Israel attacks Gaza aid fleet (845)
Albertaghost: EXACTLY!!!!!!
You hit the bullseye and you don't even know it. WMDs had zip to do with it just as weapons in humanitarian aid has nothing to do with it. The fact is, Saddam didn't adhere to any of the ceasefire conditions which ranged from environmental reparations and human rights reforms to proving he was free of WMDs and, all the aid on those ships probably didn't contain anything prohibited but, it had to be inspected and approved prior to going to Gaza. Why you might ask?
CAUSE IT'S A BLOCKADE
Whomever considers the above as correct is a frickin' moron as everybody knows that terrorism is random or seemingly random (in target, place or time) violence against civilians designed to precipitate a political reaction by destabilizing the government via separation of tax base and governing authority or fruitless expenditure of resources with no increase in the ability to protect the tax base. Just as everybody knows that stopping terrorism by conducting military actions against a military target is a military operation and is as such, military action rather than terrorism.
If Israel were to conduct terrorism against Palestinians it would set bombs off in schools, public buildings where people congregated and, all would not know or suspect it was they but rather some faction that Hamas could not protect them from or blame. That would create the result a terrorist of Palestinian people would want.
Oh I feel so bad for you. Not enough Israelis killed for your liking? Here, uncle Alberta will try to help you out by googling some more Zionist deaths. Might have to count a few names twice but if you're just into body counts you shouldn't mind.
Did you know that Palestinians were offered their own homeland as part of the UN resolution of '48 and chose to try to kill every last Jew instead and have been one track push them into the sea in mind ever since?
Say, you never answered me when I ask what the Hamas guys on the other forums you go on say about how their violence contributes to their problems. What do they say when you bring that up?
You hit the bullseye and you don't even know it. WMDs had zip to do with it just as weapons in humanitarian aid has nothing to do with it. The fact is, Saddam didn't adhere to any of the ceasefire conditions which ranged from environmental reparations and human rights reforms to proving he was free of WMDs and, all the aid on those ships probably didn't contain anything prohibited but, it had to be inspected and approved prior to going to Gaza. Why you might ask?
CAUSE IT'S A BLOCKADE
Whomever considers the above as correct is a frickin' moron as everybody knows that terrorism is random or seemingly random (in target, place or time) violence against civilians designed to precipitate a political reaction by destabilizing the government via separation of tax base and governing authority or fruitless expenditure of resources with no increase in the ability to protect the tax base. Just as everybody knows that stopping terrorism by conducting military actions against a military target is a military operation and is as such, military action rather than terrorism.
If Israel were to conduct terrorism against Palestinians it would set bombs off in schools, public buildings where people congregated and, all would not know or suspect it was they but rather some faction that Hamas could not protect them from or blame. That would create the result a terrorist of Palestinian people would want.
Oh I feel so bad for you. Not enough Israelis killed for your liking? Here, uncle Alberta will try to help you out by googling some more Zionist deaths. Might have to count a few names twice but if you're just into body counts you shouldn't mind.
Did you know that Palestinians were offered their own homeland as part of the UN resolution of '48 and chose to try to kill every last Jew instead and have been one track push them into the sea in mind ever since?
Say, you never answered me when I ask what the Hamas guys on the other forums you go on say about how their violence contributes to their problems. What do they say when you bring that up?
According to you brutal Palestinians keeps peaceful Israel in ghetto.
According to you Palestinians have occupied Israel territories and send Israels to live in refugees camps.
According to you Palestinians have committed war crimes by, for example, shelling Israels with phosphor bombs ..............
According to you Palestinians have attacked European ships with help for Israel and they have killed nine persons, hurt another 40 and all others locked in jail.
How much they pay to you to spam here?
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Steevyv: According to you brutal Palestinians keeps peaceful Israel in ghetto.
Got a quote of me saying or implying that? If not then you are wrong.
Steevyv: According to you Palestinians have occupied Israel territories and send Israels to live in refugees camps.
Steevyv: According to you Palestinians have committed war crimes by, for example, shelling Israels with phosphor bombs ..............
Got a quote of me saying or implying that? If not then you are wrong.
Steevyv: According to you Palestinians have attacked European ships with help for Israel and they have killed nine persons, hurt another 40 and all others locked in jail.
wow. This one is right over the top. Got a quote of me saying or implying that? If not then you are wrong.
Steevyv: How much they pay to you to spam here?
I believe you are starved for facts. Do a bit of reading and get back to us when you have an actual argument that you can back with something other than nothing.
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From The Guardian:
"
Henning Mankell on Gaza flotilla attack: 'I think they went out to murder'
Swedish crime writer describes the 'horrifying moment' when he realised Israelis had chosen to attack the ships
Henning Mankell Henning Mankell: 'I believe so strongly in solidarity as an instrument to change the world, and I believe in dialogue, but it's the action that proves the word.' Photograph: Frank Hoensch/Getty Images
The bestselling Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell today accused Israel of murder, piracy and kidnapping after describing how the aid ship he was travelling on was seized by Israeli forces this week.
Mankell, whose detective novels featuring the commissar Kurt Wallander have sold almost 30m copies worldwide, was aboard the Swedish ship Sofia, one of six ships in the flotilla carrying aid to Gaza. The 25-strong crew, including Mankell, were all arrested and held in custody.
In an exclusive interview with the Guardian in Berlin, Mankell, 62, described the "horrifying moment" when he realised the Israelis had chosen to attack the ships "deep in international waters".
"Our idea had been a non-violent, non-fighting back method. But we soon realised the Israelis had chosen the real, real ugly solution to attack in international water … It was only when I got on my flight home that I realised that people had died in the attack, when the stewardess told me on the plane," he said.
He called on the international community to step up its pressure on Israel to end its blockade of Gaza and said he would like to see an investigation into whether Israel could be prosecuted for its alleged attack on the ships, believing it had set out to deliberately kill protesters. Nine Turkish citizens, one of whom had a US passport, were killed in the attack.
"I think the Israeli military went out to commit murder," Mankell said. "If they had wanted to stop us they could have attacked our rudder and propeller, instead they preferred to send masked commando soldiers to attack us. This was Israel's choice to do this.
"And it was the most stupid thing they could have done, because look around, Israel has never been so criticised in the world as of today, and if you ask me, this blockade will be over within the next six months."
Mankell described being woken in the early hours of Monday morning with the news that Israeli troops were attacking the main protest ship, the Mavi Marmara, and an hour later abseiled from helicopters on to the deck of the Sofia, which was around a kilometre behind.
"We saw these black rubber boats coming with masked commando soldiers … they climbed aboard. They were very aggressive … there was an older man in the crew, he was perhaps a little slow and they shot him in the arm with an electric gun which is very, very painful … they shot another man with rubber bullets."
The soldiers checked the boat and one soon returned saying they had found weapons, Mankell said.
"I have 24 witnesses to this, he showed me my razor, a one-time use razor, and a box cutter he'd found in the kitchen," Mankell said. He said all his possessions were taken. "They stole my camera, my telephone … even my socks."
Asked if he had been naive to take part, Mankell said: "If you're saying was I a 'useful idiot', no, I don't believe I was.
To be continued
"
Henning Mankell on Gaza flotilla attack: 'I think they went out to murder'
Swedish crime writer describes the 'horrifying moment' when he realised Israelis had chosen to attack the ships
Henning Mankell Henning Mankell: 'I believe so strongly in solidarity as an instrument to change the world, and I believe in dialogue, but it's the action that proves the word.' Photograph: Frank Hoensch/Getty Images
The bestselling Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell today accused Israel of murder, piracy and kidnapping after describing how the aid ship he was travelling on was seized by Israeli forces this week.
Mankell, whose detective novels featuring the commissar Kurt Wallander have sold almost 30m copies worldwide, was aboard the Swedish ship Sofia, one of six ships in the flotilla carrying aid to Gaza. The 25-strong crew, including Mankell, were all arrested and held in custody.
In an exclusive interview with the Guardian in Berlin, Mankell, 62, described the "horrifying moment" when he realised the Israelis had chosen to attack the ships "deep in international waters".
"Our idea had been a non-violent, non-fighting back method. But we soon realised the Israelis had chosen the real, real ugly solution to attack in international water … It was only when I got on my flight home that I realised that people had died in the attack, when the stewardess told me on the plane," he said.
He called on the international community to step up its pressure on Israel to end its blockade of Gaza and said he would like to see an investigation into whether Israel could be prosecuted for its alleged attack on the ships, believing it had set out to deliberately kill protesters. Nine Turkish citizens, one of whom had a US passport, were killed in the attack.
"I think the Israeli military went out to commit murder," Mankell said. "If they had wanted to stop us they could have attacked our rudder and propeller, instead they preferred to send masked commando soldiers to attack us. This was Israel's choice to do this.
"And it was the most stupid thing they could have done, because look around, Israel has never been so criticised in the world as of today, and if you ask me, this blockade will be over within the next six months."
Mankell described being woken in the early hours of Monday morning with the news that Israeli troops were attacking the main protest ship, the Mavi Marmara, and an hour later abseiled from helicopters on to the deck of the Sofia, which was around a kilometre behind.
"We saw these black rubber boats coming with masked commando soldiers … they climbed aboard. They were very aggressive … there was an older man in the crew, he was perhaps a little slow and they shot him in the arm with an electric gun which is very, very painful … they shot another man with rubber bullets."
The soldiers checked the boat and one soon returned saying they had found weapons, Mankell said.
"I have 24 witnesses to this, he showed me my razor, a one-time use razor, and a box cutter he'd found in the kitchen," Mankell said. He said all his possessions were taken. "They stole my camera, my telephone … even my socks."
Asked if he had been naive to take part, Mankell said: "If you're saying was I a 'useful idiot', no, I don't believe I was.
To be continued
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From Times Online
June 3, 2010
Returned British activists describe Israeli ‘massacre’
Alexander Christie-Miller and Raf Sanchez
Eight Turks and an American of Turkish descent were among those killed in an Israeli commando raid on aid ships bound for Gaza.
Forensic experts in Istanbul found that all nine were killed by gunfire, and at least one shot at close range, after the bodies arrived back in Turkey early this morning along with 520 activists deported from Israel.
The identities of those killed have not yet been released.
Several hundred Turkish demonstrators gathered at the airport at 3am this morning, chanting “Cruel Israel” and burning Israeli flags.
Related Links
British activists from the Gaza-bound convoy claimed that some of those on board the Mavi Marmara are still unaccounted for and described the ‘massacre’ on board.
“We are still missing people from the Marmara,” said Sarah Colborne, director of Campaigns and Operations for the Palestine Solidarity Movement, who was on board.
One UK consular official said to The Times: “We were told initially there were 37, and then it transpired there were 34.
“Because there was lack of access it was a case of seeing who turned up.
“It’s been very difficult to get full information out of Israel. There are a lot of questions that need to be answered.”
Speaking to The Times, Ms Colborne said the Marmara had started retreating further into international waters when Israeli military vessels approached them at around 11pm on Sunday night. They had radioed the Israelis with messages saying “please don’t attack”.
She said that at around 4am soldiers started to board the boat using small craft and a helicopter.
“A helicopter arrived attempting to land Israeli military personnel. They seemed to be firing from the craft.”
She couldn’t say whether or not the rounds were live, or at which point people started to die.
“A man was shot in the head, I saw him being dragged back from the deck. I saw him being tended to and then he died,” she said.
“People were dying all over the place. It was horrific.”
After the initial assault a stand-off ensued for nearly two hours, during which they desperately signalled the soldiers, as the laser points of sniper rifles tracked those on board.
“We radioed to the Israelis that we had critically injured people on board, please help us, please help us. At seven o’clock they started to allow off the wounded.”
“Everyone’s just in shock. It was a massacre that took place there,” she added.
An Irish journalist who was covering the aid convoy for an Australian paper compared the Israeli commandos to “hyenas.”
Paul McGeogh, a journalist with the Sydney Morning Herald who was on board the Challenger One ship during the attack said that as the Israeli Zodiac boats circled the ships just before the commandos boarded, they looked like “hyenas hunting animals in the night.”
His colleague, photographer Kate Geraghty, was Tasered as she took a photograph of one of the boats approaching the Challenger and both journalists were detained and questioned before their deportation.
June 3, 2010
Returned British activists describe Israeli ‘massacre’
Alexander Christie-Miller and Raf Sanchez
Eight Turks and an American of Turkish descent were among those killed in an Israeli commando raid on aid ships bound for Gaza.
Forensic experts in Istanbul found that all nine were killed by gunfire, and at least one shot at close range, after the bodies arrived back in Turkey early this morning along with 520 activists deported from Israel.
The identities of those killed have not yet been released.
Several hundred Turkish demonstrators gathered at the airport at 3am this morning, chanting “Cruel Israel” and burning Israeli flags.
Related Links
British activists from the Gaza-bound convoy claimed that some of those on board the Mavi Marmara are still unaccounted for and described the ‘massacre’ on board.
“We are still missing people from the Marmara,” said Sarah Colborne, director of Campaigns and Operations for the Palestine Solidarity Movement, who was on board.
One UK consular official said to The Times: “We were told initially there were 37, and then it transpired there were 34.
“Because there was lack of access it was a case of seeing who turned up.
“It’s been very difficult to get full information out of Israel. There are a lot of questions that need to be answered.”
Speaking to The Times, Ms Colborne said the Marmara had started retreating further into international waters when Israeli military vessels approached them at around 11pm on Sunday night. They had radioed the Israelis with messages saying “please don’t attack”.
She said that at around 4am soldiers started to board the boat using small craft and a helicopter.
“A helicopter arrived attempting to land Israeli military personnel. They seemed to be firing from the craft.”
She couldn’t say whether or not the rounds were live, or at which point people started to die.
“A man was shot in the head, I saw him being dragged back from the deck. I saw him being tended to and then he died,” she said.
“People were dying all over the place. It was horrific.”
After the initial assault a stand-off ensued for nearly two hours, during which they desperately signalled the soldiers, as the laser points of sniper rifles tracked those on board.
“We radioed to the Israelis that we had critically injured people on board, please help us, please help us. At seven o’clock they started to allow off the wounded.”
“Everyone’s just in shock. It was a massacre that took place there,” she added.
An Irish journalist who was covering the aid convoy for an Australian paper compared the Israeli commandos to “hyenas.”
Paul McGeogh, a journalist with the Sydney Morning Herald who was on board the Challenger One ship during the attack said that as the Israeli Zodiac boats circled the ships just before the commandos boarded, they looked like “hyenas hunting animals in the night.”
His colleague, photographer Kate Geraghty, was Tasered as she took a photograph of one of the boats approaching the Challenger and both journalists were detained and questioned before their deportation.
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Albertaghost: Hey, what a great idea! Tell you what, Israel will try to protect their women and children by taking out Hamas for as long as they try to take out Israeli women and children and, Hamas can protect their women and children by not trying to take out Israeli women and children so nobody need try to take them out and accidentally harm their women and children.
Hamas this and Hamas that. Because Hamas is a terrorist organisation Israeli military doesn't need to be concerned about civilian casualties.
Hamas is still just a smoke screen for acts against civilians and breaking UN resolutions.
Albertaghost: Rioting? Try determined to kill the soldiers who were executing their duty to bring the ship to Ashod where the aid could be distributed to the poor starving, disease ridden, shell shocked, emancipated, destitute orphans of Gaza. And these scum attacked the soldiers putting nine of them into the hospital - one seriously. Now that didn't happen on any of the other ships and, as we speak, that aid is now waiting to go to Gaza and would be there but for the fact that Hamas doesn't really want it as this was a sham designed as a propaganda stunt.
Now, did you bother to read my post above which details the martyr tapes of some of the 'rioting civilians' who were actually intent on killing the soldiers whom they knew would react? Did you know that aid had nothing to do with this floatilla as espoused by the leader of the action?
Now, did you bother to read my post above which details the martyr tapes of some of the 'rioting civilians' who were actually intent on killing the soldiers whom they knew would react? Did you know that aid had nothing to do with this floatilla as espoused by the leader of the action?
Yes, it was a provocation no doubt. And Israeli military reacted just as expected: with excessive force against civilians.
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Albertaghost: Whomever considers the above as correct is a frickin' moron as everybody knows that terrorism is random or seemingly random (in target, place or time) violence against civilians designed to precipitate a political reaction by destabilizing the government via separation of tax base and governing authority or fruitless expenditure of resources with no increase in the ability to protect the tax base. Just as everybody knows that stopping terrorism by conducting military actions against a military target is a military operation and is as such, military action rather than terrorism.
I meant that acts against Palestinian civilians are condemned. However, Israeli acts are hurting more Palestinian civilians than they are working against Hamas.
Albertaghost: If Israel were to conduct terrorism against Palestinians it would set bombs off in schools, public buildings where people congregated and, all would not know or suspect it was they but rather some faction that Hamas could not protect them from or blame.
Exactly what is happening now and then.
Albertaghost: Oh I feel so bad for you. Not enough Israelis killed for your liking? Here, uncle Alberta will try to help you out by googling some more Zionist deaths. Might have to count a few names twice but if you're just into body counts you shouldn't mind.
Association fallacy. You are twisting my words. What I said is just showing Israeli military more violent compared to Palestinian terrorists.
Albertaghost: Did you know that Palestinians were offered their own homeland as part of the UN resolution of '48 and chose to try to kill every last Jew instead and have been one track push them into the sea in mind ever since?
It started as civil war under British rule.
Albertaghost: Say, you never answered me when I ask what the Hamas guys on the other forums you go on say about how their violence contributes to their problems. What do they say when you bring that up?
Hamas is still just a smoke screen for acts against civilians and breaking UN resolutions.
Two wrongs don't make a right.
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L'arraisonnement brutal du Mavi-Marmara, chargé de civils, dans les eaux internationales, semble nous prouver une fois de plus l'impuissance du droit et de la raison.
Derrière ce drame, se pose à nous la question occultée du sort de Gaza. Rien ne saurait justifier qu'on prenne en otage une population d'un million et demi d'hommes, de femmes, d'enfants dans une ville asphyxiée.
Censé discréditer le Hamas, le blocus n'a fait que renforcer l'image de martyr dont se pare le mouvement. La marginalisation des radicaux ne peut qu'accompagner la paix, pas la préparer.
C'est d'autant plus incompréhensible venant d'une société démocratique, ouverte, prospère, comme l'est Israël. Ce paradoxe nous interroge: comment a-t-on pu en arriver là? Il y a à Gaza l'aboutissement d'un engrenage dont Israël est prisonnier, l'éternel engrenage de la force. Le souci de la sécurité d'Israël est légitime, et la France l'a toujours rappelé et s'en est toujours portée garante. Mais depuis dix ans, confronté à la terrible épreuve des tirs de roquettes et des attentats-suicides, déçu dans ses espoirs nés à Oslo, Israël s'est lancé dans une fuite en avant sécuritaire: érection du mur de sécurité, guerre au Liban de l'été 2006 et opération militaire dans la bande de Gaza l'an passé.
Cette logique mène à la surenchère, toujours plus d'usage de la force, toujours plus de transgression du droit, toujours plus d'acceptation de l'inacceptable. Mais surtout elle est inefficace et autodestructrice, car la force croit être un raccourci, alors qu'elle n'est qu'une impasse, et même un dévoiement.
La première impasse, c'est l'isolement, car la force se coupe de tout ce qui n'épouse pas ses vues. Le résultat des deux dernières années d'opérations à Gaza, c'est un isolement diplomatique croissant d'Israël. La relation privilégiée avec les Etats-Unis s'affaiblit. Le partenariat stratégique qui rapprochait Israël de la Turquie, essentiel au dialogue régional, se dégrade de jour en jour.
Deuxième impasse, le doute, car la force entraîne la radicalisation progressive, le repli sur des positions extrêmes et l'éclatement politique. L'union sacrée face au danger extérieur se transforme en une fracture intérieure. En Israël, l'échiquier politique se divise au détriment d'un gouvernement stable et capable de prendre des initiatives fortes en faveur de la paix et où les Arabes israéliens, un cinquième de la population, se sentent relégués. Mais aussi dans les communautés juives du monde entier, qui connaissent le doute. Le sionisme a été, un siècle durant, une pensée d'émancipation, de progrès et d'ouverture sur l'universel à partir de l'expérience historique singulière du judaïsme, bravant les violences, les préjugés et les haines. Aujourd'hui, il lui faut retrouver cette part d'universalité.
Troisième impasse, l'impossibilité de la paix, car la force nourrit la force en retour et les grands laissés-pour-compte des dernières années, ce sont bien les modérés, Israéliens comme Palestiniens, qui veulent croire qu'une paix juste est possible, qui savent que la coexistence de deux Etats est la seule solution et qu'elle est urgente. Mais à chaque excès de Tsahal, les hommes du Fatah sont fragilisés, à chaque tir de roquette du Hamas, le camp de la paix israélien se rétrécit. Le même gâchis se renouvelle sans cesse. Les négociations indirectes récemment reprises sont étouffées dans l'œuf.
To be continued
Derrière ce drame, se pose à nous la question occultée du sort de Gaza. Rien ne saurait justifier qu'on prenne en otage une population d'un million et demi d'hommes, de femmes, d'enfants dans une ville asphyxiée.
Censé discréditer le Hamas, le blocus n'a fait que renforcer l'image de martyr dont se pare le mouvement. La marginalisation des radicaux ne peut qu'accompagner la paix, pas la préparer.
C'est d'autant plus incompréhensible venant d'une société démocratique, ouverte, prospère, comme l'est Israël. Ce paradoxe nous interroge: comment a-t-on pu en arriver là? Il y a à Gaza l'aboutissement d'un engrenage dont Israël est prisonnier, l'éternel engrenage de la force. Le souci de la sécurité d'Israël est légitime, et la France l'a toujours rappelé et s'en est toujours portée garante. Mais depuis dix ans, confronté à la terrible épreuve des tirs de roquettes et des attentats-suicides, déçu dans ses espoirs nés à Oslo, Israël s'est lancé dans une fuite en avant sécuritaire: érection du mur de sécurité, guerre au Liban de l'été 2006 et opération militaire dans la bande de Gaza l'an passé.
Cette logique mène à la surenchère, toujours plus d'usage de la force, toujours plus de transgression du droit, toujours plus d'acceptation de l'inacceptable. Mais surtout elle est inefficace et autodestructrice, car la force croit être un raccourci, alors qu'elle n'est qu'une impasse, et même un dévoiement.
La première impasse, c'est l'isolement, car la force se coupe de tout ce qui n'épouse pas ses vues. Le résultat des deux dernières années d'opérations à Gaza, c'est un isolement diplomatique croissant d'Israël. La relation privilégiée avec les Etats-Unis s'affaiblit. Le partenariat stratégique qui rapprochait Israël de la Turquie, essentiel au dialogue régional, se dégrade de jour en jour.
Deuxième impasse, le doute, car la force entraîne la radicalisation progressive, le repli sur des positions extrêmes et l'éclatement politique. L'union sacrée face au danger extérieur se transforme en une fracture intérieure. En Israël, l'échiquier politique se divise au détriment d'un gouvernement stable et capable de prendre des initiatives fortes en faveur de la paix et où les Arabes israéliens, un cinquième de la population, se sentent relégués. Mais aussi dans les communautés juives du monde entier, qui connaissent le doute. Le sionisme a été, un siècle durant, une pensée d'émancipation, de progrès et d'ouverture sur l'universel à partir de l'expérience historique singulière du judaïsme, bravant les violences, les préjugés et les haines. Aujourd'hui, il lui faut retrouver cette part d'universalité.
Troisième impasse, l'impossibilité de la paix, car la force nourrit la force en retour et les grands laissés-pour-compte des dernières années, ce sont bien les modérés, Israéliens comme Palestiniens, qui veulent croire qu'une paix juste est possible, qui savent que la coexistence de deux Etats est la seule solution et qu'elle est urgente. Mais à chaque excès de Tsahal, les hommes du Fatah sont fragilisés, à chaque tir de roquette du Hamas, le camp de la paix israélien se rétrécit. Le même gâchis se renouvelle sans cesse. Les négociations indirectes récemment reprises sont étouffées dans l'œuf.
To be continued
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Rappelons-nous que d'autres nations se sont lancées dans de telles surenchères – y compris la France, de la spirale des guerres napoléoniennes, qui prirent le relais de la patrie en danger, à l'engrenage du traité de Versailles qui mena à l'occupation la Ruhr. Toutes y ont sacrifié une part de leur légitimité et de leur identité. Après le 11-Septembre, l'Amérique a été livrée, elle aussi, à la peur. Son aspiration à la sécurité était justifiée. Mais, en s'engageant dans l'aventure irakienne, les Etats-Unis ont fait primer la force sur le droit, s'enfermant dans un conflit qu'ils ne peuvent gagner. Toute notre histoire le montre, il n'y a pas d'exception de sécurité aux principes. Le seul verrou contre la démesure, c'est le respect intégral des principes et des valeurs.
Les événements récents marquent un tournant historique. Il faut casser la logique de la peur et de la force. Israël ne peut espérer garantir durablement sa sécurité tant que justice n'est pas faite au peuple palestinien. Cela signifie, pour Israël, de tracer un chemin de justice.
Et le premier pas, c'est la fin du blocus de Gaza. L'assistance à une humanité en danger, tel est le prix à payer pour la sécurité d'Israël.
On le voit en Cisjordanie, un autre avenir est possible. La population palestinienne est capable de prendre en main son destin économique et de connaître une croissance impressionnante – 8,5% en 2009 – qui est porteuse d'espoir à défaut de régler tous les problèmes.
Ce chemin passe par la création d'un Etat palestinien, car seule la reconnaissance d'un Etat palestinien souverain peut être le point de départ d'un nouvel élan pour la région.
Dans ce processus, tout le monde le sait bien, il faudra impliquer le Hamas dans la dynamique de paix. Comme pour tout mouvement radical, chaque défaite devant la force est une victoire dans les esprits, par un effet de levier imparable. L'enjeu, c'est bien aujourd'hui d'avancer vers une unité palestinienne qui offre un interlocuteur crédible pour la paix. Il faut pour cela que la communauté internationale assume toute sa responsabilité. Je crois pour ma part que l'Organisation des Nations unies (ONU) garde un rôle central à jouer pour faciliter le processus de paix, même si la mobilisation américaine est indispensable pour débloquer la situation.
C'est un enjeu pour la stabilité du Moyen-Orient. Car ceux qui veulent œuvrer à la stabilité du Moyen-Orient sont affaiblis par la logique de force. La spirale sert de justification à d'autres spirales, comme celle de la prolifération nucléaire en Iran. Le monde arabe doit surmonter ses ambiguïtés sur la question palestinienne pour peser de tout son poids afin de faciliter le règlement de ce conflit.
C'est un enjeu pour le monde, s'il veut montrer qu'il est capable de faire triompher le droit et la justice et qu'il n'est pas condamné à se taire devant les chars.
Saisissons l'occasion pour faire avancer la position d'une Europe unie, à rebours de son absence au cours des dernières années.
Compte tenu de ses liens historiques avec toute la région et de sa vocation de trait d'union au service de la paix, la France doit jouer son rôle.
Dominique de Villepin, ancien premier ministre (2005-2007)
Les événements récents marquent un tournant historique. Il faut casser la logique de la peur et de la force. Israël ne peut espérer garantir durablement sa sécurité tant que justice n'est pas faite au peuple palestinien. Cela signifie, pour Israël, de tracer un chemin de justice.
Et le premier pas, c'est la fin du blocus de Gaza. L'assistance à une humanité en danger, tel est le prix à payer pour la sécurité d'Israël.
On le voit en Cisjordanie, un autre avenir est possible. La population palestinienne est capable de prendre en main son destin économique et de connaître une croissance impressionnante – 8,5% en 2009 – qui est porteuse d'espoir à défaut de régler tous les problèmes.
Ce chemin passe par la création d'un Etat palestinien, car seule la reconnaissance d'un Etat palestinien souverain peut être le point de départ d'un nouvel élan pour la région.
Dans ce processus, tout le monde le sait bien, il faudra impliquer le Hamas dans la dynamique de paix. Comme pour tout mouvement radical, chaque défaite devant la force est une victoire dans les esprits, par un effet de levier imparable. L'enjeu, c'est bien aujourd'hui d'avancer vers une unité palestinienne qui offre un interlocuteur crédible pour la paix. Il faut pour cela que la communauté internationale assume toute sa responsabilité. Je crois pour ma part que l'Organisation des Nations unies (ONU) garde un rôle central à jouer pour faciliter le processus de paix, même si la mobilisation américaine est indispensable pour débloquer la situation.
C'est un enjeu pour la stabilité du Moyen-Orient. Car ceux qui veulent œuvrer à la stabilité du Moyen-Orient sont affaiblis par la logique de force. La spirale sert de justification à d'autres spirales, comme celle de la prolifération nucléaire en Iran. Le monde arabe doit surmonter ses ambiguïtés sur la question palestinienne pour peser de tout son poids afin de faciliter le règlement de ce conflit.
C'est un enjeu pour le monde, s'il veut montrer qu'il est capable de faire triompher le droit et la justice et qu'il n'est pas condamné à se taire devant les chars.
Saisissons l'occasion pour faire avancer la position d'une Europe unie, à rebours de son absence au cours des dernières années.
Compte tenu de ses liens historiques avec toute la région et de sa vocation de trait d'union au service de la paix, la France doit jouer son rôle.
Dominique de Villepin, ancien premier ministre (2005-2007)
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Steevyv: Rappelons-nous que d'autres nations se sont lancées dans de telles surenchères – y compris la France, de la spirale des guerres napoléoniennes, qui prirent le relais de la patrie en danger, à l'engrenage du traité de Versailles qui mena à l'occupation la Ruhr. Toutes y ont sacrifié une part de leur légitimité et de leur identité. Après le 11-Septembre, l'Amérique a été livrée, elle aussi, à la peur. Son aspiration à la sécurité était justifiée. Mais, en s'engageant dans l'aventure irakienne, les Etats-Unis ont fait primer la force sur le droit, s'enfermant dans un conflit qu'ils ne peuvent gagner. Toute notre histoire le montre, il n'y a pas d'exception de sécurité aux principes. Le seul verrou contre la démesure, c'est le respect intégral des principes et des valeurs.
These people had no idea there was a war going on and were they asleep when they were told there was an embargo? As they say 'ignorance is no excuse.'
good article though. Shows the la de da mindset of these people.
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The Independent
Gaza flotilla reporter describes 'brutal' Israeli assault
By Katrine Bussey, Press Association
Friday, 4 June 2010
A British journalist today told how Israeli commandos had carried out a "brutal" assault on the boat he was on as it attempted to take aid to Gaza.
Hassan Ghani, 25, from Glasgow, was on board the Mavi Marmara, the main ship in the aid flotilla which was targeted by the Israelis.
He told how the Israelis had first fired grenades on to the boat as some of its passengers were at morning prayers.
And he went on to describe how soldiers first tried to board the vessel from the side, before dropping down onto it from helicopters.
But he said the "overriding memory" of the attack was of the deaths of nine people.
Foreign Secretary William Hague yesterday confirmed that a total of 34 of the activists on the aid flotilla were British, with all but two of them having been sent to Turkey.
Israel has previously said its troops had been left with no choice after they came under attack from activists armed with knives and iron bars when they were dropped by helicopter onto the ship.
But Mr Ghani insisted those those on the boat were civilians who did not have weapons.
He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that people "used sticks, chairs, anything to stop these solders who were coming down with machine guns and tasers and firing rubber bullets and later on using live ammunition on civilians".
The journalist said: "We knew Israel would do some sort of action, but we thought they would perhaps just try to scare us and then allow us through.
"We didn't expect a ship with 32 different nationalities on board, with aid from 50 different countries on board, would be attacked in such a brutal manner."
Mr Ghani, who was speaking from Turkey, said those on board the boat had been "aware of the potential of an attack".
But he added: "We weren't expecting the amount of force that they used.
"They began by throwing stun grenades on to the deck of the ship when people were in the middle of morning prayers.
"Then they began using rubber bullets, they tried to come aboard the ship from the side. People repelled the commandos with water cannons they had set up on the side of the ship.
"Then the Israelis used helicopters to drop people onto roof and there was scuffles on the roof.
"The Israeli solders had already opened fire on the ship, so people were grabbing anything they could to stop the attack in international waters."
Prime Minister David Cameron has already condemned the Israeli action as "completely unacceptable" and called for the lifting of the three-year blockade of Gaza.
And Mr Ghani said: "This was not in Israeli waters so the soldiers had no right.
"Essentially it has been described as an act of piracy because they had no right to board the ship."
He said people had used "whatever they could" against the commandos.
And he stated: "The overriding memory is the memory of those nine people who were killed, all of them Turkish nationals, trying to stop the Israeli forces from launching their armed attack on this humanitarian civilian vessel.
"They had no weapons, they used their bodies and as a result they paid a fatal price.
"We saw the funeral of those people yesterday."
His father Haq Ghani, 60, said he was relieved that his son was "safe and sound".
He added: "It's just a matter of his mental state after what he witnessed, the killings and so on.
"We are a bit worried about that, but we are very very pleased that he is safe and sound and back in a safe land."
He said he believed his son may stay in Turkey for a week or so before returning to the UK.
Gaza flotilla reporter describes 'brutal' Israeli assault
By Katrine Bussey, Press Association
Friday, 4 June 2010
A British journalist today told how Israeli commandos had carried out a "brutal" assault on the boat he was on as it attempted to take aid to Gaza.
Hassan Ghani, 25, from Glasgow, was on board the Mavi Marmara, the main ship in the aid flotilla which was targeted by the Israelis.
He told how the Israelis had first fired grenades on to the boat as some of its passengers were at morning prayers.
And he went on to describe how soldiers first tried to board the vessel from the side, before dropping down onto it from helicopters.
But he said the "overriding memory" of the attack was of the deaths of nine people.
Foreign Secretary William Hague yesterday confirmed that a total of 34 of the activists on the aid flotilla were British, with all but two of them having been sent to Turkey.
Israel has previously said its troops had been left with no choice after they came under attack from activists armed with knives and iron bars when they were dropped by helicopter onto the ship.
But Mr Ghani insisted those those on the boat were civilians who did not have weapons.
He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that people "used sticks, chairs, anything to stop these solders who were coming down with machine guns and tasers and firing rubber bullets and later on using live ammunition on civilians".
The journalist said: "We knew Israel would do some sort of action, but we thought they would perhaps just try to scare us and then allow us through.
"We didn't expect a ship with 32 different nationalities on board, with aid from 50 different countries on board, would be attacked in such a brutal manner."
Mr Ghani, who was speaking from Turkey, said those on board the boat had been "aware of the potential of an attack".
But he added: "We weren't expecting the amount of force that they used.
"They began by throwing stun grenades on to the deck of the ship when people were in the middle of morning prayers.
"Then they began using rubber bullets, they tried to come aboard the ship from the side. People repelled the commandos with water cannons they had set up on the side of the ship.
"Then the Israelis used helicopters to drop people onto roof and there was scuffles on the roof.
"The Israeli solders had already opened fire on the ship, so people were grabbing anything they could to stop the attack in international waters."
Prime Minister David Cameron has already condemned the Israeli action as "completely unacceptable" and called for the lifting of the three-year blockade of Gaza.
And Mr Ghani said: "This was not in Israeli waters so the soldiers had no right.
"Essentially it has been described as an act of piracy because they had no right to board the ship."
He said people had used "whatever they could" against the commandos.
And he stated: "The overriding memory is the memory of those nine people who were killed, all of them Turkish nationals, trying to stop the Israeli forces from launching their armed attack on this humanitarian civilian vessel.
"They had no weapons, they used their bodies and as a result they paid a fatal price.
"We saw the funeral of those people yesterday."
His father Haq Ghani, 60, said he was relieved that his son was "safe and sound".
He added: "It's just a matter of his mental state after what he witnessed, the killings and so on.
"We are a bit worried about that, but we are very very pleased that he is safe and sound and back in a safe land."
He said he believed his son may stay in Turkey for a week or so before returning to the UK.
------ This thread is Archived ------
The Independent
Activist: 'Israelis kept firing even after we sent out SOS'
By Jerome Taylor
Friday, 4 June 2010
The first British campaigner to return to the UK following Israel's assault on the Gaza aid flotilla has accused troops of ignoring SOS pleas from wounded passengers and deliberately firing live rounds at unarmed activists.
Sarah Colborne was one of more than 500 passengers on the Mavi Marmara when it was stormed by members of the Israeli Defence Force earlier this week. She arrived back in Britain yesterday after spending two days in an Israeli jail.
Related articles
At a press conference in central London, the 43-year-old, who is director of campaigns and operations for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said the firing of live rounds continued even as the ship's public-address system blasted out SOS appeals and told the activists not to resist. She also claims a number of medics who were helping attend to the wounded and dying were handcuffed by soldiers.
"The Israeli military were firing on us," she said. "We had no arms. We made two attempts to get the message across in the written form. We wrote a sign in Hebrew saying 'SOS! Need medical assistance. People are dying. Urgent.'"
Activist: 'Israelis kept firing even after we sent out SOS'
By Jerome Taylor
Friday, 4 June 2010
The first British campaigner to return to the UK following Israel's assault on the Gaza aid flotilla has accused troops of ignoring SOS pleas from wounded passengers and deliberately firing live rounds at unarmed activists.
Sarah Colborne was one of more than 500 passengers on the Mavi Marmara when it was stormed by members of the Israeli Defence Force earlier this week. She arrived back in Britain yesterday after spending two days in an Israeli jail.
Related articles
At a press conference in central London, the 43-year-old, who is director of campaigns and operations for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said the firing of live rounds continued even as the ship's public-address system blasted out SOS appeals and told the activists not to resist. She also claims a number of medics who were helping attend to the wounded and dying were handcuffed by soldiers.
"The Israeli military were firing on us," she said. "We had no arms. We made two attempts to get the message across in the written form. We wrote a sign in Hebrew saying 'SOS! Need medical assistance. People are dying. Urgent.'"
------ This thread is Archived ------
Albertaghost: EXACTLY!!!!!!
You hit the bullseye and you don't even know it. WMDs had zip to do with it just as weapons in humanitarian aid has nothing to do with it. The fact is, Saddam didn't adhere to any of the ceasefire conditions which ranged from environmental reparations and human rights reforms to proving he was free of WMDs Please, tell me Israel adheres to any human rights reforms. Or has Israel EVER allowed UN weapons inspectors into THEIR facilities. You are blind if you don't see the hipocracy of your own words.
CAUSE IT'S A BLOCKADE Yes but also it is a slow death for the civilian populace. Israel is only allowing 25 percent of medical and other needed supplies in!!! Don't you get it?
Just as everybody knows that stopping terrorism by conducting military actions against a military target is a military operation and is as such, military action rather than terrorism.
There were no military aboard these ships. Don't you get it?
If Israel were to conduct terrorism against Palestinians it would set bombs off in schools, public buildings where people congregated and, all would not know or suspect it was they but rather some faction that Hamas could not protect them from or blame.And they don't? What was cast lead? What was Jenin? You just don't get it do you?
For someone who professes to NOT support the Israeli thugs you sure post a lot of dogma that proves otherwise.You hit the bullseye and you don't even know it. WMDs had zip to do with it just as weapons in humanitarian aid has nothing to do with it. The fact is, Saddam didn't adhere to any of the ceasefire conditions which ranged from environmental reparations and human rights reforms to proving he was free of WMDs Please, tell me Israel adheres to any human rights reforms. Or has Israel EVER allowed UN weapons inspectors into THEIR facilities. You are blind if you don't see the hipocracy of your own words.
CAUSE IT'S A BLOCKADE Yes but also it is a slow death for the civilian populace. Israel is only allowing 25 percent of medical and other needed supplies in!!! Don't you get it?
Just as everybody knows that stopping terrorism by conducting military actions against a military target is a military operation and is as such, military action rather than terrorism.
There were no military aboard these ships. Don't you get it?
If Israel were to conduct terrorism against Palestinians it would set bombs off in schools, public buildings where people congregated and, all would not know or suspect it was they but rather some faction that Hamas could not protect them from or blame.And they don't? What was cast lead? What was Jenin? You just don't get it do you?
Stop US aid to Israel, Boycott Israel. Peace to the middle east.
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Hintergrund
Die Organisation Free Gaza
Die internationale Organisation Free Gaza will mit Hilfsgütern die palästinensische Bevölkerung des Gazastreifens unterstützen. Solidaritätsfahrten von Schiffen sollen auch öffentlichkeitswirksam auf die Blockade des Gebiets durch Israel hinweisen.
Free-Gaza-Spendensammlungen werden in Deutschland unter anderem unterstützt von der Deutsch-Palästinensischen Gesellschaft, die kirchliche Friedensorganisation pax christi und dem Verein Internationale Ärzte für die Verhütung des Atomkrieges (IPPNW).
Der Konflikt
Im Oktober 2008 brachten 26 Aktivisten auf einem weiteren Schiff medizinische Hilfsgüter nach Gaza. Während des Gaza-Krieges endete eine Solidaritätsfahrt Ende Dezember 2008 kurz vor der Küste. Nach Angaben der Aktivisten wurde ihr Boot nach Schüssen vor den Bug von einem israelischen Kriegsschiff gerammt und zum Abdrehen gezwungen.
Bei einem weiteren Versuch im Juni 2009 wurde ein Hilfsschiff vor Gaza abgefangen und in den israelischen Hafen Ashdod gezwungen.
Seit 2007 kontrolliert die radikal-islamische Hamas den Gaza-Streifen. Nach einem massiven Raketenbeschuss aus Gaza startete Israel im Dezember 2008 die dreiwöchige Militäroffensive „Gegossenes Blei“, bei der nach palästinensischen Angaben mehr als 1400 Palästinenser getötet wurden.
Israel erklärte den Gazastreifen zum „feindlichen Gebiet“ und sperrte alle Zufahrten zu Lande und zu Wasser, was das Wirtschaftsleben weitgehend zusammenbrechen ließ. Free Gaza erklärt: „Wir wollen der Strangulation und dem Aushungern einer Bevölkerung von 1,5 Millionen Menschen nicht tatenlos zusehen“.
Die Erfolge
Mehrfach wurden Fahrten von „Solidaritätskonvois“ mit Dutzenden bis Hunderten Aktivisten an Bord und prominenten Unterstützern organisiert. In August 2008 erreichten laut Free Gaza zwei Schiffe mit Hilfsgütern im Wert von 200.000 Euro von Griechenland über Zypern Gaza.
Das Leben der rund 1,5 Millionen Palästinenser in dem dicht bevölkerten Küstenstreifen am Mittelmeer ist seit Jahren von Gewalt und sozialer Not bestimmt. Die meisten Menschen sind auf internationale Hilfe angewiesen.
Die Mavi Marmara befand sich nämlich unter dem Kommando der IHH, einer türkischen Wohltätigkeitsorganisation mit Verbindungen zu verschiedenen islamistischen Organisationen. Das „Danish Institute for International Studies“ hat der IHH nicht nur Verbindungen zur Hamas sondern auch zu al-Quaida und anderen Organisationen nachgewiesen, die der globalen Dschihad-Bewegung nahe stehen.
Die Organisation Free Gaza
Die internationale Organisation Free Gaza will mit Hilfsgütern die palästinensische Bevölkerung des Gazastreifens unterstützen. Solidaritätsfahrten von Schiffen sollen auch öffentlichkeitswirksam auf die Blockade des Gebiets durch Israel hinweisen.
Free-Gaza-Spendensammlungen werden in Deutschland unter anderem unterstützt von der Deutsch-Palästinensischen Gesellschaft, die kirchliche Friedensorganisation pax christi und dem Verein Internationale Ärzte für die Verhütung des Atomkrieges (IPPNW).
Der Konflikt
Im Oktober 2008 brachten 26 Aktivisten auf einem weiteren Schiff medizinische Hilfsgüter nach Gaza. Während des Gaza-Krieges endete eine Solidaritätsfahrt Ende Dezember 2008 kurz vor der Küste. Nach Angaben der Aktivisten wurde ihr Boot nach Schüssen vor den Bug von einem israelischen Kriegsschiff gerammt und zum Abdrehen gezwungen.
Bei einem weiteren Versuch im Juni 2009 wurde ein Hilfsschiff vor Gaza abgefangen und in den israelischen Hafen Ashdod gezwungen.
Seit 2007 kontrolliert die radikal-islamische Hamas den Gaza-Streifen. Nach einem massiven Raketenbeschuss aus Gaza startete Israel im Dezember 2008 die dreiwöchige Militäroffensive „Gegossenes Blei“, bei der nach palästinensischen Angaben mehr als 1400 Palästinenser getötet wurden.
Israel erklärte den Gazastreifen zum „feindlichen Gebiet“ und sperrte alle Zufahrten zu Lande und zu Wasser, was das Wirtschaftsleben weitgehend zusammenbrechen ließ. Free Gaza erklärt: „Wir wollen der Strangulation und dem Aushungern einer Bevölkerung von 1,5 Millionen Menschen nicht tatenlos zusehen“.
Die Erfolge
Mehrfach wurden Fahrten von „Solidaritätskonvois“ mit Dutzenden bis Hunderten Aktivisten an Bord und prominenten Unterstützern organisiert. In August 2008 erreichten laut Free Gaza zwei Schiffe mit Hilfsgütern im Wert von 200.000 Euro von Griechenland über Zypern Gaza.
Das Leben der rund 1,5 Millionen Palästinenser in dem dicht bevölkerten Küstenstreifen am Mittelmeer ist seit Jahren von Gewalt und sozialer Not bestimmt. Die meisten Menschen sind auf internationale Hilfe angewiesen.
Die Mavi Marmara befand sich nämlich unter dem Kommando der IHH, einer türkischen Wohltätigkeitsorganisation mit Verbindungen zu verschiedenen islamistischen Organisationen. Das „Danish Institute for International Studies“ hat der IHH nicht nur Verbindungen zur Hamas sondern auch zu al-Quaida und anderen Organisationen nachgewiesen, die der globalen Dschihad-Bewegung nahe stehen.
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Auch hat der Chef der Organisation, Bülent Yilderim, jüngst in einer Rede Israel als „zionistisches Gebilde“ bezeichnet und erklärt, das Ziel der IHH sei es, „Israel und die israelische Armee zu blamieren und der Hamas und ihrer Regierung im Gazastreifen zu helfen“. Bei der Abschiedsfeier des Schiffes in Istanbul in der vergangenen Woche waren dann auch zwei hochrangige Hamas-Mitglieder aus Großbritannien und ein Führer der jordanischen Muslimbruderschaft anwesend gewesen.
Doch auch wenn die Schuldfrage noch ihrer endgültigen Klärung harrt, für Israel wächst der tragische Vorfall sich schon jetzt zu einem diplomatischen Fiasko aus. Die Türkei zog gleich ihren Botschafter ab, weitere arabische Länder kündigten ähnliche Maßnahmen an. Die EU forderte eine umfassende Untersuchung der Vorgänge. Spanien, Schweden und Griechenland bestellten die israelischen Botschafter in den Ländern ein.
Der französische Außenminister Bernard Kouchner sagte, er sei „tief geschockt“ über den israelischen Angriff. Solche Gewalt könne „mit nichts gerechtfertigt werden“. Die Arabische Liga berief gleich eine Sondersitzung ein, Palästinenserpräsident Mahmud Abbas sprach von einem „Massaker“ und ordnete eine dreitägige Staatstrauer im Gazastreifen an – wo er seit der Machtübernahme der Hamas im Juni 2007 allerdings nichts mehr zu sagen hat.
Israel Verteidigungsminister Ehud Barak äußerte zwar Bedauern für die Opfer, bestand aber darauf, dass„die Organisatoren und die Teilnehmer die alleinige Verantwortung“ trügen. Bei einer gemeinsamen Pressekonferenz mit Armeechef Gabi Aschkenasi und dem Kommandeur der Marine, Elieser Marom, sagte Barak außerdem, das bei der Aktion insgesamt 10 Soldaten verletzt worden seien. Ein Soldat habe schwere Kopfverletzungen erlitten, zwei seien von Gewehrkugeln verletzt worden und einer habe eine Stichwunde erlitten.
Während Vize-Admiral Marom die Zurückhaltung seiner Truppen lobte sah zumindest Generalstabschef Aschkenasi auch ein wenig Anlass zur Selbstkritik: Die Soldaten hätten zwar allerlei Szenarien geübt, seien aber unzureichend mit Hilfsmitteln zur Zerstreuung von Menschenmengen ausgestattet gewesen.
Nach dem Zwischenfall wird es für Israel nun wohl besonders schwierig, an der seit drei Jahren andauernden Blockade des Gazastreifens festzuhalten. Israel hatte nach der Machtübernahme der Hamas die Grenzen des Gebietes abgeriegelt, um die Position der Islamisten in der Bevölkerung langfristig zu schwächen. Wenn nur noch das Allernötigste nach Gaza komme, würde die unzufriedene Bevölkerung sich irgendwann gegen die Hamas, hofften die Israelis.
Doch bisher ist das Kalkül nicht aufgegangen: Die Hamas mag aus allerlei Gründen in Gaza an Beliebtheit eingebüßt haben, sie sitzt aber noch immer fest im Sattel. Derweil verhindert die Blockade jegliche wirtschaftliche Entwicklung; weil Baumaterialien nur selten und in geringen Mengen nach Gaza gelassen werden, sind bis heute nur 25 Prozent der Kriegsschäden behoben. Auch wenn es völkerrechtlich legitim sein mag, wenn Israel auf die Raketenangriffe aus Gaza mit einer Wirtschaftsblockade reagiert. Nur scheint das international immer schwerer zu vermitteln sein.
Doch auch wenn die Schuldfrage noch ihrer endgültigen Klärung harrt, für Israel wächst der tragische Vorfall sich schon jetzt zu einem diplomatischen Fiasko aus. Die Türkei zog gleich ihren Botschafter ab, weitere arabische Länder kündigten ähnliche Maßnahmen an. Die EU forderte eine umfassende Untersuchung der Vorgänge. Spanien, Schweden und Griechenland bestellten die israelischen Botschafter in den Ländern ein.
Der französische Außenminister Bernard Kouchner sagte, er sei „tief geschockt“ über den israelischen Angriff. Solche Gewalt könne „mit nichts gerechtfertigt werden“. Die Arabische Liga berief gleich eine Sondersitzung ein, Palästinenserpräsident Mahmud Abbas sprach von einem „Massaker“ und ordnete eine dreitägige Staatstrauer im Gazastreifen an – wo er seit der Machtübernahme der Hamas im Juni 2007 allerdings nichts mehr zu sagen hat.
Israel Verteidigungsminister Ehud Barak äußerte zwar Bedauern für die Opfer, bestand aber darauf, dass„die Organisatoren und die Teilnehmer die alleinige Verantwortung“ trügen. Bei einer gemeinsamen Pressekonferenz mit Armeechef Gabi Aschkenasi und dem Kommandeur der Marine, Elieser Marom, sagte Barak außerdem, das bei der Aktion insgesamt 10 Soldaten verletzt worden seien. Ein Soldat habe schwere Kopfverletzungen erlitten, zwei seien von Gewehrkugeln verletzt worden und einer habe eine Stichwunde erlitten.
Während Vize-Admiral Marom die Zurückhaltung seiner Truppen lobte sah zumindest Generalstabschef Aschkenasi auch ein wenig Anlass zur Selbstkritik: Die Soldaten hätten zwar allerlei Szenarien geübt, seien aber unzureichend mit Hilfsmitteln zur Zerstreuung von Menschenmengen ausgestattet gewesen.
Nach dem Zwischenfall wird es für Israel nun wohl besonders schwierig, an der seit drei Jahren andauernden Blockade des Gazastreifens festzuhalten. Israel hatte nach der Machtübernahme der Hamas die Grenzen des Gebietes abgeriegelt, um die Position der Islamisten in der Bevölkerung langfristig zu schwächen. Wenn nur noch das Allernötigste nach Gaza komme, würde die unzufriedene Bevölkerung sich irgendwann gegen die Hamas, hofften die Israelis.
Doch bisher ist das Kalkül nicht aufgegangen: Die Hamas mag aus allerlei Gründen in Gaza an Beliebtheit eingebüßt haben, sie sitzt aber noch immer fest im Sattel. Derweil verhindert die Blockade jegliche wirtschaftliche Entwicklung; weil Baumaterialien nur selten und in geringen Mengen nach Gaza gelassen werden, sind bis heute nur 25 Prozent der Kriegsschäden behoben. Auch wenn es völkerrechtlich legitim sein mag, wenn Israel auf die Raketenangriffe aus Gaza mit einer Wirtschaftsblockade reagiert. Nur scheint das international immer schwerer zu vermitteln sein.
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Boycott any and all Israeli products worldwide. Expose them.
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But Lilly, dear heart you forgot to add one very important point.
The Israelis were ATTACKING.
And another VERY important point. Nine unarmed people , none of which were IDF, were KILLED.
Poor dear.
Boycott Israeli import/export, Stop US aid to Israel Peace
The Israelis were ATTACKING.
And another VERY important point. Nine unarmed people , none of which were IDF, were KILLED.
Poor dear.
Boycott Israeli import/export, Stop US aid to Israel Peace
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Pray for the "Anne Franks" of Gaza.
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SilverBirch: Boycott any and all Israeli products worldwide. Expose them.
UC Berkley, a large public university tries to divest from the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Evergreen in Washington may be next.
BDS = boycot, divestment and sanctions.
endtheoccupation
It worked with the South African gov. to end Apartheid. Bono, where are you?
------ This thread is Archived ------
Now THATS what I'm talking about.------ This thread is Archived ------
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EXACTLY!!!!!!
You hit the bullseye and you don't even know it. WMDs had zip to do with it just as weapons in humanitarian aid has nothing to do with it. The fact is, Saddam didn't adhere to any of the ceasefire conditions which ranged from environmental reparations and human rights reforms to proving he was free of WMDs and, all the aid on those ships probably didn't contain anything prohibited but, it had to be inspected and approved prior to going to Gaza. Why you might ask?
CAUSE IT'S A BLOCKADE
Whomever considers the above as correct is a frickin' moron as everybody knows that terrorism is random or seemingly random (in target, place or time) violence against civilians designed to precipitate a political reaction by destabilizing the government via separation of tax base and governing authority or fruitless expenditure of resources with no increase in the ability to protect the tax base. Just as everybody knows that stopping terrorism by conducting military actions against a military target is a military operation and is as such, military action rather than terrorism.
If Israel were to conduct terrorism against Palestinians it would set bombs off in schools, public buildings where people congregated and, all would not know or suspect it was they but rather some faction that Hamas could not protect them from or blame. That would create the result a terrorist of Palestinian people would want.
Oh I feel so bad for you. Not enough Israelis killed for your liking? Here, uncle Alberta will try to help you out by googling some more Zionist deaths. Might have to count a few names twice but if you're just into body counts you shouldn't mind.
Did you know that more jews died because of British naval blockade during World War II than there's has died by Palestinian violence?
Did you know that Palestinians were offered their own homeland as part of the UN resolution of '48 and chose to try to kill every last Jew instead and have been one track push them into the sea in mind ever since?
Say, you never answered me when I ask what the Hamas guys on the other forums you go on say about how their violence contributes to their problems. What do they say when you bring that up?