Gaza Flotilla Stormed by Israel, Part II

Continued from here [1].

From skdadl at B n' R, Craig Murray on the Legal Position [2]

Quote:

A word on the legal position, which is very plain. To attack a foreign flagged vessel in international waters is illegal. It is not piracy, as the Israeli vessels carried a military commission. It is rather an act of illegal warfare.

Because the incident took place on the high seas does not mean however that international law is the only applicable law. The Law of the Sea is quite plain that, when an incident takes place
on a ship on the high seas (outside anybody's territorial waters) the applicable law is that of the flag state of the ship on which the incident occurred. In legal terms, the Turkish ship was Turkish territory.

There are therefore two clear legal possibilities.

Possibility one is that the Israeli commandos were acting on behalf of the government of Israel in killing the activists on the ships. In that case Israel is in a position of war with Turkey, and the act falls under international jurisdiction as a war crime.

Possibility two is that, if the killings were not authorised Israeli military action, they were acts of murder under Turkish jurisdiction. If Israel does not consider itself in a position of war with Turkey, then it must hand over the commandos involved for trial in Turkey under Turkish law.

In brief, if Israel and Turkey are not at war, then it is Turkish law which is applicable to what happened on the ship. It is for Turkey, not Israel, to carry out any inquiry or investigation into events and to initiate any prosecutions. Israel is obliged to hand over indicted personnel for prosecution.

Comments

Submitted by Slumberjack on May 31, 2010 - 7:40pm.

This hallowed ground policy, whereby partisan supporters who take it upon themselves to act as spokespersons for their respective political interests, and insist that their statements and motives be exempt from criticism, and moderators subsequently shut down any such criticism, thereby protecting such statements and blatant motives...a steaming crock if there ever was one. Just sayin.

Submitted by N.Beltov on May 31, 2010 - 8:04pm.

meh. The NDP was bound to produce a milquetoast statement of one sort or another. NDPers that step out of line ... well, we know what happened to S. Robinson long before he was charged with theft.He lost his foreign affairs critic portfolio.

Any leadership in this country organizing against Israeli atrocities will not come from any of the leading parties in Parliament (from RoC).

Submitted by Skinny Dipper on May 31, 2010 - 8:11pm.

I haven't seen any video or maps yet of the attack. I do think that in the long run, it will be a public relations disaster for the Israelis and a victory for the Palestinians, particularly the Gazans. Here's why: It forces the European countries to choose between Turkey (a NATO country) and the US (Israel's largest ally. Yes, Canada is the best ally, but not the largest in terms of $$$). It also splits the Americans and Turks. If the US won't help the Turks deal with the Israelis. why should the Turks help the Americians with Iraq through the American use of Turkish militrary bases and airspace? Israel is losing an important Muslim ally in the Middle East by upsetting Turkey.

Submitted by NDPP on May 31, 2010 - 8:33pm.

on and on it goes...

US Peace Activist Shot in the Face by Israel - Activist Loses Eye

http://palsolidarity.org/2010/05/12604/

"Emily Henochowicz is currently in Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem undergoing surgery to remove her left eye follwing a demonstration that was held in protest of Israel's murder of at least 10 civilians aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla..'

Submitted by Frustrated Mess on May 31, 2010 - 8:48pm.

She is 21 and lost an eye to the brave, brave IDF. No unarmed person too non-threatening to be attacked.

Submitted by Ripple on May 31, 2010 - 9:05pm.

I would be interested to know what the Bloc has said. I didn't see anything on their website, but may have missed it - my french is not what it could be.

Submitted by N.Beltov on May 31, 2010 - 9:18pm.

The Bloc is often better than the other 3 - on some foreign policy matters - put together. Funny how that works when you're representing - or trying to represent - a national minority.

The Palestinians need the kind of solidarity in this country that South Africans had with the anti-apartheid movement. Thing is, that took decades to build. With the horrific Israeli violence and ethnic cleansing, the Palestinians may not have that sort of time.

Submitted by Stargazer on May 31, 2010 - 9:20pm.

This sure has caused an outpouring of antisemitism. Thanks Israel!! Your goals are NOT succeeding. FFS. This is not good for Jewish people. People are hopping mad.

Submitted by Fidel on May 31, 2010 - 9:30pm.

N.Beltov wrote:

The Bloc is often better than the other 3 - on some foreign policy matters - put together. Funny how that works when you're representing - or trying to represent - a national minority.

Agreed. And with one exception being the CIA's abduction of Haiti's first and last democratically elected leader. A certain Bloc MP insisted that the NDP cease referring to Aristide as removed in favour of the word departed. And I'm sure the Bloc member's double speak wording for it in Canada's Parliament was departed and not deported.

Submitted by N.Beltov on May 31, 2010 - 9:44pm.

Sorry, Stargazer, that's a little clumsy to me.

babblers are not the only ones "clever" enough to figure out that the atrocities of Israel are fair game and are no more a reflection on Jews than the demagogic statement of President M Ahmademinijad are a reflection on Muslims (or Iranians).

We're bound to get anti-semites tagging along current denunciations of Israel, but they shouldn't get any more attention that the anti-semite in "Battleship Potemkin" who got his ass kicked for trying to blame "the Jooz" for social problems. ETA: We've got bigger fish to fry.

Submitted by Stargazer on May 31, 2010 - 9:35pm.

Really? I don't think it is clumsy at all. If people were generally smart, we'd live in a better world. They are not. People are selfish, people are horrid to each other and the vast majority of people are incredibly uninformed.

Submitted by George Victor on May 31, 2010 - 9:38pm.

Slumberjack wrote:

"Just sayin" Sj?

If only you could make your mindless points in something other than tendentious, 60-word sentences. And find a target to the right of social democracy! As FM said in frustration at the complete absence of solidarity here...grow the fuck up you silly, egotistical ass.

Oh, and Just Sayin.

Submitted by Polunatic2 on May 31, 2010 - 9:41pm.

Quote:

Why don't we hear from the hundreds of people who were on the flotilla? Did they all lose their cell phones?

I read somewhere on the weekend that Israel was planning to jam all communications as part of their assault. I also read somewhere on the weekend that Israel was referring to the flotilla as an "act of war".

Submitted by Slumberjack on May 31, 2010 - 9:45pm.

Now don't be like that George. As a test subject for Glaxo-Smith-Kline, I'm sure they'll be sending you the next batch of free meds any day at all now. A little patience until then if you please.

Submitted by NDPP on May 31, 2010 - 9:51pm.

re; 10#

and the anti-Israeli Apartheid formations, here in Toronto anyway, have so many good, hardworking Jewish anti-Zionists, that nobody would stand for any of that stupid shit, were it to manifest. It was good to see the traditionalist Rabbis from Jews United Against Zionism at the Netanyahu event standing with one of the imams at the front facing off against the JDL browshirt boys over on the dark side.

Submitted by George Victor on May 31, 2010 - 9:53pm.

"As a test subject for ...I'm sure ..."

You are a test subject, Sj? You probably didn't mean it to come out that way, but perhaps you should stick with the tendentious after all. English can be a tricky language... particularly for the would-be smartass.

Submitted by Slumberjack on May 31, 2010 - 10:05pm.

This confrontational style of yours George...must say that it's quite an improvement over the utterly useless category that I had previously assigned your offerings here. Keep it up, its a refreshing and promising change for the better in my estimation.

Submitted by Fidel on May 31, 2010 - 10:11pm.

As an involuntary test subject for industrial food and petrochemical companies, I resent the implication that I am little more than a lab rat. Cheez-its anyone?

Submitted by Slumberjack on May 31, 2010 - 10:13pm.

You should start a support group with George.

Submitted by Frustrated Mess on May 31, 2010 - 10:16pm.

Quote:

The time has come for the governments that represent us to stop engaging with Israeli lies and excuses. The price of Israel's action today has to be to put the issue of sanctions squarely on the table.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/31/israel-peace-activis...

Submitted by Unionist on May 31, 2010 - 10:17pm.

George Victor wrote:

"As a test subject for ...I'm sure ..."

LOL - George snagged a dangling descriptor! I think we need a little humour to cool down the standoff, and I see George's gambit as a peace offering. C'mon, you two, I like you both, so quit tangling. As someone here said, I'm pretty damn sure we're on the same side when it comes to the atrocities committed by this rogue state.

Submitted by Frustrated Mess on May 31, 2010 - 10:17pm.

Quote:

If an armed group of Somali pirates had yesterday boarded six vessels on the high seas, killing at least 10 passengers and injuring many more, a Nato taskforce would today be heading for the Somali coast. What happened yesterday in international waters off the coast of Gaza was the work of Israeli commandos, not pirates, and no Nato warships will in fact be heading for Israel [25]. Perhaps they should be.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/31/israel-peace-activis... [26]

Submitted by N.Beltov on May 31, 2010 - 10:18pm.

Quote:

During my imprisonment in Israel for attempting to take crayons to the children of Gaza, I called Israel a failed state. If Israel is threatened by unarmed, humanitarian activists to the point of massacring them, then Israel is a failed state. Israel is a failed nuclear state.

from Cynthia Ann McKinney, former United States Representative and the 2008 Green Party nominee for President of the United States. McKinney served as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003 and 2005 to 2007, first representing Georgia's 11th Congressional District and then Georgia's 4th Congressional District. She is the first African-American woman to have represented Georgia in the House.

rabble blog

Submitted by Slumberjack on May 31, 2010 - 10:31pm.

Unionist wrote:

I'm pretty damn sure we're on the same side when it comes to the atrocities committed by this rogue state.

More or less, there's probably some truth in this. It's been a disturbing day all around. Perhaps a pill or two isn't such a bad idea after all.

Submitted by George Victor on May 31, 2010 - 10:54pm.

Just finished off a dry reisling instead...well it had been opened yesterday, mustn't let it lose that Lake Erie bouquet. And it's done the trick. Nighty nite. And yes, we really really are onside...and we really must keep reminding ourselves of that. Yep, the enemy's out there...

Submitted by NDPP on May 31, 2010 - 10:58pm.

Turkey Threatens Action: Israel On Alert

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/turkey-threatens-action-israel-on-alert/11674...

"Turkey has threatened Israel with unprecedented action after Israeli forces attacked an aid vessel..Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel and warned of unprecedented and incalculable reprisals. Ankara warned that further supply vessels will be sent to Gaza, escorted by the Turkish Navy, a development with unpredictable consequences.."

Israel's Attack On Us All

http://www.counterpunch.org/cook05312010.html [31]

"It is quite astounding that Israel has been able to create over the past 12 hours a news blackout, just as it did with its attack on Gaza 18 months ago into which our main media organisations have willingly allowed Israeli spokespeople to step in unchallenged..The passengers on the ships meanwhile have been kidnapped by Israel and are unable to provide an alternative version of events. We can guess they will remain in enforced silence until Israel is sure it has set the news agenda..."

Flotilla Activists Disembarking At Ashdod Port (vid)

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/52724 [32]

Submitted by N.Beltov on May 31, 2010 - 11:31pm.

A Turkish Navy escort. That should be interesting. If Israel attacks the military vessels of a NATO member state, does that mean Canada is automatically at war with Israel? Or will it be that recent "two tiered" NATO membership ... one for the rich countries, and one for the "other" members ...

Submitted by Frustrated Mess on May 31, 2010 - 11:38pm.

Submitted by Fotheringay-Phipps on June 1, 2010 - 12:16am.

The sheer brutal amateurism of the Israeli action is stunning. Apparently they had no plan B if any resistance was offered. They resorted to indiscriminate shooting. Even friends of Israel must be appalled by this slow descent into mindless violence. Once the state of Israel showed at least a limited openness to possible futures. That openness seems to have narrowed and hardened. Ever since 1973 the resort to force has paid decreasing dividends, but the government and the military seem to have exhausted their imaginations. This is a graphic illustration of how the resort to force ultimately coarsens and impoverishes the spirit of those who use it. Now there seems to be no answer but blood, no plan but spilling more blood. Poor embattled Israel reminds me of nothing so much as Macbeth at bay: "I have supp'd full with horrors; Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts Cannot once start me." And so he straps on his harness and goes off to kill yet again in a lost cause. I can only hope that Israel will somehow recover its imagination. Condemnation from the outside world seems to have little effect on a country that has in the past found itself encircled by enemies. Israelis must heed the voices within that warn them off the path they have chosen.

Submitted by al-Qa'bong on June 1, 2010 - 12:38am.

Quote:

Even friends of Israel must be appalled by this slow descent into mindless violence. Once the state of Israel showed at least a limited openness to possible futures.

Surely you jest. The Zionist entity was founded on massacres, theft, rape and ethnic cleansing. This is no slow descent into mindless violence. Violence begat this state.

Submitted by NDPP on June 1, 2010 - 12:48am.

UN Tells Israel To End Siege of Gaza

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=128565&sectionid=351020202

"UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco has called on Israel to end its 'unacceptable' blockade of the Gaza Strip...The UN official also called for a thorough investigation.."

Israel Has Lost All Legitimacy

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=128571&sectionid=351020204 [38]

"Ahmet Davutoglu said that Israel has 'lost all legitimacy' because of the onslaught that left at least 20 peace activists dead and many others wounded. MOst of those killed in the assault were from Turkey...

'A nation-state that follows this path has lost its legitimacy as a respectful member of the international community,' he said. The Turkish foreign minister said that Israeli leaders must be brought to justice over the crime because 'Israel's action is a grave breach of international law.'

'This is tantamout to banditry and piracy,' he said, adding, 'It is murder conducted by a state. Israel has committed a serious crime, in total disregard of all the values that we have vowed to uphold..'"

Submitted by N.Beltov on June 1, 2010 - 12:58am.

Republic of Turkey - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Quote:

We protest in the strongest terms the use of force by the Israeli Defense Forces against the civilians from many countries who want to transport humanitarian assistance to the people in Gaza, and among whom there are women and children, which, according to the initial information available, resulted in the death of 2 persons and injury of more than 30 people.

Make that 20 dead, and counting, with scores wounded.

Quote:

Israel has once again clearly demonstrated that it does not value human lives and peaceful initiatives through targeting innocent civilians. We strongly condemn these inhuman acts of Israel. This grave incident which took place in high seas in gross violation of international law might cause irreversible consequences in our relations.

Besides the initiatives being conducted by our Embassy in Tel Aviv, this unacceptable incident is being strongly protested and explanation is demanded from Israeli Ambassador in Ankara, who has been invited to our Ministry.

Whatsoever the motives might be, such actions against civilians who are involved only in peaceful activities cannot be accepted. Israel will have to bear the consequences of these actions which constitute a violation of international law.

May God bestow His mercy upon those who lost their lives. We wish to express our condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased, and swift recovery to the wounded.

Submitted by N.Beltov on June 1, 2010 - 1:03am.

Some apologists have tried to depict this atrocity as "an accident" or a "tragic mistake" or some such fiction. We have, however:

Norman Finklestein wrote:

What happened with the Gaza flotilla was not an accident. You have to remember that the Israeli cabinet met for fully a week. All the cabinet ministers discussed and deliberated how they would handle the flotilla. There were numerous reports in the Israeli press, numerous suggestions, numerous recommendations about what to do. At the end of the day, they decided on a nighttime armed commando raid on a humanitarian convoy. Israel is now a lunatic state.

Not only that.

Quote:

It's a lunatic state with between two and three hundred nuclear devices.... We have to ask ourselves a simple, basic, fundamental question: can a lunatic state like Israel be trusted with two to three hundred nuclear devices when it is now threatening its neighbors Iran and Lebanon with an attack?

Finklestein tears 'em a new one.

Submitted by N.Beltov on June 1, 2010 - 1:10am.

Some of the people who were on board ...

Quote:

Two Palestinians who are also members of Israeli parliament

Swedish author Henning Mankell (unharmed according to the Swedish foreign ministry)

Northern Irish Nobel peace prize laureate Mairead Maguire

Aengus Snodaigh, member of the Irish parliament

Irish writer and historian Fintan Lane

Three German parliamentarians

Maybe Fintan Lane could write a quick note to Canadian author Margaret Atwood and suggest that she break her ties with that odious regime. OTOH, risking killing members of your own Parliament/Knessett could be a first. Yes, a lunatic state. Most certainly.

Turks March Against Israeli Attack

Submitted by N.Beltov on June 1, 2010 - 1:54am.

What's the response of the Israeli press? Besides comparing Monday's atrocities to a baseball game, and looking to end Israel's "losing streak", the following Jerusalem Post author treats the humanitarian activists as suicide protestors ... who can (obviously!) simply by physically exterminated.

After all, says the Post author, didn't they name the lead vessel the "Rachel Corrie" ?

Quote:

AS TO the flotilla, the challenge it presented was nothing new. Israel has been confronted by suicide protesters for a decade now. The fact that these pro-Hamas activists intended to commit suicide to discredit Israel on camera was made clear by the fact that the Turkish organizers named the lead ship Rachel Corrie.

Most of the article is devoted to the NPT and nuclear arms "controls". The slaughter in the Meditteranean is only a small distraction.

Well, there were 6 Israeli soldiers wounded. Gosh. Terrible! A real tragedy.

Submitted by NDPP on June 1, 2010 - 3:03am.

A Government Of Pyromaniacs Sets Fire To the Region

http://mostlywater.org/node/90054

"This night a crime was perpetrated in the middle of the sea, by order of the government of Israel and the IDF Command. A warlike attack against aid ships and deadly shooting at peace and humanitarian activists. It is a crazy thing that only a government that crossed all red lines can do.." Gush Shalom

Submitted by Agent666 on June 1, 2010 - 3:39am.

The Fethullah Gülen movement probably funded this flotilla of aid ships. The Gülenists are slowly, but surely taking over Turkey, dumping Kemalism and turning it into an Islamist beachhead in NATO. And I'd suspect this very public 'aid convoy' was one steaming pile of public provocation laid out for the Israelis...and they stepped right into it like paranoid, hot-headed fools (i.e., just like the Georgians with South Ossetia). The Gülenists wanted an excuse for Turkey to sever ties with Israel (and discredit the Kemalist military) and they got it.

Submitted by JKR on June 1, 2010 - 4:49am.

N.Beltov wrote:

Any leadership in this country organizing against Israeli atrocities will not come from any of the leading parties in Parliament (from RoC).

Statement by New Democrat Leader Jack Layton on the situation in the Middle East

Quote:

We were shocked and deeply saddened by the unacceptable loss of life and injuries sustained as a result of the raid by Israeli forces against a flotilla of ships bringing aid to Gaza.

I join international leaders in calling for an urgent and independent investigation into this terrible incident that jeopardizes the pursuit of peace in the region.

I call on Prime Minister Harper to immediately lend Canada's voice to the rapidly growing call for this inquiry.

This violence further underlines the urgent need for a negotiated peace and a resolution to the crisis in Gaza, including an end to the blockade. New Democrats urge the Canadian government to work with the international community to find an end to loss of life of innocent civilians in this region. We recognize the right of both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peaceful co-existence in viable, independent states with negotiated, agreed-upon borders.

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh statement on Gaza TV [46]

Quote:

“This is a historic day … a day of freedom … a turning point in the battle to end the siege of Gaza,” said Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya on Gaza television. He sent his sympathies to the families of the dead and assured them the people would be viewed as “martyrs” in the campaign to liberate the Palestinian people.

Submitted by NDPP on June 1, 2010 - 5:04am.

Amid Censorship, Israel's Media Does Its Part

http://news.antiwar.com/2010/05/31/amid-censorship-israels-media-does-th...

"In the end, Israel's makeshift prison camp at Ashdod got its money's worth. Faced with an official story from the military that flies in the face of all reason and a domestic population so jingoistic that there are now calls for boycotts of Turkey for complaining about the massacre.."

Submitted by Erik Redburn on June 1, 2010 - 6:02am.

This one is causing a reaction everywhere. The western media is doing its best to spin it to Israels favour, but for once it may not be enough to suppress it entirely. (I posted a range of sources, including the far right, just to make it easier to see how closely they follow the usual line. I'd like to deconstruct some of them tomorrow)

Broadcast Media:

USA:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/05/31/israel.gaza.protests/index.html?hpt=T1 [49]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/05/31/gaza.flotilla.israeli.raid/index.html?hpt=T1 [50]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/05/31/israel.turkey.relations/index.html?hpt=T1 [51]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37423584/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/ [52]

http://www.foxnews.com/ [53]

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/31/turkey-withdraws-ambassador-israel-deaths/ [54]

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/31/aide-palestinian-president-says-theres-need-quit-peace-talks-ship-intercept/ [55]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/31/white-house-regrets-loss-life-israeli-attack-aid-ship-violating-gaza-blockade/ [56]

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/06/01/condemns-israeli-raid-calls-probe/ [57]

Canada:

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20100530/israelis-turkey-avoid-100531/ [58]

http://news.globaltv.com/world/Israel+flotilla+action+criticised+friends+foes/3091901/story.html [59]

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/05/30/israel-gaza.html [60]

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/05/31/israel-gaza-aid-death.html [61]

Britain:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10195838.stm [62]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10201165.stm [63]

Print Media:

Canada:

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/816687--israel-condemned-after-deadly-action-against-flotilla [64]

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/816726 [65]

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/817091--salman-rushdie-decries-israeli-flotilla-attack [66]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/up-to-16-killed-in-israeli-attack-on-gaza-aid-flotilla/article1586180/ [67]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/leaders-call-for-investigation-before-condemnation-of-flotilla-attack/article1587391/ [68]

http://www.nationalpost.com/m/story.html?id=3094555&s=Home [69]

Britain:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/31/israel-kills-activists-flotilla-gaza [70]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/01/gaza-flotilla-attack-condemnation-israel [71]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/31/publicity-machine-overdrive-mavi-assault [72]

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-05-31-israels-deadly-raid-on-gaza-flotilla-inexcusable [73]

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/05/30/507794/aid-flotilla-to-set-sail-for-gaza.html [74]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/world/israel-ready-to-stop-gaza-flotilla-14824976.html [75]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/israeli-ships-attack-aid-flotilla-in-gaza-strip/story-e6freuyi-1225873554821 [76]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/7792166/Gaza-aid-flotilla-Israel-releases-activists-amid-international-condemnation.html [77]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/7791116/Gaza-aid-flotilla-calls-to-isolate-Israel-after-commando-killings.html [78]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7141596.ece [79]

USA:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/world/middleeast/02flotilla.html?hp [93]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/world/middleeast/01policy.html?hp [94]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/world/middleeast/01nations.html?ref=mi... [95]

http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1107ap_ml_israel_palestinians.html [96]

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/International/2010/05/31/Israel-attacks-relief-flotilla/UPI-17301275282119/ [97]

http://enduringamerica.com/2010/05/29/gaza-latest-israel-prepares-confrontation-with-freedom-flotilla/ [98]

Middle East:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053133047995359.html [99]

http://www.freegaza.org/ [100]

India:

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Bloody-Israeli-raid-on-flotilla-sparks-crisis/627756/ [101]

New Media:

http://pulsemedia.org/2010/05/31/israel-attacks-freedom-flotilla/ [102]

http://www.promisedlandblog.com/ [103]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_eSVyRm0IU&feature=channel [104]

Submitted by 500_Apples on June 1, 2010 - 7:11am.

Erik Redburn,

You say the media is trying to spin this in support of Israel and then you have 100 or so MSM links of media discussion on the issue. That's very confusing. If the media were being orchestrated to induce apologist sentiment, would it not simply ignore the issue?

Submitted by Frustrated Mess on June 1, 2010 - 9:50am.

Egypt lifts blockade:

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=177146

I would say North American news reports, yeserday, were mostly faithful representations of the Israeli line. That is changing today. There was an excellect article on why Western news reporting, and in particular North American, reflects the Israeli line. I could try and find the link if anyone is interested. But the reasoning is that Western reporters tend to be based in Israel, they tend to go to Israeli sources for information, and they are unlikey to stray from a quasi-embedded status with the Israeli government.

Submitted by Joey Ramone on June 1, 2010 - 10:16am.

As I understand it Israel's rationale for boarding the boats is that they suspected many of the passengers were intent on violence and/or armed, and/or transporting arms to the military wing of Hamas in Gaza, and indeed they have produced evidence of small arms thich they claim to have seized. It was therefore puzzling to read reports from IDF spokespersons in this morning's papers that IDF soldiers were armed only with paintball guns when they board the floatilla. Huh?? Any officer who sent his troops into a potential ambush armed only with a paintball gun would be considered incompetent and negligent, at a minimum.

Submitted by remind on June 1, 2010 - 10:36am.

N.Beltov wrote:

After all, says the Post author, didn't they name the lead vessel the "Rachel Corrie" ?

Quote:

AS TO the flotilla, the challenge it presented was nothing new. Israel has been confronted by suicide protesters for a decade now. The fact that these pro-Hamas activists intended to commit suicide to discredit Israel on camera was made clear by the fact that the Turkish organizers named the lead ship Rachel Corrie.

Now let's really look at what was being said.....

They had planned to murder many activists from the get go, it was NO accident, afterall, they have had to deal with "suicide activists" before. And murder is not used lightly here, as really it would be 1st degree murder. Murder that was planned by Israeli parliament for a week even.

Interesting how they are trying to set it up that people gave their consent to be murdered prior. In fact, it really is troubling that they appear to be so mentally off kilter as to believe this type of murderous thinking would make actual sense to the rest of the world too.

Submitted by remind on June 1, 2010 - 10:55am.

500_Apples wrote:

Look, we both know you are smarter than this comment of yours suggests.

Experienvce here alone would tell you that all power is sustained through managing of the messaging. Not even going to bother with noting it should be less than confusing given, the historical outcomes of those who have managed the message, and its impact upon Jewish peoples. Oh gee, I just noted it anyway I guess.

Then we have the factor of in the abscence of rebuttal, stated positions stand. ignored issues do not go away, especially now in this day and age of computers.

Following that is the use of "megaphone" to surf the net looking for negative talk about Israel, so it can be challenged.

Submitted by West Coast Greeny on June 1, 2010 - 10:58am.

The protesters are lying about their version of events. Those are some heavy olive branches.

Footage of the raid

Submitted by Michelle on June 1, 2010 - 11:03am.

They were boarded by pirates. It's called self-defence.

Submitted by Cytizen H on June 1, 2010 - 11:05am.

Has anyone heard this anywhere else? That the IDF were actually wielding paintball guns? I like that one.

http://www.themarknews.com/articles/1612-armed-pacifists-vs-paintball-co...

Submitted by ennir on June 1, 2010 - 11:05am.

Funny how those "suicide" protesters resist dying.

Submitted by Krystalline Kraus on June 1, 2010 - 11:19am.

Slumberjack wrote:

Now don't be like that George. As a test subject for Glaxo-Smith-Kline, I'm sure they'll be sending you the next batch of free meds any day at all now. A little patience until then if you please.

way to make a unsolicited attack on those who suffer from mental illness, SJ.

Submitted by skdadl on June 1, 2010 - 11:20am.

Haven't we been told for years that the IDF and Israeli intel folks are the toughest, smartest guys in the business? Are they not held in awe by every Western government that has decided that "national security" is a neat trick to play to trump any human-rights or basic democratic objection to any government's violations of international law?

But look at the videos the IDF are releasing now. The last one I watched: two heroic commandos, no less, each with his left arm in a sling (yeah, sure), whining for the cameras because no one told them that aid activists might actually try to defend themselves when attacked by guys wearing body armour and carrying guns.

It would be comical, if only ...

Submitted by Catchfire on June 1, 2010 - 11:22am.

Cytizen H wrote:

Has anyone heard this anywhere else? That the IDF were actually wielding paintball guns? I like that one.

Yes, I saw this for the first time yesterday from this "embedded" journalist's report.

Quote:

Officials estimated that passengers will show slight resistance, and possibly minor violence; for that reason, the operation’s commander decided to bring the helicopter directly above the top deck. The first rope that soldiers used in order to descend down to the ship was wrested away by activists, most of them Turks, and tied to an antenna with the hopes of bringing the chopper down. However, Flotilla 13 fighters decided to carry on.

Navy commandoes slid down to the vessel one by one, yet then the unexpected occurred: The passengers that awaited them on the deck pulled out bats, clubs, and slingshots with glass marbles, assaulting each soldier as he disembarked. The fighters were nabbed one by one and were beaten up badly, yet they attempted to fight back.

However, to their misfortune, they were only equipped with paintball rifles used to disperse minor protests, such as the ones held in Bilin. The paintballs obviously made no impression on the activists, who kept on beating the troops up and even attempted to wrest away their weapons.

One soldier who came to the aid of a comrade was captured by the rioters and sustained severe blows. The commandoes were equipped with handguns but were told they should only use them in the face of life-threatening situations. When they came down from the chopper, they kept on shouting to each other “don’t shoot, don’t shoot,” even though they sustained numerous blows.

Submitted by Krystalline Kraus on June 1, 2010 - 11:28am.

West Coast Greeny wrote:

The protesters are lying about their version of events. Those are some heavy olive branches.

Footage of the raid

when it comes to people as human beings, be very careful to make moral judgements based on what any human being might or might not do in an adrenaline fight/flight situation...especially considering that 'flight' was not an option as they were trapped aboard the vessel.

it's easy for anyone to hypothesize that they would not have fought back/it was wrong to fight back against the IDF as it invaded the boat, but when people have no escape route, have their back against the hull, have military choppers above their heads and are faced with well trained, armed and uniformed soldiers, you don't know how any human being would/should have reacted...

Submitted by Frustrated Mess on June 1, 2010 - 11:46am.

It is also very likely the Israeli version of events is totally fabricated. Please keep that in mind. The Israeli's pride themselves on their ability to manipulate through false information. There is Al Jazeera video footage taken as the attack began that shows Israelis forces on-board, and assembling without resistance prior to opening fire on unarmed peace activists.

Keep in mind that Israelis forces when they destroyed a school in Gaza killing children, lied about fire having come from the school. They lied again claiming fire came from a UN food depot they also destroyed. They lied about the use of white phosphorous. The Israelis and the IDF are what we would describe as pathological liars if they were persons.

Do not accept any Israeli information as truthful without independent verification. The US news media is not independent. It must always be assumed official Israeli information is a lie.

ETA: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053151933767593....

When you watch the video, note shots continue to be fired even though the white flag has been raised.

Submitted by Green Grouch on June 1, 2010 - 11:45am.

"The commandoes were equipped with handguns but were told they should only use them in the face of life-threatening situations. When they came down from the chopper, they kept on shouting to each other “don’t shoot, don’t shoot,” even though they sustained numerous blows." So 19 or so suicide activists turned the paintball guns on themselves? Why didn't I think of that?! Explains a lot.

Tying the helicopter rappelling rope to an antenna? I can only hope I'd have such presence of mind in the midst of chaos in the dark.

Submitted by pogge on June 1, 2010 - 11:50am.

Cytizen H wrote:

Has anyone heard this anywhere else? That the IDF were actually wielding paintball guns?

See Steve Hynd at Newshoggers who has the same still along with some contradictory evidence.

Submitted by contrarianna on June 1, 2010 - 12:13pm.

The attack has encouraged Egypt to (temporarily) defy it's master with an "unlimited" opening of border:

Quote:

Egypt Opens Gaza Border Amid International Furore
Rafah Crossing Will Be Open 9-5 Indefinitely
by Jason Ditz, June 01, 2010
....
Egypt has announced that it is opening its own border with the Gaza Strip every day from 9 am to 5 pm for an “unlimited” period of time.

Egypt has intermittantly opened the Rafah border crossing....Such openings are quickly met with Israeli outrage and demands to re-close the borders, which Egypt has generally done in a timely fashion....

Ironically Israel has played Egyptian complicity in the aid blockade as a way to dodge criticism, claiming that aid groups unhappy with the Israeli blockade should complain to Egypt, who has roughly the same restrictions.

http://news.antiwar.com/2010/06/01/egypt-opens-gaza-border-amid-internat...

Submitted by No Yards on June 1, 2010 - 12:19pm.

What a joke ... the peace activists were "suicide protesters" because they might have reacted to a pirate raid in the middle of the night by some unknown force? Supposedly this flotilla was to provoke the Israelis into killing them for political affect.

But what about the Israelis' actions? Attacking late at night repelling from helicopters, supposedly wielding only "paint ball guns" ... where they as well on a "suicide mission" sacrificing their bodies until they could get the activists to physically defend themselves so they could then "justify" pulling out the live ammo?

There's always a double standard when dealing with Israel ... the activists were supposedly "provoking" Israel, but then attacking the ships at night from helicopters shooting off paint-balls is not suppose to provoke a response?

Just like you always hear that the Clinton peace talks broke down because Arafat wouldn't accept "90%" of Palestinian land ... but very few ever considers what Israel's response would have been if the "90%" offer were the other way around and it was Israel that had to give up 10% of their demands. They would have rightfully refused the "deal" and no one would have considered blaming Israel for refusing such a "deal".

Submitted by al-Qa'bong on June 1, 2010 - 12:23pm.

Some repulsive atrocity apologist made the paintball marker claim on The Current this morning. He also said that Turkey is becoming an Islamist state and that it wanted to provoke the Israelis into killing the peace activists as a means to move to the head of the Islamic world.

I kept waiting for Pollyanna Tremonti to say, "Get the hell out of my studio!" but she kept to her fair and balanced approach and allowed this hasbarnik to spread his manure.

Submitted by pogge on June 1, 2010 - 12:39pm.

Witnesses cast doubt on Israel's convoy raid account

Quote:

Eyewitness accounts from ships raided by Israeli commandos have cast doubt on Israel's version of events that led to the deaths of at least 10 people.

German pro-Palestinian activist Norman Paech said he had only seen wooden sticks being brandished as troops abseiled on to the deck of the ship.

More at the link.

Submitted by pogge on June 1, 2010 - 12:42pm.

And as long I'm in the neighbourhood:

Gaza aid flotilla: Israeli sabotage suspected

Quote:

Two passenger boats sailing to Gaza as part of the aid flotilla attacked by Israel malfunctioned at the same time and in the same way earlier in their voyage, prompting suspicions they may have been sabotaged.

Challenger I and Challenger II, carrying 36 activists from the Free Gaza campaign, were forced into port in Cyprus on Friday evening when both their steering systems broke down on the journey from Heraklion in Crete, a campaign spokeswoman said.

The problems emerged as Israel's military establishment gave strong indications that clandestine attempts were made to sabotage some of the ships ahead of yesterday's bloody confrontation, in which at least nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed.

Submitted by Polunatic2 on June 1, 2010 - 12:49pm.

'Next time we'll use more force'

Quote:

Israel will use more aggressive force in the future to prevent ships from breaking the sea blockade on the Gaza Strip, a top Navy commander told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday.

"We boarded the ship and were attacked as if it was a war," the officer said. "That will mean that we will have to come prepared in the future as if it was a war."

Submitted by remind on June 1, 2010 - 12:53pm.

Green Grouch wrote:

suicide activists

You are not really trying to espouse this bull shit, as truth, are you?

If so, please read the implications of your espousing that line of bull shit, in my post above, as that indicates that the IDF were planning on murdering them, or at least some, all along, no matter what transpired, in fact it is quite apparent that it was their RoE....given that Israeli parliament discussed what to do for a week before the midnight murderous 'mission' occured.

Look it, if Israel was being legitimate in its actions, it would have surrounded them in broad daylight, at, or in, Israeli waters, and told them to prepare to be boarded and escorted to dock, or to drop anchor right there, or be arrested for illegal entry into Israel,

That is what a rational country would do.

Submitted by remind on June 1, 2010 - 5:29pm.

See yet again, the message contained in Polunatic's post, shows they trying to spread lies as truth, with Israel saying they were attacked "as if in war", yet Israel were the ones that initiated the midnight murderous massacre, and the IDF sustained small injuries from those trying to protect themselves.

FFS, people were murdered in their sleep.

Submitted by Green Grouch on June 1, 2010 - 1:04pm.

Is it necessary to mark every comment with a Rabble-approved sarcasm tag and if so, where might I find it?

You can always read some of my other posts if you need proof of my point of view on Israel-Palestine, remind.

Submitted by NDPP on June 1, 2010 - 1:24pm.

So now the important quesstion each of us must put quietly to ourself: What will I do to alter the horrible state of my country's status as Israe'ls number one global 'friend' - with a free trade agreement, a public security agreement and more and more penetrations planned? Simply answering that one will vote Liberal, Green or NDP would not be a satisfactory answer as with respect to Israel - they are all No Difference Parties..

pleaee remember while you are forumlating an answer to yourself as to what actual, concrete actions you will take - what Finkelstein correctly describes as a 'lunatic state' continues to aggressively pursue its genocidal policies. And Canada colludes and collaborates from the PM to the Premiers and University professors and even Pride. This must be changed. And quickly.

Canada was the first, even before Israel, to begin the siege against Gaza: "not one red cent" said Peter Mackay. Breaking that siege must surely be the priority. FREE GAZA!

Submitted by al-Qa'bong on June 1, 2010 - 1:32pm.

Say GG, keep in mind that everyone here is an individual and, except for the moderators, not a representative of rabble.

By all means, let fly with sarcasm, and please don't resort to pointing out when you're being sarcastic. Doing so undermines the whole effect, even if some cannot pick up on it.

Quote:

There's the rub. Each of the Federal parties is as pro-Israel as the next, so making a choice between them is pointless. It would be nice to see Jack Layton leap to the humanitarian fore and declare his party solidly on the side of Palestinians' human rights, but there isn't much chance of that happening.

Submitted by Bec.De.Corbin on June 1, 2010 - 1:37pm.

Cytizen H wrote:

Has anyone heard this anywhere else? That the IDF were actually wielding paintball guns? I like that one.

http://www.themarknews.com/articles/1612-armed-pacifists-vs-paintball-co...

paintball gun

Yeah, at about 32 to 34 seconds into the one video you can see a commando with a paintball gun...(see picture of still shot above) When I first saw that I thought WTF? I think those balls have teargas irritants in them and they do sting a bit when you get hit up close (I know this from playing paintball).

Even though they were geared up for crowd control and perhaps not expecting the amount of violence they encountered they still had side arms (pistols). Still that is no excuse for what Israel's commandos have done on that ship(s); especially in international waters. They should have never been there in the first place.

Submitted by George Victor on June 1, 2010 - 1:58pm.

aQ:

"Say GG, keep in mind that everyone here is an individual and, except for the moderators, not a representative of rabble.

By all means, let fly with sarcasm, and please don't resort to pointing out when you're being sarcastic. Doing so undermines the whole effect, even if some cannot pick up on it."

Also, do not specify who you are quoting. That really keeps the troops guessing. Although only for a week or so...then it becomes obvious as hell.

Submitted by Jingles on June 1, 2010 - 2:27pm.

Quote:

Yeah, at about 32 to 34 seconds into the one video you can see a commando with a paintball gun...(see picture of still shot above)

How 'bout they brought a paintball gun in order to fabricate the story? "Why, we were only armed with paintball guns! We only wanted to play!"

But all this petty detail is distraction from the fact that Israel committed an act of war against Turkey by assaulting its ship in international waters. Anything Israel claims cannot be justified or taken seriously.

Submitted by Frustrated Mess on June 1, 2010 - 2:27pm.

Bec.De.Corbin wrote:

Cytizen H wrote:

Has anyone heard this anywhere else? That the IDF were actually wielding paintball guns? I like that one.

http://www.themarknews.com/articles/1612-armed-pacifists-vs-paintball-co...

paintball gun

They had more than pistols. Keep in mind that is an Israeli approved image. Images from Rupert Murdoch's SkyNews (an Israel-friendly news source) as per the above link:

So are those pistols? Because they look nothing like the "paintball" gun above.

Submitted by Frustrated Mess on June 1, 2010 - 2:39pm.

Quote:

But according to NBC, “a reporter on one of the boats said the Israelis fired” at the unarmed vessel before boarding it. In any event, when a civilian vessel comes under armed attack in international waters during the dead of night, its occupants have the right to defend themselves. When one wounded Greek activist was brought to a hospital for treatment, reporters asked him who had been responsible for his injuries. He replied, simply, “pirates.”

Israeli officials later claimed the activists had pulled out hidden guns when the commandos attacked. It’s an implausible tale. According to the Turkish daily Zaman, “Officials from the Customs Undersecretariat said every passenger was searched before getting on the ship with the help of X-ray machines and metal detectors. Senior officials from the undersecretariat said Israel's allegations were tantamount to ‘complete nonsense.’”

Great article on Alternet [137]

Submitted by Catchfire on June 1, 2010 - 2:46pm.

I think this paintball thing is a red herring. What if it's proved that the IDF were all carrying paintball rifles (I'm surprised they even admitted they were carrying pistols)? The attack is unacceptable in principle, on the whole, not because of details like this, especially details we don't really know (another non-accident on the part of Israel). I mean, it is positively cartoonish to board a ship from Black Hawk helicopters in full gear in the middle of the night and then claim surprise at resistence because of pepper guns or paintball rifles. Even their excuses are ludicrous. We don't need to "prove" that they were carrying assault rifles to expose this farce. There is one stat that matters (and even it is not confirmed): at least ten dead and counting.

Submitted by N.Beltov on June 1, 2010 - 2:54pm.

It's very important that people understand that the Israeli intention, from the start, was to butcher the civilians. Norman Finklestein has pointed out that the Israeli Parliamentarians and Cabinet Members discussed this issue for a week before deciding on an attack with commandos. This was neither an "accident" nor a "mistake" . Here's more on that theme ....

Quote:

It was clear from the scale of the forces that boarded the boat that the goal was not simply block the flotilla but to cause a very large number of casualties to stop similar initiatives in the future," Zuabi told reporters.

MK Hanin Zuabi (Balad) was aboard the Mavi Marmara when the Israeli slaughter of civilians began. Printed in the Jerusalem Post.

Submitted by Catchfire on June 1, 2010 - 2:54pm.

Gaza: investigate the raid, end the blockade

Petition at avaaz.org

Submitted by N.Beltov on June 1, 2010 - 2:56pm.

Tehran Times wrote:

The cold-blooded massacre of 19 unarmed peace activists by commandos from the Israeli military in the eastern Mediterranean in the early hours of May 31, 2010 has once again revealed to the world what this rogue regime is all about. It is evil incarnate.

The regime has, as always, tried to camouflage its evil by fabricating outrageous lies ...

Evil Incarnate

I wonder how it feels to have the shoe on the other foot, eh?

Submitted by Slumberjack on June 1, 2010 - 7:35pm.

Commentary removed as being beneath the intent of this thread.

Submitted by al-Qa'bong on June 1, 2010 - 2:59pm.

I just got back from a small rally set up by the Saskatoon Peace Coalition. The best speaker was a First Nations woman with Jewish connexions who encouraged us to stand in support of Palestinian human rights.

Submitted by senilodon on June 1, 2010 - 3:06pm.

Regarding the Israeli- filmed version of the assault on the main passenger vessel:

a proposed title:' The Keystone Commandos'
review: an example of a propaganda video made by the Israeli hasbara that is as phoney as Ariel Sharon's present day heartbeat.

award: a long,loud GONG to sound out over all the pro-Zionist apologies that are appearing in the mainstream media.

*(The IDF wishes to dissociate itself from this inaccurate portrayal of its competence in engaging in maritime activities.)

Submitted by 500_Apples on June 1, 2010 - 3:16pm.

jingles wrote:

Who gives a fuck? It's irrelevant.

Israel is a terrorist apartheid state. I want to how far Israel has to go before zionist apologists like you say "whoa, they went to far."

So far, trapping and bombing civilians isn't a problem. Imprisoning children and raping them is okeydokey. White phosphorus on schools is nothing. Starving an entire population, shooting unarmed protesters, forcing women to give birth at illegal checkpoints, ID's and movement restrictions of Arabs, house seizures and forced evictions for being the wrong race, dropping cluster bombs, assassination of political leaders and their families and neighbours, etc, etc, etc. None of these seem to matter much, and can all be justified by crying "security!"

Just what does Israel have to do to go too far? Forced mass expulsions? Nuclear strike on Iran? Death camps for the "insects"? What will be the tipping point?

It will be too far when the authority figures say it's too far. At that point public opinion will change.

Submitted by No Yards on June 1, 2010 - 3:26pm.

Authority figures and the media are pure fucking cowards ... they know that if they say anything at all negative about this that the Zionist propoganda machine will brand them as anti-Semites.

Submitted by Unionist on June 1, 2010 - 4:48pm.

No Yard wrote:

Authority figures and the media are pure fucking cowards ... they know that if they say anything at all negative about this that the Zionist propoganda machine will brand them as anti-Semites.

Here's one exception:

Great statement yesterday from Québec solidaire (I'll translate some excerpts):

Québec solidaire condemns the murderous attack by Israeli commandos

Quote:

In November 2009, members attending the congress of Québec solidaire resolved to actively support the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign against Israel, until such time as that nation respects international law and the rights of the Palestinian people.

Therefore, Québec solidaire demands that the Québec government suspend its Cooperation Agreement with the state of Israel, concluded on December 11, 2007, dealing with development of economique and technological cooperation.

This week, Amir Khadir, member for Mercier, will table a motion in the National Assembly to condemn these actions and demand that Québec support the worldwide BDS campaign...

Submitted by Ripple on June 1, 2010 - 5:01pm.

Most are probably aware of FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting). I find it a useful resource, though it deals with US media almost exclusively.

FAIR issued this media advisory today (an excerpt):

Reporting Israeli Assault Through Israel's Eyes
Attack on humanitarian flotilla prompts little media skepticism

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=4081

Much of the U.S. press coverage takes Israeli government claims at face value, and is based largely on footage made available by Israeli authorities--while Israel keeps the detained activists away from the media (not to mention from lawyers and worried family members). The Washington Post (6/1/10) reported the attack this way:

Upon touching down, the Israeli commandos, who were equipped with paint guns and pistols, were assaulted with steel poles, knives and pepper spray. Video showed at least one commando being lifted up and dumped from the ship's upper deck to the lower deck. Some commandos later said they jumped into the water to escape being beaten. The Israeli military said some of the demonstrators fired live ammunition. Israeli officials said the activists had fired two guns stolen from the troops.

As Salon.com's Glenn Greenwald wrote (5/31/10): "Just ponder what we'd be hearing if Iran had raided a humanitarian ship in international waters and killed 15 or so civilians aboard."

Submitted by Bec.De.Corbin on June 1, 2010 - 5:02pm.

Frustrated Mess wrote:

Bec.De.Corbin wrote:

Cytizen H wrote:

Has anyone heard this anywhere else? That the IDF were actually wielding paintball guns? I like that one.

http://www.themarknews.com/articles/1612-armed-pacifists-vs-paintball-co...

paintball gun

They had more than pistols. Keep in mind that is an Israeli approved image. Images from Rupert Murdoch's SkyNews (an Israel-friendly news source) as per the above link:

So are those pistols? Because they look nothing like the "paintball" gun above.

I would say those are submachine guns with mag-lites under them. They are not paintball guns for sure, those lok like regular SF style weapons. The question is when they were brought on the ship.

I'm speculating here, but I would say the initial assault group didn't have them... they would have the non lithal weapons with pistols as back up. Now the next wave after them would have more conventional weapons; especially after they seem what the initial group ran into. I also seen several commandos with rubber bullet guns... given the ranges you would encounter on a ship I would say that's a lethal weapon in sheep's clothing.

Submitted by Frustrated Mess on June 1, 2010 - 5:21pm.

And the paintball guns they use are no different than the one used at the park? I don't think so. I think the image above is what the US and Israeli militaries call "information warfare".

Submitted by Bookish Agrarian on June 1, 2010 - 5:32pm.

I just want to interject for a moment and say thank you to all of you who are posting links from around the world on what really went on. With this terrible and senseless loss of life it is important the real stories get out, around, over, under- what have you, the mainstream media spin. For many of us this it is all that is available and to be able to see other sources so readily is important.

Submitted by Frustrated Mess on June 1, 2010 - 5:34pm.

Here's one that should be save for posterity (linked above a N.Beltov in the JPost):

Quote:

Col. Yitzhak Turgeman told members of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that two pistols were taken from the naval commandos as they landed on the ship, and that the gun’s magazines were later found on two of the bodies recovered after the operation.

So they disarmed the IDF attackers and then emptied the ammo from the weapons. If we accept the IDF account these peace activists were true to their cause.

Submitted by contrarianna on June 1, 2010 - 6:06pm.

Quote:

Published on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 by FAIR
Reporting Israeli Assault Through Israel's Eyes
Attack on humanitarian flotilla prompts little media skepticism

by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting

On May 31, the Israeli military attacked a flotilla of boats full of civilians attempting to deliver humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip. Reports indicate that at least nine and as many as 16 of the activists on board were killed, though details remain sketchy due to Israel's censorious limitations on media coverage. Much of the U.S. media coverage has been remarkably unskeptical of Israel's account of events and their context, and has paid little regard to international law....

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/06/01-8 [154]

Get a glimpse of the disinformation machine in action here, countered by the gutsy Glenn Greenwald in this video (I guess he won't be getting many more TV gigs):

http://www.commondreams.org/video/2010/06/01-2 [155]

Submitted by Skinny Dipper on June 1, 2010 - 7:14pm.

In terms of the image war, I think the big mistake the supporters of the Palestinians are doing is focusing on the sea conflict between the Israeli soldiers and the flotilla supporters. It doesn't matter who battled whom first. Instead the supporters of the Palestinians should be framing the discussion on "Israel starves Palestinian children by denying them food." The supporters of the Palestinians can get more milage by focusing on the recipients instead of the Israeli military. One does not need to be a supporter of Hamas or Fatah in order to support the Palestinian children. A mental or physical image of starving Palestinian children is more powerful than a battle on some boats.

Picture this frame: "Israelis eat like pigs, while Palestinian children scour for food."

"Israelis force the children of Gaza to eat the candy of Hamas." Essentially, Israel created the Hamas candy. Israel is starving any democratic hope for Palestinian society. Israel treats Palestinian children like dogs by forcing the children to jump like dogs while Israel raises a bone higher as the children jump.

Submitted by NDPP on June 1, 2010 - 7:15pm.

Gaza Flotilla Eyewitnesss Accounts

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/01/gaza-flotilla-eyewitness-acc...

"First eyewitness accounts of raid contradict version put out by Israeli Officials..."

Passenger Accounts of Mid-Sea Horror

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/2010/06/20106193546785656.html [158]

"Israelis opened fire before boarding Gaza Gaza flotilla, say relevent activists.."

Submitted by remind on June 1, 2010 - 7:34pm.

No I disagree skiny dipper, both need to be focused upon, especially the act of aggression, as it was an act of war, by Israel.

If people cared about the Gaza children there would have been the outrage before yesterday,m ffs they murdered people in their sleep.

Submitted by Bec.De.Corbin on June 1, 2010 - 8:09pm.

Frustrated Mess wrote:

And the paintball guns they use are no different than the one used at the park? I don't think so. I think the image above is what the US and Israeli militaries call "information warfare".

LOL... I can say from personnel experience some paintball guns are no joke and they can tear your ass up. Mine will bruise you at about 30 feet through a field jacket on max setting; ask some of my friends (they all love me

). It also shoots on automatic but then mine is on the high end of the scale as far as paintball guns go. Could any of those fatalities be from paintball guns; unlikely, could any of those injuriey reports be from paintball guns; I would say yes. Getting shot in the face or throat by even one of those low end guns in the park would be a tramatic experiance to say the least.

I think most of you are underestimating paintball guns...

http://realxtremepaintball.com/product_info.php?products_id=10637

Also check out the in the Youtube video in the link.

Of course none of this gets Israel off the hook for this.

Submitted by NDPP on June 1, 2010 - 8:10pm.

America's Complicity In Evil - Barbarism on the High Seas

http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts06012010.html

"Thus has Obama made America complicit once again in Israel's war-crimes. Just as the US Congress voted to deep-six Judge Goldstone's report on Israel's war crimes committed in Israel's January 2009 invasion of Gaza, Obama has deep-sixed Israel's latest act of barbarism by pretending that he doesn't know what has happened..

No one in the world will believe that Israel attacked ships in international waters carrying Israeli citizens, a Nobel Laureate, elected politicians and noted humanitarians bringing medicines and building materials to Palestinians in Gaza, who have been living in the rubble of their homes without repairs or medicines since January 2009, without first clearing the crime with its American protector.

Without America's protection, Israel, a totally artificial state, could not exist. No one in the world will believe that America's spy apparatus did not detect the movement of the Israeli attack force toward the aid ships in international waters in an act of piracy, killing 20, wounding 50, and kidnapping the rest..

Obama's pretence of ignorance contains his complicity.."

Submitted by Catchfire on June 1, 2010 - 8:15pm.

From a superfluous thread, now closed:

milo204 wrote:

Follow #flotilla, @JamalDajani, @avinunu on Twitter for the latest updates.

TRANSCRIPT

Amy Goodman: This is Democracy Now!, I’m Amy Goodman. We have on the line with us Adam Shapiro. He is a board member of the Free Gaza Movement. Adam, we got word several hours ago that the Israeli military had attacked the Free Gaza Flotilla. We are speaking to you at about 3:30 AM Eastern Standard Time. Can you tell us what you understand has happened?

Adam Shapiro: The Israelis launched a military operation involving about a thousand soldiers, using ships, using helicopters, and using airplanes to attack the flotilla of six ships–three passenger and three cargo ships, at approximately between 8 and 9 pm Eastern Standard Time. All the ships have been captured. One of the ships that we know for sure, which had a satellite communication ability, the large Turkish ship with about 600 passengers including members of Parliament from different countries, was attacked by Israeli soldiers using live ammunition. We now know that at least 14 people have been confirmed killed, and perhaps as many as 20 killed, with over 60 injured, and currently all the ships are being brought into the Israeli port of Haifa.

Amy Goodman: We are reading Israeli military reports that say when they boarded the Turkish ship, that they were attacked by sticks and knives. What do you understand has happened?

Adam Shapiro: Our people on the ship reported live as the soldiers came onto the ship, and reported that soldiers were opening fire as they were coming onto the ship, and they were descending from helicopters. So, our understanding is that the Israeli soldiers opened fire first. I have not seen or heard any thing else about–and there are many journalists on board that ship–anything else about our people, the passengers on that ship, posing any kind of threat. There was a live feed coming from the ship using satellite, video satellite, on satellite, that has been rebroadcast on CNN, on CNN Turk, on Al Jazeera, on Press TV, on numerous media outlets, not one image from this entire footage shows any of the passengers holding any kind of object that could be construed as a weapon. So, I mean, I am sure that the Israelis would like the world to believe that they were the ones being attacked as they assaulted these ships, but this is just Israeli spin.

Amy Goodman: Adam Shapiro, what is the purpose of the Free Gaza Flotilla?

Adam Shapiro: The purpose of the Free Gaza Freedom Flotilla was to literally break the Israeli blockade that it is imposing on Gaza, a form of collective punishment of 1.5 million Palestinians who are trying to survive at this point, basically, especially after the Israeli attacks in December, 2008-January, 2009, in which much of Gaza was reduced to rubble, and has not been able to have been rebuilt, where Palestinians can’t get basic food and medicine in, to just survive with. And so, this effort was, yes, to deliver the goods and materials that Gaza, the Palestinians in Gaza need, but also to awaken the international community to the abuse that the Palestinians are suffering that has been regarded by the Goldstone Report, by many other reports and by human rights organizations, including the E.U. and other groups, calling this blockade and this siege criminal, as well as cruel and inhuman.

Amy Goodman: What is your response to what has happened in these last hours, to the Israeli military assault on the Free Gaza Flotilla?

Adam Shapiro: We have always been prepared that the Israelis might attack the ships and try, obviously, try to take control of them, and prevent us from reaching Gaza, but the opening of fire against unarmed civilians who pose no threat to Israel, is something, I think, it is absurd in a way that can’t even be described. We all remember what happened to Rachel Corrie in Gaza, standing in front of a home to protect it and being crushed and run over by a bulldozer driver. In this case, I think in a way, it is almost even worse, because Israel said that they were sending their best commandos on this mission, that they were sending their most professional soldiers, and so if these are their professional soldiers, and they opened fire, then we must assume, then, and I don’t think we are incorrect to assume, that they had orders to open fire, because I don’t think that soldiers operating in this way, if they were truly professional, and they were truly the best, well-trained commandos that Israel had, they would have no reason to shoot, unless they were ordered to do so.

And I really hope that the United States, the Europeans, and Turkey, and the other governments who had citizens on board press for an independent investigation, not an Israeli investigation, an independent investigation. This attack took place in international waters, not in Israeli waters.

Amy Goodman: Who was on the Turkish ship?

Adam Shapiro: On board the Turkish ship were over, approximately about 600 passengers. We had quite a large number of Turkish activists. Of course, the boat was secured in Turkey, and purchased by a Turkish organization, so many of their people were on board. We also had members of the European Parliament on board, we had members of Arab parliaments on board, including Egypt and Jordan, we had others activists who have been active in trying to raise the awareness of what’s happening to Palestinians in general and specifically in Gaza, and we had media. We had Al Jazeera on board, we had a couple of Turkish broadcasting channels on board, as well as other print and other forms of media on board.

Amy Goodman: Adam Shapiro, thank you for taking the time to talk to us.

Adam Shapiro: Thank you very much.

Amy Goodman: Adam Shapiro is a board member of the Free Gaza Movement.

Submitted by kropotkin1951 on June 1, 2010 - 8:32pm.

Catchfire wrote:

Adam Shapiro: Our people on the ship reported live as the soldiers came onto the ship, and reported that soldiers were opening fire as they were coming onto the ship, and they were descending from helicopters. So, our understanding is that the Israeli soldiers opened fire first. I have not seen or heard any thing else about–and there are many journalists on board that ship–anything else about our people, the passengers on that ship, posing any kind of threat. There was a live feed coming from the ship using satellite, video satellite, on satellite, that has been rebroadcast on CNN, on CNN Turk, on Al Jazeera, on Press TV, on numerous media outlets, not one image from this entire footage shows any of the passengers holding any kind of object that could be construed as a weapon. So, I mean, I am sure that the Israelis would like the world to believe that they were the ones being attacked as they assaulted these ships, but this is just Israeli spin..

I thought this is very important and needs to be highlighted. This was an act of war against a NATO ally but their citizens are moslem so it doesn't count.

Submitted by Noah_Scape on June 1, 2010 - 8:54pm.

"We did not initiate the violence" - Isaeli spokesman commenting on the incident where they dropped 12 heavily armed soldiers onto a boat belonging to their enemy in international waters.

Oh gee, ya, like that sounds credible. NOT!!!

Submitted by Frustrated Mess on June 1, 2010 - 9:10pm.

Bec.De.Corbin wrote:

Frustrated Mess wrote:

And the paintball guns they use are no different than the one used at the park? I don't think so. I think the image above is what the US and Israeli militaries call "information warfare".

I think most of you are underestimating paintball guns...

http://realxtremepaintball.com/product_info.php?products_id=10637

Also check out the in the Youtube video in the link.

Of course none of this gets Israel off the hook for this.

The paintball gun used by the US military according to pogge's link:

Submitted by Doug on June 1, 2010 - 9:33pm.

Next up...the Irish.

Irish humanitarian aid ship the MV Rachel Corrie is still sailing for Gaza, in spite of Israel's recent, devastating attack on other vessels in the Gaza aid flotilla, resulting in at least nine dead activists and hundreds of prisoners.

The ship, named after 23-year-old U.S. peace activist Rachel Corrie [167] -- who was crushed to death in 2003 by an American-built bulldozer operated by the Israeli army -- has been pleading with the international community to pressure Israel into leaving them alone.

The Irish government, for its part, has threatened Israel with "the most serious consequences" if any Irish national, captured or currently aborad an aid vessel, is harmed.

"If any harm comes to any of our citizens, it will have the most serious consequences," Taoiseach Brian Cowen said, according to The Irish Times [168].

Submitted by N.Beltov on June 1, 2010 - 10:26pm.

In LA, Americans rally in support ... of the Israeli slaughter.

No, I'm not making this sh*t up.

Submitted by remind on June 1, 2010 - 10:41pm.

continued over here, because thias is not over by a long shot..

Submitted by Erik Redburn on June 2, 2010 - 1:57am.

500_Apples wrote:

Erik Redburn,

It's called spin Apples. It's what they do when they can't ignore the story altogether, or rely on a single official source or "neutral" third party. (usually far right think tank, tame academic or PR flack) I noticed from the first day that BBC anchors were going out of their way to accept every line that Israeli spokesmen gave them, even prompting them at times (with a few rebuttal questions to simulate journalistic objectivity) then turn them back on Turkish spokemen as if they were now established facts. (BBC World provided the present propaganda model for the "new" CBC, IMO, once Tony Blair destroyed their independence)

Did get a bit carried away with my links, but wanted the documentation while it still existed; record of how the story shifts and official line evolves. Canwest and the global Post chain are notorious for burying their stories after a couple days online, or make you pay for little more than the headlines. (check out the Jerusalem Post links)

I'll get to my little deconstruction excercise after I check out a couple others; others are already way ahead of me here anyhow.

Submitted by milo204 on June 2, 2010 - 2:18am.

hey Erik, i know sometimes the news sites take the links down after a while, it might be better to copy and paste the whole article if you want to preserve it on the forum?

Submitted by Erik Redburn on June 2, 2010 - 2:20am.

N.Beltov wrote:

In LA, Americans rally in support ... of the Israeli slaughter.

No, I'm not making this sh*t up.

Didn't take them long to settle on their latest party line tho. I noticed the teabaggers already practicing the talking points on the CNN and Fox sites. And note the newly printed series of placards, all ready to go two days after the spontaneous "incident".

Amerika is definitely going fascist.

Submitted by Erik Redburn on June 2, 2010 - 2:24am.

milo204 wrote:

hey Erik, i know sometimes the news sites take the links down after a while, it might be better to copy and paste the whole article if you want to preserve it on the forum?

Thanks for the good advice. I did download some in full, for my own files, but too many to complete the set.