Gaza flotilla activists ignore Israel's need for self-defense

Activists from around the world, seeking to draw attention to the plight of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, plan to launch a flotilla of ships from Greece to challenge Israel's high-seas Gaza blockade. Drawing attention to the Palestinian cause is legitimate, indeed important. And yet Israel's blockade is equally legitimate and important; it represents the essence of the nation-state's right to self-defense.

The flotilla organizers and participants have publicly emphasized that they will carry no arms and have no hostile intentions; they are on a humanitarian mission. Sound familiar? Similar promises were made in 2010 about a peace-loving flotilla sailing from Turkey. Those promises were quickly shattered.

The loss of life in last year's flotilla was tragic; it was also largely avoidable. After all, had flotilla organizers agreed to Israel's offer to land their cargo at the Israeli port of Ashdod, the goods would have been safely transferred to Gaza: Humanitarian mission accomplished.

But that wasn't the point. The point was a provocation of Israel, with a requisite photo-op. The needs of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip were a footnote. This week's flotilla, at least, is open about its motives. In a letter to U.S. President Obama, the American contingent acknowledged that its boat would carry “no goods of any kind for delivery in Gaza.”

The organizers make the claim that Israel's blockade violates international law. That's a catchy accusation, but it's wrong in law and in fact.

1|2|Next Page>>

SHARE CLOSE
Blogger		Google+
Live Journal		Plurk
Stumble Upon

Tweet

	PREVIOUS ARTICLE
	Tradition of Pamplona has run its bloody course

NEXT ARTICLE
Thai PM lost the people before the election

2 Comments

Submit Your Comment

July 6, 2011    canadian2376@

Reply

China is a proud nation, it would be a very sad day if china starts promoting Israeli propaganda. The Israeli army has no moral or any other guiding principal; just tyranny, lies and destruction.

July 7, 2011    ryanov@

Reply

Brilliant and right
The world is NOT interested in the truth but in provocation against Israel.

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email

Submit