New boats headed to Gaza to challenge blockade

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

New boats headed to Gaza to challenge blockade
By AMY TEIBEL
The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 1, 2010; 3:58 AM

JERUSALEM -- Pro-Palestinian activists promised Tuesday to send two more boats to challenge Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip as international outrage mounted over a botched Israeli raid that left nine people dead.

Also Tuesday, the U.N. Security Council called for an impartial investigation of Israel's deadly raid, condemning the "acts" that resulted in the loss of life. After an emergency meeting and lengthy negotiations, the council agreed on a presidential statement that was weaker than that initially demanded by the Palestinians, Arab nations and Turkey.

Israeli officials have not identified the nine dead or the estimated 34 who were wounded in the raid, but said they would release the names of the dead later Tuesday. They said 50 of the 679 activists aboard the flotilla have been taken to Israel's international airport for deportation. The others, they said, have refused to identify themselves and will remain in detention in a prison in southern Israel.

The renewed challenge to the three-year-old blockade of Gaza comes at a time of increasing criticism within Israel of the raid, which set off a firestorm of condemnation across the globe.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/01/AR2010060100385.html

[David__77]

1. Now is definitely the time.

Not in a week, but now.

[aquart]

2. Yes, wasn't it clever to sacrifice the first boat to cripple Israel's will?

I'm very interested in who did the planning. For instance, where did they get these other boats, all ready to go?

Now they will be able to land any kind of weapons for months to come.

I'm impressed.

[David__77]

5. Why will they land weapons? Will IDF let them pass?

Is that what you are suggesting? I doubt it. And plenty of weapons can and do enter through the area near Rafah crossing. No need for risky naval adventures - that would be silly.

I see no "crippling" of anyone's will. IDF spokespersons seem very hard-line. Maybe next time, or the time after that.

Next, I hope the PA dissolves itself completely.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[madchick44]

11. Hmmm...reframe the issue...divert attention...move on.. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

14. Is It True That The IDF Killed and Kidnapped Unarmed Civilians

in international waters?

If so, who did that planning? That's a very interesting question for a tribunal.

[PaulaFarrell]

16. Since you're so interested

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is comprised of: Free Gaza Movement (FG), European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza (ECESG), Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), Ship to Gaza Greece, Ship to Gaza Sweden, The Perdana Global Peace Organization, and the International Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza, with hundreds of groups and organizations around the world supporting the effort.

[mike_c]

26. wow-- that's an impressive amount of hatred and irrationality....

There were no weapons on those boats and you know it. There have never been weapons in the relief flotillas. Your hatred of Palestinians apparently matches the apartheid attitude of Israel. Wow.

[UndertheOcean]

3. Good ! n/t

[dipsydoodle]

4. refused to identify themselves and will remain in detention

Remaining anonymous is a tactic which works against the Israelis. They may build that number to absurd levels just to embarrass Israel.

Israel has got the boat and by now has had sufficient time to say if there was anything iffy on board but there is silence on that issue. :shrug:

Coriander don't take that long to find : http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/why-won-t-israel-allow-gazans-to-import-coriander-1.288824 :sarcasm:

[EFerrari]

7. Looks like a very complicated and structured black market.

Wow.

[dipsydoodle]

8. Who are the couple in the picture ?

:hi:

[EFerrari]

10. Mexican poet/composer Agustin Lara and his then wife, Maria Felix

who was herself a famous actress. They were active in social justice when they weren't having public rows and divorces and things. lol

:hi:

[dipsydoodle]

12. She has the appearance of being a film star

[marshall]

20. Egypt has temporarily lifted its side of the blockade

But only for aid materilal. Presumably that covers them to maintain the right to examine the contents of flotillas to determine whether it is aid.

[dipsydoodle]

27. That's good

.

[EFerrari]

9. Defiant Nobel winner Mairead still bound for Gaza

Tuesday, 1 June 2010

Veteran peace campaigner Mairead Corrigan Maguire is to continue her mercy mission to Gaza despite the deadly storming of an aid flotilla by Israeli commandos.

The ship carrying the Belfast-born Nobel laureate was heading for the stricken region today.

This morning Ms Maguire’s family were still waiting news of her whereabouts, however, it is known that she is safe.

Meanwhile the MV Rachel Corrie cargo ship, which Ms Maguire is travelling on, was preparing to make another attempt to breach the Israeli blockade.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/defiant--nobel-winner-mairead-still-bound-for-gaza-14827480.html?r=RSS#ixzz16xAKjudb


http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/defiant--nobel-winner-mairead-still-bound-for-gaza-14827480.html?r=RSS

[Barack_America]

13. 'Rachel Corrie' aims to reach Gaza

'Rachel Corrie' aims to reach Gaza

PAMELA NEWENHAM

The MV Rachel Corrie will go ahead with its attempt to deliver aid to Gaza despite yesterday’s attack by the Israeli navy on Gaza-bound ship the Mavi Marmara.

The cargo ship, which has four Irish nationals aboard, is due to arrive in Gazan waters tomorrow, a spokeswoman for the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign said.

The vessel became separated from the main flotilla after being delayed for 48 hours in Cyprus due to logistical reasons.

Nobel laureate Maireád Corrigan-Maguire, former UN assistant secretary general Denis Halliday, and husband and wife Derek and Jenny Graham are the Irish nationals on board.

Speaking from the ship today, Derek Graham said the vessel was carrying educational materials, construction materials and some toys. “Everything aboard has been inspected in Ireland,” he said adding: “We would hope to have safe passage through.”...

More:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0601/breaking33.html

Quite the passenger list, not to mention the boat's namesake.

[mikita]

35. just having it named

The Rachel Corrie brings tears to my eyes. That young woman had more courage than 10,000 warriors.

Godspeed MV Rachel Corrie!

[Ian David]

15. Given Turkey's humanitarian record with the Greeks, Kurds and Armenians, this is very cynical.

It's like Hitler coming to the aid of the Uighurs.

[here_is_to_hope]

17. Hitler eh? Um, isn't there some

kind of rule about that? Like more of a guideline I guess but still...

[depakid]

18. Actually- having both the Greeks and the Turks together on a common cause

is pretty impressive and goes to show how far Israel has fallen in world opinion.

[bossy22]

19. Stupid stupid stupid

running a blockade is illegal and considered many times an act of war. I wouldn't be surprised if Israel just started sinking these ships instead of boarding them

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[David__77]

23. I wouldn't count on that.

The Turkish military confronting Israel? I doubt it. Who made those statements? Government officials or actual generals not under direct civilian control?

[Catherina]

24. Story.

Source: CNN-IBN

New Delhi: Turkey has threatened Israel with unprecedented action after Israeli forces attacked an aid vessel, killing 10 peace activists headed to Gaza.

Israel said 10 people died while those on the ship said at least 15 were killed.

A shocked world has responded with outrage. Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel and warned of unprecedented and incalculable reprisals.

Two Turkish activists were reported to be among those killed in the flotilla. Ankara warned that further supply vessels will be sent to Gaza, escorted by the Turkish Navy, a development with unpredictable consequences.



http://ibnlive.in.com/news/turkey-threatens-action-israel-on-alert/116743-2.html

[Pavulon]

30. Sounds like a prelude to war if true.

Israel will not allow turkish vessels to run their blockade any more than they will allow these stunt boats to run them. This is not 1974 and Israel is not cyprus.

[Catherina]

31. And were that to happen,

I would proudly, morally support Turkey and its allies because international waters do NOT belong to Israel.

[Lagomorph]

33. In your burka?

Sorry, cheap shot. I'm in a mood.

[Catherina]

36. You know,

if I had to wear a burka to stand in solidarity with victims of any injustice, I'd do it. So I guess we could say, yes in my burka.

[Lagomorph]

38. Wearing a burka...

IS an injustice. However, I understand your point.

[Fozzledick]

39. Erdogan may be pushing his luck a little too far

I seriously doubt that the Turkish military will be willing to start a real shooting war with Israel just to prop up his faltering re-election campaign.

His accusations a few weeks ago that they were plotting a coup may have been totally fabricated to undercut them politically, but I think there's a limit to how much nonsense they'll be willing to abide, especially when he puts their real national security at risk.

[Pavulon]

40. Nope. See the turkish military is secular and is not interested in interrupting

weapons from israel over an incident where people filmed attacking soldiers with pipes were shot. The government is islamist, the military runs things.

Turkey will do NOTHING of the kind. In fact they are still getting their new heron drones.

[David__77]

22. Smart smart smart..

It is politically smart and the best bet to force Israel to lift the strangling blockade. If Israel decides to start sinking ships in international waters as well, I think even the US would be forced to condemn it and act.

Anyone can declare a "blockade" but it doesn't make it legal. N. Korea claims sovereignty over S. Korea, for instance, but only a few countries recognize that. You have to deal in the world of reality.

[Tripmann]

25. Check your facts bossy22

The blockade itself is considered an act of war. It is also illegal and contrary to the geneva convention.

You cannot illegally run an illegal blockade.

[EFerrari]

28. The blockade is illegal, not the challenge.

But I wouldn't be surprised if Israel starts sinking these ships, either.

[The Stranger]

29. The blockade is a genocidal act.

Many steps farther than simply an act of war.

[Lagomorph]

32. Historically...

...blockade runners are either entirely successful, or entirely sunk. Now, giving the ships back to the owners is a relatively new twist.

[Catherina]

37. just an aside, 5 out of 6 ships' engines were sabotaged by the Israelis

11.15 BST More on the possible sabotage of some flotilla ships by Israeli forces. The Israeli daily Ha’aretz reports that Colonel Itzik Turgeman, a senior defence officer, told the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the engines of five of the ships were sabotaged: “We took care of them.”

But they opted not to sabotage the engine of the Mavi Marmara, the ship carrying the largest number of passengers and where the violence erupted on Sunday night, for fear that it would be stranded at sea, resulting in a humanitarian crisis, Colonel Turgeman claimed.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7141618.ece

[Arrowhead2k1]

34. It's "later Tuesday", do we even know the names of the goddamn dead yet?! nt