Labels:
Czech»
Dr. Farmisal Subotka»
President of the Czech Senate
President
of the Czech Senate, Dr. Farmisal Subotka, visited the Knesset on
Wednesday and expressed unprecedented support for Israel regarding the
Gaza flotilla. Subotka said it was a planned provocation against Israel.
"Many in Europe agree with me but are afraid to voice their opinion," he
added.(hat tip Armaros)
Labels:
Blockades»
Flotilla
via news.bbc.co.uk
key: Under the law of a blockade, intercepting a vessel could apply globally so long as a ship is bound for a "belligerent" territory, legal experts say.Reuters asks some international law experts whether Israel acted legally, and on all aspects of the operation, they agree that Israel was on solid legal ground:
CAN ISRAEL IMPOSE A NAVAL BLOCKADE ON GAZA?So every single argument by the Free Gaza folks about how illegal Israel's actions were are complete and utter lies.
Yes it can, according to the law of blockade which was derived from customary international law and codified in the 1909 Declaration of London. It was updated in 1994 in a legally recognized document called the "San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea."
Under some of the key rules, a blockade must be declared and notified to all belligerents and neutral states, access to neutral ports cannot be blocked, and an area can only be blockaded which is under enemy control.
"On the basis that Hamas is the ruling entity of Gaza and Israel is in the midst of an armed struggle against that ruling entity, the blockade is legal," said Philip Roche, partner in the shipping disputes and risk management team with law firm Norton Rose.
WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL WATERS?
Under the U.N. Convention of the Law of the Sea a coastal state has a "territorial sea" of 12 nautical miles from the coast over which it is sovereign. Ships of other states are allowed "innocent passage" through such waters.
There is a further 12 nautical mile zone called the "contiguous zone" over which a state may take action to protect itself or its laws.
"However, strictly beyond the 12 nautical miles limit the seas are the "high seas" or international waters," Roche said.
The Israeli navy said on Monday the Gaza bound flotilla was intercepted 120 km (75 miles) west of Israel. The Turkish captain of one of the vessels told an Istanbul news conference after returning home from Israeli detention they were 68 miles outside Israeli territorial waters.
Under the law of a blockade, intercepting a vessel could apply globally so long as a ship is bound for a "belligerent" territory, legal experts say.
CAN ISRAEL USE FORCE WHEN INTERCEPTING SHIPS?
Under international law it can use force when boarding a ship.
"If force is disproportionate it would be a violation of the key tenets of the use of force," said Commander James Kraska, professor of international law at the U.S. Naval War College.
Israeli authorities said marines who boarded the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara opened fire in self-defense after activists clubbed and stabbed them and snatched some of their weapons.
Legal experts say proportional force does not mean that guns cannot be used by forces when being attacked with knives.
"But there has got to be a relationship between the threat and response," Kraska said.
The use of force may also have other repercussions.
"While the full facts need to emerge from a credible and transparent investigation, from what is known now, it appears that Israel acted within its legal rights," said J. Peter Pham, a strategic adviser to U.S. and European governments.
OPPONENTS HAVE CALLED ISRAEL'S RAID "PIRACY." WAS IT?
No, as under international law it was considered a state action.
"Whether what Israel did is right or wrong, it is not an act of piracy. Piracy deals with private conduct particularly with a pecuniary or financial interest," Kraska said.
Like pretty much everything else they say.
Labels:
Security
al security needs for a viable peace
Critical Security Needs
In light of a widening range of threats to Israel's security, for the first time a group of senior Israeli generals has come together to outline the basic principles of a defense policy - rooted in a consensus spanning past and present Israeli governments - which is focused on Israel maintaining defensible borders. The crisis over the Hamas flotilla to Gaza illustrates how some of Israel's critical alliances in the Middle East are changing, especially its relationship with Turkey, and the importance of designing a defense policy that takes into account the uncertainties that Israel faces with many of its neighbors.
Recent events only underscore that it is critical for Israel to preserve the principle of defending itself by itself.
Executive Summary
Labels:
Flotilla
From the Christian Science Monitor:
A 2006 report by Evan Kohlmann, an author and consultant who closely tracks the propaganda efforts of Al Qaeda and other jihadi groups, linked IHH to fundraising for jihadis headed to Bosnia , Chechnya and Afghanistan . In a posting today at the Counterterrorism Blog, Kohlmann says the Turkish government unearthed weapons, explosives, and bombmaking instructions in a 1997 raid. IHH denies that such a raid took place. Mr. Kohlmann's paper cites a French intelligence report that alleged the group made phone calls to an Al Qaeda boarding house in Milan and Algerian militants in Europe .
In a Seattle trial, one of the authors of the French report, counterterrorism magistrate Jean-Louis Bruguiere said that IHH had played an "important role" in the Al Qaeda Millenium bomb plot targeting LAX, Los Angeles 's main airport.
The IHH is an NGO, but it was kind of a type of cover-up ... in order to obtain forged documents and also to obtain different forms of infiltration for Mujahi- deen in combat. And also to go and gather[recruit] these Mujahideens.
According to the Telegrpah, UK Israeli warships have attacked at least one of the six ships ; carrying pro-Hamas activists trying to breach Israeli sovereignty, killing
Unfortunately, this is becoming another PR nightmare for Israel, who we believe should have threatened these Hamas sympathizers all along. Let this be a message to any "peace activists" who try to aid and abet the enemies of the Jewish people and Israel.
In Canada, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who there for a state visit, is receiving updates on the incident despite the fact that it is late night time there. He is in consultation with the heads of Israel's security establishment and is expected to deliver a response to the situation in the coming hours. He spoke with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who held an emergency meeting with the IDF Chief of Staff, General Gabi Ashkenazi. Also, Barak spoke with the head of the Shin Bet, Yuval Diskin, and the Turkish Secretary of Defense, Foreign Minister, and Ambassador in Israel.
In Istanbul, Turkey, hundreds of people are protesting Israel's Gaza flotilla operation outside Israel's consulate. Israel's ambassador to Turkey has been summoned for a rebuke by Turkey's foreign ministry, which blames Israel for the incident, calling it, "an unprecedented criminal act which has sent Israel-Turkey relations into a tailspin."
In Israel, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon will hold a press conference at 10:30 AM in Jerusalem on the flotilla operation. Opposition leader, Tzippi Livni, has offered to assist the government in its PR efforts.
Security forces and Magen David Adom are preparing for possible violence across Israel due to the IDF flotilla operation. In Gaza, Hamas terrorists are calling on Arabs to take to the streets and to, "take revenge on Israel." The country is on its highest alert. Israeli Arab MK Taleb A-Sanaa issued a press release Monday in which he called IDF soldiers “Nazis” for stopping the pro-Gaza flotilla. PA Chairman Machmoud Abbas as announced three days of mourning for the Flotilla "victims".
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is convening an emergency meeting in Jerusalem on the flotilla operation. The Foreign ministry may call for Israelis in Turkey to leave the country, and for other Israelis to cancel their travel plans to Turkey, due to the risk of violence. Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Gal will hold a briefing for Israel's foreign ambassadors at noon today. Israel plans to demand that Turkey take responsibility for its citizens who are on Israeli ground.
0715 GMT: The “Lynching” of the Commandos. Israeli military spokeswoman Liebovich responds to a question:
“If you have one soldier and you have a dozen activists attacking that soldier, this is a lynch. When the passengers on this ship are trying to break the soldier’s legs and arms, this is what I call a lynch. This is what happened….We had no intention to confront these passengers.”
(Liebovich adds that she is “sure” the flotilla’s passengers were not human rights activists but were connected with Hamas.)
Readers may compare this “lynch” to the live images aboard the ship when the commandos landed, currently being re-broadcast in the LiveFeed.
0710 GMT: The Israeli Propaganda Push. With communications with the aid ships cut off (CNN rather hopelessly is using vague reports from a correspondent in Cairo and then saying, “We have been unable to contact anyone in the flotilla”), Israeli authorities are trying to fill the space with their case.
Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman Amital Liebovich has given a press briefing that Israeli commandos faced “severe violence” — a “lynch” — by the flotilla’s passengers with “sharp items” and “knives”: “Live fire was used.”
Liebovich says six Israeli commandos were injured “as well as” 10 passengers killed.
Liebovich insists, “There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza” and adds, “The passengers of this flotilla…prepared themselves for violence against their soldiers.”
Liebovich’s press conference is complemented by this Israeli military statement: “During the takeover, the soldiers encountered serious physical violence by the protesters, who attacked them with live fire.” The “lynch” theme had already appeared, before the briefing, in The Jerusalem Post.
Gaza LiveFeed: Israel Warships Attack “Freedom Flotilla”0644 GMT: The Israeli Line (cont.). The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pushing a film clip of the Israeli military issuing a warning to the Freedom Flotilla before boarding the Mavi Marmara: “The Israeli government supports delivery of humanitarian supplies to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and invites you to enter the Ashdod port.”
Gaza Latest & Video: The “Freedom Flotilla” Sails
I’ve already seen the clip on Al Jazeera English.
0642 GMT: Contrary to other reports, Israel authorities say the flotilla ships will be towed to the port of Ashdod.
0640 GMT: Political Reaction. Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas has asked the Palestinian Authority to suspend all negotiations — direct or indirect — with Israel.
0635 GMT: Israeli Army says four Israeli naval commandos were injured: 1 seriously, 1 moderately, 2 lightly. It claims “light ammunition” was coming from flotilla ships so their troops “fought back”.
0625 GMT: The last blog entry from Abbas Al Lawati from the attacked ships:
I’ve just heard that Israel is expected send divers to take control of vessels from below.
There were reports of helicopters flying overhead a little while ago but it turns out it was a flase alarm. There was, however, a flashing light hovering above one of the challenger ships. It could be a helicopter, possibly commandos. The Mavi Marmara is massive so I doubt commandos will approach us but both Challengers are just small passenger boats.
0615 GMT: The Israeli Line. David Saranga of the Israeli Consulate in New York gives an early indication of how West Jerusalem will defend the military operation, despite the 16 deaths.
Saranga lifts this line from London’s Daily Telegraph, in an article on the Israeli attack: “Marine commandos had opened fire after being attacked with axes and knives by a number of the passengers on board the ships, the [Israeli] private channel 10 said.”
(Minutes later, Saranga points readers to a page, “The Jewish Internet Defense Force“, which recycles the line about axes/knives.)
In Israel, police have declared a heightened state of emergency, deploying thousands of forces around the country. A crowd in the Israeli port of Ashdod have been heckling the crew of Al Jazeera Arabic.
0605 GMT: The Turkish Government has condemned the Israeli attack. A crowd of demonstrators have surrounded the house of the Israeli Ambassador and asked him to leave the country.
The ship attacked this morning, the Mavi Marmara, is Turkish-registered.
0603 GMT: The Israeli attack was on the Mavi Marmara, one of the six ships in the flotilla. In a report from the ship just before communications were cut during the raid, Jamal Elshayyal of Al Jazeera said two people had been killed and organisers were ordering passengers to go inside the ship’s cabin. The ship’s white flag had been raised.
Sounds of live fire could be heard as Elshayyal reported, despite the raising of the flag of surrender.
0600 GMT: We are continuing the live feed from Turkish outlets of the Freedom Flotilla. Warning: images may be distressing.
0545 GMT: We wake this morning to find that overnight Israeli forces have attacked the six ships of the “Freedom Flotilla” carrying aid to Gaza.
Israel Army Radio says at least 16 members of the convoy were killed and more than 30 injured when troops boarded the flotilla. The assault took place in international waters, 65 kilometres (40 miles) off the Gazan coast.
The attack by armed Israeli soldiers was accompanied by helicopters. Al Jazeera’s Jamal Elshayyal, on board one of the ships, the Mavi Marmara, said Israeli troops used live ammunition.
Israeli Army Radio said soldiers opened fire “after confronting those on board carrying sharp objects”.
The Free Gaza Movement, the organisers of the flotilla, say the ships are now being towed to the Israeli town of Haifa, instead of the port of Ashdod, where Israel said members of the flotilla would be held in detention. The Movement claims the step is to avoid waiting journalists.
As Al Jazeera English tries to assess the Israeli military’s press conference, members of the crowd in Ashdod stand behind the reporter with a large Israeli flag.
0720 GMT: Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has declared three days of mourning for those killed in the Freedom Flotilla.
Labels:
Flotilla»
Gaza
Flotilla aid refused by Hamas
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH, RON FRIEDMAN AND ABE SELIG
06/03/2010 03:19
"This proves that the whole thing was a provocation," official says.
Hamas officials on Wednesday refused to allow into the Gaza Strip 21 truckloads of humanitarian aid that had been offloaded from the Gaza-bound flotilla ships currently docked at Ashdod Port, until “all” of those detained in Monday’s naval raid were released.
The deportation of those detainees – except for those who have refused efforts to return them to their home countries – was in its final stages on Wednesday night, as hundreds of people were flown out of Ben-Gurion Airport to Istanbul, before continuing on to their final destinations.
Labels:
Flotilla»
Hamas
As of right now, the State of Israel has loaded 20 trucks with various types of aid found onboard the flotilla. Expired medication, clothing, blankets, some medical equipment and toys were among the aid found on the ships.
Unfortunately, the Hamas terror organization is unwilling to accept the cargo and the trucks filled with humanitarian aid have not been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip. It appears that Hamas is in fact stopping the transfer of the humanitarian aid.
Labels:
Flotilla
I have no problem with Turkey or humanitarian groups loudly criticizing Israel. But I have a big problem when people get so agitated by Israel's actions in Gaza but are unmoved by Syria's involvement in the murder of the prime minister of Lebanon, by the Iranian regime's killing of its own citizens demonstrating for the right to have their votes counted, by Muslim suicide bombers murdering nearly 100 Ahmadi Muslims in mosques in Pakistan on Friday and by pro-Hamas gunmen destroying a U.N.-sponsored summer camp in Gaza because it wouldn't force Islamic fundamentalism down the throats of children.
Labels:
Drones
(CNN) — The United States was identified Wednesday as the world’s No. 1 user of targeted killings, largely as a result of its dependence on unmanned drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
A report released by the United Nations called the drone attacks part of a “strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability” and warned that they are contributing to an erosion of longstanding international rules governing warfare. It urged states to identify publicly the rules of international law believed to provide a basis for any attempted targeted killings as well as the rationale for deciding to kill instead of capture individuals. . . .
In the eight years of George W. Bush’s presidency, unmanned aircraft — or drones — attacked militant targets 45 times. Since President Obama took office, the numbers have risen sharply: 53 last year and 39 this year in Pakistan alone, according to the New America Foundation, a Washington foreign policy think tank. . . .
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