Tony Blair: Israel has a right to defend itself
Quartet envoy tells Channel 10: When it comes to security, I'm 100% on Israel's side. Israel has a right to inspect what goes into Gaza.
Special envoy of the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators, Tony Blair, said Tuesday that any investigation into Israel's raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla last week had to be "full and impartial" and that Israel had the right to defend itself.
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Quartet envoy Tony Blair. |
| Photo by: AP / Archive |
In the May 31 raid, Israeli commandos rappelled onto the deck of one of the ships trying to break Israel's three-year-old blockade of Gaza. The soldiers were intercepted by a crowd of activists, setting off a clash that killed nine men - eight Turks and a Turkish American.
Israel says its soldiers began shooting only after a mob of pro-Palestinian activists attacked them - a version backed up by video footage released by the army. But the activists and their supporters say Israeli commandos needlessly opened fire.
The incident triggered a storm of criticism of Israel, followed by countless calls for an international investigation into the incident. Israel has so far rejected an international probe, but is taking steps to establish a commission of investigation within Israel, possibly with international observers.
Speaking with Channel 10 a week after the deadly clash, Blair said that he believed the Israeli blockade on Gaza should be lifted but at the same time he also understands Israel's security concerns.
"There's no question that there are rockets fired from Gaza and that there are people in Gaza who want to kill innocent Israelis," he said. "When it comes to security, I'm 100 percent on Israel's side. Israel has the right to inspect what goes into Gaza."
Blair said he was troubled by Turkey's recent shift in policy that has lead to a deterioration of the Turkey-Israel relationship.
On the Iranian nuclear issue, Blair said that there was no doubt that Iran should be prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons.
"Iran with nuclear weapons is not something we should contemplate or allow," he said.
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well done blair! Someone with a backbone.
Blair is well known for his shoot-from-the-hip, casual, unconsidered comments, which others unfortunately may take seriously. "Israel has the right to inspect what goes into Gaza." Is that a moral, political or legal right? He hasn't a clue.
England is the real reason the middle east is in at the moment. But it is always the americans that correct the mess and deal with it.
Palestinians also have the right to defend themselves! It has become clear that the IDF was firing on the Mivimara long before boots hit the deck! There was a better way of doing this. Two navy vessels with antisubmarine netting suspended between them a few feet under water the boat sails over the net fouls the props and steerage gear and the two Navy vessels simply tow the boat to shore. Not a single boot has touched the deck of the aid boat. The IDF wanted this incident to be bloody, and it was.
Blair should immediately be dismissed as Special Envoy. Can anyone be more biased? "Israel has a right to defend itself". Against humanitarian activists with sticks? Gimme a break.
What a novel idea that Israel has the right to defend itself. If only the rest of the world agreed!
... and the need for some serious international presence during investigation of the deaths of nine foreign nationals, during the belligerent encounter between the IDF and the Turkish flotilla...
Leaders like Tony Blair never refrain from making the right and just comment. Why the world is so blind to see what was the purpose of the Turkish organized flotilla - just to provoke Israel !!! Thank you Tony Blair.
He went to war on lies about fictitious WMDs. This is the best adviser and he has made peace process make tremendous progress. Congratulations.
Finally a voice of reason from the UK