Israel Matzav

Hebrew U student arrested for activities on behalf of outlawed pro-Hamas group sponsored by Turkish government

A Turkish student at Hebrew University was arrested two weeks ago for activities on behalf of IHH in Judea and Samaria. IHH is a pro-Hamas group that is sponsored by the Turkish government that has been banned in Israel since 2008. The group is co-sponsoring a flotilla of eight ships that is on its way to try to break Israel's 'blockade' of Gaza. This is from the first link:

"He is suspected of activity on behalf of IHH in Judea and Samaria (West Bank). This is a group that Israel banned in 2008," an Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) spokeswoman told Reuters. "In the context of these activities, he helped various outlawed organizations in Judea and Samaria, and he was arrested on suspicion of endangering public security."

Activists in Turkey plan to take to the streets to protest the arrest of Izzet, a founder of the IHH “Humanitarian Relief Foundation” which also is co-sponsoring a huge flotilla that began sailing for Gaza Wednesday morning. Israeli officials said the arrest is not connected with the flotilla, which is aimed at breaking Israel’s sovereignty over the Gaza coastal waters, as defined in the Oslo Accords.

A demonstration in Istanbul on Saturday included signs proclaiming that “Zionist Oppressors Cannot Stop Us From Helping Gaza.” Ridvan Kaya, president of the Turkish NGO Ozgurder, said the arrest and ensuing gag order for 12 days are "an insult to Turkey [and] means that Israel can accuse our citizens of anything she wishes.”

Part of the eight-ship flotilla left Ireland for Gaza on Wednesday morning. The combined effort by pro-Hamas groups includes the Free Gaza Movement, which last summer began efforts to challenge the Israeli Navy. The rest of the boats are to leave from Greece and Turkey within the next 10 days.

Read the whole thing.

What could go wrong?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:34 PM