Netanyahu: World criticism won't stop Israel's blockade of Gaza
Ministers likely to call for probe into Gaza flotilla raid; PM tells cabinet that naval blockade needed to ensure weapons not be smuggled into Hamas-ruled territory.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Israel news Gaza flotilla Benjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his political-security cabinet on Tuesday that international condemnation would not stop Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The Israel Navy's deadly raid of a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid awakened a storm of criticism among Israel's friends and foes alike, leading many members of the United Nations Security Council to call on Israel to lift its years-long siege of the Hamas-ruled coastal territory.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu |
| Photo by: Emil Salman |
But Netanyahu told ministers at a special meeting convened in the wake of the raid that the blockade was still necessary to prevent weapons from being smuggled into the Gaza Strip.
"We know from the experience of Operation Cast Lead that the weapons entering Gaza are being turned against our civilians," Netanyahu said, referring to Israel's three-week offensive on the Gaza Strip that ended in January 2009.
"Gaza is a terror state funded by the Iranians, and therefore we must try to prevent any weapons from being brought into Gaza by air, sea and land," he said.
Netanyahu acknowledged that militants were still capable of smuggling weapons in via tunnels from Egypt, but emphasized that the large amounts of weapons that could be brought by sea made the threat a completely different affair.
"On the Francop ship alone we confiscated some 200 tons of weapons being smuggled to Hezbollah," the prime minister said, in reference to the Antiguan-flagged ship Israel intercepted off the coast of Cyprus in November 2009.
"Opening a naval route to Gaza will present an enormous dangerous to the security of our citizens," said Netanyahu. "Therefore, we will stand firm on our policy of a naval blockade and of inspecting incoming ships."
"It's true that there is international pressure and criticism of this policy, but [the world] must understand that it is crucial to preserving Israel's security and the right of the State of Israel's to defend itself."
Netanyahu added that Israel regretted that nine lives were lost in the operation on Monday, but defended the Israel Defense Forces soldiers as having been justified in the actions of their mission.
"This was not a peace flotilla, but a violent force," he said.
The special cabinet meeting on Tuesday was expected to result in a demand to establish a panel of inquiry to investigate how and why the decision was made to carry out the commando raid on the flotilla.
Senior ministers have been sharply critical of the fact that the decision to seize control of the flotilla to Gaza was made after two meetings of the forum of seven senior ministers but without official deliberation by the inner cabinet, the body that has the authority to approve military actions of this scale.
Netanyahu returned to Israel on Tuesday morning from the United States, after canceling his scheduled meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington. He convened the inner cabinet for 4 P.M. to discuss the implications of Monday's military operation.
Senior ministers have noted that, in contrast to the handling of similar incidents in the past, the inner cabinet did not discuss issues related to the flotilla, receive operational briefings or approve the operation. The forum of seven, which did consider and approve the plan, is a consultative body only and does not have the legal authority to pass resolutions.
The forum - Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Intelligence and Atomic Affairs Minister Dan Meridor, Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Interior Minister Eli Yishai and Minster without Portfolio Benny Begin - held just two meetings on the flotilla, the latest on Wednesday. They approved the operation and the continuation of the Israeli policy of barring ships from docking in Gaza.
Much of the session was devoted not to the military operation but rather to media and public relations issues surrounding the issue. "The ministers who attended the meeting didn't get the impression from the defense establishment that a violent confrontation of this scope was likely," one senior Jerusalem official said. "The sense during the discussion was that the navy would come and the organizers would take fright, do an about-face and flee," he said.
According to senior officials who attended the session, a few ministers expressed differing views but in the end a consensus was reached and there was not even a vote. One of the most vocal participants in Wednesday's session was Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser.
He was against the raid and said the ships should be allowed to dock in Gaza in order to avoid a diplomatic and public relations crisis as well as the embarrassment to Israel that a violent confrontation with demonstrators on the ships could cause. After senior defense officials expressed their opposition to Hauser's views, his position was rejected.
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I want Mr Netanyahoo to explain to his citizens what he will do when the next time boats and ships come from Turkey to Gaza they will be escorted by the Turkish navy? What will Mr Walking disaster do then?
"This was not a peace flotilla, but a violent force," It is time Israel brings out a dictionary of bibispeak. WIthout it, it is hard to make sense of these words.
Netanyahu has once again displayed his naivety. The past is the past. Things have changed. He has not. He is not in control and the collapse of yet another government in Israel is imminent. I am not sure whether this is because of collective stupidity or quite simply they have backed themselves into a corner. Mind you this "with our back to the walls" scenario is what Israel likes to present to the International Community as their excuse for their crimes. Israel has miscalculated world opinion based on previous support. That supported is no longer guaranteed. Squeaky bum time again.
Who will save Israel from its current government and its suicidal policies?
I am very regret to see the great nations "Israel" treat the humanitarian very coarse. I hope to Mr Benyamin Netanyahu can implement love and affection to solve the matter like learned into Tarmud and Torah. If Mr Prime Minister can not solve this matter, I hope He already retired from his position. Give opportunity to international world to create peace there. We are Indonesian already to give this responsibility. Thanks
Israel can inspect any ship on its way to Gaza and let it go if it has no weapons. But it will never do it because the goal is to bring the Palestinians into submission, but it will never happen. They are very resilient people and can survive on very little. Israel's excuses are not resonating anywhere. Israel has become morally corrupt.
The blockade was worth the trial but when it turns counter productive it needs to end. Where is Israel's flexibility? Netanyahu statement makes the issue just worse.
Good for you Netanyahu and I hope next time the IDF going anywhere it won't be with Paint balls but with maxium force
we did nothing wrong. these humaitarians: 1- refused to deliever a not to Shalit 2- refused to go to ashdod 3- attacked soldiers with clubs, knives and guns Our leaders should be ashamed only for giving our soldiers BAD intelligence and not allowing them to go in armed.
As an Israeli citizien living abroad I am pertubed about what happened to the Israeli Society and it's lacking ability to critical reflect the consquences of their actions.
Originally, the "siege" policy was motivated as the means to make the Gaza population unhappy with Hamas rule and help them overthrow it. It didn't work, and actually should not have been expected to work because historically, Arab masses do not overthrow rulers, Arab militaries do that, but in Gaza Hamas IS the military. The policy failed to achieve its goal, but was continued nevertheless under changing explanations (today it is the Shalit excuse). How much damage can a pointless, visibly failed policy cause? 1. For the present "flotilla" incident, read the various articles, and consider in addition that the UN may become more inclined to send the Goldstone Report to the Hague. Also, the governing Islamic party in Turkey might have found the excuse to break relations with Israel, which it avoided doing for fear of the Turkish military. The Turkish military might now be convinced that this has to be done. 2. Operation Cast Lead (late 2008) was caused by the pointless "siege" policy. Hamas offered to continue the then prevailing cease fire provided that Israel lifts the siege. Israel refused. Result: Abbas had to stop peace negotiations with Israel. Olmert said he was very close to a deal with the PA, but then Cast Lead "happened". No, idiot, it didn't just happen, Olmert preferred the "siege" over a peace deal. Such an incredible choice should go into the history books!
It's a pitty. We need do find out a way to understand what pass by Netanyahu's head.
Israel should cover them with flowers and very loud music from above and "guide" them to Ashdod where a big party should wait for them.
Go Israel! They tried to set you up so you would look bad in the 'eyes of the world'. The 'eyes of the world' aren't my eyes. Do what you must! God be with you Israel!!
As reported here: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0601/breaking33.html Let's hope Netanyahu learned a lesson. If he was smart, he would send a customs boat this time. And let a single, unarmed official politely ask for the permission to come aboard and to check the cargo for weapons. Israel would save face, being able to uphold the weapons blockade, and the activists wouldn't run the risk that their stuff will rot in some Ashdod warehouse. Best solution, win/win for both sides. That's how a reasonable government would handle this. However, of course, there is no reasonable government in Israel, only Netanyahu and his ship of fools... But even he should be aware that yet another bloodbath, on a ship with THAT name, would be the straw that breaks the camel's back!
last time someone ran towards me with a piece of wood or a knife, I shot him in the face. I mean, what other option did I have? I dont want to get splinters, or even a bruise!
I think you are confiscating the right of self defense form all over the world. what about the pace activists? on a boat of an independent and sovereign country, in international waters, does they have the right to defend them selves against aggressive fully armed Israelis commandos who attacked them? yeah, yeah, only Israel has the right to defend itself in this world. Never again Israel, never again.
'mazing!
...blockade on the Islamist controlled Gaza Strip. Having been practically rejected form ever joining the EU, Turkey, the same country that was responsible for the Armenian genocide, the same country that has killed hundreds of thousands of Kurdish people, within and without Turkey, opted to join as a leading force the Muslim world. In order to prove its loyalty, Turkey began to collaborate with some of the darkest political forces in Islam, e.g. IHH within Turkey and Hamas without. This "Gaza Flotilla" was orchestrated, paid for and manned by Turkey and Turkish thugs. The people who were to pay for ushering Turkey into its new position in the world of Islam are, once again, the Jews; the Jews of Israel and the nation-state of the Jewish people.