MESS Report / Aid flotilla won't alter the humanitarian situation in Gaza
The Freedom Flotilla is mostly a PR battle meant to strike a blow at Israel, but if Israel was less eager to confront the activists, some of the media attention would have dissipated.
By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff Tags: Israel news Gaza Ehud BarakThe IDF on Thursday completed its preparations for countering the international aid flotilla that is heading for the Gaza Strip. Israel announced Thursday that it will prevent the ships from reaching their destination, and warned that it will not hesitate to make use of limited force if it becomes necessary.
Israel considers the effort by international left-wing elements and Islamic organizations as intentional provocation under the guise of humanitarian aid.
Estimates as to the numbers differ, but most point to some 800 participating activists in 10 boats.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Ministry Director General Yossi Gal held a round of explanatory calls with foreign ministers from countries whose citizens are participating in the flotilla, and also with foreign diplomats on Thursday. The Israeli message has been that the activists are welcome to bring the humanitarian aid to the port of Ashdod, where it will be examined and if found suitable will be permitted to enter the Gaza Strip through the land crossings. If the activists try to break the siege, they will be arrested.
Barak and Gal insisted that there is no humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
IDF sources say that a clash with the activists on the ships will produce bad press from Israel's point of view - but they believe that this is inevitable in any eventuality.
The instruction from the political leadership to the Israel Navy is to stop the flotilla from entering the Gaza Strip. From the point of view of the navy, a successful mission would be if they manage to perform their duty in a controlled manner, with minimal use of force.
The basic assumption is that the activists are looking for a clash, and perhaps even a little bloodshed, which will be captured in the media. As far as is known, there are no arms on board the ships.
This will not be the first time the navy has had to take over such ships trying to make their way to the Gaza Strip, but this time the flotilla is larger than before. In previous cases, the government of Ehud Olmert allowed ships to enter the Gaza Strip. A year ago, under Benjamin Netanyahu, a ship was stopped by force and its crew was arrested and deported.
This time the confrontation is expected to be larger, louder and will require more careful and professional handling under the guidance of the top military brass.
In the approaching clash, the complex system of alliances and counter-alliances of the Middle East is beginning to emerge. It does not appear to be coincidental that the Islamist governing party in Turkey is involved, behind the scenes, in dispatching the flotilla, in coordination with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. At the same time it is doubtful that it is coincidental that the Israel Air Force held this week exercises with Greece, the traditional rival of Turkey, of the sort that two years ago were carried out mostly in Turkey.
PR battle
The flotilla is not expected to alter in any substantial way the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. It is mostly a battle of public relations that is meant to strike a blow at Israel. Perhaps if Israel was less eager to confront the activists, some of the media attention would have dissipated. Had the flotilla been allowed in, Hamas would have its day, and the entire affair would evaporate quickly.
However, the basic problem faced by Israel goes far beyond this flotilla. The international community blames Israel for all the problems in the Gaza Strip - more or less. If in the West Bank the occupation is the source of all evil, then in the Gaza Strip the Israeli siege of the territory is considered to be the central problem. Drug addiction in the Gaza Strip? The siege is to blame. Low levels of education? Same thing.
How bad is the situation in the Gaza Strip? Let's say that it was bad enough before the siege. But even with the siege, there is no hunger in the Strip. The Amnesty International report published yesterday points to serious hardships, as did a UNDP report several weeks ago. But recent economic reports suggest that the situation is almost bearable.
Recent visitors to Gaza City were surprised to discover that there are more cars in the streets than before, and that shops and shoppers are more active than ever in the evening hours.
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Gaza flotilla launched from Turkey. |
| Photo by: freegaza.org |
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Many celebraties aboard that boat are in the midst of change, bored with their lives, feeling that they need to be seen and connect to something bigger than themselves ."
They can keep sending "humanitarian" aid till they drop. They are hypocrites who deny Gilad Shalit basic human rights. They "win" PR battle in their own circles and far left press but that is all. Israel still exists, so bottom line, Israel is the winner.
Israel can count on wide understanding and support worldwide when it comes to defense strategies to meet possible threats from the likes of Hizbullah, Iran, Syria etc. But what on earth is the Israeli army wasting its time, efforts and resources to stop these totally civilians unarmed boats carrying European Members of Parliament, former US officials, writers, lawyers, doctors who are bringing wheelchairs and humanitarian provisions to Gaza? It is not just unnecessary but also wholly misguided and ultimately stupid. As for the assertion that the situation in Gaza is: "almost bearable", well, shame on the writer and anyone else who thinks that this is acceptable.
The sea in our area is stormy today, I hope the brave freedom activists are bringing with them vomit bags.
"Recent visitors to Gaza City were surprised to discover that there are more cars in the streets than before, and that shops and shoppers are more active than ever in the evening hours." YEP, and shocked too. The only people who don't believe this are those who have their eyes wide shut. Pally Theatre is still alive and well, but no one pays attention anymore.
Here is the proof: Complete silence on the part of UNRWA, which runs UNaid to Palestinian "refugees" in Gaza.
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...
.. and those controlling it. As long as it lasts it is going to strenghten the criminal elements even more. Just remember there are elements in Gaza, that want the siege to continue and will do everything that it may continue on, and they are not Hamas, but worse.
Israel must understand that there is no credible military threat to the state, and previous attempts that failed have led to violence being abandoned. The new strategy is to isolate Israel, cause rifts with allies and supporters, institute a boycott, create a campaign of disinvestment and ultimately to delegitimize Israel. This will be achieved by provoking Israel into acts of violence, especially against unarmed civilians, goading Israeli's into over-reacting so as to demonstrate how harsh and unreasonable they are, and wherever possibly making Israeli institutions and individuals appear discriminatory and racist.
U r wrong. Only power convinces fools to rethink their stupidity
The aid is intended for the Gazan people. It has nothing to do with Israel. Israel bangs on about 'sovereign rights' but what about the sovereign rights of the Gazans? Either Israel is occupying the Gaza or it isn't. If it isn't then it should 'unoccupy' Gazan waters and not interfere with shipping to Gaza.
"The flotilla is not expected to alter in any substantial way the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip." The Free Gaza movement agrees. The flotilla is much too small to make more than a dent in supplyng Gaza's needs. But a forceful response to an insignificant, unarmed, and humanitarian convoy will point up the foolishness of Israel's decision makers. And that is the whole point of this enterprise. Israel's best choice is to simply do nothing, and accept a bit of egg in her face. It is either that or Israel gets brutal again. Bad, bad PR.
Send Israeli sailors out of uniform on unmarked vessels to attack and damage one or more of the vessels. Then claim it was private citizens "resisting" terrorists. After one or more of the ships are severely damaged, sink it after the leftwing trash exits the boat. The other ships will turn around at that point. Noone will be able to blame israel, because if iran and syria can do it - so can israel. If Israel is feeling particularly aggressive, like N korea they can just sink the boats outright, and claim it wasn't them
Even if the aid were to be allowed to land in Gaza it could not significantly relieve the humanitarian situation. The problem for Israel is that because the world perceived a need for the aid, there was a publicity blow to Israel. If Israel does not allow the aid to land, then Israel will be seen as sadistic. If Israel does allow the aid to land then there will be an abrogation of it's rights as the legal occupying power to control all access to Gaza. The situation is simple. Israel will lose no matter what it does, all it can chose is how it looses. How it chooses to loose, will determine how much it's image is damaged by this situation.
and moved strongly to the iranian jihadists camp against Istael,a big mistake for the turks.
If Israel cannot mount a credible propaganda offensive against those who wish to harm its reputation then it deserves the bad results! you fight fire with fire!
the cars because they don't have shoes
When Israel arrests and detains foreign citizens, it will eventually have to justify their arrests in courts. Courts both inside Israel and outside Israel as the arrests will happen on international waters. These trials will continue to deeply damage Israel for years to come.
Israel has no choice but to inspect this convoy. If these so-called humanitarians want to deliver aid to Gaza, then let them do it accordingly. This is only trying to blacken Israel's reputation. What people don't realize is Gaza is ran by Hamas, which has no plan other than to destroy the Israelis. So, Israel has no other option but to carefully inspect what comes into their territory. But most of you don't care about that small detail because you are raging anti-semites waiting for the end of Israel.
Next time you will claim that because of the boycot Gaza people eat a healthier diet than Israeli, make more efficient use of medical infrastructure, spend less money on useless products and have more resistance to water born diseases.
The truth is...nobody really cares about Gaza, with or without PR Flotilla. Let's not forget that Hamas was officially elected by the Palestinians in Jan. 2006. Should they ever have another opportunity of free elections, they should consider following: sometimes you get what you ask for.
'almost bearable' and that is supposed to be a good thing ? To me these words translate as 'unbearable' It's interesting how the writers of this article take the siege as a given in stead of the political instrument which it is and try to belittle it's consequences. Are they so blunt as to not realize how the siege affects live in the strip ? They probably are perfectly aware of the consequenses of the siege but at this moment it suits them better to paint the picture as if the siege is hardly of any consequence. That is what I would call a PR battle. (And one fought over the heads of 1,5 million people for that.)
A confrontation is going to be a PR disaster for Israel. It would be like banning Nelson Mandela. Smart thing to do would be to let the ships pass
Israel and its supporters used to claim that Gazza is not occupied any more. Well! here is the proof that it is indeed a false claim. On the other hand, I was expecting Israel to be smarter and let the ships go in without making a huge noise. However, the interception would help the Palestinian cause, and eventually, Israel would find itself like South Africa.
There is no occupation of Gaza. The only Israeli left in Gaza is named Gilad Shalit, and even the "human rights activists" of the gaza flotilla have refused to help him. He's been depreived of his geneva convention rights for 4 years now.
Have a read. "Under international law there are certain laws of war governing military occupation, including the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 and the Fourth Geneva Convention. The UN, Human Rights Watch and many other international bodies and NGOs consider Israel to be the occupying power of the Gaza Strip as Israel controls Gaza's airspace, territorial waters and does not allow the movement of people or goods in or out of Gaza by air or sea." AND "A July 2004 opinion of the International Court of Justice treated Gaza as part of the occupied territories." I am guessing that the vast majority of the world considers Gaza occupied. Have another go and quote references. . . .
Yes, nevermind the Israeli soldiers preventing any goods from coming in, shooting at farmers trying to plow their lands near the border, or at fishermen trying to catch something to eat on their sovereign waters. No occupation at all.
The only agency that can help Gilad Shalit is the Israeli government; and they have consistently refused.What has this to do with the Freedom Flotilla?
The Israel government seems determined to further damage Israel's image in the world. Stopping the convoy would be a big victory for Hamas!
George: It doesn't really matter what Israel does, or does not do. There is a part of the world's population who wants Israel to be wrong, to disappear, to be the bad guy, no matter what. But there's plenty that blockade runners can do to hurt Israel.
Oh Israel, please be smart. Take the boats to Ashdod. Inspect the cargo for weapons - a perfectly reasonable caution. Give the flotilla group 48-visas to visit Israel during the inspection process requiring them all to leave from this point of entry. Then, allow the boats to deliver their goods to Gaza. They'll have their day of glory with Hamas, enjoy Israel hospitality and make the tunnel people very unhappy by flooding the Strip with all these free goods.
the authors convinced me that Israeli siege of Gaza is the most moral siege ever in whole history,is almost bearable.Is not a humanitarian crisis in Gaza it is in Israel.What flotilla is doing ,they explain ,is only to bash Israel.There is nothing bad with the siege which could make human beings to protest,
I agree with you, there is nothing wrong with a siege on terrorists, murderers and kidnappers and tose who elected them.
What right does Israel have to siege Gaza? What right do they have to deny Gaza concrete to rebuild their bombed homes, and herbs, to spice their foods? The siege, itself, is immoral. That is why the tunnels are being freely used, to import goods, with the consent of the Egyptians.
There is nothing bearable about an occupied people who live inside a prison and are being collectively punished. Why don't you try putting yourself in their shoes for a while and see how "bearable" this situation really is? This is an illegal occupation and there is nothing bearable about it.
So if their lives in Gaza were so unbearable, perhaps it would make sense to end the violence and stop firing rockets and mortar shells into israel, or suicide bombing people every time israel opens a border crossing. Since intransigence and mindless, racist violence - bought and paid for by iran and syria - isn't working, perhaps a different tactic, like peace, would be in order...
How can anyone not pity the Gazans suffering the Israeli boot on their throats?
No one pities the Jews now. The day will come when no one will pity the Palestinians.
"But even with the siege, there is no hunger in the Strip." Even in first world countrys like here in the US there is hunger.... I have visited starving Gazans, seen it with my own eyes. Yes, Israel has failed to stop the flow of goods to Gaza via the tunnels, however the prices are very high, if one had a job to start with to pay for them.
Gaza infrastruction is destroyed by nice israel. There is no raw materials to rebuild Gaza. So,how can they get jobs? They are left to starve! Enough is enough
Of course you have no picture,liar. Haaretz,17.02.10 'Illegal' Gaza tunnel owners suffer as Hamas economy grows. "The tunnel owners explain that the increase in merchandise in Gaza made prices sharply decrease." potobac,(Tyler Westbrook) "Israel has failed to stop the flow of goods to Gaza via the tunnels, however the prices are very high, if one had a job to start with to pay for them." I would be embarrassed if I were you potobac.
I admit Gaza seems to be running low on slimfast and other diet products. I hope that the flotilla brings them some.
Israel can pretend there are no consequences of it's blockade of Gaza. Yet the stated intent of the blockade is to have consequences. The goal is to make life so unbearable that Hamas will be overthrown. How can one make life unbearable without inducing suffering? For it's OWN sake Israel should come to grips with what it is doing. Allowing only enough into Gaza to avoid starvation is not 'humane' nor is it without consequence. Destroying the ability of Gazans to produce food by driving tanks and bulldozers over farms is also hard to justify unless the intent is to produce suffering and hunger. Would it not be wiser for Israel to end a policy which has not harmed Hamas yet has harmed Israel's image in the world immensely? IF the purpose of the blockade was to depose Hamas it has failed miserably. If the policy was simply to torment Gazans then it is too depraved for any decent nation to pursue. The question is not the plight of Gaza, the real question is the substance of Israel. Is not Israel more decent than it seems to wish to appear?
Who sets the prices, and why are they high?
To talk peace, to aspire for peace, to show us what peace is, to ask us to do for peace, to value the peace of the other; give us 10 people in Razza who will truly do for the above, then we will have a start. As for the starving Razzans: last year about 200 of them "starved" following motorcycle accidents (BBC report); is this the kind of humanitarian crisis you are pointing at? Proportion Tyler, proportion…
It is so surprising how nobody says anything against Hamas. How comes that these humanitarian NGOs have not tried to pursue Hamas to recognize Israel and to free Gilad Shalit. I am a christian, I am coming from a Christian family and I have both Jewish and Muslim friends, but I am kind of sick to see how people always accuse Israel. By the way, Israel has attacked Gaza, because their borders were/and still are on a daily basis attacked by the Hamas, which is acknowledged as a terrorist group. Therefore, with all dew respect, Israel withdrew from Gaza, now maybe it is also upon Hamas to do a bit of an effort. As regards the flotilla, I want to underline something, as long as they respect the border controls, we can address any rights to enter Gaza, otherwise it is just a matter of national security for the state of Israel.
Then tell the merchants to stop chearing the people, they use each self inflicted crisis to increase prices Jobs, they seem more than busy enough planning terror attacks and firing rockets into Israel Nobody is starving, UNWRA has been passing out free food for more than 6o years
Gaza is not starving. Can't you read? This PR stunt is the last thing most people care about. Most are concerned with the economic problems in their own countries. The self importance of the fascist sympathizers is a joke. Outside of Israel no one notices or even cares.