to say whether military action was planned, saying only that all the options are being considered. A military spokeswoman refused comment.

Members of the Free Gaza protest group could not immediately be reached for comment, but earlier, organizer Paul Larudee said the group expected Israeli authorities to intercept the boats and arrest those on board. He said it was highly unlikely the Israeli navy would fire on them.

Members of the Free Gaza protest group said some 40 activists from 16
countries - including an 81-year-old Catholic nun - will attempt to break the blockade Israel imposed on Gaza last year. They hope other rights groups will follow their example.

"It's about human rights...to let Palestinians and visitors travel freely to and from Palestinian lands, what could be more basic than that?" said Larudee.

The group plans to deliver 200 hearing aids to a Palestinian charity for
children and hand out 5,000 balloons.

Israeli officials said the delivery is illegal because Gaza is controlled by the Palestinian movement Hamas, which it considers a terrorist group. But they have refused to say how Israel would respond if the activists tried to break the blockade.

Larudee said it is highly unlikely the Israeli navy would fire on the boats to stop them. But he said the group expects Israeli authorities to intercept the boats and arrest those onboard.

Larudee said the group would contest any arrests in court on the premise that Israeli authorities committed kidnapping.

Israel imposed the blockade after Hamas seized control of Gaza in June 2007, routing forces loyal to moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel tightened its sanctions in response to ongoing rocket attacks by Hamas and other militant groups targeting civilians in Israeli towns near Gaza.

Israel and Hamas have observed a fragile truce since June.
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  1.   Free Gaza.......when you buy purchase two copies of Haaretz 12:12  |  Vernon Marriott 22/08/08
  2.   Supporting terrorism?? 12:24  |  Mike Friedman 22/08/08
  3.   Israel you did the same after world war 2 12:32  |  Mahmood 22/08/08
  4.   Protestors? Activists? Not at all, just racists. 12:45  |  Joe Sittizen 22/08/08
  5.   Bravo ! Sail on brave ship ! The winds are at your back! The 13:20  |  lakshmi 22/08/08
  6.   Mike Friedman supporting armed conflict? 14:11  |  Joe Sittizen 22/08/08
  7.   Activists Taking a Great Risk 14:25  |  Walid 22/08/08
  8.   Deliberately arriving on Shabbat 14:35  |  Angie 22/08/08
  9.   #2 14:39  |  mike 22/08/08
  10.   Exodus 2 15:02  |  American Patriot 22/08/08
  11.   #2 Israel Constantly Supplies an ENEMY Population 16:07  |  Linda Rivera 22/08/08
  12.   ISLAMICS Make WAR On CIVILIAN Populations.Break International Law 16:16  |  Linda Rivera 22/08/08
  13.   #8 Videos of PA Muslims CELEBRATING 9/11 3,000 MURDERED Innocents 16:26  |  Linda Rivera 22/08/08
  14.   What? I thought Gaza wasn`t occupied 16:30  |  Ramzi, a Palestinian 22/08/08
  15.   What a Joke.... 16:35  |  Jack 22/08/08
  16.   They`re looking for scandal 16:46  |  David 22/08/08
  17.   They should take the boat to Saudi Arabia 16:48  |  Great White North 22/08/08
  18.   #8 American patroit? 16:50  |  John Allen 22/08/08
  19.   #7 "American" Patriot - What is your native language? 17:00  |  Yonatan 22/08/08
  20.   Free Gaza? 17:03  |  dvora 22/08/08
  21.   The Navy should stop the Boat 17:13  |  Gil 22/08/08
  22.   The Navy should stop the Boat 17:13  |  Gil 22/08/08
  23.   Videos & Military Photos of the Twin Towers - NEVER FORGET 9/11 17:20  |  Linda Rivera 22/08/08
  24.   Good luck to all aboard SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty! 17:21  |  Ben Alofs 22/08/08
  25.   what`s this? 17:26  |  claudio 22/08/08
  26.   A good meal for the fishes is coming 18:10  |  maurice 22/08/08
  27.   Exodus 2 18:11  |  Marc 22/08/08
  28.   Arrest and deport them or sink `em 18:22  |  Maurice 22/08/08
  29.   #7 18:24  |  carter 22/08/08
  30.   My Prayers Are With Those Standing Up For Justice 18:27  |  Sherri Munnerlyn 22/08/08
  31.   Siezed control? 18:32  |  Paul 22/08/08
  32.   leave them alone 18:58  |  Ethan 22/08/08
  33.   I`m for Human Rights for Jews. My comments were All Censored 19:25  |  Linda Rivera 22/08/08
  34.   #9 Territorial, not International Waters 19:30  |  DesMnsDave 22/08/08
  35.   Question for activist group 19:30  |  tom 22/08/08
  36.   Protest boat 19:32  |  David 22/08/08
  37.   Cynical media stunt by well known anti-Israel ISM 19:34  |  Jess Ghannam 22/08/08
  38.   #8 She is not a Holocaust Survivor 19:39  |  Liliane 22/08/08
  39.   #8 No film for the 1 million Jews thrown out of Arab countries 19:41  |  Albert 22/08/08
  40.   who cares 19:52  |  disgruntled US voter 22/08/08
  41.   Good luck to all aboard SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty 20:10  |  Ben Alofs 22/08/08
  42.   Two ships of heroes 20:14  |  Janice 22/08/08
  43.   How sweet, an 81-year old catholic nun! 20:29  |  Jon 22/08/08
  44.   # 7 Mike 20:39  |  Nick Ferriman 22/08/08
  45.   watch out for those pesky rockets! 20:54  |  Adam 22/08/08
  46.   The "Holocaust Survivor" on Board is a FAKE 21:03  |  Chafeeka 22/08/08
  47.   Mr. Marriott 21:08  |  Bandar Michaels 22/08/08
  48.   Why Should Terrorists & Supporters Travel Freely? 21:21  |  Brad 22/08/08
  49.   #6 21:31  |  RAK 22/08/08
  50.   #6 21:31  |  RAK 22/08/08
  51.   Justi another repeat of the "Karin A" & Santoriini 21:42  |  * BEN JABO 22/08/08
  52.   An "unacceptable provocation?" 21:44  |  Janice 22/08/08
  53.   To #8. 21:47  |  William 22/08/08
  54.   what about freeing all those under Islamic tyranny 21:51  |  JR 22/08/08
  55.   Gaza, the black hole in Israel modern history 21:52  |  V 22/08/08
  56.   Not activists, but a Ship of fools 21:57  |  Joe Sittizen 22/08/08
  57.   Arriving on Shabbat 21:59  |  Aaron Levitt 22/08/08
  58.   Angie - Paris 22:03  |  * BEN JABO 22/08/08
  59.   5000 Balloons .... 22:12  |  JW 22/08/08
  60.   1. Vernon Marriott, you seem to be reading zionist propaganda! 22:26  |  lakshmi 22/08/08
  61.   Sailing to Gaza 22:27  |  Joe R. 22/08/08
  62.   Oh good, they´ll get kidnapped once they reach Gaza! 22:31  |  Terror Victim 22/08/08
  63.   Saiing against the wind. 22:57  |  Stephen 22/08/08
  64.   Let them land and .... 23:31  |  leo 22/08/08
  65.   Mike Fiedman lol .,.really? 23:48  |  Ahmed Kutabh 22/08/08
  66.   palestinian lands? There is no such thing, never was! 23:52  |  Avram 22/08/08
  67.   palestinian lands? There is no such thing, never was! 23:54  |  Avram 22/08/08
  68.   Kol HaKavod Vernon 00:30  |  Ira 23/08/08
  69.   And the Tension is Mounting 00:42  |  Douglas Fireman 23/08/08
  70.   re #8 Exodus Patriot 00:48  |  Andy 23/08/08
  71.   glorious activists