Israel Flouts International Law Again and Murders Innocent People.

[jodevizes]

The Israeli armed forces have flouted international law by attacking civilian ships in international waters and killing civillians.
As usual they lied and said they were shot at first. Then they said they were attacked with sticks and knives. Well, pardon my ignorance, but if you are sailing in international waters, if you are attacked, you are justified in defending yourself. If this were off the Somalia coast, they would be called pirates.

They are slowly strangling the Gaza strip by denying it access to building materials so that the people can rebuild their houses and schools.

They are not joining talks to keep the Middle East nuclear free

What a shame George and Tony aren't still in power, they could have found another country to invade.

Still can't believe that the UK govt hasn't condemned Israel's actions.

Sorry if I caused offence by referring to a 'Jewish lobby'. It is just that was what I experienced when I lived in the US. Obviously it may have changed now but back in the day the Jewish vote was very powerful indeed.

I for one will not be buying any produce from Israel from now on.

It is almost like they enjoy killing innocent people. Look at that young photographer Tom who was killed by a sniper and then there was an American girl who was sheltering some children.

Lest not forget the cynical deployment of cluster bombs in the Lebanon, just before they pulled out.

I hear Sarcozy has called in the Israeli ambassador. Perhaps Cameron is waiting for Obama to tell him what to do.

dreadful
doubly dreadful that we will do nothing about it
imagine the outcry if a race of people were singled out and exterminated whilst everyone else stood idly by....

haaretz article

lowrib and missus - hope you hear soon.

lowrib, thanks for links. Have sent e-mail to Nick Clegg citing this article from Twitter

Mollie - Jews aren't one homogenous mass though, many Jews are anti-Zionist. You're confusing the Jewish lobby with the pro-Israeli lobby.

Israel made their stance very clear a week ago. They do not issue empty threats.

Why should they attend a conference devoted to getting rid of nukes? Why on earth would they want to given their neighbours?

It is rather complex, the ship was acting illegally, the organisation behind it is regarded as terroristic by Israel for dealing with Hamas, and no doubt many on board were acting out of hatred for Israel, hence the unwise attacks on the boarding troops which were the proximate cause of the bloodshed (after the illegal approach in the first place).

so what really happened here, were the ships unarmed or was there an exchange of fire? There are different accounts depending on what you are reading. I've never blindly condoned all of Israels actions - just acknowledged that it isn't as simple as Israel = Evil and Palestine = Victim. I'll wait for a fuller story before jumping to conclusions.

According to the BBC:

'Israel says its soldiers boarded the lead ship in the early hours but were attacked with axes, knives, bars and at least two guns.

"Unfortunately this group were dead-set on confrontation," Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC.

"Live fire was used against our forces. They initiated the violence, that's 100% clear," he said.

Organisers of the flotilla said at least 30 people were wounded in the incident. Israel says 10 of its soldiers were injured, one seriously. '

Clearly this confrontation was engineered, Arafat Shoukri said a month ago that 'conditions are ripe to make this flotilla the ?tipping point'

We are not talking about the Red Cross here....

Israel really is a law onto themselves.

Someguy- no, fair enough, but reread your quote. "Israeli soldiers boarded the ship..."
this was in international waters. Why did they board? There are always 2 sides to a story, but you must feel Israel are heavy handed with this. I do not condone suicide bombing terrorism, but I also will not condone state organised aggression, what ever the nations are, what ever the situation.

My understanding is that the 'banned' substances were items such as concrete and plaster.

The UK government looks weak as far as no response to the incident. Sweden expelled the Israeli Ambassador immediately.

If you want to see some of what happened for yourself watch this footage actually from the ship.

The report changes to English after a few minutes, bear with it.

Help, I have an Israeli friend who has sent me a link to the youtube video apparently showing the Israeli security forces were attacked when they boarded the ship.

She hasn't added a message to the link, but it's clear enough what she is trying to say.

I am maintaining a dignified silence at the moment but am pretty angry that she has sent it to me. Especially after Mossad stole British identities when they carried out that assasination attack earlier in the year.

Not sure whether to say anything and risk an arguement with a friend or just ignore it.

Some Israelies really really annoy me, they think the world owes them a living.

A friend's sister was part of an aid convoy some months back and I asked her if they could take some of DS's old baby/toddler clothes for the children over there...she told me that Israel won't allow in second hand clothes and that thy all have to be new....

I expect they know that there is far less chance of people donating new clothes than second hand ones

stranded at sea - why would you object to a link showing what may have happened so that you can make up your mind by looking at this from all sides?

Because it is totally irrelevant to our friendship. It's like if the UK was accused of doing something wrong (ie the Iraq war) and I sent something to her about it when it isn't something we have ever discussed or argued about. It would be different if we had been arguing about it and she wanted me to see something from her point of view, fair enough. But I have never discussed it with her. Sorry can't explain it better at the moment why it has annoyed me so much but children are badgering me to make some drinks for them.

strandedatsea.

Sounds like you have already made up your mind.

"Some Israelies really really annoy me, they think the world owes them a living"

Yes I have made up my mind. And?

"I am embarrassed to be English when we don't even so much as tut officially"

Foreign Secretary William Hague "I deplore the loss of life during the interception of the Gaza flotilla. We have consistently advised against attempting to access Gaza in this way, because of the risks involved. But at the same time, there is a clear need for Israel to act with restraint and in line with international obligations. This news underlines the need to lift the restrictions on access to Gaza."

I'd call that an official 'tut'.

Its sick just sick
i dont know if im more angry or sad but i know for sure im unbelievably disgusted

Chil, not enough, sorry to say.

There are very few issues that incense me as much as the permission granted to Israel to conduct an apartheid state. I agree with the posters above who suggest that Israel considers itself exempt from not only international law but the basic humanitarian considerations we consider as the norm in 'western' cultures.

I'm off to write my letters, thanks for all the links.