Netanyahu to UN Chief: Upcoming Gaza flotilla must be stopped

want to stop a peaceful demonstration in international waters? Why would it permit Israel to raid a civilian ship on the high seas or in Palestinian waters? Particularly as Israel managed to kill off 9 civilians the last time? There is something slightly nutty about the obsessive way netanyahu labours his point, when the UN has already TOLD Israel to stop the occupation of Gaza and to let in more than the minimum subsistence level of supplies. The truth is that this isn't aimed at the UN at all, they would tell him to take a hike, it's just play-acting the tough guy for the domestic, not particularly bright right-wing audience.

Wait until May-we may see a confrontation between the Israeli and Turkish navies should the Turkish navy provide escorts. The purpose of this provocation is to open Gaza to the importation of any and all weapons. It should be obvious that Israel will not allow the establishment of such a precedent.

This is the routine used by America during the Cuba missile crisis when there was a lot more on the line than there is here.

There are more than enough Gaza residents to unload the shps. There would be more room and money for aid if no passangers came. The purpose is to prevent Gaza residents from leaving on the empty shps when they depart and to create risk to human life and bad publicity for Israel!! Turkey will and other Arab nations will not accept them and want them to fight against the Jews with the munitions on board.

JESUS WILL GO BEFORE YOU MR. PM NETANYAHU. YOU NEED TO DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO, TO PROTECT YOUR LAND ISRAEL. ALL CHRISTIANS AND ISRAELI'S ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE STANDING WITH YOU. HUGS. XXX

A state of war, declared by Gaza against Israel, exists. Under International law, Israel has the right to defend itself and block its sworn enemy. To that end, simple torpedoes are the proscribed response to this provocation. Erdogan will stand responsible for any deaths. It is the same as the blockade currently in place by the "allies" against Libya. War is hell. The Muslims should not have started a war if they didn't want casualties

In this case what have weapons to do with it.

First of all there are a number of innacuracies in this article. The Victoria was not 'bound for the Gaza strip' it was bound for a port in Egypt (and should not have legally been subject to the blockade). The weapons may or may not have been from Iran, but their final destination is a subject of suposition and speculation. In any case, that one ship had weapons does not justify an agressive response to a freedom flotilla who no-one actually belives is going to be carying in weapons. The world does not believe the Israeli government any more and will not countenance the same action again. In a Liberal Democracy, this type of civil disobedience is policed but not attacked. Israel needs to decide if it is a Liberal Democracy or a segregationist ethnocracy.

Out of what right Israël would dictate they cannot be delivered otherwise ?

I say helicopter in Israeli commandos armed only with water pistols and video cameras and zip ties onto every boat the minute it passes inside the International Boundary. Physically restrain the captain and crew (using the threat of being squirted in the face with a water pistol) and direct the ships to off load their cargo in Ashdod. Have the international media film every step of the unloading of the cargo and its transport into Gaza, along with the "activists" on board. Maybe drop them off at the new shopping mall in Gaza City to peddle their wares there.

Why is Nothing-but-yahoo trying to make a corelation between a flotilla like the one he had innocent civilians killed and a cargo ship such as Victoria? BS artist!

this is a normal effect of what Ban claims is illegal occupation, while he overlooks the history and reasons behind an occupation that has lasted 60+ years. There were no settlements created for the first 20 years, and there were no requests for a Palestinian state either. The Palestinian issue was dominated by the other Arab countries who were trying to destroy Israel. Since then, there have been intifadas and uprisings. But that is of no importance to Ban.

The UN is likely to declare a Palestinian state, and the USA is unlikely to veto it. So for God's sake, freeze settlement activity, sit down with Abbas, and draw the borders, and tackle the remaining core issues before that happens.

The death rate ratio of the past twenty years is 275 Palestinians for 1 jewish person.

Or: "israel is a terrorist entity and American proxy," The truth said.

The UN will not do anything to help you. You must help yourself. When you board the ships this time, take them to Ashdod for unloading and inspection. Ship the goods to Gaza after a thorough inspection. Then deport the ship's crews back to their home countries. Finally, condemn the ships as contraband under the RICO (Racketeer Inspired Corrupt Organization) act and scuttle them at sea. This must be done to send a message to the shipping companies that there is a severe price to pay for allowing their vessells to be used to contravene Israel's arms blockade of Gaza.

Killing fishermen for sport isn't nice. Salaam/Shalom

There is nothing in international law that supports Israels four year blockade of Gaza. In the coming weeks claims will be made about what is and isn't allowed in but what is allowed falls far short of everything except weapons. The US is expected to be represented by the ship "Audacity of Hope" named in honor of President Obama. Israel should allow the port facilities to be repaired and benefit from some great PR and goodwill at the start of a turbulent summer in the Middle East.

Stop the games, these ships will keep on comming if a forceful response is not given. arrest all the occupants and then sink the ship. if the ships still come, then just sink the ship.

Israel should not hamper the delivery of aid directly to Gaza once they have ascertained that there are no weapons on board. The Palestinians should not have their existence depend upon the mood of Israel

The nine unarmed Peace Flotilla passengers were gunned down by heavily armed commandos to try and achieve 'deterrence'. The author's phrase 'Nine Turkish citizens were killed.' being much of an understatement. The current prime minister trying to paint with a same brush a Peace Flotilla loaded with Nobel Peace price recipients, peace militants and elected MKs, with a ship with a cargo of weapons is a sham. It's just plain silly, or maybe Mr Netanyahu is just at the end of his course.

just gives anybody else's good intentions a very bad name

Israel does not want to allow the outside world to have access to the Palestinians (and vice versa) without going through Israel. Israel wants to control every element of the lives of the Palestinians. This is a travesty and should not be allowed. Let Israel inspect the cargo of the flotilla ships, and then let them proceed to Gaza.

Attacking ships from arriving at Gaza shores is the ONLY provocation a normal person sees.

The Palestinian people are about to have a state granted by the UN, just as happened with the Israelis. The Palestinians should not be kept in a cage monitored by Israel. Israel uses foreign aid to the Palestinians as a carrot which they allow as the mood strikes them. People are sick of Israel's behavior.

First, apply all the UN resolutions you're not respecting and then you will be legitimate to call on the UN for your problems. Lieberman for PM!!!

will fall on dead years. The world is sick and tired of hearing his tirades. The flotilla is a humanitarian vessel to deliever aid to a beseiged people and it will continue on its humanitarian path. If Israel chooses to carry out another murderous attack then it will have to bear the consequences but the ship will sail and assistance will be delievered. Further, netanyahu again lied when he said the checkpoints were open to all form of goods.

... under similar circumstances. For example, what would Iran do if Israel sent a ship full of supplies up the Persian Gulf to bring aid to the Green Movement?

the sea and land blockade as offensive in the extreme, I would be very surprised to find that Moon is supportive of or even inclined to listen to Bibi's protestations. As for provocation, well that like beauty seems to be in the eye of the beholder. The Arab street, along with huge swathes humanity, looks upon the situation in the strip as the continuation by other means of a belligerent occupation.

The flotilla is clearly designed to be provocative. To say it is "humanitarian" is a blatant lie.

of Israeli naval personnel. Prepare to sink or disable. Under international law, Israel has the right to terminate shipments to an enemy state that has openly declared war

I thought the ship's destination was an Egyptian port and there was speculation that part of it's cargo, the weapons, was bound for Gaza.

All Israel has to do is claim that it thought the ships were "Egyptian horse carrier[s]." It worked with the USS Liberty. We can blame it on the Edomites.

Flotillas shouldn't come. There should be no necesity for them. Thus, stop the illegal blockade and attacks on Gaza civillians!

What is Israel so insecure about? The last time there was a flotilla, 9 civilians wound up dead. Israel promised to lift the blockade, but as usual, only the Israeli supporters believed the lies. Lift the blockade Bibi, under the supervision of the mighty Israel, let the Palestinian people have their daily bread.

Would some of you bright people explain why Gaza does not have seacoast out to international waters on which goods can be brought in? Surely Israel hasn't confiscated the sea coast of Gaza.

...stopped and then directed to Ashdod. Silly, silly ships of innocence and incitement.

Or is this just one of the usual IDF claims? The claim that the ship was bound for Gaza is nonsense. But hey, when it comes to boasting about IDF achievements who needs evidence?

The Israelis are of course right preventing weapons going in to Gaza, but trying to make the lives of non radical Palestinians through putting them on a diet, as former adviser to Ariel Sharon, Dov Weisglas put it, is a big mistake and also cruel.

It must be obvious that Turkey, Iran, Hizballah and all the other Disturbers in the Middle East are looking for a war. They will never breach the Gaza Strip and are looking for a confrontation to make Israel look bad, once again by leaving it no choice in how to handle this situation. My question is why doesn't the Mossad place agents on board these ships and actually film what really goes on. Then they can put it on YouTube long before the ships are even near Gaza. That way the world can see once and for all what really does on with these Jihadist lunatics.

Ban can't make himself condemn the most recent slaughter of the Fogel family or the Jerusalem attack of terror.

There we go again, another flotilla and more assumptions about the contents of its merchandise! This man’s ego borderlines with his narcissism. He desperately seeks the attention of the world on his own persona and hardly on what matters to find the path for a permanent solution with the Palestinians. All these years and nothing has been gained since he is in power except for those who are benefitting from the real estate and building industry.