Israeli gunships head to sea to block flotilla

[ProgressiveProfessor]

Israeli gunships headed out to sea on Friday to stop a flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists from reaching the Gaza Strip, the military said, setting the stage for what could become a dramatic showdown on the high seas.

Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said the country was prepared to stop the flotilla "at any cost." He called the aid mission a provocation and urged the international community to show understanding for the tough response.

"We really have all determination and political will to prevent this provocation against us," he said. "I think that we're ready at any cost ... to prevent this provocation."

Military officials said an initial group of gunships went out to sea Friday to prepare for the flotilla's arrival. But plans to dispatch additional gunships were put on hold late Friday after reports that the flotilla had encountered mechanical problems, military officials said.




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More here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_ISRAEL_SHIPS_TO_GAZA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-05-28-15-38-37

A quick look online shows that this will occupy most of the Israeli Navy, which is much smaller than many realize.

[Supply Side Jesus]

1. Nothing more "provocative"

than standing up for someone

[Taverner]

2. Um...really - the IDF is afraid of a Flotilla???

Who's on that damn flotilla? Chuck Manson?

[proteus_lives]

9. I don't think they're afraid of them.

They're just doing what they said they were going to do.

[madrchsod]

3. a couple of strafing runs and they`ll get the hint...

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. There is a standard protocol for interception at sea, and I expect it to be followed to the letter

Both sides will have cameras rolling and it will be a real fight to see who gets it to You Tube first.

[regnaD kciN]

5. Unfortunately, there's no way to "get it to YouTube"...

...if your cameras are lying at the bottom of the ocean. Want to guess what will happen? :-(

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. That is a potential outcome but not a probable one

Presumptively there has been some planning done by the participants. Upon interception it is reasonable to expect that some ships would continue to attempt to get to Gaza and others would divert prior to boarding. That assures *something* will get out. It could also be streamed over a satellite link in real time.

[Ken Burch]

7. You have no problems, then, with obviously innocent civilian supply caravans

being stopped by the Israeli navy for no reason?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Actually I did not address that one way or the other

I said that the rules would be followed to the letter. You are aware of the MEZ I assume?

[ConsAreLiars]

10. There should be no surprise

that someone who supports the whale killers against Greenpeace shows this allegiance in this conflict.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. There is no surprise

about your intentionally misleading and inaccurate statements. I support Greenpeace, I do not support SSCS.

[ConsAreLiars]

16. Sorry, I should have said "You support the whale killers and oppose SSCS."

And hold many views consistent with that sort of "friending."

[ProgressiveProfessor]

19. And you would be again wrong

I support Greenpeace because they are effective and making progress. SSCS is doing neither while creating unnecessary risk at sea.

[grassfed]

12. LIVE STREAM from Gaza Flotilla (link)

http://www.ihh.org.tr/canliyayin/en

server working on and off - very dramatic if you can see it. Mostly Turkish but English too. Israeli warships are in view and the boats are tense.

[grassfed]

13. Gaza Flotilla surrounded by Israeli War ships

9pm, Sunday 30th May 2010

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla is 90 miles away from the Gaza shores; sailing in international waters where Israel has no jurisdiction. 4 Israeli war ships have surrounded the Flotilla, running parallel to them.

Once again Israel, Israel is breaking international law and committing piracy. It has long threatened this peaceful Flotilla, and is now determined to stop it from reaching its destination.

Approximately 700 civilians are on board the 7 ships which make up the Gaza Flotilla, of whom 28 are British citizens.

We request immediate intervention from the British Foreign Office.

http://www.aqsa.org.uk/ACTIVITIES/GazaFreedomFlotilla/tabid/183/ctl/Details/mid/637/ItemID/3118/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

[Christa]

15. Not good at all.

Israel is going to make even more enemies.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

18. Pure hyperbole. Shadowing does not constitute piracy or LOS violations

However, the confrontation is clearly coming. Waiting to see what is actually done.

This is the first potentially serious challenge of the MEZ, prior ones being token PR stunts at best.

[charlie]

20. Are you not following the news?

Or seeing other posts in the forum?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

22. I had not seen them when I posted that...

Post had been open in my browser for a while. Watching things closely now

[anigbrowl]

21. catch up with the headlines PP - events have overtaken your analysis nt

[Tripmann]

14. WFPSC - URGENT - Freedom Flotilla being threatened by Israel

http://www.spiderednews.com/PalestineandIsrael_I.htm?url=@http://www.worldpressnetwork.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2703&p=13922#p13922

I'm not in a position to confirm this, but fingers crossed its not true.

"We have all just heard live from Hassan Ghani of Press TV, Sarah Colborne of PSC and all the other national spokespeople on the IHH Boat that the Flotilla has got radar contact showing 3 Israeli warships approaching, with one visible to IHH boat eyes. There are drones flying overhead. The flotilla is between 90 and 120 miles out at sea. That is far outside the 68 mile exclusion zone Israel has today (illegally) declared. The ships are clearly in international waters. The flotilla passengers all have life belts on, clearly anxious, but organised and determined.

I have already spoken to the Foreign Office Emergency Response team, who are not in the position of doing anything pro-actively (they never are, it's just not their job). They are acutely aware of the flotilla's situation and ready to assist as
appropriate any UK citizens abroad, or their direct relatives, "who need or request consular assistance"."

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. Is there a new exclusion zone or have they expanded the existing one?

As usual the media is not getting crucial details correct

[Tripmann]

23. The ship that got attacked

was in international waters. Israel is not even trying to deny the fact.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

24. So it appears at this time

[Tripmann]

25. Really?

Avital Leibovich (Israeli military spokeswoman): "This happened in waters outside of Israeli territory, but we have the right to defend ourselves."