"Gaza aid ship raid called a ‘last resort’; Netanyahu says Turkey ignored diplomatic efforts" by Joel Greenberg, Washington Post | August 10, 2010
JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday told an Israeli commission investigating a deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in May that the action was ordered as a “last resort’’ after diplomatic efforts failed, and that the army was told to make every effort to avoid casualties.
Netanyahu, the first witness to testify before the inquiry panel, said that the Israeli government had anticipated resistance aboard the largest ship carrying Turkish activists and tried to plan for the public relations fallout of a confrontation between soldiers and passengers.
Statements by the flotilla organizers indicated that they wanted to break Israel’s blockade on the Gaza Strip by “creating a provocation’’ and instigating “media-covered friction with soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces,’’ Netanyahu said.
Yet in a ministerial consultation a few days before the raid, the consensus was that “despite the expected propaganda damage, the blockade must be enforced because of the matter’s importance for Israel’s security,’’ Netanyahu said.
Related: Israel Is Just Plain Mean
I didn't know toys and cookies were a threat to Israel's security.
They must be the most insecure nation on earth -- which is indicative of some sort of psychosis.
The raid disrupted Israel’s relations with Turkey and sparked an international outcry that eventually compelled Israel to ease its land blockade of the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the militant Islamic group Hamas....
Related: No Change in Gaza
Israel has turned Gaza into the largest concentration camp in history
Nothing has changed regarding the siege, readers -- and neither has the coverage (or lack thereof).
In a separate development yesterday, Israel threatened to pull out of a UN inquiry into the raid....
But no castigation from that august body that Iran or some other Muslim nation would receive.
During the predawn raid, nine Turks, including one with dual Turkish-American citizenship, were killed by commandos in clashes that erupted after the Israeli forces landed on the largest flotilla vessel, the Mavi Marmara, from helicopters. The raid was carried out in international waters after the aid ships ignored warnings not to continue to the Gaza Strip.
Notice how it is okay for Israel to commit piracy and murder aid workers?
The flotilla was organized by the Turkish charity Humanitarian Relief Foundation, which has close links to Turkey’s Islamist governing party.
Translation: Turkey is on the outs with Israel.
When the Zionist press of AmeriKa uses the adjective Islamist it means you are now an enemy of the state of Israel.
Netanyahu said that Turkey ignored Israeli diplomatic appeals to avert a possible clash and route the aid cargo to Gaza through an Israeli port....
Ever notice Israelis accuse others of the exact behavior they are guilty of themselves?
"Flotilla activists fired first, Israeli military chief says; Admits mistakes made in May raid" by Isabel Kershner, New York Times | August 12, 2010
Oh, one of the tough guys of the AmeriKan MSM.
Related:
"Isabel Kershner.... is an Israeli citizen.... possible family ties to the Israeli military"
I'm sure this will be a real objective and unbiased report.
JERUSALEM — Israel’s top military chief said yesterday that activists on a Turkish ship were the first to open fire as Israeli naval commandos raided the vessel, part of a six-boat flotilla bound for Gaza, fomenting a bloody confrontation on board that left nine activists dead....
Amazing how they can lie so much after we all saw the videos and read the accounts.
Activists who were on board have given different accounts, saying the soldiers opened fire as soon as they came on board, or even before....
Yeah, the WORLD KNOWS even if the AmeriKan MSM won't tell it.
Testifying before an Israeli commission of inquiry, Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, the Israeli Army chief of staff, gave the most detailed description yet of the military’s version of the events in late May. The raid on the flotilla, which was trying to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, stirred international outrage and severely strained Israel’s relations with Turkey, a once close ally. It also led to a significant easing of the land blockade of the coastal enclave, which is run by the Islamist militant group Hamas....
That's where I got sick of the NYT garbage; you are welcome to more if you like.
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Also see: Hope rises for deal on Mideast talks
I never take that stuff seriously anymore.
One reason why:
"Afterward, an Israeli official said there was no breakthrough, putting the blame on the Palestinians. Israel is insisting on talks with no preconditions....
As they insist on preconditions over settlements and have "ruled out giving up control of East Jerusalem."
Now THAT is CHUTZPAH!
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The other is that IF ISRAEL WANTED PEACE we would have HAD IT by now; however, all they are interested in is a PIECE of LEBANON, a PIECE of SYRIA, and the WHOLE of PALESTINE (such as it is)!
