It was not just the pipes, the clubs and the knives of the peace activists on the Freedom Flotilla, sailing toward Gaza, that belied the non-humanitarian aims of their mission.
It was not just the violent attacks by the peace activists on one of the six ships against the Israeli soldiers who boarded the ship.
No, it was not just the activists throwing an Israeli soldier overboard, nor tying down ropes from an Israeli helicopter, trying to bring it down, that showed the true colors of the so-called activists.
All these acts are, of course, acts of war, which is exactly what the Mavi Marmana the Turkish ship whose passengers mobbed, clubbed, beat and stabbed Israeli soldiers was intended to represent.
But no. The real, telltale signs of the cynical exploitation of humanitarianism by the Turks and Greeks aboard the ships were threefold:
First, the refusal of Israels offer to escort them to the port in Ashdod and to deliver their humanitarian supplies to Gaza.
Second, their denial of the fact that literally tons of humanitarian supplies go from Israel to Gaza every day that the siege of Gaza is a siege against weapons smuggling and against the Hamas government, not a siege against civilians.
Three, their refusal to include amongst their humanitarian supplies a package for Gilad Shalit, who, in captivity for four years now, is the most besieged person in Gaza. Was Israel right to board the flotilla? Post your opinion on the blog
The levels of cynicism in this humanitarian flotilla pile up still higher.
The largest ship, the Mavi Marmana, as well as the entire flotilla, was directed by the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), which Israels Defense Minister Ehud Barak called a supporter of terrorism. In any event, the Turkish government, even if it did not officially sanction the flotilla, certainly knew about it in advance. And it certainly knew of Israels offer to deliver its humanitarian goods. Yet, the Turkish government did nothing to redirect the deliberately provocative flotilla but then withdrew its ambassador to Israel when Israels announced-in-advance interception of the flotilla took place. Looks like a set-up to us a cynical, Turkish ploy to worsen her relations with Israel. Read Turkish-Israeli reach new low
The worst cynicism of all is the complete ignoring by Turkey and by countries around the world of the basis of Israels maritime blockade of Gaza in the first place. Gaza is controlled by Hamas. Hamas openly declares its goal of destroying Israel. Hamas is at war with Israel. What is the surprise if Israel fights back? Read Israel faces flotilla fallout
If countries and genuine humanitarians everywhere wish to see no more repeats of the unfortunate clash on the high seas, and ?the unfortunate loss of life, the address for complaint is clear: Hamas. Let it be told to end its war with Israel.
Oh yes, one more minor point, easily lost in the heat of the moment: If Iran already smuggles arms into Gaza, who is to say that ships supposedly stocked solely with humanitarian supplies do not also contain arms? And who is to guarantee that those ships are duly inspected, if not Israel?
Bottom line: No one, but Turkey especially, likes Israels military response to attacks by Hamas, such as Israels invasion of Gaza (December, 2008-January, 2009). The best way to preempt more Israeli ?attacks is to stop the flow of Iranian arms to Hamas, to weaken Hamas and ultimately to rid Gaza of Hamas.
That is the point behind Israels maritime blockade of Gaza. And people genuinely interested in peace in Gaza should welcome Israels leadership against Hamas. Somebody has to stand up against Iran and her proxy. Obama, take note.
