Palestinian Christians urge protests after Israeli assault on flotilla
Even though most of the world doesn’t even know the exact circumstances surrounding this tragedy, this hasen’t deterred some to a swift anti-Israeli response.
ENI:
Bethlehem/Geneva (ENI). Palestinian Christian organizations have urged protests by church groups around the world against an Israeli assault on ships bringing aid to Gaza, which Israel says has led to the deaths of at least 10 activists on board the convoy.
Tags: Christianity, Israel, News, Politics
May 31st, 2010 at 6:20 pm
1. A maritime blockade is in effect off the coast of Gaza. Such blockade has been imposed, as Israel is currently in a state of armed conflict with the Hamas regime that controls Gaza, which has repeatedly bombed civilian targets in Israel with weapons that have been smuggled into Gaza via the sea.
2. Maritime blockades are a legitimate and recognized measure under international law that may be implemented as part of an armed conflict at sea.
3. A blockade may be imposed at sea, including in international waters, so long as it does not bar access to the ports and coasts of neutral states.
4. The naval manuals of several western countries, including the US and England recognize the maritime blockade as an effective naval measure and set forth the various criteria that make a blockade valid, including the requirement of give due notice of the existence of the blockade.
5. In this vein, it should be noted that Israel publicized the existence of the blockade and the precise coordinates of such by means of the accepted international professional maritime channels. Israel also provided appropriate notification to the affected governments and to the organizers of the Gaza protest flotilla. Moreover, in real time, the ships participating in the protest flotilla were warned repeatedly that a maritime blockade is in effect.
6. Here, it should be noted that under customary law, knowledge of the blockade may be presumed once a blockade has been declared and appropriate notification has been granted, as above.
7. Under international maritime law, when a maritime blockade is in effect, no boats can enter the blockaded area. That includes both civilian and enemy vessels.
8. A state may take action to enforce a blockade. Any vessel that violates or attempts to violate a maritime blockade may be captured or even attacked under international law. The US Commander’s Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations sets forth that a vessel is considered to be in attempt to breach a blockade from the time the vessel leaves its port with the intention of evading the blockade.
9. Here we should note that the protesters indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade by means of written and oral statements. Moreover, the route of these vessels indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade in violation of international law.
10. Given the protesters explicit intention to violate the naval blockade, Israel exercised its right under international law to enforce the blockade. It should be noted that prior to undertaking enforcement measures, explicit warnings were relayed directly to the captains of the vessels, expressing Israel’s intent to exercise its right to enforce the blockade.
11. Israel had attempted to take control of the vessels participating in the flotilla by peaceful means and in an orderly fashion in order to enforce the blockade. Given the large number of vessels participating in the flotilla, an operational decision was made to undertake measures to enforce the blockade a certain distance from the area of the blockade.
12. Israeli personnel attempting to enforce the blockade were met with violence by the protesters and acted in self defense to fend off such attacks.
May 31st, 2010 at 7:44 pm
I think we need to wait for more details before judging how much one side or the other was at fault, but I am surprised by the loss of life. From the reports I have heard so far, this was avoidable, and does not reflect well on the Isreali action. Yes, It is likely that this confrontation was contrived by Hamas activists, but why, knowing the international condemnation it would bring, did Israel make this extraordinary miscalculation?
May 31st, 2010 at 8:44 pm
@ Goy: It’s usual to post a link if your post is a paste straight off another site. Just a few seconds and I can identify that the same text appears more or less verbatim on the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs site.
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Law/Legal+Issues+and+Rulings/Gaza_flotilla_maritime_blockade_Gaza-Legal_background_31-May-2010.htm
However very similar text appears cut n pasted on dozens of other sites so you have got it from anywhere. It’s still usual to quote the source.
I do not find this plethora any more convincing than a single, well-sourced post.
It reminds me of the time when I was an inadvertent target of British Zionists. Overwhelming numbers of letters and phone calls (this was pre-email), all saying almost exactly the same thing. It’s off-putting and, as a tactic, reduces the target’s respect for these zealots.
May 31st, 2010 at 11:07 pm
@Sophie,
Thanks for adding the link that I inadvertently omitted, one small task you have done for the good of Israel.
Bless you,
June 1st, 2010 at 9:34 am
@ Goy: No problem. It’s good to observe at least some of the courtesies among the rough and tumble.
Not that I agree with Israel’s actions. I’m hoping President Obama will take the firm stance so necessary to move the impasse forward. Israel’s special status in relation to the US has done nothing to create peace in the Middle East, and many commentators believe it is one of the key factors.
June 1st, 2010 at 11:00 am
@Sophie,
Milli Görüs: wolves in sheep’s clothing
Turkey should be kicked out of NATO.
June 1st, 2010 at 11:26 am
@ Goy: In treating all Muslims as if they were would-be terrorists you do neither yourself nor them credit.
Try another article from the same site: http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/article/2766/more-muslims-more-mosques-in-europe.html
I’ve been close friends with a British Muslim for 20 years. Muslims are as varied as Christians. Believing all Muslims are fanatics is like believing all Christians are Young Earth Creationists.
June 1st, 2010 at 12:30 pm
OK. So from the limited information now available from both sides it seems that the least the Israeli authorities could be accused of is gross incompetence.
If a British Commando team were despatched on such a botched mission heads would roll within UK Government and UK Armed Forces. I would expect the same to happen in Israel.
Whether one is a supporter of Israel or not, this was almost certainly a totally avoidable loss of life, which has damaged Israel out of all proportion to any benefit which would have accrued from the action.
June 1st, 2010 at 12:57 pm
@Sophie,
That is a point of nonsense and is both patronising to myself and your muslim friend it betrays your selfishness, ignorance and sense of superiority that in your delusion you contend that islam gravitates around your personal friendships.
The family dog did not maul the baby because it was the family pet.
June 23rd, 2010 at 4:56 pm
@ Sophie. Of course it is ridiculous to believe that all Muslims are terrorists. However Turkey is a NATO member. It denies the Armenian Genocide, invaded Kurdistan and invaded Northern Cyprus. One should expect better of a NATO member.
June 24th, 2010 at 6:14 am
@ Comet7: I agree. It’s not what you expect of a NATO member. I’m not at all sure about Turkey joining the EU, either.