Gaza flotilla activist: IDF returned my bag, but not my belongings

Yes - something is wrong impossible to have so many votes at once, its happening over the last few days.

That's the part that Israel often fails to pay any attention to, and I think that is why Henning takes an interest in ending the opression of them. A democracy that justifies its opression of another people is an ugly thing in the eyes of many people, that is why the democratic world is actively engaged in trying to get Israel to adjust its behaviour. And to all the trigger-happy nationalists: no, that is not an example of anti-Semitism. Most people don't have any problem with Israel, just with its actions.

The Palestinians have done nothing to improve their situation. The ones that do [Abbas & co] are accused of corruption. Where did the hothouses go that were purchased by the EU when Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005? It is about time that the Palestinians and especially Hamas are held accountable for their actions like grownups and not seen as some poor kids who cannot help themselves. What about Gilad Shalit , kidnapped in a crossborder attack by your precious Hamas, without Red Cross visits, tortured in the dungeons of Hamas for more than four years? There lies a nice task for people like Henning Mankell, the French and all others who so perfectly know what is right and what is wrong.

No wait I see the argument here! It is "terrorists are holding a single Israeli soldier captive so anything that Israel ever did to anyone of the same nationality as the kidnappers before his capture or after it is justified", that's it, right? BTW I'm sure that "the French and all others" devote a proportionate amount of time to advocating for the release of Gilad, since he's 1 person and the Palestinians are many millions...

Chaim, obviously you have no idea what smuggling and piracy are. You would need to invent some new crimes if you want to put him in prison... Maybe "being on a ship that was pretty close to another ship where people got attacked and defended themselves a little bit". 2-5 years of jail-time sound alright to you? Or maybe "bringing clothes and other personal belongings with you on a trip that never comes near Israeli borders". 3 years maximum I think, given that it applies to all people who go anywhere.

The Russians put the Somali pirates back in their ship and blew them to smitherines. Sounds good, eh? I understand the captain of the pirated ships has the right to dispose of them as he sees fit. Your 'pirates' may have faced the same fate had Israel not have been the target. A sure way to end the piracy on Russian ships.

I doubt the captain of a ship has the right to kill "pirates" however he sees fit, but that is irrelevant. You need to understand what piracy is. The people on the flotilla were not pirates. No possible interpretation of that word could be used to describe those activists.

Armed thugs who attack peaceful vessels in international waters are the pirates.

A journalist must be objective ... maybe you don't know what that means to be objective. Try looking the word up and learn it you ignorant moron

People on the left of politics don't usually call themselves Leftists or use terms like 'subversive haters of the Jewish people' or 'weaken and destroy decency and truth'. You sound much more like an extreme Rightist.

It's a matter of time, there will be more voices who express their outrage at Turkey and the cowardly henchmen who were paid mercenaries and murderers. AMERICA SUPPORTS ISRAEL, PERIOD.

a very objective comment

For the last few says there has been a concerted effort by the whackjobs and fruitcakes to influence talkbacks on Haaretz. It is quite entertaining when they fail to ellicit a reaction they then post something to you trying to get a reaction. Hence the attempts to portray themselves as former leftists etc, the settlers have realised they are living on borrowed time.

The UN is investigating the illegal act.

What Israel did boarding that ship in international waters was legal under the Helsinki Principles which allows a boat to be boarded in international water if there is reason to believe that the ship will attempt to breach a legal blockade and they had made it very clear the purpose of that trip was to break the blockade. As Gaza is a hostile entity Israel is blockading Gaza. If Israels blockade is legal and before all this the UN pretty much accepted the blockade was going on. Israels boarding that ship was legal not piracy.

Failed geography class? The flotilla did not leave international waters before the ships were boarded and in any case Israel's border does not extend to Gaza.

Passengers did NOT violently attacked soldiers. The IDF assaulted the ships, by air and sea. Some passengers defended themselves. The IDF is the attacker!

So does the $10,000.00 each paid to these IHH thugs by Turkey. Face it, Turkey failed at her attempt to break the blockade and hasn't the guts to admit she lost due to plain old fashioned stupidity.

The guy was not on the Mavi Marmara, as you seem to think. And it was Israel that took his belongings, so that is where he will turn when he wants them back. You do not free yourself of the responsibility of returning "confiscated" items by giving them to someone other than the owner.

You are spreading slander. The money was held by members of the flotilla to distribute to the most needy families in Gaza - a safe way of ensuring the right people got it. The Viva Palestina overland convoy did the same thing when it travelled overland to Gaza and entered through Egypt. Much more practical than trying to open a bank acc in Gaza from abroad..

Do you like Jews that much to convert?

I am a Jew who lives in the USA. My family used to live in Cairo. Why does the Egyptian Government not allow me back to my home? I like Muslims. I have worked for Muslims and they are good people. The thieves do not represent all Muslims.

I am a Jew who lives in the USA. My family used to live in Cairo. Why does the Egyptian Government not allow me back to my home? I like Muslims. I have worked for Muslims and they are good people. The thieves do not represent all Muslims.

Why should I have to become a Jew? If I am a Muslim, why can't you respect me as a person? Why do I have to change myself? Are you a racist?

Yes. I don't like the governments that do this. I wish they would stop these racist practices. I am united fo all injustices to stop.

Why should he have to convert? That's ridiculous. Can't you respect him for who he is?

You should read the Bible before posting, GOD himself gave them the land. Unless your are opposed to GOD's will. Then again if every country on earth gave back what they gained after a conflict, there would be very few countries on earth today. The Aztecs would still have Mexico, the Indians the US and so forth...

I agree too

Why do you automatically blame Israel? It's just as likely (maybe even more so) that some Turkish baggage handler decided to take advantage of the mother load of unclaimed baggage. Making accusations without facts is not only counterproductive, it's slander.

Israel took his belongings and the belongings were not returned to him, so Israel is to blame for the disappearance of his things. It doesn't matter if Israel turned the items over to a third party or not... If I borrow your watch and then lend it to my good friend Tommy I am responsible for what happens to the watch. I have an obligation to return it to you.

I suggest you read the Torah. One can kill to save one's country and life.

What is Henning Mankell complaning? Lucky he didnt shake a hand with Israel people, otherwise he missed some fingers or a whole hand.

If I confiscate your bag when you're arrested, then sign it over to the airline taking you out of the country, the airline is responsible for the bag from that moment on. Airlines don't just take baggage without paperwork. If you loaned something that didn't belong to you to a friend who lost it, that's a totally different case and you are responsible. Can you see the difference?

Thinking that you can clear yourself of any responsibility for returning someone else's property just by having a third party sign a piece of paper is just ludicrous. If you are stupid enough to entrust the well-being of something which you do not own and are required to return to someone else with a third party you will be forced to compensate that person if the third party loses the item. Your imaginary airline could sign 50,000 pieces of paper saying they received the bag from the IDF and it wouldn't change a thing. The IDF forcibly took control of the bags and then entrusted them with your imaginary airline. The airline is acting on behalf of the IDF, and thus the IDF is responsible for any failure of your airline to return the bags to mr Mankell.

that they took his bag at gun-point, emptied it, then filled it with someone else's stuff and gave it back. I don't know what kind of airlines you're used to...

Their known as thieves and liars. If they wanted a safe passage with their belongings to be safe as well, why insist on becoming a criminal and trying to break the israeli blockade? Try that in Turkey and buy your coffin first.