Gaza-bound ship Rachel Corrie arrives at Israeli port
Army says peaceful takeover takes place after Free Gaza ship reportedly ignored IDF calls to change course.
By Anshel Pfeffer, Amos Harel, Haaretz Service and News Agencies Tags: Israel news Gaza flotillaStory Highlights
- Incident comes days after nine killed in Israel Navy takeover of Mavi Marmara
- Passengers said they would offer no resistance
- Rachel Corrie named for American activist killed by IDF bulldozer in 2003
- Netanyahu instructed the military to avoid harming those onboard ship
The Gaza-bound aid ship "Rachel Corrie" arrived Saturday at the Israeli port city of Ashdod after Israel Defense Forces soldiers boarded the ship peacefully and escorted it into Israeli territory. The move came after warnings that Israel would not allow the vessel to reach Gaza, which is under blockade by Israel, and several days after an Israel Navy takeover of another boat headed for the Hamas-ruled coastal strip ended in violent clashes and the deaths of nine passengers.
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The MV Rachel Corrie nearing the Ashdod port on Saturday, 5 June 2010. |
| Photo by: IDF Spokesman |
The Cambodian-flagged Rachel Corrie - named for an American college student who was crushed to death by an IDF bulldozer in 2003 while protesting Israeli house demolitions in Gaza - was carrying hundreds of tons of aid, including wheelchairs, medical supplies and cement.
An IDF spokesman said Saturday that Israeli special forces soldiers used boats to board the ship, and were not air-dropped as in the nighttime takeover of the Mavi Marmara on Monday.
The spokesman said the soldiers had boarded after receiving full consent and cooperation from the Free Gaza activists on the ship. The activists dropped a ladder in order to help the soldiers board the ship, the IDF said.
The group of IDF soldiers that boarded the ship included several female soldiers to handle the female passengers on board.
The IDF said earlier that the "Rachel Corrie" had ignored an invitation to unload its cargo at an Israeli port and chose to continue its trip toward Gaza.
According to the army, the organizers "chose to ignore the invitation to dock at the Ashdod port where the cargo could be unloaded and transferred to the Gaza Strip upon inspection."
The Cyprus-based Free Gaza group used micro-blogging website Twitter to announce that troops from three three Israeli naval boats, which had been tailing the ship, had boarded peacefully at 5:50 A.M. Israel time, with no struggle or injuries.
The activists' latest attempt to crack the blockade was seen as a test of Israel's resolve in the face of international conmdenation over the takeover of the Mavi Marmara.
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The Rachel Corrie at dock in Dundalk, Ireland. |
| Photo by: (Free Gaza) |
Diplomatic fallout and protests across Europe and the Muslim world have increased pressure to end the embargo Israel imposed after the Islamic militant Hamas group seized power in Gaza three years ago.
American Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Israel had been right to prevent the Mavi Marmara from reaching Gaza. He said that Israel had given the boat the option of unloading its cargo in Ashdod for delivery to Gaza, that Israel "has a right to know whether or not arms are being smuggled in" to the strip.
Shortly after 5 A.M. Israel time on Saturday morning, Greta Berlin of the Free Gaza movement that sent the 1,200-ton Rachel Corrie said the vessel was 35 miles from Gaza's shores.
"There were two warships in the back of them ... and a smaller boat was approaching," Berlin said from the movement's headquarters in Cyprus, citing a passenger on board.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Thursday the Irish boat would not be allowed to reach Gaza. On Friday, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the policy had not changed.
"We have made it clear to the Irish and others, no ship will reach Gaza without a security inspection," Lieberman told Channel 1 TV.
This latest attempt to breach the blockade differs significantly from the flotilla the Israeli troops intercepted on Monday, killing eight Turks and a Turkish American after being set upon by a group of activists.
Nearly 700 activists had joined that operation, most of them aboard the lead boat from Turkey that was the scene of the violence. The Mavi Marmara was sponsored by an Islamic aid group from Turkey, the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedom and Humanitarian Relief. Israel outlawed the group, known by its Turkish acronym IHH, in 2008 because of alleged ties to Hamas.
By contrast, the Rachel Corrie was carrying just 11 passengers, whose effort was mainly sponsored by the Free Gaza movement, a Cyprus-based group that has renounced violence.
Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan told The Associated Press from the ship Friday that the group would offer no resistance if Israeli forces came aboard.
"We will sit down," she said in a telephone interview. "They will probably arrest us ... But there will be no resistance."
Netanyahu instructed the Israeli military to avoid harming the passengers on board the Irish boat, a participant at Thursday night's Cabinet meeting said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed.
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After inspection in Ashdod under Israeli and UN auspices, let non-lethal aid from the ships be forwarded to Gaza. And for every ton of goods sent to Gaza, Israel should hold back an equal amount of its own aid. In that way the the net aid levels are untouched by the flotillas, Israel saves millions of dollars, and then nobody can scream and cry like they're doing now that Israel is stopping these bozos from "helping" Gaza.
I thought Hamas were elected by a majority?
Now that Israel has seized the ship, take it to, Ashdod, arrest and jail ALL of those hypocritical do-gooders on it, forward the goods on it to the citizens of Sderot, rename the ship the "Ariel Sharon" and use it as a tourist liner for visitors to Israel.
with Prime Minister Erdogan on one of them. I believe Israel will lift the blockade before they arrive without their cargo being inspected by Israel. As for Turkey lifting the siege of Gaza is now a matter of national honour, and Erdogan cannot be seen to back down. The jig is very shortly up. Meanwhile the International community should hire ships fill them with items such as coriander and pasta and chocolate Israel will not allow into Gaza and clog the port at Is'dod so it cannot function.
MV Rachel Corrie ***Irish-Americans **Italian-Americans *We are with you Rachel
Was it really that hard to takeover the 1st boat which killed 9 innocent people? Lame.. very lame
well done, Israel. Don't allow hidden rockets enter gaza.
Sad to say but Israel has lost many friends in Ireland. Despite what many bloggers say about Irish people we really do understand the plight of your state being surrounded by extremist movements, states etc but like any frontier country Israel's reaction has become extremist (on the fact of it) with the convoys. it it time to let the international body politic to assume responsibility for protecting Israel's borders - an alliance of neutral counties and peacekeeping forces together with NATO forces can ensure Israel's security. Now is the time to start forging alliances rather than allowing and IDF and militarism assume control over what is essentially a political problem. Time to start trusting the outside world
Now that is non-violent resistance.
the red cross has never seen gilad shalit. that is illegal and contravenes the geneva convention. this is a fact. whatever you call illegal appears to be based on your own opinion (illegal because you say it is) and is not backed up by any documentation.
ulla only the moslems are so fanatical about revenge. all the known terrorists captured by israel, those who actually murdered israeli citizens, are all alive and well in israeli prisons with access to family and red cross.
If only it were any eye for an eye, the response being equal to the injury. But instead, it's always a horrible escalation of violence by Israel! That's evident from the blockade tragedy. Cynical, inhumane overreactions, even on mere provocations. Attacking Israeli commandos injured, defending passengers KILLED. There's no excuse in the bible for this, and this isn't tolerated by the rest of the world.
Think from the end ! Have a vision for Israel and its neighbors in friendly coexistence.Then develop a road how to stop fueling radical islamic elements, especially in countries surrounding you. Libanon, Jordan and Egypt should be strenghtened in their attempts of moderate politics. Everybody in the western world will support you, Ending the conflict in Palestine could be a first step towards peace. And the TwoStateSolution a role model for peaceful coexistence. Once Israel stood for vision. Let it be a modern, peaceful vision now. instead of feeding their "streets" with pictures and facts of "why Israel is so bad"
Maybe what israel is doing is collective punishment of the people of gaza, which i dont agree with. But when hamas fires missiles into israel, its also collective punishment,,, they dont aim them against military bases, they just want them to hit "any" part of israel. So its the same story.
barack when asked what you do if your country is occupied he replied i join any group to defend my country the gazans are doing the same
Rachel Corrie lives forver. Her legacy will lead the palestinians to freedeom and haunt the Isralies forever. Rachel Corrie - martyr for the palestinian cause, upholder of true US freedom.
Rachel Corrie defended suicide bombers and was thus a terrorist herself. She got what she deserved.
a declaration of war!!!lets boycot IKEA ONCE AGAIN AND FOR ALL!!!
All the other nations should follow Sweden. Its the only way to end this madnes peacefully.
blockade will break soon or later it is the well of people and global
we know that the mavi marmara had been bought by the radical turkish islamist group "haklary ve hurriyetleri vakefi," otherwise known as ihh, for a very large sum of money. ihh is part of a saudi-based umbrella group called the "union for good. the union for good had been created by hamas. hamas is a listed terror organisation by the us, the eu and member states of the un. the saudi-based umbrella group, the union for good, was designated in 2008 by the us treasury department as a terrorist organisation.among the jihadi members on the mavi marmara was a yemeni, one sheikh zindani, globally designated as a terrorist and a benefactor of usama bin laden. another al qaeda-muslim brotherhood member present was a member of the yemeni islah party, sheikh muhammmad al-hamzi, the one with the large dagger. beetween sixty and a hundred of those who sailed on the mavi marmara belonged to radical islamist groups and they were battle trained.
Your propaganda has no relevance to the Rachel Corrie, or the Irish ownership or the Irish or UK or EU or US citizens aboard. Hopefully no Americans will get double tapped to the back of the head this time.
Hamas won’t accept the humanitarian cargo. So it’s not as if the Palestinians in Gaza are living in tents... right. Wow, these guys are such Neanderthals... no one other then a moron, would react in this way. Because in reality, this makes Gaza appear as if they don’t need these supplies. So if there’s no need... why the activism, what’s the purpose of breaking the blockade. Hamas is so incompetent... so backward and so lost in their own rhetoric of defiance and resistance. That they seem not to be able to preform the very basics of governing.
Has Israel to be afraid of cement now? If they dropped that ridiculous part of the embargo now, they could keep up an arms embargo AND save face.
cement is used to dug and build tunnels across the Egyptian border. Are you that naive to believe that Hamas will so benevolently distribute the cement brought by the even so much more naive 'humanitarian aid' to simple citizen to rebuild their houses? If so why would not have they used the money received from European and US funds to develop Gaza instead of using it to buy and produce weapons and rockets.
Certainly, the IDF won't claim that Hamas terrorists can harm Israeli soldiers by throwing cement bags? The idea behind the ban probably is a desire to prevent the militants from building bunkers. However, no war has ever been won by one party sitting in bunkers, without arms to create any damage. Without weapons, bunkers are worthless! And even with them, they are just a waste of effort, likethe Maginot line. Of course, the next Gaza war would be much easier for the IDF if the palestinians would be living only in tents, which are no obstacle for the tanks, but this is simply inhumane. Making the job of an invading army easier is no accepted ground for an embargo! The real danger are the weapons, so block their import. But don't punish the whole population by taking all means away from them to rebuild the destroyed housings of the last war! The rest of the world won't tolerate this cynical policy any longer. And if the Israelis don't change this, there may be an embargo against them in the not too far future. How would you like the rest of the world deciding on your diet, and about what goods are allowed for you?
Israel has been allowing cement in to Gaza when supervised. However, it is the supervised part that Hamas is opposed to. http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel-to-allow-cement-metal-pipes-into-gaza-1.280960
when will the ordinary people of isreal come to there senses, the propaganda been spilled from ur politicians mouths is disgusting.your minister of progaganda must be reading a lot from the early 40s german machine.
The people on board the Rachel Corrie seem smarter than the others, they realise that putting up resistance is stupid. Hopefully they can work things out peacefully. By the way well done Ismail Hanieyh for admitting the real purpose for the flotillas, not to send aid but simply to break the blockade. Whether you agree with the bloackade or not, breaking a bloackade is still illegal and international maritime law states that in such a case you are allowed to attack a foreign flag.
They never insisted on no control, Israel is free to controll ships but not allowed to impose an embargo
Gaza should be sealed off like the powder keg it is. They are neither a legitimate people or legitimate cause. The pals exist soley as a proxy army against Israel. they will always lose, that's what they do, specialize in the loss of life and credibility. time to bury Gaza.
and the usual hate of palestinians, arabs and muslims ! Thanks Petra. That's exactly people like you that ashame real israelis that seek peace. "Time to bury Gaza" ? Israel is burying itself...
the so called world opinion is worry angry outraged... it seems that the world opinion would rest only when Israel is overrun by its enemies. "world opinion" huh!
If ship willing to be inspected then why use trucks to transport cargo when ship is cheaper and in port?
Would not be one if they let ships in huh? Think on it and get back to me.
behind and behave like a modern state. It is not a question of "sympathy", it is a question of "where to belong". To the middle ages or to a modern world, where the next israeli will have the chance to not only survive, but live a peaceful and happy life !
Your survival isn't at stake at all. 90% of the banned stuff isn't dangerous for Israel at all. Pls get real, most of the world won't blame Israel for preventing Hamas from arming up. But the inhumane extent of the blockade, which is nothing else but a collective punishment for the people of Gaza, has to stop! And. actually, the intolerable behaviour by your government is the much more serious danger for the existence of Israel. Because nobody in the rest of the world will want to defend a country which acts in such brutal ways!
Its time to build up people and their houses in Gaza
Gaza has many villas but they are reserved for Hamas terrorist and Fatah princes.
And Ireland, has 16% unemployment. A famous economist, called parts of Europe PIGS 'Portugal, Italy, Ireland Greece and Spain. Well put, Europe's busted. Something to do w/ their muslim welfare cases?
We should not think of Israel as a country, but as a private operation, run by only a small part of the inhabitants of Palestine, making sure the real majority never gets to vote.
You can go on make believe all you want.
Last year after mckinney's ship was peacefully taken over and they didn't get the media coverage they said the next time it would be violence and they would resist israel.
The governing body of Israel is a coalition of Right Wing Fanatics who lack creativity and a sense of statesmanship. Avigdor Lieberman, Eli Yishai, Moshe Ya’alon and all the rest will take the Jewish State down with them. Israelis need to open their eyes and stop believing their own propaganda.
You are a Hamas fan.
For all intents and purposes the siege issue will soon be history, as one will no longer exist. The 'Rachel Corrie' still has her mission to complete though, and I suspect that will be done successfully. For whom the boat is named is also getting the proper attention her memory deserves. Some "incidents" should never be forgotten and her fate was one of the more disgusting acts of barbarity committed by Israel. But that all said these peace activists/sincere humanitarians/Islamist fascists/blatant terrorists are now on a roll. What will they inflict on Israel next? Stay tuned.
The siege won't exist because Hamas won't exist and the siege will no longer be necessary and justified.
We stand with Israel
We need more and more non-violent protests to show the world who the aggressor is. Hopefully with every aid flotilla more and more Palestinians in the WB and Gaza are realising that non-violence is the way to win the war against injustice, and that in this way the fight can be won.
stop islamic terror!
Those who love freedom, human rights and peace will combat extreme Islam.
Israel Navy we support you
Hamas is a known recognized terrorist organization. These mosquito army's attempt to illegally breach the blockade is more than foolish, it is illegal. Other nations would have sunk these ships in a New York minute. Obama's pro muslim leanings are jeopardizing any security Israel has. Obama's gotta go!! He can't plug the BP oil lek and he encourages a blockade to assist terrorists. WTF?
Yeah right Israel, clearly this vessel is likely to be packed to the gunwales with katushka rockets and Sadaam's missing weapons of mass destruction ... NOT! Spare the rest of us in the real world your little self-righteous pious pontificating. This isn't about weapons, or Hamas, or terrorism, or the unfortunate plight of Mr. Shait. This is about sovereignty, plain and simple. Israel has decided that it wishes to deny Gaza (and by extension Palestine) its right to sovereignty. The rest of the world objects. A flotilla sets asail. We all sit back and watch. What will happen next goes to the core of Israel's future as a viable state. Over to you ...
Beware Israel. These peace activists are evil people. They are coming to distribute pencils and lolly pops to the children of Palestine. Your enemies.
READ THE ARTICLE
5.1.2(3) Merchant ships flying the flag of a neutral State may be attacked if they are believed on reasonable grounds to be carrying contraband or breaching a blockade, and after prior warning they intentionally and clearly refuse to stop, or intentionally and clearly resist visit, search, capture or diversion.
....these ships HAVE BEEN CHECKED before leaving for Gaza.
No Question, Israel has the right to go to war against anybody, including Ireland or whichever state the Rachel Corrie was flagged to. Just like the Lusitania.
There is no solution with hawks running the business in both ends. The only way to reach an everlasting peace, is to let "self-hating Jews" and "self-hating Palestinians" take over now. Hate-mongers and war-mongers on both sides have spent 60 years with escalating violence and consecutive failures.
My hope is that a peaceful solution can be found. Let what happened a few days ago be not repeated and allow Rachel to pass unhindered in the hope that with her biblical name sake she is a faithful follower of -od.
she didn't know enough to move from the front of a moving bulldozer. The ship made as much impression ( pardon the pun) as did a flatened Rachel Corrie. The only good thing about her was the name, however, the original Rachel was a Jew, this one a terrorist. Terrorists die, so what? One dumb pro palestinian dupe, gone and forgotten and not worth the sweat from your brow.
You can't punish all the palestinians in Gaza because they chose Hamas !! It's just unfair ! so many children and women are dying because of malnutrition and health problems !! diseases , bad hygiene , shortage of food, lack of drugs, no electricity ... it's all because of the blockade. Imagine this happen to u, can u live like that ??? treat others as u want them to treat u. Be human !! It's a collective massacre from those who suffered holocaust and persecution before.
No point in even trying to get into a discussion with you.You are a complete and utter idiot.If israel had treated the People of the gaza strip a tenth as badly ad the nazis treated the Jews they would all have been dead many many years ago.
Isreal Governmente should negotiate with Rachel Corrie . A mutually and peacefully agreed inspection and investigation of the goods carrried by the ship could be carried out . If it is all humanitarian aid. they must let the ship reach Gaza. Last chance for Israeli Governement to gain some respect in the world public opinion
Unfortunately, Israel considers cement, chocolate, children's books, wheelchairs to be weapons, not humanitarian aid. Has Israel ever justified why it will not let these types of items are being banned? If so, what was their justification?
w/ a grin of salt. The ship of fools landed w/o incident. Much ado about puffing. Turkey blinked again. Kurds and Armenians cheer.!! Screw Turkey. BOYCOTT TURKEY!!!!!
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What is Israel's vision for the next 60 years ? The US will be confronted with growing problems on the economic, environmental and political side. States like China will rise and gain more influence. Western democracies in total will have to fight to develop and obtain international laws in order to keep our world a place worth living in. Israel behaving like a pscho in its western "family", forcing everybody to stick to double standards, when it comes to human rights, nuclear weapons etc. already IS a burden today ! If there is any vision of a peaceful future for the next israeli generations to come, it only can be WITHIN the western world, supporting the beliefs and credo of modern, reliable, educated societies, which are able to look at the rest of the world from another view than "eye for an eye" !
Last I checked people on the ships were not terrorists. Blockade only emboldens religious terrorists.
Not so long ago, the world was up-in-arms about the wall you built to protect yourself. They screamed, marched and protested (as they are doing now) about the harm it was doing to the Palestinians; all the while, being quiet as a church mouse when suicide bombers killed hundreds of your people.... Oh Israel, you know what you have to do that is best for your people, If the wall stopping the sucide bomber is an indication
The applicable law here is the United Nations Charter, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Geneva Conventions on the laws or war and the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea. The latter dates from 1994 and consolidates earlier international rules on naval warfare and naval blockades. 1. If the blockade itself were legal, Israel could legally arrest a ship and bring it into port to inspect goods. That applies even if the ship is in international waters. Israel would not have to wait until the ship actually reached territorial sea. 2. But the blockade is not legal because; a. The flotilla did not have the purpose of supplying war-related materiel to Hamas, or even exert general economic coercion. b. The blockade was illegal long before the flotilla because it is contrary to principles of humanity c. The blockade was illegal because it is in breach of contemporary international human rights law. d. The blockade went beyond inspecting the cargo under the supervision of a neutral party, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, in order to make sure humanitarian supplies are not seized or diverted from their intended destination. e. It breached the rules of proportionality. The IDF used more force than was necessary given the force with which they were met. Having shot one activist in the head from a distance of 2 to 12 centimetres clearly proves this point without looking any further. f. Israel imposed the blockade because “Hamas repeatedly bombed civilian targets in Israel with weapons that have been smuggled into Gaza via the sea. Even if this could be proven, there is no proven link between the activists in the flotilla and Hamas. g. Israel does not make this statement with clean hands, having committed the atrocities of the Gaza war, and having subjected the population of Gaza to conditions such that they would be induced into withdrawing their support from Hamas.
ANY SANE NATION WOULD NOT ALLOW ARMS SMUGGLING to go on right under their noses... ISRAEL HAS FULL RIGHT to DEFEND HERSELF...
israel and gaza are at war. a blockade is a mean of furthering the goal to win the war. the blockade is legal as long as it affects materials necessary for the conduct of the war.
israel and gaza are at war. a blockade is a mean of furthering the goal to win the war. the blockade is legal as long as it affects materials necessary for the conduct of the war.
I think what is illegal is allowing Hamas terrorist to hold Gaza hostage.
NOBODY is questioning Israel's right to defend herself here. Your complaint is pointless. Instead, the criticism centers on the incredibly long list of goods blockaded by Israel, essential stuff like medical supplies and construction materials. This is simply evidence of a political decision to collectively punish the Gaza people, not of any reasonable security concerns. Period.
As a soverign nation Israel have the right to blokade Gaza as long as the hostilities between the two countries continues. Also the blokade is internationally acknolwdged and was at the time of the incident supported by Egypt. The rules mentioned by William all agree that Israel has the right to inspect ships attempting to run the blokade even at high seas in principle Israel could legally board the ship as soon as it reached an area of international waters as the stated goal of the ships were to run the blokade israel have imposed on Gaza. If not possible to make the inspction of the ships cargo at sea Israel would have the right to divert the ship to a harbour for inspection. The ships in the convoy failed to bring cargo manifests a violation of international law, and also commenced hostilities againsts the legal inspection also in breach of international law. The fact that their were weapons abord one of the ships made its status as a humanitarian ship void and according to international law made the ship a combatant in the conflict on the side opposing Israel. In truth what international law says is that Israel had the legal right on their side and that the hostilities commenced by a ship claiming to be protected under humanitarian laws was a war crime.
all nation with Gaza Now, and Israel now alone with the Devil ( USA ) so dont think that isreal will win , there is many brave people around the world see that isreal is just a big lies , Evil Isreal`s lost World's sympathy. who do you know why ????? FREE PALESTINE . Thanks Turkey & Europe .
Ahmad, i think you are wrong. As an european i am for the people in Gaza. I would never support Hamas or call the U.S. a Devil. Your thinking leads only to more casualties. We europeans are tired about the bad treatment of the people in Gaza. No more killing!
Stop them now
Now we see if Israel's word is any good when it comes to actually delivering the aid. Or may, like the clothes, it will rot in Ashdod for how many decades? It is nice that this time there will be more survivors, at least it appears so.
Let's all say a prayer that the standoff with the Rachel Corrie ends peacefully.
No wonder Obama is pulling back. So are many Americans. I used to side with Israel, but now see Israel for what it has become. bye bye
Funny, perhaps you live in a Pakistani neighborhood for Americans have been very supportive of Israel. Most Americans realize those ships are full of those who supported the 9/11 attacks against the US and support the Taliban and Hamas rights of freedom of oppression.
So probably there's a way to stop ships that are not allowed to enter Gaza without killing people and even without boarding on the ship. Has the Mavi marmara been boarded just because it was turkish?
all 6 ships of the flotilla were boarded regardless of nationality. the people on the mavi marmara were the only ones to attack the soldiers.
Destroy the steering gear! EOM.
they wanted to do something right they should accept to unload the cargo at ashdod port and allow to inspect the ship!!! they are instigators of rage and hate to the state of israel ,they do not care that u are attacked every day with kassam rockets because the world is turning into muslimstan i wish europe will root in hell once dominated by muslims and the euro to keep on sinking whit the hungarian crisis all of europe must have what it deserves .............
One spokesperson says that the idf has sabotaged communication, another guy says that the ship is ignoring orders to stop! Well of course they will ignore your dumb orders if they cannot hear you in the first place!!!
well said, Coli ... (comment #42)
They drop leaflets and call cellphones and tell people to leave then they bomb exit points and routes.
You should know this.
Against rising inter'l fury Israel continues to defy world opinion. You couldn't make this up. Israel seems determined to make as many enemies as possible. Israel has rightly l ost this battle. An Israeli embassy security offical will be expelled soon from Ireland following the fake passports debacle. Israel should stop shooting itself in the foot, and it should fire those responsible for the horrific attack on the Turkish ship, the blockade of Gaza and the murder in Dubai.
This is not some football match for hooligans to cheer on.
dont mess with the IDF!
I'm sorry, but your "moral" IDF is now a rag tag bunch of religious zealots - not the force that was respected 35 years ago. They were beaten soundly by Hezbollah in their last clash, and the Palestinians and humanitarians are unarmed and have to fight with rocks, chairs and sticks and poles AND the army personnel are so intimidated that they shoot them!
WOW! Are they going to drop inept commando's on the deck of this ship also. Time to break the seige and give the people of Gaza a chance to live like everyone else.
...and let them going on planning quietly the destruction of Israel ?? you are deaf and blind my dear!!!!
Give Israel UN certification that they gave Gaza away according to UN resolution 242 and have the UN state that Gaza is now officially not an occupied teritory and that Israel will not be responsible legally as an occupying power of Gaza. Confirm that this is separate teritory from Israel and the the population will be a part of a future Palestinian state but will never be a part of The Israeli state. Once this certification is given and signed by the UN security council, Hamas, PA, and other relevant Arab states, Israeli should immediately pull back its forces to the perimeter around Gaza, remove the blockade. I believe the Palestinians have fought this wrong and would have won in a second diplomatically even Hamas, if they offered this certification which basically removes the Israeli fear that the gaza population could one day be a part of Israel as the new mantra has been the push for the one state solution effectively ending Israel. This certification would give Israel great incentive to leave the Gaza area. I believe Sharon asked for this when he pulled all of the Jewish settlers out of Gaza and the UN would not grant this certification, Will they off this now, Israel would be crazy to not take it. The Palestinians and Hamas get their international media victory and the Israelis get a snse of calm that no international body can attempt to link Gaza to Israel in a future one state solution
Now watch if it takes you in circles.
the only county steal stand firm agianst islamic terror!!!! other countries (especially in EU full of muslims) watch and learn! NYC STANDS BY YOU GUYS!
the problem is: people got/get/could get killed... why? i think the people in israel are too long at war so they think everyone wants to kill them. Here are people on a way who do the same what jews did, when they brought their people home....breaking an blockade.
Not in my name! You are a disgrace for NYC, please make aliya...
NYC stands with Rachel Corrie. True American Rachel Corrie, the one who restored US dignity in the Arab world
Kol Hakavod Le'Tsahal! Am Yisrael chai!
You ain't no Gi Joe. You More like VC charlie.
they accomplished their mission without losing a single man even though they were hugely outnumbered and had to rapel down from helicopters. their professionalism and bravery must be commanded.
Philadelphia's Israel lovers support the glorious Israeli navy as well!! Good luck in stopping the bastards!!!!
Thanks for noticing.
the isrealis are so: stading alone and doing what is right
didn't they already KNOW this? this very newspaper reported that they would not dock at ashdod a DAY ago. why is the idf acting shocked? aren't they supposed to be up-to-date and shizz?
The agreement was reached between Ireland and Israel. IDF probably hoped that the voice of reason would win. Well, it's about time to sink the boat. Just to round up the number - 9+11=20
they declined it, their problem! and after the peole on the other boat said those things about 9\11 and the holocaust i think we all know what israel had to do was right.
Which holocaust do you mean? The holocaust from the past or present?
In fact, a much better result. Which would be followed by other, even better results, finally ending in peace. Hamas ever intended to try that? Does anyone think that in such case, a group like Lieberman would exist in Israel? After all, the hard line Israelis came to power exactly because of hard line Palestinians..... And so on it goes, from little skirmishes to fights to the death, not in the tens of people, but in the tens of thousands......
Why talk to a terrorist like you and waste time achieving nothing of value when a 9 mm in the back of your head would be both so much more practical, morally justified and just good plain fun?!
If you are so much concerned about human rights, I wonder why your voices have not been heard when Hamas executed people in Gaza just because they were associated with the Fatah movement. The executions were carried out by firing squads and by throwing people down from the fifth floor and without any trial. Why your voices are not being heard regarding our prisoner Gilad Schalit who is being held already four years by Hamas completely isolated and with no elementary rights such as visits by the Red Cross? Your consistent one sided behavior proves that you are simply Jews haters and regardless what Israel does, you'll always accuse Israel.
This is a form of rhetoric that ends up in endless discussions. Obviously Hamas does things like peace movement does not recognize. Peace movement is not concerned with Hamas but the Palestinian people. We would never have tolerated the Jews was locked up in a camp today. I'm convinced. Israel is disrespectful towards other people's diplomacy and opinions. That makes big frustration.
It was mossad created HAMAS as opposition to Arafat. I would not be suprised if Israel has some control over HAMAS. Nothing would suprise me anymore with Israel.
Stand strong Israel!!
Have we not learned from the holocaust? Or are we as the abused children doomed to repeat it?
Israel lost all sympathy in the World. Bring the responsible politicians and military to court.
Send an old rust bucket to the bottom outside Gaza harbour,the let them try to get thru.
It was about 3AM. It was on a part of the wall that would be impossible for any light to have reached because the windows are obstructed. Really bright like it was produced by a lazer. A boat shape that went around in circles. Israel, I think that the Gaza Relief boats are meaning to take you around in circles. Sorry. I need to help you people. Nobody else can do this. I was startled actually because this was a new one.
much of the "pro-Israel" perspectives coming out of the US and Israel regarding the altercation with the flotilla, are less than sophisticated. Some have said that the Palestinians are engaged in a publicity ploy. Of course they are. How else do they intend to get their message to the world? The pre-state Jewish Agency engaged in publicity to generate sympathy for the Zionist cause. We also used the Holocaust to convince others of our need for a Jewish homeland. It worked but for how long will that argument continue to impact others positively? Israel is militarily strong and hardly reminiscent of the persecuted Jews of Europe The Palestinians engaged in violent behavior towards the Israeli commandos. Of course some did so out of anger of being intercepted in international waters. Do you expect them to love Israelis? While I support non violent resistance, I do not expect the Palestinians to look upon the Israeli military in anything but hostile terms. Their pov is simply that the Jewish state extricated Palestinians from their homes according to whim of the dominating power. Jews subconsciously know this but it threatens their hold on the Land. I do not expect the activists on the Rachel Corrie to give in. Right now they have the Israelis exactly where they want them: on the defensive and looking quite reprehensible in the world press and political arena. While the Israelis seem unyielding, I suspect they will quietly give in to US pressure somewhere down the road. If not, this will make Israel look like a pariah state in the pre-Mandela South African mold. Many American Jews will also loosen their ties with Israel.It seems to be happening already. The Dream really becomes moot. Israel has the power to reverse this trend though I doubt there current leadership has the vision or gumption.
We don't want to look like SA. South Africa maintained a brutal regime and did not have a terrorist opposition nor was it surrounded by neighbors that are either at war or maintain a very cold peace. We certainly won't allow ourselves to become a post-Mandela SA.. Until a few years ago Jews and Arabs traveled and traded freely within Israel, Palestine. That was ended by the Palestinians.
Enought of the damn lies, the blockade is an act of massive collective punishment. It's not just a matter of keeping arms out of Gaza, far from it. The entire population is kept on a subsistence "diet", the economy is wrecked, very little has been rebuild following the devastating carnage of Cast Lead (sick name that!) because Israel refused to allow rebuilding materials in. It is a crime of colossal proportions inflicted by a cruel pariah state.
Wnat happens in Gaza is very sad, but look at the Jordanians or Egyptians: They don't throw rockets, and they don't become besieged. Is that simple.
Air bombing Kurds is a hell of collective punishment !!!Victor, how come you don't react to it? Just because Kurds are not Palestinians and Turkis are not Jewish. Once a Plestinain representative in France said, the Palestinians luck is that they have Jews as ennemies ....Poor Kurds, poor Armenians, poor Africans, poor Native Americans, poor Aborigenes, etc. Can't we find some Jews for them?
Victor, They seem to be doing okay with out certain building materials. In May Gaza opened an olympic sized swimming pool, one of the Palestinian newspapers reported it and took pictures. There is a restaurant in Gaza called 'Roots.' This restaurant is about as fancy as you get, lighting in the courtyard, indoor and outdoor seating e.t.c. In addition Hamas is now uprooting dozens of their own people's houses to build a new religious centre (the article was just in Haaretz last week). Maybe instead of building swimming pools and religious centres Hamas should build houses for their people. They clearly have the materials. You read the report, they don't want aid (They have enough), they just want to break the blockade (why? so Iran can send rockets to them). BTW let's remember a blockade isn't possible without Egypt who also has a border with Gaza. They only opened their gates in the last week.
I think this was a ploy to weaken Israel. She must hold firm and keep her resolve.
i am convinced that obama knew in advance that jihadists were on the turkish ship, just as he knew in advance the little deal cooked up among turkey, iran and brazil.
has been instituted. Hey sit down at a cafe and drink a "Bloody Mary" - enjoy for it will be your last.
The UN security council still with its rotten policies. There will be idiots versus the fools still going on. Death everywhere. Come on wake up UN...
It's getting harder & harder for Israel to control information. Informed people aren't what Israel wants. Welcome to the information age!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
selectively read stories - anti-Israel probably.
My support for Israel. From Spain.
I stand with Israel too. Do whatever it takes to keep Iranian rockets out of Gaza.The Irish are anti-Semites from way back. Am Israel Chai from Australia
and the activists are either has beens or jobless rebels looking for a cause.
Obama has effectively surrendered to Iran and Hamas. Obama calls for an end to the Blockade, Iran and Hamas win.
Why do Israelis feel okay to insult the president of the nation that stands by you, gives you aid and offers you vetos in the UN security council? One day the hand that you keep biting will stop feeding you. Have some respect for America!
Ignore the first flotilla, then look like you're trying to help with the second, at the same time say, it's hopeless. Obama said he wanted to give "Hamas" and opportunity to "make money" right? He's squeezing Netanyahu like a ripe Haifa orange.
thus far, nothing has been done by obama to rein in the shia islamists in iran. a call for an end of the blockade is tantamount to giving iran gaza on a silver platter. gaza would turn into a second lebanon. hamas will play the role of hezbollah. israel would be surrounded on all sides.
I thought that it was funny when I just read ..."The Israelis had no desire to board the ship"... That was good for a few laughs.
Ataturk's secular republic is fast becoming a distant memory; how sad that their military has been subdued - it's high time for another coup d'etat.
Ataturk would turn in his grave if he could see the provocative behaviour of the Islamist Turkish govt. I wouldn't be surprised to see a coup d'etat by the Turkish military. They will only take so much nonsense from Erdogan and his cronies.
I remember reading an article about Turkey about 2 months ago where a dozen or more Turkish military officers were arrested, was this an attempted take over by Turkish military 2 months ago??? Erdogan is smart. He knows Turkish military has a history of putting Turkey back on the road to a a secular state, but he already took care of this problem
This pathetic terrorist supporting leader will be the undoing of Turkey.
he might attempt to overthrow the regular order of things in the region. he seems to want to be the leader of the middle east. he has forgotten that iran has that very same ambition.
I am an American Catholic and I am standing with Israel! The blockade must continue! Hamas is an evil terrorist organization and they deserve to be punished.
What has your religion to do with this? Unless it's an indicator that some of your Irish predecessors supported the IRA... The blockade is NOT hurting Hamas. It's a collective punishment of the people of Gaza.
I wish the U.S. President was against Hamas and with Israel - but alas - Obama is forcing Israel to end the Blockade.
Do the children of Gaza, the elderly and disabled of Gaza, the innocent men and women of Gaza, deserve this mass punishment? And whats being an American Catholic got the hell to do with anything? Religion is past its due date...time for some intelligent more evolved systems to be put in place. Comments like yours show the justification for putting religion back in the dark ages where it belongs.
And if you did not know it earlier. Collective punishment is illegal. Therefore, you are standing for illegal behavior. Read this "Among Israel’s most fundamental obligations as an occupying power is to provide for the welfare of the Palestinian civilian population. An occupying force has a duty to ensure the food and medical supplies of the population, as well as maintain hospitals and other medical services, “to the fullest extent of the means available to it” (G IV, arts. 55, 56). This includes protecting civilian hospitals, medical personnel, and the wounded and sick. In addition, a fundamental principle of International Humanitarian Law, as well as of the domestic laws of civilized nations, is that collective punishment against a civilian population is forbidden (G IV, art. 33)"
Ryan, I find it hard to believe that a fellow Catholic could support the inhumanity of the present Israeli Government towards the Palestinians. Do you really believe that these ordinary people who have lost most of their infrastructure, jobs, electricity and clean water, deserve to be imprisoned and punished so cruelly by the Israelis. You have either "bought" the Israeli propaganda or you believe that some human beings are worth more than others.
Dont. ever takes law in your own hands. No matter where you stand. Geneva Convention refered either you are a good Catholic or a good Muslim.
I am an American Catholic too. I guess I should be with you also. Yeah right. The old Israeli tactic of posing as Americans and then saying they sopport Israel.........we're onto that trick also. It used to be sooooooo easy to lie. Hugh?
You are saying, hamas is evil, how about american and british, how many killed in Iraq and Afganstan. You sound like Hitler, want to punsh 1.5 million people because some one told you Hamas is evil. Man open your eye and read the catholic religeon very carefully.
Hamas is a democratically elected government, which is the cover story for US bloodletting in the Middle East. I was in the Army, I've had friends die for what can only be described as a mercenary mission for Israel. But Americans are starting to lose their enchantment with Israel, thank God, the sooner the better.
which began 14th May 1948 by having Jewish forces in NON Israeli territories at the moment Israel was declared.
use these legal manuevers to prevent aid and support to HAMAS. Reasonable Palestinians and their Muslim friends of civilized persuasions need to run HAMAS out of Gaza. Instead they are trying to make everyone validate a HAMAS by letting them hide behind women and children and baby bottles.
The American way is to look after the needy - and those starving in Gaza are the needy. Israel is a strong state - but the Palestinians need all the aid they can get, Hamas or no Hamas.
you just can speak for yourself, I am catholic as well, and believe that you are ignorant of the facts, and hat palestinian people deserve to live with dignity and freedom.
I am sorry, Ryan, but I do not believe you are a true Catholic and American. Ifyou really are, then what kind of a Catholic are you?
The rest of the world has learned the truth, your turn to get enlightened will come too
so very christian indeed....
Idiot!!!!!! Try reading the new testament, and see what Christ has to say about love your enemies. it may well be a revelation to you. Any Christian in his right mind that would support Israel either doesn't understand Christ or had no exposure to him. Ill leave that one with your relationship with Christ
yes ryan.hamas is a terrorist organisation but israel punishing everybody at that area.This is type of genocide.
"Hamas is an evil terrorist organization and they deserve to be punished." By banning ginger, potato chips and coriander, Ryan? How do you figure that "punishes" Hamas, rather than amounting to a "collective punishment" of the entire civilian popln of Gaza?
After reading your post, I cant help but say how ignorant you are! Be objective and read from different sources, then make an informed decision!
and strangling 1.5 million in gaza who is evil?
Shame on you amd you say that you are christian catholic!
You will drive us to our deaths to recreate Armageddon. With friends like this, who needs enemies?
of the gaza citizens are under 18 years
I guess Israel and the U.S are the only countries that do not accept terrorism
Good for you Ryan. Most decent people around the world can see through this Islamist charade and are supporting Israel.
How could you be a catholic and accept this ! Jesus Christ taught us to love the others and certainly not to kill !
Bull---- No american catholic would side with Israel! You full of it!
TERRORISM IS EVIL ... HAMAS IS A KNOWN TERRORIST ... OR WHY WOULD HE KIDNAP GILAD ???
i am lebanese and we read well our catholic religeon my friend and as a christian of middle east i know better than you what is that terrorist organiztion that want to eliminate christian effective presense in their ancestors land by burning christians libraries and attacking womens who don't cover their heads and exercising pressure on them by calling them kuffar "infidel" this is the poor so human hamas
You just called someone an idiot and then talked about Christ and loving your enemies. You're not practicing what you preach.
The extent of the embargo, which includes medical supplies, tools, construction materials and even herbs (!) shows that this isn't a reasonable attempt to prevent Hamas from arming up, but a wide scale effort to collectively punish the Gazan people. This is against all international law and can't be tolerated!
why is everybody attacking israel when the video evidence speaks for itself (they were provoked) and says nothing about n korea who killed 46 innocent sailors??? think about it!
What I do not get is there was no outrage when N.Korea sunk the S.Korea sub. But Israel defends herself and its an outrage. What hypocrites people can be. If they don't like it move to N.Korea they are starving.
and n.korea is isolated. Israel will also get this international answer soon...
There was nothing said about it, yet you know? Something is amiss in your rhetoric....
That would be the Israeli censored point of view, the other point of view can't be shown due to video, camera, phone & computer being stolen by IDF.
it is even too much for this forum to denounce the killing of the S Korean sailors. Look at the approval numbers. I guess we are "two legs bad, four legs good".
You're simply trying to divert attention. This story isn't about Korea. Period.
Other nations at war have just blowwn enemy ships out of the water without any compunction. The Americans have done it and so have the Brits. Israel, either sink the damn ships or mine the waters and to hell with world opinion, they'll always hate Jews anyway.
How sad that you think this way. World opinion does count. The world does not hate the Jews. It hates this belligerent attitude. There is a difference.
Again: international water... says it something for you? "they'll always hate Jews anyway." What you think, why?
You do have some examples....no?
It seems that every incident gets to be played out as the first incident, a new page everyday. No history, no comparative history, just fodder for the ones who already hate Jews, They are slobbering they can feel the moment approaches, how many times in the latest news reports is it relayed that "Israel is becoming isolated" just like the wolves who cull an animal out of the pack, they howl to each other.
Let's get over this siege mentality... the sooner Isr sorts out the Palestians... then they'll suddenly have a lot more friends in the West. Something worth pursuing, eh?
Eli, with Israelis like yourself, Israel does not any more enemies. This is exactly the arrogance that is making Israel terribly hated around the world, where we do not need more hatred. It is ttime Israelis preserve their friends like the Turks, Arabs who support a truly demoractic Jewish State, and all peace lovers. Quit this boom boom mentality and stop ofliving by the sword forever. Fire Lie-berman and Nut N Yahu
This kind of victimology - 'they hate us anyway' - is precisely the kind of mental sickness that has got us into the mess we are in. We have systematically turned world opinion against us after decades of gross mistreatment of the Palestinians, always with the justification of self-protection, even when it was more than clear that we were interested in colonization and not in peace. Really, it's time to drop this victim mentality before it is too late.
images that instead of palesines it was a jewish people in gaza. The world would not tolerate that. The world does not hate the jewish people. But I think it is important that different voices from jewish people comes throu. It is important that people understand that Israels politics and the jewish people are two different things.
On what date did Israel declare war? That's news to most of us.
Read the treatises. Inspections in international waters are commonplace: look at what NATO does (which includes Turkish ships in its task forces), for example.
This isn't the First World War. It isn't the siege of Napoleonic France or Togo's Japan, either. Pasta is not an existential threat to Israel. Neither is housing in Gaza.
Really, in comparison, everything the Brits did in their heavy handed rule over the mandate territory pales in comparison with the Israeli handling of "the situation". Why can't so many Israelis see the parallels? If their rebellion against the Brits was justified, even though it included horrible terroristic acts like the bombing of the King David hotel, why can't they see that Palestinian insurgency at least has some legitimacy, too? The double standard applied is obvious to most people in the rest of the world!
What are you guys smoking over there? The first ships had weapons on board and they attacked the Israeli navy boarding party.
The ship was in international waters. The blockade is illegal. The attacking power (Israel) is carrying out an illegal action. I wait for the result of the Turkish action in the International courts. I am guessing an arrest warrant for Bibi and his other 6 merry men who authorized the attack.
"...they attacked the Israeli navy boarding party." What does one do when Balaklava masked commandos rappel onto your ship, armed with lethal weapons? Resist! Give the blackguards a good drubbing. Good for the occupants who would take no garbage from the attackers.
from the hands down, it appears that the adage that a much repeated lie does not become the truth is not popular with the readers here. I guess they like to believe that a much repeated lie will eventually become the accepted truth.
... had they boarded more decorously...
...that' what I am. I have my household full of weapons (knives, wooden bars etc.) And if anybody would come to intrude..I sure would use them :) These arguments of a socalled "Elite" is only ridiculous. Unfortunatly it's took people's lives !!!
They did not have 'weapons' on board - they fought using sticks, slingshots, and two guns which were taken from the IDF commando's And it would be more correct to say that they WERE attacked (on their own boat, in international water) BY the BOARDING party.
Ban ISRAEL from reaching the rest of the world.Ban anyone to travel from and to Israel.Ban ISRAEL to use INTERNATION air,water,road use.. This is the only terrorist and obstacle this world is now facing in its way to PEACE.
Israel will check contents of ship to make sure not rockets. Israel is a peaceful nation that defends herself.
Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinians. Not sure if they would agree.
... it's cement for rebuilding and suchlike... maybe even chocolates and note-books... no end to what regular Gazans should know is not-good-for-them... leave it to Israel to decide......
Yes, the agenda is to breach the blockade, the aid is incidental.
Can't have them for the women or children of Gaza, right?
to understand what this is all about with regard to Hamas and why Israel is concerned with cargo just being dropped off.
Has Hamas accepted the aid from the other ships earlier this week or is it still on the convoy trucks? I thought that was the reason they needed to run the blockade/so that the aid would be there immediately.Could there have been another agenda????
Then to break the blockade? That was the stated agenda. The agenda was to prove that they could bring in more Hamas supporters and cement.
There is a mass demonstration in London, today, Saturday to protest the carnage on the flotilla. The world is watching and hoping Israel will not willfully harm the activists on this ship as it did before. There can be no peace while bullying exists.
Is it true someone from England writes there can be no peace while bullying exists? England? As just one example, ask the people of Argentina what they think of England (and the Malvinas islands a/k/a the Falklands). Bullying goes on multiple times ever day in international relations (and most domestic situations). Get real, Labina.
Right, maybe we can all take a lesson in not being bullies from Hamas and even the PLO before them, especially Arafat who wore a sidearm into the UN when they made the mistake of letting him in. These Palestinian BULLIES have effectively silenced the voices of moderate, reasonable Palestinians for 50 years and shouted them down and became the voice of Palestinian people by unfettered bullying.
I'd think that a passenger saying to IDF personnel, "Go back to Auschwitz" would qualify as 'bullying.'
... of Israeli marines boarding the Turkish ship and being ambushed. I just wonder - how can this blind people read the articles and comment on them?
say.....where were they hiding? In full view! Amazing!!!! Such a clever way of ambushing... in view.
Its not that they didnt see the video - its that they dont care - their hate for Israel is stronger than the truth staring them in the face
And I saw the people on board trying to defend themselves against these thugs with what was at hand on board every ship: kitchen knifes, sticks and chairs.
Yes, they boarder with guns blaring. Initially they were rubber bullets, but switched to live ammunition. I hardly call it an ambush, more like a resistance to aggressors. There's no f*#k'n way you can claim this was a peaceful walk in the park, and walla they just pounced on your goon squad.
you did not see other films segments
is stronger than the truth staring at you in your face.
Before you use a word, know what it means. According to you, or maybe you picked this up from some genius who used this word first in reference to the attack on a ship in international waters, the assault on the Mavi Marmara was a matter " .. of Israeli marines boarding the Turkish ship and being ambushed." "To ambush," a military term, is defined as "to wait in a concealed position in order to launch a surprise attack." So the occupants of the Mavi Marmara knew that the masked commandos were coming and hid on the ship in order to assault them without the commandos' knowledge, apparently because those innocent Balaklava masked commandos wielding lethal weapons did not realize that there was anyone on the vessel who might wish to harm them. Yes, that makes perfect sense to you, of course. But could you explain it to someone who knows what the word "to ambush" means and is still reeling at the the inappropriately nonsensical use of it in your wacky post?
Are you that ignorant. They didn't have kitchen knives, they were genuine fighting knives with which they managed to stab someone with. These people also had slingshots & metal poles. These cause alot of damage when you hit somone over and over again. The activisits also didn't seem to bad at arm to arm combat as they managed to throw a commando off the side of the deck, and wrestle guns away from the commandos (two commandos were shot with their own guns!).
what video??? the one the isrealies released after a few days?it is all one sided progaganda, how can ur soldiers be ambushed when your illegally boarding a turkish vessel in international waters??TIME YOU PEOPLE WOKE UP TO THE SHIT YOUR BEEN BRAINWASHED WITH
You forgot to put your glasses on first.
Had this been Israel's first response, it would have been a victory. But as it is the SECOND choice, it only shows that the 'activists' were peaceful and Israel aggressive. Israel has screwed itself. And in stopping the Rachel Corrie only shown how 'peaceful' the flotilla encounter could have been. Now, what happens with the next ship? From last week on, it will be the good guys running an unjust blockade against the ruthless and heavily armed nation determined to prevent medical supplies and spices from being shipped into Gaza. By submitting the 'activists' have again defeated Israel. By demanding their submission Israel has again defeated itself. Is it not time to change a losing game?
With the 5 smaller ships in the flotilla (now 6 including RC) Israel did not need to use force and board the vessels bc the boats were small and did not have many people. However, the Marmara was much bigger and had 40 times more people on it. It also had about 100 provokers who were nto simple activists like what was one the other ships. So it is not ISraels second choice to be peaceful...
What is ending the blockade going to do? Are you going to stand up and stop the rockets that will rain down on Israel?
To say that Israel did not use force on the other vessels. The skipper of one had to have his neck in a brace after the non violent take over of his ship. Many people speak of being roughed up. Many people speak of being denied toilet facilities for many hours. Israel used violence on all the ships. It is only that they killed people on one ship.
The IDF stated their position in maintaining national policy and held it, multiple times. They stated categorically what their response would be and openly trained for it. The Free Gaza Movement, the PLO, and thier associated Arab organizations WANTED it to go down exactly as it did.
30 shots and a good part of them at the heads of, however angry, peace activists not soldiers is not a matter that can be argued. Even less if the IDF footage is partial and the activists' is withheld. This is not a media but a humanitarian problem. We hope Israel changes its stance, so that many abroad will be able to acknowledge Israel, but how could they now? Many Europeans are not naive about Erdogan's real interests in the region. But the unacceptable living conditions of ordinary people in Gaza are evident and leave us loosing the game.
That was the soldiers' version from the start. We in Israel heard this version and only this version. The world was fed with the FALSE version of the terrorists on board. Israel did screw up in that it took the government and the army so long to release an official version of what happened to the world, and for that the army and government are heavily criticized inside Israel. We Israelis know our soldiers, and know that they will NEVER kill innocent people for no reason. We believed them from the start and the video and audios released later by the IDF only prooved what they said all along.
These peace activists are light years ahead in intelligence compared to the Turkish jihadists.
even given that the IDF now control all film and pictures from the assault they are not claiming that ALL the people shot were attacking soldiers.
These 2 words represent israel's shame and two steps closer to justice and peace, because without justice there will never be peace.
and the catepillar tractor driver, CAT supplied with us aid. the driver was never tried and punished. murder with impunity. Rachel was defending an innocent palestinian physician's family home, from illegal demolition.
Israel forced now to mention her name. A brutal reminder of how they murdered her. Those who didn't know her, will know who she was now. A beautiful soul. Her parent must be proud!
Another crime by Israel. End the blockade of Gaza. As an American I am demanding an end to all aid to Israel until Israel comes into compliance with all international law and standards of human decency. Palestinians are human beings whether Mr. Netanyahu believes so or not.
steal peoples land and they may not like it....
Colleen, what about that Kennedy, blockading Cuba... can you believe the nerve. He actually put the American peoples safety at the expense of Cuba who only wanted to receive some supplies from the communist. geeezzzzz
Israel is in compliance with International Law. Hamas, Hezbollah, Lebanon, the UN, and EU ARE NOT!
There is doubts whether hamas and hezbollah are in compilance with international law because of terrorists activities which makes them not so. But not when it comes to fighting occupation. To say EU and UN are not in compilance with international law is just plain wrong.
I am waiting to see how many arrest warrants are issued by International courts for Bibi et al.
... Israel flaunts 'international law' daily...
Hello, illegal occupation of Palestinian territories anyone? Inadmissability of acquisition of territory by war? Illegal blockade causing collective punishment? Get over yourself! Israel will be fine one day, but politicians continue to seek siege mentality so as to support their own domestic legitimacy....
Whole world doesnt follow international law, but Israel will ? Thats odd....try that opposite view
"to treat with contemptuous disregard", which precisely describes Israel's long standing attitude toward international law. The examples are too numerous to cite here.
Or read a non-Texas textbook. Not a shot was fired and the blockade was over in less than a month. The Soviets had actual functioning nuclear tipped missiles in Cuba. Pasta and cement are not existential threats to Israel. Neither are wheel chairs or crutches.
I think your brain is miss-firing. Yeah right! Israel is in compliance with international law?? How pathetic!! They have violated more laws than any of those you mentioned all together. They keep violating Lebanese airspace, waters and land on a daily basis!! What do you call that, for God's sake?
...I demand an end to your being a jackass. Please get off of Israel's jock. Get a life. Learn some things. People don't set up blockades to be mean. There's a reason for it.
It's not going to happen since they're in the right. Don't worry about it; move on. Get a life. Learn some things.
why are do you lie?
and you know the saying, " don't throw stones when you live in a glass house." The USA back yard is so filthy I am surprised any american citizen as time to take out to make any comments. Go and lean your own mess(es) instead of criticizes Israel.
Ahhh remember when the Palestinian terrorist took over a cruise ship and executed a man in a wheel chair. His crime... being a Jew and American. Ohhhhh did you hear how the "peace activists" on the flotilla were telling the Israelis to go back to Auschwitz. But its ok, they are peace activist.
Well email then there is not a humanitarian crisis in Gaza Strip. The flotilla was a waste of time, the aid was a waste of time, the deaths a waste of time.
Just to see how many pancakes are on board and if they are kosher....
The world is beginning to isolate Israel. They have heard the falsehoods coming from Israeli mouthpieces and the world is getting fed up. They have seen Israeli commandos jump fully armed on humanitarian ships while in international waters. They accuse the people on the boats of not being peaceful while Israel shows their intentions were anything but peaceful. The world also knows that Israel confiscated from the passengers cell phones, video and still cameras that recorded what happened leaving only Israeli video for the so-called "investigation." For those who care for israel the best thing you can do is work to end the occupation and the blockade on Gaza. For those who do not care for Israel just keep on doing what you are doing. Support her without question and you will find Israel and yourselves isolated in the world.
Israel confiscated them just like any other country or police force would do. These terrorists and their supporters would use the video and photos to demonize Israel because they only show half the picture.
"video and photos to demonize Israel because they only show half the picture." Yeah Yeah, because the IDF will show the whole story. Makes perfect sense!! NOT!!
Yes, Israel is becoming isolated and the wolves are foaming at the mouth.
why did Isreal release all the people then - Charge them in your courts and see what happens then
Every time Israel is involved in conflicts the stories differ enormously . Inger accusation of terrorism etc confuses the picture. Israel has a strategy that makes them lose credibility in Europe. Even when they may speak the truth.We know you dont always are truefull. While this strategy may work on Israel's own population.
tell the unbiased, true story. And Israel is in enough trouble without the indesputable truth coming out by releasing the videos.
When are your Hamas thugs going to allow the Red Cross to see Gilad Shalit?
It is NOT about aide.. it IS about the forces of EVIL against GOD & GOD's PEOPLE & LAND HOW MANY TIMES does one have to tell you people ??
...that you're in Gaza City. Sorry that you don't realize it, but your people continue making the wrong calculations, so you continue to suffer. Stop trying to kill the Jews and you will have a better life. Until then, you will be stuck where you are.
I am glad that Israel stopped those terrorist-helping fools without anyone being hurt. Go Israel!
Israel did itself no favors here. International response to this incident is worse than anything the weak Hamas, or any jihadis could have ever come up with.
Medical supplies, wheelchairs, construction materials, notebooks, and spices (!) are NOT existential threats for Israel. Not even remotely. Your argument is simply ridiculous.