Rough passage
On May 31, former U.S. Marine Kenneth O'Keefe was aboard the Mavi Marmara in the Free Gaza flotilla. He witnessed the passengers' preparations for a clash and the confused takeover by Israel troops that resulted in nine dead.
By Noam Sheizaf
BELFAST - "I don't remember exactly how long we were at sea. Maybe three-four days. There were all kinds of delays, but the atmosphere was good and our spirits were high. I was certain we would succeed in entering Gaza. I brought my expensive possessions - a computer, cameras. People came to me two-three hours before [the takeover of the ship] and told me, 'There will be an attack.' I replied, 'No, that can't be.' I really didn't believe it. In the 2008 flotilla I was the captain of one of the ships and there, too, Israel said they would stop us by force, but in the end let us through. I was convinced that it would be the same this time."
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Kenneth O'Keefe. "I knew that if the Israelis boarded the ship, it would be a disaster." |
| Photo by: Facundo Arrizabalaga |
Belfast, Northern Ireland. Kenneth O'Keefe is sitting at the bar of the Europa Hotel in the center of town. Guests are seating themselves all around on comfortable couches for afternoon tea. Nina Simone and Louis Armstrong play softly in the background while O'Keefe describes his one-on-one combat with an Israeli commando unit.
Kenneth O'Keefe has no hesitations about saying that he failed completely to foresee the Israeli naval operation against the Gaza flotilla, even though he had a convenient observation point aboard the Mavi Marmara.
On the night of May 31, the former U.S. marine who became a devoted activist for Gaza found himself at the center of one of the major fiascos of the Israel Defense Forces in recent years. The confused takeover by naval commandos of the flagship in the flotilla that aimed to breach the blockade of the Gaza Strip ended in a pitched battle, the killing of nine of the passengers, the temporary capture of three soldiers, 10 soldiers and dozens of passengers wounded, a revision of Israel's blockade policy and a rash of investigative commissions, Israeli and international alike.
O'Keefe, who lives in Ireland with his wife and son, devotes most of his time to Aloha Palestine CIC, created to promote trade with Gaza. According to him, he boarded the Turkish ship in order to reach Gaza and advance his organization's goals. After seizing the ship, the IDF claimed that O'Keefe wanted to get to the Gaza Strip in order to set up and train a Hamas commando unit, a charge O'Keefe denies vehemently (see box). O'Keefe maintains his political activity is out in the open and he offered to be interrogated while in Israel. Our conversation is his first meeting with an Israeli journalist.
"We knew there was at least a theoretical possibility that the Israelis would try to stop us, and Fehmi Bulent, the president of IHH [the Turkish NGO that organized the flotilla], told us from the outset that this time we were not simply going to sit and wait for the soldiers," O'Keefe continues. "He said this publicly even before the flotilla set out. When we were at sea, the IHH asked some of us, the passengers, if we would agree to take part in the defense. I was asked whether I wanted to film or help out. Team leaders were assigned to every area of the ship. Our area was the stern. I was one of a group of six and there was a Turk who was in charge of us. Because of my background and military experience, I was appointed his deputy.
"On the night before the attack, a meeting was held of all those who had volunteered to take part in the ship's defense. We were told that our goal was to prevent the soldiers from boarding the vessel, and that if they did board, maybe to try to disarm them. We were told explicitly not to use knives; even before we set sail we were told not to bring knives. I had a small knife that I used to peel fruits, but when I heard that no knives would be allowed on board I left the knife in Antalya.
"We were told in the briefing, 'If they throw a rope with a hook onto the deck, throw it back.' Things like that. They said explicitly not to kill. I don't remember anything being said about the possibility that we would seize a few of the soldiers.
"That night we were told to rest now, because the closer we would get to Gaza, the more likely it was that something would come up. We were surprised to be attacked in international waters. We weren't afraid. It was only just before the assault, when we saw the ships, the helicopters and the drones, that people really began to be afraid.
"We were resting in the sector that had been assigned to us when the boats carrying the commandos arrived. There must have been 10 or 12 boats behind the Mavi Marmara. We could see them getting closer, and when they drew close they threw stun, gas and smoke grenades at the ship. Most people don't know the difference between a stun grenade and a real grenade. It was about 4 A.M. It didn't feel like an innocent boarding of the ship, it felt like an assault.
"After they threw the stun grenades and approached the ship, people threw chairs at them and whatever came to hand. I tried to tell one of the Turks not to throw anything - I must still have been under the notion that they wouldn't try to board - but within a few minutes I already saw the first dead body. It was the Turkish photographer. He was killed even before the first soldier landed on the deck. That man was not even on the upper deck. He was not in any contact with the soldiers. He took a bullet in the forehead and then he was carried to the stern, where I was. When I saw him he was already dead." (For the IDF response, see box.)
"Less than five minutes after the [soldiers in] the boats failed to board the ship, the helicopters appeared. Now there was no longer any doubt about what was happening, but people around me were still in shock, not believing that it was really happening. Now there was also fear. I have been in difficult and dangerous situations in my life and I learned that at moments of tension the way to overcome fear is to control your breathing and focus on the things that have to be done.
"I went from the stern to the middle deck, below the upper deck, on which the soldiers landed. Just as I got there, one of the commandos fell from the upper deck, just a meter and a half from me, in front of my eyes. I think it was the soldier whose photograph was later published looking straight into the camera. The first thing I saw was the 9 mm pistol he was carrying, and I immediately tried to take it. The soldier was conscious but pretty much in shock, and it was easy to deal with him. I took his firearm but didn't know what to do with it. The whole time I heard shots from the upper deck, both the sound of paintball guns and firearms, simultaneously. It wasn't automatic fire, but there were a lot of single shots. There were many shouts all around.
"In the meantime, more people arrived and took the soldier inside. I went on from there to the middle deck holding the pistol in my hand, close to my chest and pointed upward. People passed me saying, 'They are killing people, they are using live ammunition.' I saw more wounded being rushed inside, and another body.
"One of the Turks asked me what I was doing with the pistol and I told him I didn't know. I tried to find one of the IHH leaders to ask him what I should do with the pistol. I didn't find the person who was in charge of our sector in the stern, so I went to the other side of the ship and then went back again, but none of the leaders was [sic] there. I went up to the command bridge and asked the captain if he could take the pistol from me. He said, 'No, I don't want firearms here.' In the end I decided to separate the weapon from the bullets. I gave the bullets to someone and hid the pistol. The logic was that if I succeeded in getting out of there the pistol would serve as evidence of the attack on the ship. I thought the pistol was evidence, so it shouldn't be thrown into the sea.
"After hiding the weapon I went back to the middle deck from the other side, when another commando was thrown down. This soldier had an assault rifle and was fully conscious. It was a lot harder to cope with him than with the first soldier. I and another Turk tried to take his firearm, but the strap was tied behind his back and he lay on his back and fought us. I saw that he was trying to reach the trigger, so we both made sure not to be opposite the barrel. He held the weapon so tightly that I had to pry his fingers loose from it. In the end we managed to get the rifle away from him and the Turk who was with me took it. Another two people arrived from midship and took this soldier inside, too.
"After a few minutes I went into the room where our wounded were. The three soldiers were there, too. They were without their masks, helmets and communications equipment and they were frightened. Very frightened. That was clear. They didn't speak. They looked like scared kids whose dad is about to beat them. I think they thought that we would do to them what they had done to us. They thought they were going to die, or at least they feared for their lives, you could see that on them.
"On this deck there were people who had lost their dear ones at the hands of the Israeli army and there were people who had lost their friends just now, in front of their eyes. By this stage I had already seen two bodies and a few more wounded. In these circumstances, there is no doubt that there were very angry people who wanted revenge of some sort, but they were an absolute minority. We all felt anger, but from the point of view of the absolute majority and from the point of view of the leaders there was no question of revenge, or even anything like it. The moment the soldiers were below they received medical treatment and no one hurt them anymore. Before they were taken there they took a few blows, there is no doubt of that. I think most of the blows were quite superficial, even though some of them may have been more than just blows. As far as I know, no soldier absorbed an injury he will not recover from or that will remain with him all his life, and the moment they got below they were given medical care.
"After about 15 minutes the order came to release the soldiers. I don't remember if it came over the speaker system or was given orally, but an order like that came through and six or seven of our people took the three soldiers and went out with them toward the bow of the ship. One of the soldiers was in worse condition than the two others. He had taken more blows and was in shock. The two who were in better shape jumped into the water and the third remained at the bow, from where the other soldiers rescued him.
"The IDF account according to which the soldiers escaped under cover of the melee and the shooting is simply untrue. I was inside the ship with the soldiers. There were at least a hundred people around the soldiers when the order came to release them. There was a small group of people, six or seven, who took the three soldiers from the room to the bow. There were shots or stun grenades there, and because they were about to be released anyway, our people just turned around and went back inside. Otherwise, from their point of view, what was the point of taking the soldiers outside? After all, there were helicopters and snipers there. If we had wanted to hold on to them, the right thing would have been to leave them inside.
"After the soldiers were released I saw another two-three bodies and I heard more explosions and shots, but less consecutively. A little more time passed and then the ship's captain announced over the speaker system, 'They have taken control of the command bridge, stop resisting.' And that was the end."
No invitation to tea
O'Keefe's body is covered with political tattoos such as "Citizen of the world" and "Truth, justice, peace." He is against all forms of nationalism ("It's ironic that because of opposition to the occupation I find myself supporting a Palestinian national struggle. I long for the day where all people see each other part of one human family, regardless of lines drawn on a map." ). He believes that the United States government was involved in the 9/11 attacks and views Zionism as an offshoot of Western imperialism. Personally, he does not call for an armed struggle and thinks that "the most powerful weapon the Palestinians have is the truth; violent resistance is nothing in comparison."
In a BBC interview he referred to some of Hamas' actions as "violation of human rights" but in the conversations with me he was adamant not to condemn Hamas: "I am against such attacks in the same measure that I am against state terror. Hamas has not perpetrated suicide attacks for years now, and when they won the 2006 elections everyone who prevented them from taking part in the political process is as much to blame as they are for the violence that followed. You hate them because they are violent, but what do you do when they take part in the elections? You kick them out and push them into a corner."
O'Keefe has devoted himself to the Palestinian cause since 2004. He has visited Israel and the West Bank twice. The first time he was caught by the IDF trying to enter the Gaza Strip without a permit, was incarcerated for 20 days and then deported. In the flotilla of 2008, he was the captain of one of the two ships that eventually reached Gaza. He spent a few weeks in Gaza before managing to leave via the Rafah crossing. The suffering of the population in Gaza, he says, which he witnessed firsthand, together with the sense of honor and pride that the Gazans showed, reinforced his determination to continue the struggle for Gaza.
Were you present when Bulent said the flotilla participants would struggle to defend the ship?
"I knew before we set out that the Turks are not like the other Westerners, that there would be no passive resistance in this case. The Turks are a tough people. They are people you don't mess with too much. In the United States or Britain people are asleep, there is no danger of rebellion. The Turks are different. I knew that if the Israelis boarded that ship, it would be a disaster. Not only from the aspect of the people who would be killed, but that it would also be a disaster for the Israelis."
Did you see them sawing the beams in preparation for the attack?
"I knew we would defend the ship. That was stated publicly a great many times. You have to be an idiot to board that ship and think it will be a ship of passive resistance."
So the same things would have happened even if the confrontation had taken place in the territorial waters of Gaza?
"That is my feeling, yes. Even though the fact that it was done in international waters - every Israeli will agree that that was a terrible mistake. If you attack, do it in the region of dispute. Apparently the army wanted to do it at night, because a trained force equipped with night-vision instruments possesses a tremendous tactical advantage. You know, the Israelis didn't send police or riot units to handle the demonstrations. They sent commando troops who are trained to kill. Ehud Barak said he would stop the flotilla at any price - and that is what they set out to do.
"If they thought we were a group of passive peace activists and that there would be no resistance to boarding the ship, what was the logic in coming in the middle of the night and using grenades? It's an insult to the intelligence to say that. Is Israeli intelligence so useless that they didn't even bother watching international newscasts, in which the leader of IHH said explicitly that we would defend the ships bodily? Did they know so little about the mood on the Turkish street that they thought boarding the ships would be an invitation to tea? Or did they know all that and because of it came at night, with stun, gas and smoke grenades and sought to gain a tactical advantage, in the clear knowledge that there would be a confrontation?
"There were helicopters there with snipers. The first to be killed was the photographer. That's the proof of the way the army behaved there, that and the 250 bullet holes in the ship itself, including places where there was no fighting."
Israel claims there was a planned ambush for the soldiers by a few dozen passengers.
"How exactly did they plan to attack? That's bullshit. When someone comes aboard with a rifle and shoots you, you don't start to think, 'Is it moral to raise an iron bar and protect myself?' You do what you have to do. The theory about 40 or 80 extremists is simply nonsense. Where is the proof? Israel says the passengers shot at the soldiers. Where are the gunshot wounds? Where are the weapons, the shells?"
Didn't the resistance to the soldiers make their reaction legitimate?
"I am not even going to pretend to persuade the Israeli public to adopt my point of view. It's clear that the Israelis believe that the army had every right to board the ship, international waters or not. It's clear that they believe we were terrorists or connected to terror. It's clear that the Israelis believe that we had no right to resist, because you are right and we are wrong and that's that.
"But if you look at it from a different perspective, there are a million and a half people in Gaza of whom the overwhelming majority are not Hamas, there are 800,000 children who are suffering from trauma and diseases. We wanted to help them. And in my opinion, that is also an Israeli interest, because the present approach to the Palestinians will not bring you security. We defended not only ourselves but also the mission, to aid innocent people. How is it possible to believe that it's justified to punish 800,000 children? If you see things like I do and like the people aboard the ship, it's as though they are your children. What would you do to save your child?"
But how could Israel be sure there were no weapons on the ship?
"Do you think there was any chance that the Turks would have transported weapons on their ship to Gaza? Israel could easily have approached the Turkish authorities and received guarantees that there would be no weapons and no terrorists on the ships. All that could have been done through diplomatic channels, if they were really interested in doing it.
"Personally, I have no desire or interest to bring weapons into Gaza, and I don't think anyone else wanted that. It's beyond stupidity. And what exactly could you bring that would be able to cope with the IDF? I don't believe armed resistance against Israel is anything but a losing battle. One flotilla is better than 10,000 rockets."
Fault line
The second time I was to meet O'Keefe, the road adjacent to the center of Belfast was blocked by the police because of a suspicious object. The convoy of armored vehicles and vans of the security forces illustrates the fragility of the Good Friday Agreement that ended what everyone had claimed was an intractable conflict. In addition, one could not avoid seeing the support of the Catholic community for the Palestinian cause. Not far from Sinn Fein headquarters, two Britons were collecting donations for a new convoy to Gaza. It is those civil society activists who were shocked by operation Cast Lead in ways Israelis don't always appreciate. During our interview, O'Keefe asked me at least twice whether I thought that the estimate that 80 to 90 percent of the Israeli public supported Cast Lead was realistic. "It's very hard to accept that," he says. "In the eyes of the world, support on that scale for bombing civilians with phosphorus is gross."
Nothing in O'Keefe's past indicated the course he would follow as an adult. He is from an affluent family and grew up in the suburbs of San Diego. He liked soccer and football, but gave them both up in favor of surfing. Politically, he leaned toward the Republicans and admired President Reagan.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 19. He was, he says, a good soldier, popular with his buddies, until during a six-month mission aboard a ship in the Mediterranean he complained about unbecoming behavior on the part of a veteran sergeant. His life then became hell; he still becomes overwrought when he tells the story. In the First Gulf War, in 1991, he took part in the ground invasion of Iraq. There was "no serious resistance," he says. He paid no particular attention to the residents of the country he invaded.
"I was like all Americans, spoon-fed what I needed to know. I was so dumb that I didn't grasp that Saddam Hussein had been our boy for years, because he had fought against Iran; that he received weapons from us with which he killed Kurds; and that suddenly he had become a new Hitler who had invaded a defenseless sovereign country. At the time I was also an avowed supporter of Israel. I would have told you then that the Palestinians are a gang of terrorists who want to throw the Jews into the sea.
"That's why I don't hate the Israelis: I see myself in them. I also bought into that stuff. I would be happy to meet with the Israeli commandos who boarded the ship. I would like to sit down with them and talk to them respectfully. I would tell them, 'Considering the circumstances and what you were told, you are doing what you think is right. And you are fighters - I respect that. But I'm sorry, if you move away from the conditioning and the propaganda, if you are honest and fair and know history, you understand what these people are resisting.' Ehud Barak said himself that if he were a Palestinian, he would join the resistance."
After his discharge, O'Keefe entered college and underwent a conceptual revolution. He went to Hawaii and became a diving instructor, took part in activity to preserve marine life and started to take an interest in the indigenous population and in the "dispossession and land theft" that they were subjected to, as he puts it. In 2001 he renounced his American citizenship. Two months after the September 11, 2001 attacks he left the United States and requested political asylum in Holland.
On the eve of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, O'Keefe initiated Operation Human Shields in which hundreds of citizens of Western countries took part, in an effort to protect the Iraqi people bodily against the American bombs. "It was an extraordinarily powerful idea that simply took off, because people understood that the invasion was a disaster and was based on lies," he recalls. "Before going there I gave media interviews and made it clear that I did not support Saddam Hussein, who was a tyrant, a murderer and a dictator. That's why I wasn't invited to Saddam's palaces, as others were, but that didn't bother me.
"In the end," he continues, "the mission failed. People told the media stupid things that made it look as though we were working for Saddam Hussein. Saddam prevented us from visiting hospitals and from deploying where we wanted to. Ten days before the invasion I was deported from Iraq."
Do you understand that in the eyes of most people, if you go to Baghdad you are Saddam's ally and that if you go to Gaza you are the ally of Hamas? How could it be otherwise?
"Easily. At least hundreds of thousands of people died because of the invasion of Iraq. They could have been alive today. They are the proof that I went for the right reasons. How could I try to help those people without being accused of supporting Saddam? I guess there is no way. It's the same with Gaza. Probably the most beautiful moment of my life took place on August 23, 2008, when we arrived in Gaza with the first flotilla. There was a special atmosphere in the port. There was excitement like we had just won the World Cup. Tens of thousands of people were there. No one believed we would get through, but we did. We knew it wouldn't break the blockade, but it showed that it was possible to reach Gaza via the sea. For one day there was total euphoria. They looked at us like we were heroes, when actually we respected them more for what they had gone through. At that moment there was no other place in the world that I wanted to be."
After his return from Gaza, O'Keefe founded Aloha Palestine together with Lauren Booth, the half-sister of Cherie Blair, Tony Blair's wife. The organization's goal is to maintain civil trade with the Gaza Strip. Among those who have endorsed the organization are Noam Chomsky and the Dalai Lama.
"In Gaza I understood that people cannot live only from aid. They have to be capable of buying food themselves, of working. I called the initiative Aloha Palestine because the Palestinians very much reminded me of the people of Hawaii: despite everything, they have remained courteous and welcoming. Aloha is actually a way of life. The Palestinians may not have much, but what they have they will share with you. As an American, you can't go to Baghdad, but you can walk around without any problem in Gaza or the West Bank. People will look after you."
In the sun without water
O'Keefe did not make it back to the Gaza Strip. The battle for the Marmara ended around 5 A.M. and the ship made for the port of Ashdod. "It took another two hours before it was decided that we would go one by one to the stern with our hands raised," O'Keefe says. "A few dozen soldiers were waiting for us, tied our hands and searched us. I was kicked a few times, but it was very superficial, nothing serious. More attention was paid to people with a distinctly Muslim appearance. From there we were taken to a few points on the upper deck and told to kneel and wait.
"We were kept in that position until the Marmara reached Ashdod, at about 7 P.M. There was no shade on the deck and we had no food or water. An elderly man urinated on himself after all his requests to be taken to the toilet were ignored. At one point I tried to raise myself to stretch my muscles and a soldier shouted at me to sit down. When I refused he kicked me. A few others were also roughed up. It was unnecessary and unprofessional, but in comparison to the big picture it wasn't serious.
"From Ashdod we were taken to a facility in the Negev [Ela jail in the Be'er Sheva prison], where we stayed two days. The treatment we received also changed radically. True, we were not allowed to contact anyone and had no access to a lawyer, but we had food and water and were allowed to smoke.
"Gradually the number of people in the jail decreased until only 50 of us were left, and in the end we too were taken to be deported. We arrived at the airport and there was someone in charge wearing civilian clothes. Under his command were policemen in special uniforms, black or very dark blue. [There were policemen, Border Police and members of the police special patrol unit at the airport.] It was obvious that they despised us. We sat in the airport and a few meters in front of me was an American named Paul Larudee. Paul had a black eye and deep contusions on his right arm and he was in handcuffs. Apparently he had been told that he had to go somewhere and he would not do it and lay down on the floor. He was picked up by the hand and started to scream with the pain of his injuries. We all got up and started to shout at them to let him go. The police came over and shouted at us and hit us. One policeman hit me on the head with a truncheon and blood started to run down my face. I did not resist but told them everything I thought, that they were shits and cowards, so one of them started to choke me and the others kicked me in the ribs.
"There were four or five of them on me. I couldn't breathe. Just as I started to black out, they got off. That was the only moment I thought I might not survive this story. Others were also beaten in the airport and one of the Turks had his arm broken.
"I was on the floor. They handcuffed me and started to drag me. At that point I started to resist, because I didn't understand where they were taking me, so they threw me on the floor again and one of them kicked me in the head while I was lying on the floor and my head was bleeding.
"When the guy in charge brought the policemen under control again I no longer wanted anything from them. Someone wanted to wipe the blood off my face and I told him to back off. Probably they didn't want me to fly with fresh wounds and all the blood on me, so they took me to some detention facility in the airport, where I ended up staying two more days while the others had already flown back.
"I was held in a cell alone in the airport. I was not allowed to see a lawyer or to call anyone. The Irish consul general came to see me and begged me to agree to leave. I told him I wanted to see a judge. On the day before I left someone came in and said, 'A judge will see you now.' I entered a room and there was a judge there and he asked me questions and I answered him. Half an hour later he called me in and said, 'You are being deported from Israel.'
"The night before I left I was attacked in my cell by two guards or policemen. I don't know who they were. I was sleeping, they came in, beat me and left. So I had blood on my face when I was released. I would not agree to wash my face, even though the Irish consul general asked me to. I told him, 'This is the way I was treated and I will keep the blood on my face. That's how I will stay, or that's how I will leave.'"
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All this detail and yet there was not video that backs his story. Then we learn he thinks 9-11 was an inside job. C'mon Haaretz - do you feel it necessary to print every load of crap you get?
for showing us that you are totally out of contact with reality. I don't think any schizophrenic in a mental hospital can beat you out.
Listen, if the 'passengers' would have act as passengers, there would be no casualty's. But they didn't and they had knowledge of a possible confrontation.
It seems to me that these IDF soldiers are like little babies. Crying, whining,.. hahaha What a joke you are.
"The Turks are a tough people. They are people you don't mess with"... I tend to agree with Kenneth O'Keefe
The man is nuts! He lies! He never was a Marine! Reload and bash him wherever Tea Party patriots gather! Reload! You Betcha!!!
Time for Israel to face the consequences of its crimes.
Maybe so but covered with prison tatoos (like the tear). Very telling about pals supporters.
In US prisons, that prison tear drop tattoo signifies someone who has committed murder. Explains why he is an EX marine, Probably drummed out for murdering innocent civilians
Between the lines of this marines story is but one truth that need be learned. These ships had no intention of acting as peace activists. There was no intention of passive resistance. International law stipulates that you cannot claim to be a non-violent actor as a facade and then enjoy the benefits of a non-combatant. This lie is the one that justifies the boarding. This marine admits this. All other arguments are legally untenable despite the UN human rights commissions judgements.
to ask what to do with the gun. Right. And what ship was he on, the love boat? Teams were set up to defend the ship,. So they anticipated the Israeli action? Were they not aware they "running a blockade"? These statements are hogwash from beginning to end. Haaretz should be praised and not criticized for publishing an article that exposes O'keefe for the truly biased and untruthful person he is.
It just makes me wonder, if theres loads of israeli commandos that wants to board your ship, the best idea is to pick a fight with them? I mean really, how smart is that?
O'Keefe:Israel says the passengers shot at the soldiers. Where are the gunshot wounds?" WHO SHOT THE ISRAELI SOLDIERS?? I personally know of one of the commandos who will never recover from his stomach wounds. O'keefe, you are a dangerous low life hypocrite.
Most Israelis supported Cast lead, but it doesn't mean that they supported everything that happened on the battlefield. 75% of Americans supported the war in Iraq, it doesn't mean that they automatically supported what happened at the Abu Ghraib prison. It's not because you support a war, that you'll support war crimes commited by soldiers during this war. Furthermore, I'm sure he ignores the polls which show that most Israelis support a two-state solution based roughly on the 1967 border. Secondly, zionism is not Western imperialism as he calls it. Zionism is the Jewish national movement Maybe zionism has commited crimes, but most other national movements have done so. This guy might be sincere, but he is completely brainwashed. He feels that he unveiled the truth, but he's just lost. I'm sure he ignores the fact that the Israeli peace camp is zionist as well.
They were ready alright. But what about the other 5 ships stopped peacefully that same night ?
He isn't the best propagandist. He admits fighting 2 wounded IDF soldiers. Also, that the capture of the IDF soldiers was planned. The Turkish ship captain said that the IHH tried to take over the bridge and run to Gaza with IDF hostages on board. He wouldn't because he thought the Israelis would sink the ship. Israel could not afford to have 3 more Shalits. I hope that the real UN review reads this because it is clear that the IHH planned a violent incident, appointed members to cover the entire ship & involve the real peace activists in the violence. The aim was to cause Israelis to kill as many innocents as possible. Fortunately, the only deaths were IHH militants. Interesting, that he testified that only single shots were fired. Were they all Israeli shots. This shows that the Israelis responded with side arms backing up their story . As far as the public address system calling for giving up the IDF hostages, this is consistent with the testimony of the ship captain and the failure of the IHH to take over the bridge.
An opponent of nationalism in all forms except for Palestinians. Fundamentalists of all stripes eventually succumb to hypocrisy
O'Keefe says a lot but apears to have done no more than run from one deck to another, .... i
Well what can i say once a soldier always a soldier, I will say thank you to any soldier that has but his life on the line for any citizen or country, and so do alot of companies check this out. http://www.airsplat.com/support-gi-troops.htm
Like to see this guys military record?
we could see an israeli soldier being thrown to the water by the terrorist not the activist
i think, this soldier was not taken captive, but thrown into the water immediately after he landed. o'keefe talks only about those, who were taken below deck and released after some time (3 soldiers).
...Not personally, but mentioned in a book I read of a journalist before the height of the Iraq war. Unfortunately the book's title and journalist's name escape me (I read too much, perhaps), but he painted a picture of this individual similar to that of Dennis Hopper's character in Apocalypse Now. In other words, someone who is slightly deranged and at best, an eccentric. However, if what is alleged in this interview during the deportation process took place, it should be investigated thoroughly by the police and border guards.
he agrees with the idiot from Iran - did deeper into his past bet there's all kinds of dirt on him
And he is completely and totally dedicated to the destruction of Israel. I'm shocked that Haaretz would publish this guy.
This man is lying. Give me a break! He was ant--israel before he boarded this ship so why would he dare say otherwise? LIAR!
....who appear, by most accounts, to be cowards and a true disgrace to the ideals of Judaism. I hope and pray they will one day turn back from their radicalization, make peace, and end the seige of gaza.
Hey Kenneth, Turkey has been blockading Armenia for over 15 years and the Armenians have not been firing into Turkey. I think you might want to choose your causes a bit better, but then again Marines have never been known for high IQs.
That is exactly what you should have told the people on board when they decided to confront the IDF! The blood of the dead is on your hands.
It is clear that if any of the 500 or so people on the ship had actually wanted to kill Israelis, it would have been easy to do so. The Israelis themselves confirm that several of their commandos were disarmed and held prisoner for at least an hour. If O'Keefe or any of the others had actually wanted to lynch them, they could have.
If the photographer was not on the upper deck and if the soldiers had not landed on the deck yet, how could they killed him? There's something wrong with this story... "They thought they were going to die, or at least they feared for their lives"… "no one hurt them anymore"…. he is admitting they hurt them and of course they were scared. Israeli soldier are very young boys that have to hold guns to defend their country against the madness of radical religious that are never pleased and always want more, always provoke them, always threat them and swear to kill them. Anyone would expect to be killed after being kidnaped by enemies of this kind. Well, at least those who love life. Of course that a radical muslims would love to be killed expecting to go to paradise to meet the virgins… One of them said something like: "the israeli fear death cause they love life. We are not afraid of death…"… by his logic we have to conclude they don't love life. The wounded from the crew got medical treatment too from the israeli. Actually I got to know that some of them spit on the doctors while they were being taken care. I know that from a friend that knows one of these doctors. "Hamas has not perpetrated suicide attacks for years now"… thank god! and thanks to the measures Israel took to prevent that. Otherwise they would be still perpetrating it all the time. It's their biggest pleasure in life - to kill jews by killing themselves under the believe they are going to meet the virgins in paradise. Lunatics! They have declared many times that they don't want peace. They want war. They want to exterminate the jews! He said he was under the command of a group that support terrorism - IHH - so I think he can be considered one of them. "It's clear that they believe we were terrorists or connected to terror"… he just confirmed that before by saying: "Is Israeli intelligence so useless that they didn't even bother watching international newscasts, in which the leader of IHH said explicitly that we would defend the ships bodily?"… So… People that enter a blocked zone, a war zone, and confront soldiers, have to expect a strong reaction. They got what they were looking for. They just wanted to make noise and turn PO against Israel. Some of them declared they wanted to become shahids! Hello!!! This guy should be ashamed of supporting this kind of madness. He is just another puppet in the hands of terrorists. He feels like a hero and that pleases his ego. It's such a shame that people still don't see that the situation in Gaza exists because of Hamas and that Israel is victim as much as the population of Gaza under Hamas evilness. Free Gaza from Hamas!!! Israel will put guns down as soon as they stop being attacked.
I generally don't take a knife with me but O'Keefe had no problem doing so until, oh yeah, someone told him not to. This guy was part of the problem, not the solution and his story is crap. His story doesn't mesh with the videos.
I was expecting comments just like this. Reject, and accuse someone else. Next step change the subject. Now I am waiting for something like Cyprus, PKK something etc. Hey guys, the man has a point here, listen him and don't mess up with Turks.
Haaretz in line for Poo-Poolitzer prize!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11408758
A partial enquiry will extract whatever they want from that. That's why we need to wait for Israel's enquiry too. Whether they allow for such confusion and conclude accordingly. Of course, the Turkish report, so quickly prepared cannot be trusted. Except by UNCHR... who can conclude before even starting.
I hope his story is not true, but it has to be investigated. In order to pass a solid judgment on what happened all people involved shall be heard, including O' Keefe. I had very little sympathy for the Gaza flotilla, and stopping the ships by force was understandable for me, but those captured have to be treated correctly and in a disciplined manner. Violations of this principle give Israel a bad name it doesn't want to share with groups like Hamas and Hizbollah and regimes like that of Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.
O, Keefe said "I don't remember exactly how long we were at sea. Maybe three-four days. There were all kinds of delays, but the atmosphere was good and our spirits were high. I was certain we would succeed in entering Gaza. I brought my expensive possessions - a computer, cameras. People came to me two-three hours before [the takeover of the ship] and told me, 'There will be an attack.' He remembers all those details but doesn´r recall how many days there were at sea. Besides, and more importantly, he knew that there would be an attack 2-3 hours before they encountered the Israel Navy. So much for other members of the ship, including MK Zoaby and the captain of the ship not knowing that there would be an attack. They all knew in way in advance.
was prepared to assault the IDF, way before the ship sailed. As for this guy he gave up his US citizenship , not a rational thing to do. I suspect that he has an axe to grind. Glad to see that the the Irishmen who supported Arafat are still at it. the IRA lost credibility in the US because of that support and the terrorist violence perpetrated in the UK. Some things never change. Aloha
The only thing: why Israel did not put this garbage on trial? This dirty provocature belongs to jail for a long time.
On the surface this guy seems really intelligent and well-spoken, however, it is clear that he is unable to distinguish between empathy and sympathy. Understanding how/why someone would do something is not the same thing as saying it is right for them to do it. The world is composed of shades of gray which don't fit easily into O'Keefe's moral absolutism.
Or else Sheizaf cares not about the whole truth and is pushing an agenda. O'Keefe's is insanely hateful of the Jewish People, and his anti-zionism is a convenient pretext. It's not hard to know this, his comments are all over the web. Here's an excerpt of an interview he gave about Jewish control, yes Jewish control . . of everything. http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2010/09/krazy-ken-okeefe-gets-closer-to.html Not convinced. Check out O'Keefe on video, asserting that 9/11 was an inside Mossad job. http://wakeupfromyourslumber.com/news/press-tv-ken-okeefe-911-mossadinside-jew-job What a piss poor job of an article, unless it was done on purpose.
all ur excuses dont ring true if u did not already know hamas will not allow help to their children they need the children to b the reason for " ISRAEL injustice ur a liar and u know hamas uses women and children in war and trains them to commit homicide bombings they raise kids to kill them in a onging effort to get back land that doesnt belong to them when women love their children more than they hate ISRAEL this will end, but gaza is a farm house of suicide bombers being raised from birth thats why the TORAH calls them bees after the sting "BOMB THEMSELFS" their dead
You show far more courage than the American press who would never have the courage to print this story. It is too bad, however, that the article was not accompanied by a photo of the bloodied O'Keefe who, as many of the others on the Mavi Marmara were brutally treated by their Israeli captors.
Is a dyed in the wool anarchist. I doubt seriously if any righteous Marine would tolerate his mercenary ideas for an instant. He aided in the attack on the IDF people. His testimony proves conclusively that the ship was there to provoke an incident. That he was released instead of being tried and incarcerated for blockade running is mute testimony to Israel's leniency and compassion. To hell with this dog. His American Citizenship should be revoked.
1. this guy is a "truther" 2. this guy is against "all kinds of nationalism" but favors arab nationalism 3. this guy is a liberal "peace" activist. 4. this guy is a "citizen of the world". all of these point to the fact that he is a freak, and i am proud to be on the opposite side of his political ideals. just remember that we are dealing with people whose logic is: "we will boycott a chess event because we will face israelis, and it was a jewish trick that we forfeit the event". remind everyone of this so-called logic in every talkback!
gives a good account of what happened on the ship and the Airport. It is however very interesting to read this from O'Keefes perspective. I wonder if the IDF will do anything about the behavior of the Border police and commandos. If disciplining them becomes known it would be like the IDF admitting it lied. If they don't punish them the discipline of the IDF will deteriorate even further. And more and more cases will surface. I guess this will continue as long as the majority of the Israeli population continue to believe the lies they are fed.
Didn't even read all the way through. Half way, almost choked from laughter with his fantastic fabrications. Anyway, my advise to O'Keefe is this - if you want to light fire with matches, know that you also can get burned.
This is clearly a man who is motivated by high ideals,such as respect for his fellow man. Being Irish he tends to support the under-dog. It's also clear that the people who are so critical of him on earlier posts would prefer not to believe him. As they say "there are none so blind as they that will not see".
There are about 2 million ex combat soldiers in Israel, their lowly opinions are irrelevant and not called for by those looking for a stroke of their cause. I have seen O'keefe on the BBC and saw little other than an angry painted progressive who hates everything connected to the Jew. Whenconfronted with any questions he ranted they lie we all know everything the Israelis say is a lie. Why give an angry Jew hater a platform, why join in his chorus of "throw the Jew down the well"
How come he is not as passionate about Sudan genocide, mass killings of Kurds by the Turks .....Tibet, Zimbabwe, Burma, North Korea..........? The Israelis are the most sexy!
Taking his account of the flotilla raid at face value I still have to ask him how he figured that there would be no violence given the IHH reputation that organized the defense of the ship? If he wanted the supplies to go to Gaza peacefully, why not sail to Ashod? My only guess is that he wanted what so many of the free Gaza movement wanted, low level martyrdom. He makes no sense, hamas launches rockets for years and he says that he is against the rockets, but not a word until after Cast Lead-what did he expect from the Israelis? Again taking his version at face value I can only ask him if he and the IHH have any responsibility for supporting hamas and sailing this ship into harms way. 6 boats were part of the flotilla, only on his ship were there any casualties.
How do fighters think they can set the rules of the game? Lets violate their country, lets assault their soldiers, lets drag injured soldiers behind enemy lines.... then ask the world to codemn them for excessive force.
Sheizaf appears to be the biggest sucker here.
It's amazing that the israeli apologist are not commenting on this. Such brutatility. I really like to hear some defense of the IDF right about now. come out apologists!
I don't believe Kenneth O'Keefe's story.
Propoganda for the enemies of Israel! Fuel to add to the fiery rage of those who view Israel as the enemy of all things humane and decent! Motivation and justification for continued hatred and attacks against Jews and other 'representatives' of Israel and Israeli society! All based on the angered, unchecked, unbalanced, unverified rantings of an avowed supporter of the Palestinian cause who rejects the West and finds all forms of nationalism (of which Zionism is a prime example) repugnant. Hurrah to Haaretz for balanced, thoughtful, responsible reporting!
I didnt know the extent of how sick the Israeli security forces are, until I read this. From the commandos, to the police, to the prison security. Sure we heard of abuse in Palestine before, but this testimony really reveals that it is at every level. Non-Jews really have a difficult time there. Sad
Thank you for publishing this interview.
.... out of touch with any environment in which he finds himself. More to be pitied than censured.
Mr.Kenneth O'Keefe - thank you for recalling what you have gone through, I respect you for you have done! Your life could be a movie one day:)
Any way in any Western country his behaviour would have let to him being hit as you do not offend an officer nor police. In the Netherlands you would also been arrested and if resisting you get a baton on your head. So what is the fuss about? Any way a pity Haaretz still did not investigate IHH which by now has been named a terror organisation by Germany.
So much space devoted to a hate-ridden village idiot.
Thank you Noam Sheizaf and thank you Haaretz for publishing this article. Very interesting.
mr o'keefe's story is just on his protective side for the "invaders" as he is part of the assault on the "commandos"; seems uncredible!
This is an absolutely fabricated account and I can state that without having been there or interviewing anyone. Any properly trained Marine that was in fear of being attacked would not have hesitated to keep the sidearm and the bullets. Its unbelievable that he would look for someone to hand the weapon to or hide the bullets. How is he able to make an assessment of what transpired on the entire ship during what must have been sheer pandemonium?? There were stun grenades, tear gas yet he managed not to be affected by them? Why??? Perhaps he had a gas mask. If so do peaceful protestors carry knives and crow bars as well as Gas masks?? The Irish sponsored vessels that came to Gaza months later followed the Israeli navys instructions and there were no altercations. This one was clearly sponsored and manned with many terrorists. Where is the testimony that demonstrated the violent nature of the passengers? It exists and the Israelis have the videos from the cellphones. The truth will come out and the liars will be shown for what they are...Liars. Okeefe should go back to the U.S. and lay low!!! He is a terrorist
This is the true face of flotilla massacre and Israel.
ITs quite apparent that this "soldier" is severely biased and there are contradictions in his interview. At best he is a skilled liar and propagandist at worst he is no match for a highly trained Sayeret Matkal "Navy Seal". These are commandos not American kids that like to rough up Muslim prisoners in Abu Ghraib. They boarded with paintball guns which clearly demonstrates that they were more interested in shock and awe than killing. The sidearms were there to protect them. Where are all the other accounts of people that were on the ship to contradict what really happened?? Why didn't the Captain announce that people should not struggle with the boarding party?? These people were waiting and ready to attack Israelis plain and simple. This "soldier" is a liar and a bad one
I would not agree to wash my face, even though the Irish consul general asked me to. I told him, 'This is the way I was treated and I will keep the blood on my face. That's how I will stay, or that's how I will leave.'" Kenneth O'Keefe said.
He is big noting himself,was he really a marine or is that another BS story that he likes to weave,no marine would behave the way that he did.A drifter with no course.
This useful idiot might begin by encouraging Hamas to recognize Israel and stop firing missiles into "the Zionist entity." That is the best way to get more trade and goods into Gaza. That's not likely to happen because the aim of Hamas is the destruction of Israel, and he is a "useful idiot" toward that goal. I can't believe anyone can be quite so naiive as this man claims. He tried by his actions to break the Gaza blockade (in which Egypt too participates but receives no attention because it's not a Jewish country). In doing so, he helped those who want to bring arms into Gaza once the blockade is broken to kill the friends and family of these soldiers. I can't say that I would treat him any better. I also don't totally discount the Israeli belief he may have intended to set up a covert Gaza military operation given his marine background. If he truly believe the US bombed the Twin Towers of the NY Trade Center, the Pentagon, and attempted to target the White House or the Capitol Building with the 3rd hijacked plane, then he belongs in a mental hospital. If such be the case, he has a psychosis so disconnected with reality that he needs constant observation, along with Ahmidinejad.
This article is true and honest journalism! Thanks for posting it!
To beat handcuffed prisoners.
The notion that Mr. O'Keefe believes the 911 "truther" conspiracy, reflects apon his objectivity and his resentment toward America. The first rule of any con man is "tell them what they want to believe". I think that most "truthers" are disgruntled by American society and don't feel that American politics represents them. One has to know when one is jaded before they can form an opinion on the basis of fact. Mr. O'Keefe's resentment is further compounded by the fact that he abandoned his American citizenship - rather than campaigning for change. I don't always agree with what America does - but I would never abandon her.
at least to Haaretz and their minions of terror supporters. This ex-marine, who obviously never knew the real meaning of being a US marine, openly supported the despotic genocidal regime of Saddam Hussein. By doing so, he supported the move to exterminate the Kurds just as the Turks are looking to complete that mission. And by supporting the Saddam regime, he supported the brutal rapes and subjugation of women by his sons and supporters. As a TRUE former US Marine, I too spit on him and all his kind and am glad he moved to a dysfunctional country like Ireland, where he more fits in and where raping of thousands of innocent boys by priests is an accepted rite of passage.
Why can't he get a real job instead of sailing around the world causing trouble?
I wonder what the israeli command was thinking in the first place when they decided to assault a ship in international waters and to do it with so amateurish personal as these socalled commandos were.
This guy looks like the perfect participant to "free" gaza. It should be "Free gaza from terrorist hamas" floatilla.
Haaretz, you can get in trouble for publishing this type of article. Didn't you know that most israelis are unable to accept the truth written in this article? Israel is always right. All the world is against us.
Sounds about right for israel
Do we believe a military that fights valiantly for its people, or a disgruntled ex-marine who stood by Saddam Hussein to keep his regime from falling? Only Haaretz and its minions stand by Saddam!
The IDF has been caught lying repeatedly. How often have you caught Kenneth O'Keefe lying?
The IDF has lied repeatedly about this incident. As well as other incidents where innocents have been killed. Even when ir is documented that the IDF has lied about following Israeli Supreme Court dictates such as using human shields, Israelis never question. Is this refusal to acknowledge reality a particularly Israeli trait? Why haven't the 'brave' commandos been allowed to testify? Why hasn't all the media confiscated by the IDF been released to the public, unedited and unexpurgated? Why don't you press for the truth? Or are you afraid the truth will not butress your fantasies?
You are exaclty correct. Let's see: this guy believes the US carried out 9-11, he was "hounded" out of the Marines, he organized the "human shields" in Iraq, and eventually asked for political asylum in Holland? I would not believe this man if he could fly over here to Tennessee and land on my deck! This guy is a shameless, celebrity-seeking maniacal liberal with either a brain that is in "neutral" or a serious mental problem. I'd almost bet he never served a day in the Marines! And that line "I did not know what to do with the 9MM...... Pure BS.
Hey Natan, we are Jewish so we know for a fact that this guy has given too many details for the whole story to be fake. Aside from that, there are references that can easily be checked if they are true or not (e.g. the blood in his face when he left Israel). Knowing our IDF troops, I tend to believe him something around 80%. Shalom
THIS GUY IS TOO GOOD FOR THIS WORLD.....A BIT TWISTED AND CONFUSED THOUGH....
You made your point. To good for this world. Israel is not. At least not when Israel kills people who only wanted to help other people.
glorifying his invented escapade...After reading through this jibberish I am convinced that Israelis UNDER utilized their takeover of that terror-ship.. Those islamic radicals and their side-kicks(jew-haters) purposely butted-in into closed waters to undermine Israel's security and border integrity. That irish FOOL is getting paid by palestinian organization he works for,,, I guess he did not disappoint his employer.... I hope next time around Israel will learn the lesson and really be prepared to use strong arm to enforce the blocade...and with that deflect future attemts by islamic radicals and their side-kicks...
I have hardly ever seen such a pack of lies. Look at the footage of the soldiers landing and being attacked immediately with knives clubs etc. It just shows that you cannot talk with this people they can't take responsibility. They are just like the lebanese always blame others for the mess they make.
This marine brings disgrace on himself by telling lies . We all saw the videoes and the violence generated by the likes of him
Thank you for publishing. It is good to know how events happened from victims perspective.
white supremacists tattoo. He is a racist lying sack of crap white supremacy guy that hates jews.
This marine is a traitor to the American people who are under islamist attacks.
this man is a liar, a jew hater and a hamas sympathizer. This article is full of lies. I fail to see why haaretz would knowingly publish lies. The whole article is a lie...they let this man PONTIFICATE in an article even whose length is obscene. typical haaretz.
It's easy. It's Haaretz. They don't care about the facts of the statement...all they care about is it attacks and denigrates Israel. That's cause enough
I saw the interview as did many others, the interviewer was very tough on him but he stayed peaceful; he did not tell lies and he's not a hater of anyone.
I am sure you will all go on rejecting the reality and call this guy a liear and etc. See the reality, the intentions, the plans that was made and the photographers death before the first commando at the boat. Well I am sure you won't but at least listen to this guy's one sentence. You don't want to mess up with Turks. Listen the guy.
Anti-semitic and a terrorist by isreal....
anyone who beleives US planned & carried out 911 is not a rational human being claiming we're all claim others a anit-semtites is as easy "out'for you people
full of cheap political slogans of 60s-70s. If he seeks justice, he may go to Cuba and fight there against Castro!
Because this is haaretz.
Did you express the willing to visit Sderot, Ashdod or similar places when Hamas was "alive" with bombs? If not, your story is telling us nothing other than you had a deserving adventure at sea. Next time think of the children of Sderot that could not even reach a shelter in 15 seconds or less. Tell us about your ex- Marine opinion of seing a child being bombed and he cannot hide. That will be intersting.
Please tell us your opinion of the children in Gaza and Lebanon who weren't able to reach a shelter when Israel used cluster bombs (war crime,) or decided to use Human shields (another war crime?) Tell us what you think of Israel intentionally bombing civilian infrastructure, such as bridges and airports. Tell us your opinion on Israel intentionally using white phosphorus on civilians. That will be interesting.
He trusted Hitler also
But to be honest, he doesn't seem very credible. A former US marine, who refuses to be loyal to anyone, can't be trusted in my opinion. Nevertheless, I'm sure there is much truth in what he is saying.
He seems to have done nothing but run from one deck to another, grabbed a gun from an injured Israeli commando and took it to the captain to ask what should be done with it. Who should know better than an ex US Marine.
His description does not match up to the one here,which is 'thought out and full of"It wasn't me" sort of thing.Methinks the man protesteth too much. It is patently obvious that the crowd of 50 or so were intent on confrontation,and we saw the preparations with sawing iron bars etc.I dont believe his version of events.The IDF were not expecting force.The other ships had no trouble.They did not contain folk who 'wanted martyrdom' etc.O'keefe is a mercenary or has been brainwashed,or is not using it,if,like Amedhinejad,he truly believes that the USA and Israel were responsible for 9/11. The Arab population is brainwashewd from childhood to hate Israel,Jews and 'the West'. In spite of the above ,as a reasonable Israeli citizen,I dont wish the ordinary Gazans suffer for Hamas policies.The blockade on ships HAS to be ,to stop weapons going in.However I see no reason to prevent ordinary supplies entering by land ,after vetting by Israel.The population ,however wqorn down by blockade,are not capable of overthrowing Hamas. And if Hamas recxognises Israel,instead of wishing to destroy it,life would soon become sweeter for Gazans.They and those on West Bank have for years,been pawns in a political game,with no help from Arab Neighbours, They are 3rd generayion in this position,and it is purewly chance that they fdind themselves as they are.I'm sure I would feel equally aas they do ,were I to find myself in their shoes.
And I believe he is telling the truth. You are not.
He is telling his truth. He is blind to the rest, especially those that use his innocence. The Ayatollahs, Hamas dictators, Assad clan and reborn Erdugan are sending their regards.
"A soldier fall in front me .We had to pry his fingers to take his gun" He snubbled ?
Hey why don't you come and try to get Istanbul fake swidish?
It's a shame you don't have the balls to say something like that to his face, coward. I've served alongside Marines before. He could've VERY easily killed those soldiers with his bare hands, if he so desired. But he chose to accept life, instead. Can't say the same of the IDF here. And you have no honor.
O'Keefe means well but is too stupid to see that he's been used. Israel cannot simply, as he thinks would be reasonable, take Turkey's or anyone's word that there will be no arms deliveries on ships heading for Gaza. Iranian ships full of such arms have been caught. No intelligent person or state takes the words of its enemies. It's this kind of fool that Iran, Hamas etc find so useful as propaganda pawns.
Couldnt agree with you more. How many times would Israelis have been injured or killed if they believed every gurantee that there are no weapons or terrorists entering?
His account has the ring of truth. Israel's is simply not credible. No wonder these "brave" commandos have not been allowed to speak up.
The Israelis were facing heinous Turk murderers, 9 of whom were found dead with thousands of dollars in their pockets, payment for killing Jews .....
I have seen Israeli police beat people for no reason and I have seen soldiers as well, so the claims ring true to me. I think this is VERY wrong, and these soldiers and police should be disciplined for acting brutally. Leaving the prisoners on ships deck in the sun is also inhumane, as is any beatings that were given. I know in the mentality of Israelis it was for revenge, hurt pride (for capturing commandos), and resentment, but this is no excuse.
Palestinian suicide-bombers kill and maim hundreds of innocent Jews on buses, pizza parlours and festive dinners, pay-back time must come sooner lor later..
What a sweet USA Marine... oh really good people. Trained to kill and don't know what to to do with a gun in his hands... so nice!!!
He knew what to do with a gun but the three commandos were released; no shots were used against them or the Israeli Navy - so what is your argument?
He clearly had the training and ability to turn the gun he captured on the IDF. He spared three IDF lives that he could easily have snuffed. He would not have needed the gun to do that either. Marines know unarmed combat, too.
I think you have misunderstood his comments, obviously he knows how to use a gun, when he says he didn't know what to do he meant he didnt know how to react to the situation he found himself in at that precise moment. Can you understand that?
Would you have been happy if he killed the soldiers? Instead, he asked what to do with it, as he actually tried to avoid snuffing out someone's life, unlike the IDF. He could have snapped their necks, if he wanted to.
finally the truth..i hope israelis can accept it without telling everytime lies like they do everytime(I mean leaders not maybe all the population)
Ethnocentric self-rightousness from the safety of Sweden --- for how many years have you lived in an Arab country or even Israel to know what is going on. Besides, our leaders --- and not those of our lovely neighbours --- are elected. Hamas may not represent their people, The Israeli government does. Thus, you are wellcome to despise us all !
This man committed criminal acts, attacked Israeli soldiers, stole their weapons and is aiding Israel's enemies. I like that he supports non-violence, but his acts are criminal and deserve punishment. He is lucky that Israel released him.
He was attacked and kidnapped with lethal weapons in international waters and defended himself. There is nothing criminal in what he did. Sorry, "aiding Israel's enemies" does not count.
The soldiers could possible be charged in Turkey so better to release them than to bring charges, political dynamite since they were from many countries.
His own account says that the photographer was dead before a single soldier set foot on the deck. That means they aimed at him, and not with "paintball guns." That was cold-blooded murder, as well as an act of war and terrorism on the high seas.
neither the ship logs nor the bols indicated that they had applied to a harbour master for permisssion to enter an approved port. the ships were prewarned and directed to ashdod which they refused and they said they were on their way to gaza . no one in those circumstances could be indicted on any count !
Come of Keefee, you don't expect us to believe this do you? I am sure it was not self inflicted. Tough guys like you can take one for the team. I mean that if it was self inflicted, it would really discredit everything you have said and done on the entire trip, would it not?
Shame on you Haaretz and Shai Golden for giving this guy a stage for his propaganda and lies! You didn't balance his story with a soldier's account! You didn't try to be objective.Maybe, instead of reading your newspaper , I should start watching Al-Jazeera, at least they are more authentic.
Objectivity for haaretz is simply putting forth an extreme leftist viewpoint to support thei 'gideon levy' type lies that are always left of center.
what kind of hate is that? Are you jewish?
Were you there? How do you know he is lying?
Well said Sarah. It is a disgrace that an Israeli newspaper which used to be the emblem of honest journalism is resorting to cheap tactics to get readers. Haaretz has lost the plot - thousands of former subscribers (including myself) have stopped buying the paper because of this type of cheap journalism and the only way they can attract anyone to their website is by interviewing loonies like this man.