Israeli naval commandos seize Gaza-bound aid ship

[babsbunny]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2010-06-04-888420411_x.htm

By Amy Teibel, Associated Press Writer
JERUSALEM — Israeli forces seized a Gaza-bound aid vessel swiftly and without meeting resistance on Saturday, preventing it from breaking a naval blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory days after a similar effort turned bloody.

Israel has faced mounting international pressure to lift the blockade since Monday's deadly confrontation aboard a Turkish aid vessel headed for Gaza. But it stood by the embargo -- which it says is needed to prevent the Islamic militant group from getting weapons -- even as the Obama administration called the current restrictions "unsustainable."

The 1,200-ton Rachel Corrie, which was carrying 11 pro-Palestinian activists, nine crew and hundreds of tons of aid, was intercepted in international waters, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) from Gaza's shore and was being escorted to the nearby Israeli port of Ashdod, the military said.

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. The ugly fact is that Israel is blockading hundreds of non-military

items from getting to Gaza which is a war crime. The Israelis continue to insist that the blockade is in place to prevent weapons and military use items from getting to Gaza. The truth is that they are keeping basic, non-military items from reaching Gaza. It is collective punishment and the whole world should be pressing them to let these items pass.

[TexasObserver]

2. Pirates of the Mediterranean.

If only there was a body where the nations of the world could condemn this kind of international piracy.

[AllentownJake]

3. I'm waiting for them to fire on a naval ship of a NATO country in international waters

I think that is where you see things get "interesting"

An attack on one is an attack on all, and last time I checked the US was in NATO.

[Moochy]

6. So is Turkey

NATO reaction was .. Ehh not so much.

[AllentownJake]

7. The ship was not a naval vessle nt.

[Voluntary1]

15. That was called the USS Liberty.

[Cresent City Kid]

4. Why doesn't the US Navy deliver the humanitarian aid?

It's a rhetorical question, the answer is that we don't live in the alternate universe where that would even be considered.

If the goal is to protect Israel, that should include protecting it from itself. The extreme measures of "self defense" seem to create the enemies and hatred that require defense. It's an endless cycle that the US has the power, but not the will to break.

[Johonny]

5. probably because Israel would fire on us too

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Because national navies do not get involved in poliitcal gestures

If the true target was aid to Gaza, there are better/faster/cheaper/more effective ways to get it there. The goal of the all of the attempts at running the blockade is political. Nothing wrong with that, but do not expect a national navy to get involved. Even Iran is smarter than that

[Cresent City Kid]

12. I'll have to take your word about the other ways of getting aid in.

I personally don't know how that would be done. And you're right about leaving the Navy out of politics. We should work through diplomatic means like sanctions and cutting off aid to Israel.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. All most all of the aid that has been received has come from outside of Israel

It either comes in by air to TLV or ship to Ashdod. Its inspected down to the gnat's ass and only approved items (there is a published list) then go by truck to Gaza.

[immune]

9. Nobody stepped in when the children of Gaza were being crippled

by bombs and white phosphorous that the Israelis rained down upon the fish in a barrel Palestinian people, so how could anybody expect those same pathetic "leaders" to step in now when Israel merely denies the surviving children wheelchairs.

[Mudoria]

10. Nor did anyone step in when the missles from Gaza were being fired at children in Israel..

[immune]

11. Got a list of injured or killed Israelis?

How about damaged property?

edit to add .... oh, and maybe you could also provide a list of all those poor benighted soldiers who were injured and killed by peace activists wielding kitchen knives and deck chairs.

I thought you guys were the David and Goliath story tellers.

[nemo137]

14. Yes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel,_2001%E2%80%932006

More broadly:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel

I really can't imagine you're trying to claim that the rocket attacks don't happen.

[Rage for Order]

17. Yeah, whoever heard of someone being injured by a mere kitchen knife???

:eyes:

[Rex]

13. Israel has every right to murder whoever they want to, the Americans do

it...why can't they?