Last Friday, the IDF boarded two boats attempting to run Israel’s maritime blockade on Gaza. One boat was Canadian and the other Irish and they carried 27 pro-Palestinian activists, journalists and crew members. The last Flotilla attempt, 4 months ago, was beset by all kinds of problems – “mechanical” breakdowns, local authorities not allowing the boats to sail etc. In the end, none of the boats made it anywhere near Gaza. Hoping to avoid a similar fate, the Canadian and Irish boats kept it on the down low until after they left their Turkish port on Thursday.
However, with only a day’s lead time, there wasn’t the usual press and social media chatter. And then when the IDF boarded the ships and brought them to Ashdod without anyone getting injured or hurt? Well, it was the opposite of “If it bleeds, it leads.” Meaning, it became a boring non-story. The New York Times had it on page A4. Twitter “Activistas” were forced to tweet @freedomwaves 6 times in one tweet, over and over again in the hopes that it would “trend” on twitter thus earning the momentary attention of Justin Bieber fans and, uhm… Social Network Consultants. Sadly, it never trended.
Clearly the faux humanitarian crisis in Gaza, described as the most pressing humanitarian disaster in the world, which it isn’t, isn’t newsworthy enough. For obvious reasons. I’m glad no one got hurt but I fear that the activistas, starved for media attention, will resort to shenanigans next time they try to launch a flotilla full of much needed aid to Gaza, like expired medicine, used shoes that no one in Gaza would ever wear, or the latest flat screen TVs. Said shenanigans might include a greater willingness to use violent “resistance” Ã la Mavi Marmara, or who knows. Well, I guess all we can do is sit back and wait…
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ck — so is the point of your quote that because the OPT are not a state, Israel’s free to take what territory it wishes from there?
No xisnotx – Resolution 242 demands a negotiated end to hostilities and a lasting peace. It does not define the boundaries of a future Palestinian state, nor does it even mandate the creation of such. Don’t shoot the messenger!
Thanks ck–how could I have missed the “Zionism is racism” calumny!
It’s easy. We hear these mantra-like accusations so often from the Paligandistas that it numbs our brain.
Facts? Like:
“I am sure the “terrorists†who have launched their attack on Israel by trying to help Palestinians you know, live, will be very thankful for the publicity.”
-I never called the freedomwaves participants terrorists
“Israel is still in contravention of UNSCR 242…”
– False. Resolution 242 requires “Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.”
“the UN still condemns Zionism as racism.”
– False. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/86 passed on December 16, 1991, revoked the Zionism is Racism Resolution 3379 with a vote of 111 to 25, with 13 abstentions.
“Almost every single happening in the Israeli-Palestinian “conflict†reminds me of the Apartheid Regime in South Africa.”
– Clearly you’re a little biased. Let’s hear from Justice Goldstone on this matter “In Israel, there is no apartheid. Nothing there comes close to the definition of apartheid under the 1998 Rome Statute… those who conflate the situations in Israel and the West Bank and liken both to the old South Africa do a disservice to all who hope for justice and peace… The charge that Israel is an apartheid state is a false and malicious one that precludes, rather than promotes, peace and harmony.” Read it and weep.
“I do hope Israel realises very soon what she doing to the Palestinians.”
– You really do need to stop treating the Palestinians like passive simpletons. Their leadership has failed them every step of the way from rejecting UNSCR 242 to the continued rocket attacks on Israeli civilians that continue to this very day.
I mean, you’re not even good at Paliganda!
Don’t let the facts spoil your twisted views and arguments. Your’re a tool, nobody knows that better than you.
To Werner:
Hi! Let’s take your comments in order, paragraph by paragaph.
The residents of Gaza don’t need the aid on board these boats to “you know, liveâ€. Tons of supplies are provided by Israel every day, far more than a few thousand pounds of stuff. I know it sounds ridiculous that so much assistance is sent into a territory whose government is dedicated to your destruction, but the Israeli government has no gripe with the people of Gaza, only its rightist/fundamentalist/fascist government that openly declares its goal to be the elimination of the Jewish state, and that fires rockets on peaceful Jewish civilians at an alarming level of frequency.
The Turskish ship to which you refer did not have “unarmed activistsâ€. They were armed, and attacked the Jews/Israelis when these Jews/Israelis attempted to abide by international law by diverting the ships to a legal destination, where all aid could be delivered to Gaza through the proper legal channels.
The blockade is legal according to the UN, not Israel. (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/world/middleeast/02flotilla.html?pagewanted=all)
I don’t understand at all why Israel should remind you of Apartheid South Africa. Israel is a wildly open democracy where ethnic and religious minority rights are (mostly) respected, where women and gays are (mostly) free to live their lives in peace, freedom and happiness. Indeed, most pertinently, it is safe to say that Arabs in Israel are probably the freest in the world, after those in the USA and Canada.
You ask “Why would any group hate democracy?†But then you criticize a democracy when it protects itself against a radical rightist regime bent on the democracy’s destruction. I am confused.
This “dangerous vision†that is shared by the leadership of the Jewish state and the Palestinian government? It seems you are contradicting yourself: Israel is a democracy that is protecting its citizens against a radical rightist assault on its very existence. Can you really say that Hamas also have a vision of open spirited liberal democracy for its people, and for the region in general?
Building homes,as stupid and confrontational as some of this building is, just can’t be equated with launching rockets at kindergartens. Sorry, but you’ll have to do better than that.
I don’t understand your claim that you “used to support Israelâ€; you’ll have to provide more details here. Exactly how and why was this support manifested in the past, and how and why has it changed over time?
Looking forward to your reply!
-dd
Well, it seems like this story was newsworthy enough to get your attention.
I am sure the “terrorists” who have launched their attack on Israel by trying to help Palestinians you know, live, will be very thankful for the publicity.
I have no problem with the truth, but you may have a problem with the whole truth. When you mention the Mavi Marmara just remember to mention that she was in international waters. Also, why attack a ship with unarmed activists with Israeli Special Forces?
When you refer to legal blockade on Gaza, by whose legality? Since when can Israel decide for millions of people who they obviously “dislike”? If Arabs are treated so fairly, why are they so unhappy? Israel is still in contravention of UNSCR 242 and the UN still condemns Zionism as racism.
Almost every single happening in the Israeli-Palestinian “conflict” reminds me of the Apartheid Regime in South Africa. Israel even supported Apartheid South Africa. We all know where that system went.
Whenever you make a point try getting to the root of what caused the reaction. No people or organisation in the world opposes a successful country or region. People do not just hate the USA and Israel because they are democracies. Why would any group hate democracy? People are steered by men and women with power and unfortunately power usually goes with a lack of or no morals.
Israel mostly and the Palestinians to some degree are probably steered by people with a very dangerous vision and I am not referring to any race or religion. One cannot classify a whole region or people by a few who are misguided.
Israel has the power initiative in the region because of the strength of her military and support, however dwindling, from the USA. If you have the initiative you can make peace. Why has it not happened? Why are still more settlements being built on disputed land? Why are Palestinian crops and love trees being demolished? Why are very dangerous settlers who have killed and maimed Palestinians not in jails?
I used to support Israel, but with a growing number of people around the world you have lost my support just like the Refuseniks refuse to commit any further crimes and many Israelis who are waking up to this. Fact is that this conflict is going nowhere and Israeli reactions to Palestinians will ensure it keeps going nowhere.
In the process wave upon wave of flotillas will sail to Gaza and attention will stay focused on the region. I do hope Israel realises very soon what she doing to the Palestinians. Good luck with getting Israelis out of the settlements now. A lot of tears will still be spilled.