Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., May 27, 2009 Sivan 4, 5769 | | Israel Time: 05:32 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  19
Last update - 13:14 13/04/2009
Gaza boat explodes near Israel Navy vessel
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
Tags: Gaza, Israel Navy 

A booby-trapped fishing boat exploded on Monday near an Israel Navy vessel off the coast of the northern Gaza Strip.

No one was wounded in the blast, which occurred about 300 meters from the Gaza coast, near the border with Israel.

The Palestinian vessel was laden with explosives, but was unmanned.
Advertisement

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi later Monday called the incident an attempted attack.

"We believe this was an attempted attack that, to my joy, did not succeed due to the fact that the crews on the [Israel Navy] ships were stringent in observing procedures," said Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi.

The blast was heard further along the coast in Gaza City. Local Palestinian media, however, did not immediately report on the incident.

Speaking in the Defense Ministry compound in Tel Aviv, Ashkenazi also said the threat of explosive-laden boats was not new

"We are examining all of our preparations and will continue to contend," he said. "It is not an accident that there is no [Gaza rocket] fire. We know that hostile operations or attacks along the fence or sea are still on the agenda. As such, we are preparing and using all means."

Gaza's Hamas rulers have threatened in the past to use various means to lift the Israeli-led blockade on the coastal territory.

The Israel Defense Forces occasionally receives intelligence warnings of planned attacks involving explosives-laden boats.

In 2002, two Palestinian militants on an explosive-packed boat blew themselves up next to an Israeli patrol vessel, killing themselves and wounding four naval crewmen. Islamic Jihad, a violent group backed by Syria and Iran, claimed responsibility at the time.

The Israel Navy closely monitors the coastal strip as part of a general blockade, tightened since the Islamist Hamas group took control of Gaza in June 2007. Patrol boats are particularly on the lookout for attempts to smuggle in arms and explosives.

Israel and Hamas have largely observed a fragile cease-fire in Gaza since the IDF ceased its offensive against the Palestinian Islamist group in mid-January.



Related articles:
  • Qassam rocket hits Ashkelon area after 10 day lull
  • IDF kills 2 militants in Gaza border gun battle
  • 'Iron Dome rocket defense system will be operational by 2010'



    Related articles:
  • Qassam rocket hits Ashkelon area after 10 day lull
  • IDF kills 2 militants in Gaza border gun battle
  • 'Iron Dome rocket defense system will be operational by 2010'
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Jewish Palestinians
    PA negotiator: Settlers can be citizens of Palestine like Arabs are in Israel.
    Netanyahu's Iran war
    New prime minister considers the lifting of the Iranian nuclear threat his life's mission.
      1.   Its a good thing that Iran helps to train Hamas! 14:08  |  Murray of Montreal 13/04/09
      2.   An "Explosion" 18:24  |  Clickfool 13/04/09
      3.   Clickfool as disinformant 20:28  |  Donbury 13/04/09
      4.   Clickfool # 2 That`s BS 20:44  |  Jeff Northridge 13/04/09
      5.   here`s what the bbc had to say 21:17  |  rm 13/04/09
      6.   click fool and the bbc 21:33  |  Adrian de Klerk 13/04/09
      7.   Clickfool # 2 21:43  |  Eaglebeak 13/04/09
      8.   Clickfool are you sure it was BBC and not BBSNews? 01:51  |  Nick 14/04/09
      9.   Clickfool #2 02:07  |  BRL 14/04/09
      10.   Re: Jeff Northridge 04:06  |  Steve 14/04/09
      11.   Israel`s story of a Palestinian "exploding boat." 04:20  |  Maureen Ann 14/04/09
      12.   Maureen Ann 05:30  |  Marc 14/04/09
      13.   Not a very likely story, Gabi Ashkenazi... 06:18  |  Silvienne 14/04/09
      14.   #4, No, Jeff Northridge, you wrote the BS here... 06:20  |  Silvienne 14/04/09
      15.   If only thing is certain ... 06:42  |  Tzivi 14/04/09
      16.   Steve of Anaheim, CA re: reality 07:41  |  Akiva P 14/04/09
      17.   Maureen Ann of Bathurst, Australia @# 9 07:49  |  Akiva P 14/04/09
      18.   To Nick..Does it matter?? I don`t think so.Why? 21:04  |  Whiskey 14/04/09
      19.   Donbury #3 `Clickfool as disinformant` 00:59  |  Colin Wright 27/05/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    hotel Jerusalem
    David Citadel Hotel, come stay at the finest of Jerusalem hotels.
    ISRAEL ARMY SURPLUS STORE
    IDF insignia,Uniforms, Paladium Boots Watches, Israel Army T-shirts & Collectibles
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
     Haaretz Hot Topics
    The Pope in the Holy Land
    Durban II conference
    Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
    Israel vs. Hamas
    Air strike in Sudan
    More Headlines
    05:03 'Hezbollah has more rockets than before Lebanon war'
    03:58 Dennis Ross vs. Obama: No link betwen Iran, Mideast peace
    20:54 Lebanon detains three more in growing Israel spy probe
    23:33 Barak: U.S. must learn - outposts and Iran are unrelated issues
    04:53 Army chief: No more beating Palestinians
    23:33 Mother of slain Israeli-American teen: Let Dana's killer rot in jail
    05:23 American Girl's newest doll: a Jewish New Yorker, just like you
    20:58 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    21:20 Bolivia denies Israel report it supplied Iran with uranium
    03:26 Beirut shul to be refurbished, and even Hezbollah's on board
    22:38 Elite IDF soldier returns money looted in Gaza war
    22:48 Iran lifts Facebook block after cutting access for elections
    23:21 Israel disavows MK's proposal to turn West Bank over to Jordan
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Israel 2009 election results | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved