Guest Column: Gaza flotilla’s intent was to undermine Israel’s blockade
By Sherry Dreyfuss
This column is in response to Stanley Campbell’s article on the Gaza flotilla (June 9-15 issue). Of course, we are deeply saddened by the loss of life and grievous injuries that resulted from the flotilla interdiction.
What is particularly disconcerting is that this outcome could have been easily avoided. Those leading the flotilla should have agreed to dock at the port of Ashdod to allow Israeli officials to examine the cargo on board. All legitimate humanitarian items would have been forwarded into Gaza without incident.
However, it is clear that the purpose of the flotilla, organized by groups associated with al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, was not essentially humanitarian, but rather it was to undermine Israel’s blockade.
The purpose of the Israeli blockade, which is legal under international law, is to prevent rearmament of Hamas, an internationally-recognized terrorist organization backed by Iran, which openly seeks Israel’s destruction and over the years has launched thousands of rockets into Israeli cities.
In addition to its terrorist activity, Hamas has been holding Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit hostage for almost four years and, contrary to the Geneva Conventions, denies all access to him.
While Israel’s fundamental right of self-defense must be respected, questions have been raised about the execution of the interdiction. The highly-respected Maj. Gen. (Res.) Giora Eiland has been appointed to head a team of experts, including foreign observers, jurists and former diplomats, to explore the flotilla and to derive lessons from it.
Conditions in the Gaza Strip are difficult, no doubt, and this is due to the fact it is controlled by a terrorist organization with which much of the world does not want to engage. But there is no humanitarian crisis or starvation, as some suggest.
Israel, along with Egypt, which also controls Gaza’s borders, and the international community are looking for ways to improve the humanitarian conditions without strengthening Hamas’ ability to wage terror against Israeli civilians.
Ultimately, only an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, which leads to a broader Middle East peace, is the long-term solution to this sad situation. Unlike the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, which accepts the two-state formula and has brought about a dramatic improvement in the economy and security there, Hamas rejects such an outcome and works tirelessly to undermine peace efforts.
We support the efforts of the United States to advance the peace process and to encourage the parties to engage in direct negotiations over the issues that divide them.
Sherry Dreyfuss is president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rockford.
From the July 14-20, 2010 issue
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3 Comments
Let’s talk about the Israeli terrorists who boarded the Gaza Flotilla in international waters and murdered 9 innocent people.
Israel could have waited until those boats arrived in territorial waters, surrounded those unarmed vessels and escorted them to Ashdod with no loss of life, but that was not good enough for the Zionist-terrorists.
Prior to its act of piracy, Israel was claiming that there were terrorists and war materials on those boats.
After murdering those 9 people, Israel had full control of the boats and their passengers.
Did they identify the so-called terrorists whot were allegedly on those boats? NO!
Did they show the world the war materials that were allegedly on those boats? NO!
Those boats were full of pacifists and humanitarian supplies, and Israel felt entitled to resort to piracy and mass murder.
Israel has NO right to exist as a Jewish-only state. The partition and ethnic cleansing of Palestine was a crime against all the people who were living in that country.
Israel is supposed to be a democracy, but it was set up by an act of pure tyranny. Palestinians were never allowed to vote on the issue of partition of their own homeland. It was imposed upon them by foreigners.
Ms. Dreyfuss, how would you and your friends like it if someone did that to you?
Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea, when apartheid Israel ceases to be.
Viva Palestina!
The respondant to Ms Dreyfluss does not have the facts. The flotilla was sent to provoke a confrontation. Hamas refused the medical and other supplies.
If you are not Muslim you are much better off in Israel than any other country in the area. Christians are being forced out of all the Muslim countries and are not allowed to practice freely.
In Gaza convents have been attacked and destroyed.
Hamas has never lived up to any of the agreement.
There are two standards one for Israel and one for the rest of the world.
Where was the out cry when Humas destroyed the summer camps for children.
Ignorance about the area runs rampant.
Does anything that Susan says justify boarding a vessel on international waters and killing 9 people?
I am not in favor of Hamas. This is not about Hamas. It is about what Israel did in violation of international law.
When it comes to compliance with international law, there are indeed two standards: one for Israel and on for the rest of the world.
Israel’s annexation of east Jerusalem and every last settlement it has built in the West Bank violate international law. Where is the outcry about that from the law-abiding Zionists living in this country?
One of the reasons Bush gave for invading Iraq was its alleged violations of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
Israel has been in violation of dozens of UNSC resolutions:
Rogue State: Israeli Violations of U.N. Security Council Resolutions
by Jeremy R. Hammond / January 27th, 2010
Following is a list of United Nations Security Council resolutions directly critical of Israel for violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions, the U.N. Charter, the Geneva Conventions, international terrorism, or other violations of international law:
http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/01/rogue-state-israeli-violations-of-u-n-security-council-resolutions/
Double standard for Israel? You betcha!
Widespread ignorance about the area? Likewise!