Hamas: Flotilla shows whole world opposes Gaza siege

Why they refused to bring the 'cargo of freedom' to Ashdod like any other commercial cargo to be inspected ? Unless it is a cargo of lies that have no legal bill of lading that can be confiscated by any legal custom authority anywhere in the world ! With this 'freedom carton', the liberation of Palestine was turned into a sick joke for all the world to see ! Nothing in it which is not above the law !

watch the live link--LISTEN before you judge! http://www.ihh.org.tr/canliyayin/en

every sane person on earth opposes the blockade, regardless of their feelings on israel OR hamas. the blockade is senseless, illegal, and inhumane. there is just no getting around it. sorry.

Israel can win international support if it let's the flotilla go through to Gaza safely.

Because they are gangsters readying for violence and confrontation without any intention to help someone. The only things those boats are carrying are hatred and racism because items on the boats are meant to resupply depots that Hamas pillaged.

As relations between us Greeks and Turks continue to improve, taking action like this for righteous causes by use of non-violent means shows that Turkey is a proud nation, and one that deserves incredible deliberation to be entered in the EU. Israel is proving to the world that it still occupies Gaza otherwise they would have no say so on this ship delivering stuff to Gaza. Keep up the belligerence Israel, what was once a push for a 2 state solution is soon going to be a push for one state with equal rights for all inhabitants.

Hello, McFly with a nugie! God of Israel DID NOT bring you home to negotiate!! Read your own scriptures! The favor of Jacob SHALL be taken away, and the WORLD comes after you, yet God as always delivers you, and protects you. The existence of Israel that they will always reject, is of which of the two sons of Abraham does God call His seed after, and NOT the 1948 homecoming. It appears that this is the last time, and YOU will never be sent off to babalyon again. You are home so BUILD in your land. Do NOT negotiate with your blood enemies, or even talk to the enemy who was installed in the USA white house, who insists to be called after the enemy of your seed!!!!!!!!!!! Forget the WORLD! I don't get it, yet I try, for if you refuse to listen to your God(thankfully now for all), why would you listen to me reiterate. David made peace for Solomon's reign by wiping out the threat, and allowing the other seed that remained to live under you, and he built with boldness. How does Israel allow the dome to stand in Jerusalem??? Mind numbing.........

May I ask the people who have negative views of the flotilla to google "Conditions in Gaza" and read a some of the reports? As a human being do you really want these conditions to continue which will be the case if the pressure on the Israeli government by world opinion is not increased? I believe the most important outcome of this event will be to bring out the conditions in Gaza more clearly.. Yes, Hamas should not send rockets in to israel, but the solution can only be reached by mutual talks, not by blockage and building more and more settlements.

Nine Members of the European Parliament visited Gaza through Egypt on Friday; they have called for the lifting of the siege due to the humanitarian crisis. They are also going to push for the EU to now take a more active role in bringing an end to the siege.

making a conquest of a new friend....with money....and shared hate of Jews.

After reading all the ignorant, naive anti Israel comments posted here I can only add three things. (1)Lenin was right in his comment about "useful idiots" (2) After reading some of the vile posts here I am so glad to be able to live in Israel and have a goverment that is prepared to be slandered world wide in order to protect me and my family from Hamas the murderous terrorists that blow up men, women and children. And (3) Haaretz is left wing rag no bettert than a third rate supermarket tabloid.

The moral collapse of Israel will only lead to more of such events, no Israeli propaganda can stop this process anymore.

It's doing what Europe and America's cowardly politicians should have done long ago - tell Israel that the siege of Gaza has to end. You can't just lock up a million and a half people up forever because its government contains some violent people. Israel, the UK and the US have, after all, all killed a lot more civilians in recent years than Hamas ever has.

The best thing Israel could do is let the convoy sail and do nothing other than make the efforts it will do to make sure no weapons are getting in. Lieberman is an idiot. If I didn't know better; that he is stupid and racist; I'ld think he was an Hamas man!

I praise the Israeli restraint that is being used against these international meddlers. It's all right for North Korea to torpedo South Koreans, but God forbid if any harm should come to these lunatics who are trying to enter a restricted area of sea. Hamas is dreaming when it says that the entire world opposes the seige. Poor propaganda; obviously untrue.

Those boats dont represent me! I am an American. Obama dont represent me either! I see Turkey as the bad guy here - attacking Israel with hundreds of terrorists!

Impeding the flotilla will be a PR disaster of the first magnitude. For those who think it's justified do keep on talking to each other. No one else is listening.

What some REBELS do for PUBLIC ATTENTION ! Israeli's are NOT pirates... PIRATES STEAL ALL cargo & ships for themselves ... ISRAEL is merely demanding to inspect & remove any military threat from the 'humanitarian' cargo. BIG DIFFERENCE.... ISLAM would NOT WIN .. they are seen as the AGGRESSORS....LOOSERS. Trying to STIR-UP TROUBLE ... IF they are as INNOCENT as they claim.. they would WELCOME & CO-OPERATE with ISRAELI inspection of their so-called BENIGN cargo... OR RETREAT ...if they really wanted PEACE... ....it shows their EVIL hearts ... to harass & provoke ISRAEL to take steps to protect it's citizens...agains further TERRORIST military assault ...by their smuggling in more weapons of destruction.. FOOLS....

Israel should sink couple of ships and nobody will create such flotilla in the future. Now they understand that nothing is threaten to their lives and they become insolent

... is also a human right question . Forgetting what Gaza is doing to its people & to the right of israel to live in peace & 62 years and more of threats; must be the top of the list of priorities regarding this conflict. Looking at this conflict differently is a slap in the face of truth and a deliberate attempt to live with lies. A practice its time passed & making peace buried forever. A Palestinian State will not bring a state for peace. It will only increase the state of war & conflict in the Mideast & beyond. Only fools believe otherwise !

The Freedom Flotilla is just a footnote in the international media. Of course you know this and your Islamic propoganda machine can tell your people whatever you would like them to hear.

... is also a human right question . Forgetting what Gaza is doing to its people & to the right of israel to live in peace & 62 years and more of threats; must be the top of the list of priorities regarding this conflict. Looking at this conflict differently is a slap in the face of truth and a deliberate attempt to live with lies. A practice its time passed & making peace buried forever. A Palestinian State will not bring a state for peace. It will only increase the state of war & conflict in the Mideast & beyond. Only fools believe otherwise !

I dont see this in any international news, so, how exactly is the voice of the whole world represented by this boats?

I would remove all these "peace" dummies from those 8 boats, sink the boats and toss the dummies into prison camps in the desert with no air conditioning. When Galid Shalitt is released the dummies can go home.

If these, at best, willing dupes for Hamas had any interest in encouraging peace in the region, they would not be supplying any goods and/or services to those whom Hamas subverts to the will of Hamas, at the point of a gun, or tossed to their deaths from the top of Gaza Strip's high-rise buildings. Since this flotilla represents a very motley crew, it would be within Israel's legal authority to impound the entire flotilla and fine everyone on board, to recover the cost of this needless operation. The goods should then be confiscated, and distributed to those in need of charity, in Israel. Especially in Sderot, where Israelis are the victims of Hamas' indiscriminate violence.

Let me bring up a point that is painfully obvious yet rarely mentioned. There are 7 billion people on this planet, 1 billion Muslims and the rest mainly Christian and other various religions. Forgive me on the exact numbers but it will make sense as you read on. There are only about 12,000,000 Jews. Are you telling me that if the "world" was really against the actions of Israel or the Jews, they couldn't stop us. Let's also exclude any "spiritual" types (i.e. G-d, etc.) of intervention for arguments sake. I am sorry but no amount of background "protocol of the elders of Zion" type conspiring could prevent those numbers from prevailing. If 1,000,000,000 Muslims converged on Israel, do you think their would still be a blockade? I dont claim that these choices are made out of the love or agreement of Jews or Israel's actions but please think about it when you see your fellow Muslims, cough Egypt (proud supporter of the blockade), Lebanon (proud defenders of the inability of Palestinians to be able to work in Lebanon and remain in a welfare state) or even Saudi Arabia saying one thing at the UN and then sitting silenty and calling the Israeli's and Jews all sorts of horrible things. This is not a debate of right or wrong, good or bad of anyone's actions. I just read that some posters believe that Israel is losing support for the blockade, etc and I just wanted to point out that in a actions spead louder than words world, about 85% support Israel at the present time if I were to be extremely conservative and exclude the entire Muslim population.

I just read Danny Aylon called this a islamist terrorist plot. I think this is sick. It is only aid to people who need it.

Israel has no right to stop a flotila of humanitarian aid from entering waters off a coast, which does not belong to it. Stopping the boats is an act of war pursuant to international law as is the continuing seige.

I appreciate the dilemna that the Israelis put themselves into.. If they refuse the passage of the Flotilla it will be a PR disaster. And if they let them in it will be a precedent and next they will have to deal with International of white gren and orange armadas. Where are you Moses when we need you

Hamas leaders know who is number one in Gaza and they look after themselves accordingly.

www.rootsclub.ps

of battle sites in the western approaches to Jerusalem from the Israeli War of Independence in 1948. Now I understand much better one of the reasons for the Palestinian refugee problem. I hope that Hamas doesn't cause another Palestinian refugee problem, because it's very difficult setting up a refugee camp in the middle of the Mediterranean.

The Law of the Sea (LOS) permits naval blockades during periods of armed conflict provided that they are announced to all and are enforced. Would be blockade runners who choose to ignore the warning can be interdicted at sea and forced to turn about under threat of being sunk. A more likely scenario is that these so-called "aid ships" will be diverted to Ashdod were their cargos will be inspected for contraband, the passengers deported, and the crew members and their ships escorted back to their home ports in Cyprus by the Israeli Navy.

Not condemning the Turkish act of genocide against the Armenians during World War I, because silence served Israeli political and economic interests. Look where it got us.

this is all of hamases fault they should all die

Naval blockades of enemy ports is a perfectly legal wartime tqactic.

While Israel considers Gaza soil to be no longer occupied (since Sharon`s evacuation in 2005), the rest of the world, including the UN and Egypt, and almost all legal experts still consider Gaza as occupied by Israel. To me it seems sensible, since Israel continues to occupy the Gaza airspace and territorial waters, and moves in and out of Gaza at will. But the Israeli Supreme Court did not yet rule on this question, and therefore the Israeli government and IDF can pretend to have Gaza the way they want it. Nevertheless, even Israel cannot pretend that it does not occupy the territorial waters of Gaza since then it would lose control over the "siege".

is non-existent. Ask the UNRWA. They haven't said a thihng about any "humanitarian problem".

Be sure to film any attacks by Israeli boats - ramming you is not illegal.

Common sense would tell these people who would like to break the blockade that if they were successful, the major beneficiary would be Hamas. A two state solution requires the eventual destruction of Hamas, and the blockade is doing just that. If there is a deal with the PA, Hamas will eventually go the way of Pol Pot. Strenghen Hamas, and you undermine the PA. The flotilla organizers are not stupid and they certainly understand this. They just don't care if they support Hamas. They also don't care about a two state solution. They want to see Israel destroyed and they will do anything they can to accomnplish that.

If you publish anything the terrorist organization Hamas says as "Gospel", then there is little hope for Haaretz as a fair and balanced newspaper.. .. In fact, the whole world does not oppose Israel, just the Anti Semites, and most Muslims.. So what.. We still have 400 million Evangelicals and Americans that support us.. Your headline should have read "Hamas head rants again about Israel"

Let's see, 800/6,500,000,000=0.00001% Hardly a statistic worth mentioning. Sounds like a flawed headline to me.

of starvation through no fault of their own

warning to the flotilla, IDF somali pirates are coming!

It may be an overstatement to say the whole world is against the siege, but personally I find it hard to believe that keeping out pasta and toilet paper has any legitimate defense justification.

everyday I read the news on Haaretz, and everyday I see the Israel-bashing on this website to a level that makes me wonder "who" exactly is coming to this website to read Israeli news? While you hate on Israel and sympathize for the Palestinian plight, Iran sits back and quietly appreciates your naive effort to further it's agenda in dominating the middle east via the Palestinian excuse. While you organize Flotillas to reach Gaza, you seem to forget the good ole days when Palestinians snuck into Israel and blew themselves up inside Israeli buses, cafes, nightclubs and hotels. You seem to forget rockets flying over into Israel unprovoked, never questioning exactly WHERE and HOW they are getting their materials for terror. You want to do a favor for those poor helpless Palestinians? Instead of getting on a boat and calling yourself a hero by encouraging the future smuggling of terror materials, try sending them a few history books not written by a Jew or Muslim on middle-eastern history. Instead of loading your Flotilla with food and medicine that Palestinians ALREADY receive with no problem, try maybe putting a few behavioral therapists on these boats to maybe explain the Palestinians how normal people in other parts of the world make friends with their neighbors, without trying to blow them up in exchange for respect. For those of you who eagerly anticipate giving a "thumbs up" to any comment on Haaretz.com that is Pro-Palestinian, and a "thumbs down" to anything defending Israel, if you spent this much time educating Palestinians on true middle eastern history within the past 100 years leading up to all of this, we would have already had peace. If Palestinians had the courage to question their own leaders as Israelis have the right to do so freely and without the threat of violence on them, they just might find out who really wants to extend this confrontation. Sending Flotillas is ok, but asking Hamas WHAT they are willing to give Israel in return for peace seems like a non-existant question right? Those poor helpless Palestinians, all they need is more food and medicine, and then the rockets will stop getting launched and suicide bombs will not be attempted.. You people are blind, and now you're blind with a few boats to your disposal.

These so called "peace activisits" fall right into the hands of Hamas. They show their solidarity with the genocidal, Islamic regime of Hamas. It is Hamas, who has isolated itself, and is the cause of Palestinian suffering. Wake up!

What absolute nonsense. Which part of TERRORIST ORGANIZATION do these morons fail to comprehend?

Searching for hours in international media without finding anything about this "event".

israel shall always find an excuse to maintain the blockade. When Hamas holds back rocket fire, individual acts of violence committed by unnafiliated groups in gaza are met with collective punishment and airstrikes. If the rockets cease totally, israel shall envoke the Gilad Shalit card to maintain the blockade. If Gilad is freed and rockets stop, israel will maintain the blockade until Hamas Government is broken. Once Hamas is defeated israel will maintain blockade until "peace" is restored to the strip. Once peace is restored israel will demand that the strip become demilitarized before lifting the blockade and that will only be complete after every single round of ammunition cannot be found on the whole gaza strip. Once all ammunition and weapons are gone, israel will demand that all weapons bomb making materials be eliminated from the strip before lifting the siege. The list can go on and on but haaretz will limit my word count so let's leave it at that for now...

I have fro more sympathy for innocent people who face real poverty in hovels of dirt , and do not glory in death.

This Israel government has got to be one of the most incompetent governments in history the will win every military battle but lose are losing the war.. if they had even a 1/2 an ounce of brain matter they would learn the history of modern war where the PR battle is a 1000 times more important than the military battles... Hamas is outsmarting the Israel government on this one they are going to win this confrontation with Israel and the spoils of this victory will be long lived. This current government has basically been told they are walking into a trap and when the trap is sprung they will suffer a terrible loss but instead of avoid the trap this government has said I know it is a trap, I know we are going to suffer terrible and long but we will still spring the trap. Is this government not smart enough to come up with another option??? Or is direct confrontation the only language they speak… some times when two angry people are pushing at each other trying to make the other fall if one of the parties move out of the way the other party will fall flat on their face…. Sometimes a lack of resistance is the ultimate resistance, sometimes choosing a path of non-confrontation leads to victory in the confrontation.

How can sending food be a propaganda against Israel? Israel has to change, we don't live anymore in de stone ages.

Mark my words When Israel attempts to intercept this aid flotilla the negative press throughout the world as 800 hostages all demand their day in court to oppose being deported from a country they were taken to by that country's military. It is going to be wall to wall news particularly with the MEP's held hostage. And when the MP's are deported what will happen when they are included as official delegates to the EU on trips to Israel? As I said Israel is in a no win situation, and hopefully this will be a monthly occurance. Calls for boycotts in New York I here?

Originally, the blockade policy was explained as the means to make the Gaza population unhappy with Hamas rule and help them overthrow it. It didn't work, and actually was not expected to work because Arab masses do not overthrow rulers, Arab militaries do that, but in Gaza Hamas IS the military. By now, when the blockade does no good, it is understood that its goal is simply to punish the Gaza population for the deeds of Hamas. Israel has stuck to its ill-thought-out policy long enough. Time to wake up and look at the damage it causes.

All it takes for the Gazan's to be free is the recognizion of Isael and the resease (over a fair prisoner swap) of Gilad Shalit. Borders will open up, Gazan's will prosper and peace can beging to prevail

Can't someone support something good without being a left-wing activist or an Islamist? I support this convoy because it is the right thing to do and I am not a left wing activist or Islamist.

Isreali authorities annouce there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza, so why Isreal is stopping aid ships to go there? They are taking basic needs from hand dugged tunnels, Isreal shamelessly saying there is no crisis in Gaza. This is rubbish.

Until Hamas is defeated in Gaza Israel is obligated to patrol Gaza's borders and search any transports for weapons and dual use materials.

Blocking a large ship or boarding one at sea are dangerous manoeuvres. The former cannot just put the brakes on and stop, a boarding party is at physical risk if the target ship veers towards or away from them. The IDF ships will likely form a line to stop the flotilla, then send in boarding parties by small craft and helicopters. But there's a dozen naval options to counter these tactics. If there is, God forbid, injury, collision, a sinking, an accidental death or violence used against civilians, Israel will be blown out of the water by angry world opinion. It already looks ridiculously dishonest, asserting sovereignty everyone knows it doesn't have, and nastily vindictive, with its siege of civilians and restriction on food and water supplies. Being seen as violent bullies beating up an aid convoy should put the final nail in the coffin.

You mean after three year blockade of even children book, and children close!!!!, after that UN and others many times voiced these are propaganda , so would Lieberman calls crisis?

This political ploy will fail, no one will be killed and all the passenger list, including well known Muslim jihadi connectors - currently living in Britain - will be named and listed in detail. Their actions in the UK and words in quote well known. Nothing will happen but good PR for Israel and a downer for Hamas real goals

Hamas just doesn't get it, no one gives a rats ass about Pals who are used to collect more rocket money to fire into Israel. Whatever Hams tries will be a failure just as are they. Hamas, like Iran, attacks her own populace first, beginning w/ their own women and kids.

these so called humanitarians said no to deliver a package to a boy kidnapped my hamas.... hamas has th gall to call us terrorists. the convoy will be turned back

has already one, israel is just slow to realise this. if we don't leave the west bank soon we will lose the entire country. screw the orthadox and the talmud this is 2010 and people act different now. give back the west bank to save israel, its the only solution.

I hope Israel realise it's loosing ground, support and battle in Gaza issue. Remember there are thousands of satellite channels, neutral medias, internet, word of mouth. Gaza news reachs almost every house round the world. Furthermore, remember catholic Christian very sympathise with Christian in Jerusalem, and Biet Lahm. Ordinary people don't know Hamas nor Isreal but are more affected and deeply touched when seeing people dieing, suffering and deprived from BASIC HUMAN BEING NEEDS " Food and Protection". Isreal..common wake up, what was working in your media, polocies few years back not practical nor applicable nowadays.

See here: http://www.aldeira.ps/en/main.html It appears to be a marvellous hotel, no signs of shortage of construction material or food or whatever...

What would happen if Israel let the flotilla pass? Who would gain the most?

Only muslims are allowed to be pirates like in Somalia, Israel may not, according to Hamas.

the waters off gaza are not israeli territorial waters. if israel launches any kind of assault on ships sailing to gaza, it would without question be guilty of piracy under international law.

Lieberman uses rhetoric like "violent propoganda", "blatant provocation", no more blatant than imposing "heavy pressure" on Cyprus not to let the flotilla dock there? Lieberman is under scrutiny for his own dealings in shafting his own people, the rest of us have no chance. Why do Israelis keep giving crooks a mandate to govern?

Someone comes to mind who would let them in and then begin to play cat and mouse

Judging by the list of Swedish participants on the ship, it is an unholy coalition of Christian priests, Moslem activists and communists, all of them united by their hatred for Israel. Hatred for Jews united fascists and communists in the past, it's nothing new. A healthy dosage of self-hating Jews is there as well. Really, nothing new. How boring...

IS the leaders oof Israal had even half a brain betwen them they would let the Flotilla sial peacefully into Gaza. There would be little or no media comment. AS it is Israel is setting itself up to look really stupid and arrogant once again.

See here: http://www.aldeira.ps/en/main.html It appears to be a marvellous hotel, no signs of shortage of construction material or food or whatever...

This is how an islamic jihadists say thanks. Islamic regimes are emboldened by the turkish arogance towards Israel

The IDF's threat of resisting this humanitarian flotila by force is destined for the annals of history as another Israeli farce.

What a load of Israeli propaganda. Check this out. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201052721394261509.html

So Barak, Gal & Lieberman think there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Maybe these Three Stooges should try living in a tent for over a year. What a sad excuse for human being they are.

or admit that Gaza is occupied?

Life is tough in the "concentration camp" as the radicals call it. http://www.rootsclub.ps/index.php

Lieberman's invective is the rant of a testosterone driven ex-bouncer. For the sake of whats left of Israel's tattered reputation, we should hope that the police investigation of his alleged criminal acts is thorough and transparent. Excellent RATIONAL comments here by # 5, 10 , 15 and many others are very encouraging. If this post is "approved" by the Haaertz censors I will be pleasantly surprised.

Israel be strong be resolute. God is on your side.

Israel be strong be resolute. God is on your side.

Israel continues to act as if global public opinion was meaningless, or as if it was possible to be barbaric as a matter of policy and nobody would notice. Well, we do notice, we find it despicable. and we renew our resolve to support the Justice you have so contemptuously foresaken.

In light of the present world view of Israel, it would be better for Israel if it let the convoy go through unmolested. Due to the nature of the convoy, it is very unlikely that the convoy is carrying military supplies. Most of the military supplies are arriving to Gaza via the tunnels. Also, if Israel is trying to unseat Hamas by placing an economic blockade on Gaza, it is sure to backfire and cause Israel more diplomatic difficulties than would be the case if Israel allows the convoy to continue. Also, there is very little possibility that Hamas will be unseated by an economic blockade due to the nature of the Salafis (nor will Iran be stopped from developing atomic weapons) which does not define reality in economic terms. Turning the convoy away, or worse yet, resorting to violent means to deter it, will only paint Israel as a nation determined to dispossess and opress the Palestinian people and reduce Israel's chances of keeping East Jerusalem at the negotiating table.

this disgrace seeks nothing but war with Israel and accept nothing but death or victory. If they bring bloodshed that would be a tragic but logical end to their adventure. Hopefully they will end up in uneventful trip home paid by own foreign embassies.

Where did this figure come from? One ton, perhaps 10 tons. Look at the photos of this sorry flotilla. To see what it takes to haul 10,000 tons, google Columbo Express or Maersk Taikung. LOL

Fear not people of Gaza. The ordinary peoples of the entire world are behind you.

Are you for real Lieberman?? It is amazing how racism can blind a person.

In a very short time, Turkey wont have to ask for permission...I was never so proud of my country...Nice people...Palestine is our part.

Control is very different to legal sovereignty. So as the boats sail in from International waters to Palestinian Gazan waters, the only illegal presence will be the Israeli military.

Propaganda is not violent; it is an expression of belief. With the boycott of Chomsky Israel seems to be sharpening its boycott skills.

people keep mentioning that the notion that these boats should go to Ashdod be inspected and AID let through is an unfair demand. So I ask will Turkey Guarantee that this AID is 100% kosher? that nothing in this aid can be used as a weapon or to make weapons? What will be Turkey's hard guarantee's to ensure that should somehitng in there be used to make weapons that NO ISRAELI WILL INCURR ANY RISK??? Will Turkey commit its infantry under Israeli control to invade Gaza on the ground no planes artilery so as to ensure the safety of Gazan civlians at a higher price than the Turkish Infantry should weapons or their means be found in this aid package and as such must be extracted? If not than turkey can bugger off to hell simply put. NO ISRAELI SHOULD TAKE 1 IOTA OF RISK FOR ANY PALESTINIANS, YOU ARE FIGHTING AN ARMY THAT IS WILLING TO BLOW ITSELF UP TO KILL AN ISRAELI. IT VALUES ISRAELI BLOOD AT A HIGHER PRICE TAG THAN ITS OWN. AS SUCH DON'T TAKE RISK THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT. THEY DO NOT CARE IF THEY DIE, ONLY THAT ISRAELI'S NOT LIVE.

Educated governments use their spirit and their sense of moral behaviour when it comes to decide about humanitarian aid to their neighbours. Less educated governments use their sense of intelligence and political insight to decide about humanitarian aid to their neighbours. Just some few governments on the globe use military attack against people who are trying to bring goods to an impoverished population. Some of them can be found in Africa. Due to the headlines on the pages of international media that behaviour might not refurbish Israel worldwide bad reputation.

Our hearts always with the people of Palestine...

The forcast for the Eastern Med is storms and very rough seas. These poor jerks may sink in the storm. They will be remembered like yesterday's trash. Bummer.

What else can we expect from 'humanitarians' who don't help Jews.

Israelis better not use force on Turkish citizens, or Turkey will have to intervene militarily and no doubt they will do so.

Every country requires imports to be accompanied with proper shipping documents. Who is to say that on board any of the flotilla's ships there is no explosives. These explosives can be hidden on board not to be off loaded to Gaza but to be exploded as the ships are met by the Israeli navy. An explosion on one of the boats would quickly be blamed on Israel. Who is on the boats ?

gaza has deliveries of humanitarian aid all the time. gaza is not short of food or medicine, clothing, toys and sweets. gaza's markets have all fruits and vegetables and cakes one can imagine. the people are obviously well fed. they can relax in cafes and restaurants. they have access to cell phones and computers. the gazan's standard of living is by no means catastrophic. for many, it is middle class. unfortunately, islamic militants blew up a children's summer camp.

Israel will never allow these protesters to dock in Gaza

if israel attack the turkish ship, turkey shall fight back... dont forget we turks have the second largest army in nato. we are not iran, iraq or syria!!

http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/hamas_e105.htm IHH, which plays a central role in organizing the flotilla to the Gaza Strip, is a Turkish humanitarian relief fund with a radical Islamic anti-Western orientation. Besides its legitimate philanthropic activities, it supports radical Islamic networks, including Hamas, and at least in the past, even global jihad elements.

"dumb and dumber". Such a childish game they play, they should be happy if they get any benefit from it because so far it sounds like a bad idea that made some unfortunate Israel- haters look sillier than ever.

The Irish boat HAS argeed to take a message to Shalit, but the Shalit family have not been in touch with them about this offer. But will anyone be taking messages to the 10,000 Palestinian prisoners illegally held by Israel?

Response to the proposition of Noam Shalid from the Freedom Flotilla organizers http://shiptogaza.se/en/news/response-proposition-noam-shalid-freedom-flotilla-organizers

"Israel will not allow its sovereignty to be threatened" This can only be true if Gaza is occupied... "...Israel continues to respond in the most humane way possible" It is always risky to accuse someone of a lie. This however should better be one, otherwise one must conclude that Israel cannot deal with Palestinians humanely.

Israel has no right to get involved with the flotilla. It is not travelling through Israeli waters. The government in Gaza was elected in internationally vetted elections. Get your hands off innocent people.

i am sur the whole world is glued to their radios and tv sets to hear the words of leiberman

...a brutal punishment of 1.5 million imprisoned people, timed to make use of the last few weeks of the Bush presidency.. The flotilla, on the other hand, is PEACEFUL propaganda. Nobody is out to hurt anybody - they're just standing up to a bully.

both Lieberman's likely sympathize with this view. My bad ...reading too fast

Shalom , Sen Joe again faces the overwhelming task of trying to justify why Israel is being threatened by a flotilla en route with humanitarian relief . This is sheer madness , but the politicians seem to ahve the most media -capital to waste on promoting their ideological views. I for one know that only peace brings forth peace . It is disgraceful and a pity that foreigners may be allowed to do more than share an opinion in other people s and nations affairs .

"Israel will not allow its sovereignty to be threatened in any way" Thank God Israel gave them their 'freedom' in 2005.

Originally, the blockade policy was explained as the means to make the Gaza population unhappy with Hamas rule and help them overthrow it. It didn't work, and actually was not expected to work because Arab masses do not overthrow rulers, Arab militaries do that, but in Gaza Hamas IS the military. By now, when the blockade does no good, it is understood that its goal is simply to punish the Gaza population for the deeds of Hamas. Israel has stuck to its ill-thought-out policy long enough. Time to wake up and look at the damage it causes.

That is simply a lie. www.UN.org

in his comments regarding efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Turks are cowards. They know the Jews won't shoot at them and their lunatic left European fellow travelers. If the Turks were brave, they would land in Egyptian Sinai and demand the Egyptians let them into Gaza through its land border. I doubt the Turks have it in them. Or they are confused, getting geography lessons from lunatic West European cranks.

They will pay a heavy price for messing up with Israel and helping the Iranians

Sink this convoy!

...when there are more boats, and the next after that, when there are more and more boats? When will enough be enough for Israel to get the message that the world disagrees with what you're doing!

Drop 700 of them into the water and sink the boats. They can swim to Gaza.

Please don't hurt any of the brave people on the ships. They decided to not stand idly by while wrong is being done. True heroes.

What sovereignty does Israel have over Gazan waters?

Israel actually seems to be making an effort to defuse the issue by its proposal, a rare example of Israeli moderation. The flotilla nevertheless well dramatizes the sins of such a cruel blockade as Israel has imposed upon the people of Gaza. Reminiscent of the siege of Calais during the 100 years war in Europe famously depicted in a Rodin sculpture.

Seventy years ago to the day began one of the most remarkable operations of the Second World War in which 338228 British and allied soldiers of the BEF were saved from Dunkirk. 800 little ships were used by people who volunteered to save the stranded soldiers In contrast, today we have a convoy of 9 ships on their way to Gaza with hundreds of activists who want to create a provocation and support the Hamas regime which has been holding the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit for four years in contradiction of international law and whose Article 7 of the Charter reads: http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/1609.htm “The Prophet, Allah's prayer and peace be upon him, says: "The hour of judgment shall not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them, so that the Jews hide behind trees and stones, and each tree and stone will say: 'Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him,' except for the Gharqad tree, for it is the tree of the Jews." (Recorded in the Hadith collections of Bukhari and Muslim).” That today we have hundreds of activists, some from Britain, who are willing to sail in support of Hamas, a genocidal regime, means that the moral fiber of the West has changed in these 70 years.

Israel is pushing itself into a no win situation. Talking to foreign diplomats is one thing, but the negative publicity that will ne generated will affect the Public's view of Israel. That will require, eventually action by their Politicians against Israel, because they will demand it. It would be better to allow the ships to offload their Cargo, with the minimum of fuss.

Seems like a waste of money and time. Nobody is realy interested exceipt the news media

How is this "violent"? There is nothing "violent" about delivering humanitarian aid. Lieberman uses this word simply to establishment justification for whatever brutal response that Israel is planning for this convoy. And by the way, Israel has no sovereignty over Gaza, but simply holds Gaza under siege through military force. There's a big difference.

If Gaza is no longer under occupation, how can Israel claim sovereignty over it's waters?

So,Mr.Lieberman Stop Gaza blockade now! Gaza air,sea and land are still occupied by israel.

"Israel considers the effort by international left wing organizations and Islamic organizations as intentional provocation under the guise of humanitarian aid". Note: no mention of dozens of European members of parliament and international governments. Also note that Senator Daly of Ireland offered to take a letter to try to deliver to Gilad Shalit, on Wednesday. Lawyers representing Shalit's father did not get back to him.

Both Israel and Egypt are committing war crimes in GAZA by not permitting food & supplies to go into GAZA.

Hamas is at war against Israel and the blockade is simply the frontline.Anybody who crosses a front during a war, does that on his own responsibility.

Is bthe guy paid by Hamas, Lieberman is an embarrasement for Isarel whenever he opens his mouth.

The "activists" on board the "flotilla" are enemy combatents,not "civilians". They are fair game,if they are armed or not...If the Israeli inspectors find as much as a pocket knife on board they shoud be arrested and tried as terrorists

All participants detained by Israel should be permanently barred from future entry into the country.

Decisions, decisions.

just who is it who is violent!?

Heave to, blockade runners, and prepare to be boarded and inspected for contraband or be blown out of the water! See the Law of the Sea's paragraphs concerning naval blockades during armed conflicts.

No one believes that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza, just as no one believes anything that Lieberman or the Israeli government say. If there is no crisis in Gaza, why do they not allow people to go in when they come to visit? And those select few they do let in, always say that the situation is critical. Does Lieberman really think that the world is going to believe that Israel is compassionate and humanitarian toward the Gazans or anyone for that matter? Lieberman needs to get out more. He lives in his nice home in Jerusalem in a fantasy world!

... as long as Lieberman is in an influential position, we can never hope for peace here...

Islamic terrorists all over ME are pushed by the turks to wage a war against Israel and turks will pay for it.We need to recognize the Armenian Genocide and give turks hard time with Cypres and the kurds.

If Israel is still pretending not to occupy Gaza, it has no jurisdiction in the 20mile-zone off-Gaza, as it's not off-Israel, if they insist on this occupation zone, they admit that they still occupies Gaza, which BTW everybody knows. Israel has never ceased to occupy Gaza, it has only left most of it for most of the time physically on the ground. Gaza and the Westbank (including East-Jerusalem) are still occupied land, the original inhabitants are still oppressed people.

Israel's sovereignty?

Sink them all! Trust me, it's a great idea.

There is nothing but peace and love for humanity on these boats. We will see who the violent one is....

OK so it might be difficult to find a foreign minister that doesn't lie, given that the position requires both a diplomat and a politician. But seriously, it can't be too much to ask for a FM that doesn't spread lies that an eight year old child can see through. Let's examine Lieberman's attempt: "The aid convoy is violent propaganda against Israel, and Israel will not allow its sovereignty to be threatened in any way, in any place, land, air or sea," "Despite Hamas' war crimes against Israeli citizens and the thousands of rockets fired at Israeli towns, Israel continues to respond in the most humane ways possible.". 1) The fleet is not violent, it is made up of passenger ships and freighters carrying aid... The IDF has however vowed to stop the fleet, with violence if necessary. 2) It is not propaganda against Israel, it is an aid shipment to help people who suffer as a result of Israel's actions. 3) Israel's sovereignty is not threatened in any way, the ships aren't even going to enter Israeli waters (despite Israel's demand that they do). They are travelling on international water and will never be on Israeli territory. There is no threat to the Israel's sovereignty. 4) It is obvious for anyone who sees reports from within Gaza that the blockade is hurting the civilians there. People living in rubble and being denied many basic goods by an army besieging them are not treated in the most humane way possible.

If Israel wants to stop this fiasco from happenning every couple of months, Israel has to bring the ships into Israeli waters and charge the organizers, sentence them to prison with heavy fines, while the rest of the blockade runners should be given fines and warnings that next time they also will be going to prison. Nobody will be allowed to leave until the fines are paid and until they are paid the people will be guests of Isreali prison systems. Israel must take the innitiative othervice as long as there is no consequences these blockade runners will try to get through, giving Israel a black eye in the process

"Israel will not allow its sovereignty to be threatened in any way, in any place, land, air or sea," Is Gaza an Israeli land? This is a smash in the face of those pro-Israel who say that Israel no longer occupies Gaza.

Come on Israel, what Lieberman said is so over the top it would be funny if it weren't so sad. More bogus words to put the fear into Israelis for politcal manipulation. Come back to reality and humanity, please.

The only ones threatening to use violence, or force, is Israel.

If the goal is to get food, medicine and basic supplies to Gazans, Israel has provided a route for that to occur. The offer to pass on the ship's goods to Gaza, after ensuring that there is nothing in them that can compromise Israel's security is entirely balanced and consistent with Israel's behaviour over the years and current behaviour. Good for Israel. Given Israel's offer, how can one arrive at any other conclusion than this is a propaganda flotilla?

It's a humanitarian flottilla designed not only to deliver relief, but also to put the world spotlight on the plight of Gazan civilians. Israel looks more and more like a monster.

Hamas must stop sending rocket to Israel. Israel must stop blockading Gaza