Israel’s security forces have become accustomed over many decades to using lethal force against opponents, then claiming it was the opponents who “fired first”. They have become accustomed, moreover, to their government and its cheerleaders around the world having such a dominant position in the media that they can hope to have this version of events generally accepted– or at least, accepted by enough of the people in power around the world that they don’t need to worry about the real facts getting out.
It seems they don’t understand the 21st century.
The Freedom Flotilla organized by an international group of nonviolence activists and humanitarians has all along pursued textbook rules of nonviolent action. In particular they allowed their ships to be inspected by governments before they took them to sea, they continually announced their intention of taking the humanitarian supplies to Gaza, and they worked hard to make their action as visible as possible.
None of that stopped Israel from using deadly violence against them. The number of the dead among the hundreds of civilians on board the five boats is not yet clear. Israel’s Ynet is reporting 15 dead. The BBC reports that Israeli Channel 10 TV is saying 19.
And then, just as if this were an Israeli death squad going in and killing someone in a distant village in the West Bank in the middle of the night, Israeli military and political leaders come out with the rote accusation that the victims had been the first ones to open fire.
Unbelievable.
Around the world– and perhaps even inside Israel— it is already clear that very few people indeed believe that version of events. And indeed, the diplomatic/strategic repercussions for Israel around the world are already starting. There are even reports that PM Netanyahu might cancel or postpone his Wednesday trip to Washington.
17 thoughts on “Flotilla: Israel’s customary lethality now changes everything”
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Attempted posting, but repeated errors saying my submission failed due to lack of email address. This was on prior article
These killings of innocent passengers on board Turkish ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, is a crime of great magnitude.
The blockade of Gaza is illegal under international law and the Israeli government has been in gross breach of EU and UN human rights legislation for many years.
The time has now arrived for the EU and the UNSC to put an end to the status quo whereby Israel’s Netanyau arrogantly treats the entire world with contempt.
The current state of affairs cannot continue without the probability of a global war instigated by this one-sided Middle East conflict.
Israel must learn to conform to international agreements and the rule of law. Massacres such as today’s which took place on the high seas in international waters, must end. This was an act of aggression and piracy. Those who authorized and carried out the killings must face justice. For without justice and the rule of law, there is no democracy and no future.
Furthermore, Israel’s hidden nuclear arsenal must be dismantled in the cause of world peace and the entire M E, including Iran, must be made WMD-FREE.
The UNSC must act!
This happens while Emanuel is in Israel, and Netanyahu is in Ottawa and Washington.
It is a flagrant violation of the law of the sea. The fascists, and I use the term advisedly, in Israel’s government seem determined to rub their friends, and Israel’s Jewish majority’s, noses in the dirt.
If ever the world faced the problem of needing to curb the dangerous aggressions of a rogue state it is now; clearly behavior of this sort, if accepted internationally, gives Israel carte blanche to use the vast armoury that the US has put at its disposal.
Unless the United States takes firm and immediate action, as it did not over Gaza, it is difficult to see how even the most corrupted Arab state can continue to separate Israel’s aggressions from those of its sponsor.
The pattern of escalation is familiar to students of fascist states: it leads to war. In this case it may very well lead to nuclear war.
The Obama administration’s response is disgusting and cowardly. “We regret the loss of life.” This was not a natural disaster or act of God, this was international piracy and state terrorism and murder. Obama, be a man and join the rest of the civilized world in condemning this outrageous Israeli action! Stop being so afraid of AIPAC.
Will the Congress disgrace itself still further by passing another ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF resolution with only a few dissenting votes as it did after Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Gaza.?
Now is surely the time for President Obama to free himself and his administration from the yoke of the AIPAC lobby and to condemn unreservedly this act of murder on the high seas, in international waters.
This is a killing without precedent by heavily armed troops against unarmed civilians engaged in humanitarian aid.
THIS ACT OF VIOLENCE CANNOT REMAIN UNANSWERED BY THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL. THE WORLD NEEDS A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ISRAEL AND CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE LIFTING OF THE ILLEGAL BLOCKADE OF GAZA AND THE BRINGING OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL COURT IN THE HAGUE. THIS WAS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY.
Al Jazeera has had continuous coverage on the Gaza Flotilla attack since early morning. They had their own reporter on the big Turkish ship. Israel of course has clamped down on any news from the flotilla. It is not known who or how many have been murdered or injured. No newspeople are allowed close to Ashod, where the ships have been forced by the Israeli Navy. The only news coming out is from Izzy official spokespersons (a la the man with iron teeth, Mark Regev).
Al Jazeera reported that Netanyahoo had cancelled his visit to the US, and Netanyahoo mumbeled (via telephone) something about Canadian PM Harper and his telephone calls and close consultations with Obama, sort of dragging Obama into his corner.
I personally have sent e-mails to all European Ambassadors in my country asking them to reconsider Israel’s invitation to join OECD. Of course, e-mails have gone to every USGovernment outfit and Izzy government outfit, including some Izzy universities that provided spokespersons early on. I realize I am just one person with a computer, but we can still sit on our bottoms and be a nuisance. There must be masses of e-mails going out, because the Izzy Foreign Ministry closed their “contact us” site during the day. I also visited our local Turkish Embassy in person to offer my condolences. We can sit on our bottoms and still be a nuisance. Let’s do it.
P.S. There was a shot of the back of the head of the Izzy Navy spokesman when he commaandeered the Turkish ship. He had hair running down his neck all the way into his shirt. The immediate thought was of a rabid dog.
Where is the flotilla now? Are the injured getting the emergency care they need?
The flotilla organizers should restate the fact that theirs was an unarmed action, and publish all video footage of the attack. Put pressure on all Western powers to acknowledge the facts and condemn the attack. Economic sanctions and a suspension of military aid should be applied.
Will this be enough to wake up folks that Barack Obama is not on your side? That could have been you, or a friend of yours, or a coworker, or a child of yours, on that boat, attacked and even killed or wounded. And there’s Obama implicitly saying that what Israel did was ok.
No. No, Obama’s minions will continue to worship Obama the Secret Peacemaker no matter what.
Helena, when you get a chance, could you add more on this line:
“In particular they allowed their ships to be inspected by governments before they took them to sea.”
If you covered that before, maybe somebody can flag it. Forming Hasbarista line seems to be: these were “anti-Israel” activists, and/or closet “terrorists,” with ties to “radical extremist Muslims.” And of course, Daniel Pipes is out with the Dershowitz agitprop about how war has changed, and to hades with laws of warfare, etc.
From what we know so far this is beyond disgusting. Does anyone have email addresses of the State dept./white house etc for demanding an appropriate response? It must be a big chance for the BDS movement.
First, I want to say that what Israel did was stupid.
But as for the legality of the Israeli Navy boarding the flotilla in international waters, I refer you to rule 67(a) and subsequent points in the San Remo manual. I’m not an expert of international law nor a lawyer so if you are, please feel free to add.
Here is what I was referring to:
San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, 12 June 1994
67. Merchant vessels flying the flag of neutral States may not be attacked unless they:
(a) are believed on reasonable grounds to be carrying contraband or breaching a blockade, and after prior warning they intentionally and clearly refuse to stop, or intentionally and clearly resist visit, search or capture;
(b) engage in belligerent acts on behalf of the enemy;
(c) act as auxiliaries to the enemy s armed forces;
(d) are incorporated into or assist the enemy s intelligence system;
(e) sail under convoy of enemy warships or military aircraft; or
(f) otherwise make an effective contribution to the enemy s military action, e.g., by carrying military materials, and it is not feasible for the attacking forces to first place passengers and crew in a place of safety. Unless circumstances do not permit, they are to be given a warning, so that they can re-route, off-load, or take other precautions.
This blog post and comments are worth reading on legalities: http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2010/05/the_legal_posit.html . Looks like hasbaristas have been removing non-pro Israel legal stuff from the Wikipedia Gaza flotilla clash article
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-211697-customs-officials-deny-israeli-claims-weapons-were-onboard.html reports that Turkish officials say they searched for weapons and that the Israeli weapons allegations are complete nonsense.
Well done, Michael W., you have cited a whole raft of law which is completely and totally irrelevant – as is to be expected of one of the battalions of paid hasbaristas.
You are still not allowed to enforce the elements of that treaty by an unprovoked military assault by night on the high seas. You have to make a formal and peaceful approach.
And that’s even supposing that the approach is justified. Here it isn’t.
I believe your argument is number 3 on the list of hasbara tactics: introduce extraneous irrelevant elements, to confuse matters.
Obama is the product of a Muslim father and a Jewish mother. Everyone seems to assume Obama hasn’t got the guts to take on the Jews. Fact seems to be he IS a Jew! Don’t hold your breath waiting for him to be anything remotely resembling FAIR in the Middle East, or anywhere else for that matter.
AlexNo,
How exactly is it not relevant?
The flotilla consists of “merchant” (non-military) ships from “neutral” countries attempting to “breach” “a blockade, … after prior warning they intentionally and clearly refuse to stop, or intentionally and clearly resist visit, search or capture”.
Whether the blockade is justified or not is up to debate, but the law I mentioned is clearly relevant. I think much of the blockade measurements need to be eased.