The Hijacking of the Truth: Film Evidence 'Destroyed'

[depakid]

Protesters say Israel had an assassination list. Israel says soldiers fired only in self-defence. So what really happened on 31 May?

Jamal Elshayyal, a journalist with al-Jazeera, woke with a start to the opening salvos of an Israeli assault that would transform the decks of the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish vessel bound for Gaza, into a bloodbath.

From the ship's position deep in international waters, satellite images of Israeli speedboats and helicopters approaching the vessel were beamed across the globe before communications were abruptly cut off, leaving the events on the Marmara to unfold away from the eyes of the world.

Six days after the bloody assault that left nine foreign protesters, mainly Turks, dead, nobody can recount with any conviction precisely what happened that night. The convoy of ships, whose passengers included writers, politicians and journalists, had been expected for weeks, with organisers loudly broadcasting their plans to run Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip and draw international attention to the situation there.

From the beginning, it was clear that Israeli forces were concentrating in their largest numbers on the Marmara, a ship carrying some 550 peace activists. The remaining five boats were much smaller and easily commandeered. After the Marmara was subdued, the passengers silenced, and their recording equipment confiscated, Israel disseminated a carefully choreographed account of the events that night that would dominate the airwaves for the first 48 hours.

Only as eyewitnesses, traumatised by their experiences, started to return to their home countries, were serious questions raised about the veracity of the Israeli version of events. Israeli commandos initiated the attack on the Marmara with stun grenades, paintballs and rubber-cased steel bullets. They were met with water hoses as the ship's passengers tried to form a defensive cordon to prevent soldiers from reaching the wheelhouse. Next, the helicopters started their approach, hovering overhead as they tried to disgorge commandos.

From the other ships, passengers looked on helplessly: "The worst thing was seeing the helicopter come up because I knew they were going to invade," said Ewa Jasiewicz, a 32-year-old organiser. "You could hear the screams when they started shooting ... We wanted to stop and go back but there wouldn't have been anything we could have done."

More: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/06/06

[subsuelo]

1. I trust the peace activists over IDF Spokespeople.

That's what it all comes down to - who do you trust?

None of us were there. Nobody can say they really know for sure, other than those who were there.

It's amazing Israel can hide and/or destroy so much evidence - yet people still choose to trust the IDF? I mean, how stupid can you get? The IDF are murdering liars and thugs.

I trust the peace activists over the IDF. The activists aren't all perfect and innocent, but give me their collective word over the IDF any day.

[shira]

2. You trust thugs who attack with knives, stun grenades, metal rods calling themselves peace activists

[azurnoir]

4. Oh stun grenades did the IDF "find" them or

were they thrown overboard with guns IDF also claimed the peace activists had?

[shira]

5. It's on video about 10 seconds in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6sAEYpHF24&feature=player_embedded#!

[subsuelo]

10. Oh look it's the "IDF Spokesperson's Unit" official YouTube channel!

Yes, now I know where to turn for the real truth

:crazy:

[shira]

12. Right, no amount of evidence can prevent demonizers from demonizing

[subsuelo]

16. You are seriously ok with the "IDF Spokesperson's Unit" official YouTube channel?

[azurnoir]

17. nope nothing ever stops you shira so I will agree with you n/t

[azurnoir]

15. the IDFnaDesk edited vid

but the CGI work is kind of good

[subsuelo]

9. The thugs are the mass murdering IDF cowards. n/t

[Malikshah]

18. Cutting and pasting the same material countless times is not conducive to

any discourse. Please come up with something original and helpful.

For example: are their studies regarding the reliability of the reporting on these sorts of issues? What media sources tend to be the least
trustworthy? Is there irrefutable evidence of the accusations by both sides as to their veracity? Alternatively, has evidence put forth already been disproven? By whom?
These are points to raise. Not the tiresome, obfuscating shtick.

Good luck.

[Tripmann]

3. I trust that the footage would expose the truth

I also trust that the footage was confiscated to hide the truth as well.

Blocking communications and confiscating footage is not the actions of people who can justify killing aid workers with bullets to the back of the head.

This is why the world is calling bullshit. The sttacked ship had dozens of reporters on board with recording equipment and cameras. There must be ample footage available to back up israels claims if they are being truthful. However, confiscating footage and then insisting you investigate yourself is an insult to the intelligence of every just minded person out there.

[shira]

6. It's hard to take your 'outrage' seriously when you continue to label those thugs as peace activists

[Tripmann]

7. I 'label' them as aid workers, not peace activists. More dishonesty Shira.

Its all you got.

[shira]

8. Well then you must be outraged at all the folks labeling them peace activists, right?

[Tripmann]

14. Nope

Because the labels are irrelevant. What they are/were does not change the fact that their boat was the victim of an act of piracy on the high seas. Focussing on the people on board the flotilla but ignoring the illegal boarding by israel is fooling nobody.

[shira]

21. If labels don't matter, why do you insist personally on calling them aid workers?

As for 'PIRACY', are you even aware of the definition?

[Tripmann]

29. Because they were.

And we're used to you excusing every atrocity your beloved israel commits.

[shira]

32. How does Israel's actions meet the definition of piracy?

[Tripmann]

33. Boarding a ship in international waters without permission and detaining the people on the boat

= Piracy

[shira]

34. And where can we find your definition of piracy? Or do you just make up this shit as you go?

[Tripmann]

40. Do you require that the IDF thugs have parrots on their shoulders when they execute kids?

Before you consider them pirates??

[OllieLotte]

11. I don't trust the "Peace Activists" one little bit.

Israel is at war with Hamas. Hence the blockade, as the Jews really don't like having rockets fired at them. The activists parading the ships into the blockade knowing they would be stopped. It was never intended to be a relief effort..just a big show. They got want they wanted, which was global outrage at Israel. The ones that didn't get shot are privately thrilled on how things worked out for them....unless they really cared about someone who was shot...then they might not be so happy.

[shira]

13. + 1 zillion

[azurnoir]

19. so Israeli Arabs do enjoy the rockets ? Seeing as how according to you

only Jews don't like having rockets shot at them, but are the people of Gaza supposed to be OK with bombs F-16's and drones firing missiles? and the surviving activistd are privately thrilled so are we to assume you've spoken with them or what?

[OllieLotte]

20. Seems that the F-16s flying around are a bit inconvienent for them

They would have to make peace with Israel. So it's something they have learned to live with. Lucky for them that the Jews try not to kill civilians. The Palestinians showed what they were not interested in peace during the 2000 negotiations led by Bill Clinton. I have no respect for them and could not care less about them.

Who would be surprised by the outcome of the blockade run? You have a number of ships that have announced that they will not dock in Israel. Israel who is at war with Hamas isn't going to allow them to sail into Gaza uninspected. A number of hotheads running around on the ships with clubs and pipes attack the soldiers as they drop on board the ships. People get shot and it's not the guys with the clubs. Jeez...who could be so stupid as to be surprised by this outcome?

The funny part was when that last Irish? ship announced it was going to try to run the blockade. You wanna bet that the Israelis weren't armed with paint balls when they first went in this time? When the Israelis showed up to take over the ship, the activists went along like sheep.

[azurnoir]

23. or the Israeli's wouldn't dare treat the Irish like they do Muslims n/t

[OllieLotte]

25. Except for a rare few...the Irish are great. What's not to like? n/t

[azurnoir]

26. you mean the few on the Rachel Corrie? n/t

[EFerrari]

22. You let out the ones that weren't shot but only brutalized.

Man claims assault by Israeli soldiers

GENEVIEVE CARBERY

An Irish citizen has claimed he was beaten on the head and treated badly by Israeli special forces during the interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla over a week ago.

Arriving into Dublin airport this afternoon on a flight from Istanbul, Al Mahdi Alharati described those who detained as “barbaric”.

The Libyan-born man’s journey home was delayed because he was taken to hospital in Ankara, Turkey for treatment for an underlying heart condition, diabetes, and his injuries.

“I was hit with rubber bullets in the leg. I was beaten in the groin and over the head. I was hit with the back of a gun on the eye. I was hit with the butt of a machine gun on the back of my head,” he said, speaking through a translator.

snip

He said that the activists had not used force. “It was all peaceful, there was no way it could have been anything other than peaceful,” he said.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0608/breaking61.html

Btw, ending the collective punishment of Gaza is a humanitarian mission.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[azurnoir]

27. Darn Israeli's you mean?

one is not inclusive of the other

[subsuelo]

28. Interesting your concern for the "Darn Jews". n/t

[whosinpower]

30. You don't have to "trust" either

As you yourself stated - the flotilla was a public relations stunt. Israel had a number of choices they could of made - they chose badly because there IS global outrage. The stupidity of their actions is breathtaking. Has this event turned the world's eyes towards Gaza. Yes it has. Has this event caused Israel immeasurable damage. Yes it has.

Knowing full well that the activists were COUNTING on Israel to do something utterly over the top dumb - should of been a first indication of the leaderhship within Israel to DENY those activists that. But they didn't. They gave them exactly what they wanted, and the likes of Shira and other posters here make claims that the activists shouted out - "go back to Auschwitz". That the activists sang songs and wanted to be martyrs. None of that matters.

What matters is that this is a public relations DISASTER that Israel could of easily avoided - and at the same time alienated Hamas...but they chose to enforce their blockade in the cover of darkness, with guns flaring and masked commando's. Hamas gained and Israel lost. That is what matters.

They knew full well who was on that ship. They knew full well that it had many journalists who were intent on recording the mission. A SMART savy leadership would of used that to their advantage. A smart savy leadership would of instructed the IDF to stop the flotilla under the light of day--would of announced an inspection of the humanitarian mission for weapons--and if the ship was to be found clear of weapons, would of announced that the flotilla would of been escorted to Gaza to oversee the dispatch of its cargo, thus denying the flotilla of its ill intent, and at the same time showing the world some semblence of level headedness...with all those journalists recording every thing.

Instead, Shira has been forced to play the blame game when she should be blaming Israel for its stupidity.

Hamas is evil. The only way to get rid of it effectively is to alienate it from the palistinian people. Punishing the whole of Gaza through the economic blockade only further entrenches Hamas to the palistinian cause. If that is what Netanyahu wants, he is succeeding.

[shira]

31. You don't get it. I agree Israel screwed up, but mainly due to horrible intel.

Whoever in command directed the commandos to be as unprepared for the violence they would face should be fired. There's simply no way, at least from now on - a day late and dollar short - that Israel will ever underestimate the faux peace activists like that again. Next time they'll destroy the propeller, use pepper spray, etc... but it should NOT come down to endangering IDF troops' lives again.

But here's what you're not seeing and I'm not sure why...

This is a deliberate attempt to deligitimize/defame and demonize Israel. World outrage is WAY over-the-top considering who the IDF was actually dealing with. The IHH terror thugs are still being labeled "peace activists" who were executed or murdered - for no apparent reason - by the IDF.

That's blood libel.

Bigotry.

I'm not certain how anyone reasonable could deny it. It's been going on for quite some time now (think Jenin massacre hoax, Mohammad al-Dura blood libel hoax, Goldstone, and now this). No other country in the world is held to the same double-standards, with the flimsiest 'evidence' proving Israel's alleged ill motivations. It's as though it's perfectly okay to concoct the biggest, nastiest libels against Israel. Now it's as if the blockade busters are innocent passive civilians. Yesterday, it's as if Hamas/Hezbollah really didn't hide behind human shields.

Isarel.Must.Be.Demonized.

It's a sick world.

There's nothing Israel can do about it either. Even if they pull out 100% to pre-1967 borders, it won't stop.

[whosinpower]

35. I get it - but you still cling to victimhood

You wrote - This is a deliberate attempt to deligitimize/defame and demonize Israel. World outrage is WAY over-the-top considering who the IDF was actually dealing with. The IHH terror thugs are still being labeled "peace activists" who were executed or murdered - for no apparent reason - by the IDF.

Shira - it does not matter "who" the activists were, whether or not you want to put them into a "peace activist" box or a "thug" box. It makes not one iota of difference. You are correct - the flotilla was an attempt to draw the worlds eyes to the actions of Israel in regards to the blockade - to delegitimize it, to defame it and to demonize it.

Somehow, in your mind, because you see these people as being "thugs" - this changes everything and the IDF can therefore have free reign to do whatever they wish, without consequence. They can shoot people numerous times in the back of the head. Judge, jury and executioner because they are just a bunch of thugs after all. In what manner does that negate the flotilla's attempt to delegitimize Israel's actions in regards to the blockade? It doesn't. Perhaps in the eyes of Israeli's, this is perfectly acceptable, but it is not acceptable behavior in the eyes of the world. Israel owns its actions. Israel gave Hamas a huge bonus by attacking in such a manner. People from all over the world were witness - and they are all singing the same tune. Israel gave them exactly what the intent of the flotilla was.

Is this the only way to fight bigotry? Is this the best way? Does this action fight bigotry at all? Your victimhood is not a shield and will not protect you. More importantly, Israel's victimhood is blinding itself to how the rest of the world perceives it, and creates more bigots.

Israel needs better leadership.

[BlackMagic]

36. Very well put. eom

[shira]

37. I haven't written once that the IDF can have free reign to do as they wish - based on who

...the activists really were.

All I'm saying is that it's pure bigotry to portray the IDF commando's actions as premeditated murder, deliberate execution, etc... when it was very clearly self-defense against thugs who prepared well in advance for a violent confrontation with the IDF.

That the other flotilla activists and FGM organizers are not condemning these thugs for who they are and what they did speaks volumes. These anti-humanitarian faux-peace-activists simply cannot be allowed to get away with what they attempted to do, as if what they did is perfectly legitimate, lawful, and ethical.

Real legitimate peace activists should want to disassociate from these antisemitic hateful wretches as much as possible. Those who welcomed these thugs on board and refuse to condemn their actions are no better than the UN Human Rights hypocrites from rogue states with deplorable human rights records who bash Israel to divert attention away from their own crimes against humanity.

No sincere anti-racist, peaceful humanitarian could possibly see this hateful, bigoted display by the IHH and FGM as a move in the right direction for the cause of peace and human rights.

[subsuelo]

39. but the IDF actions *were* premeditated murder

it's just an observation, not bigotry.

[whosinpower]

41. Clarify

You wrote - These anti-humanitarian faux-peace-activists simply cannot be allowed to get away with what they attempted to do, as if what they did is perfectly legitimate, lawful, and ethical.

They attempted to portray Israel in a certain light given Israel's policy regarding the Gaza blockade. That is illegitimate? That is unethical?

Is it ethical for Israel to internally calculate the needs of Gazans to be no more than 1800 calories/day? Is it ethical for Israel to base what it allows into Gaza on its own agricultural lobby? How about textbooks, paper, shoes, clothes - is that ethical? Or what about poor coriander?

Because you already replied to another poster that there is no defense for that. So - you know that policy is not justified. You have already agreed it is not.

Once again - this goes directly to the heart of Israeli leadership. You must tire of constantly defending Israel from critics when you are undermined by your own leadership. I say this with the utmost sincerity - Israel deserves better. The IDF never should of been put in the position that it found itself on the Marmara. The Gazans deserve better than Hamas - but Israel helps Hamas even though it is evil, even though it is an enemy. Israel definately deserves better leadership than what it is getting.

[shira]

42. You're still missing the BIG elephant in the room so I can only assume you can't defend

....the fact that there is NO justification whatsoever for thugs and antisemites being portrayed as peace activists.

I can only assume that you cannot justify portraying the situation in Gaza as Israel "starving" the Palestinians.

I'm not arguing Israel is perfect and deserves no criticism. But what they are GETTING goes way beyond rational criticism. It's bigotry, isn't it?

[whosinpower]

43. you did not answer the question. nt

[hulka38]

38. The evidence we've been allowed to see by Israel

is a mere sliver of the whole story. American media's looping of what Israel wants the American public to see and the confiscation of all electronic devices was as big a part of the operation as the siege itself.