Israel Matzav

Lebanese flotilla canceled?

A Lebanese flotilla that included a 'women's ship' that had planned to break Israel's 'blockade' of Gaza has apparently been canceled.

A flotilla that was to set sail from Lebanon for Gaza appears to have been delayed or even canceled. While the flotilla's pro-terrorism organizers have made no official statements for the time being, the ships have not set sail despite receiving approval two weeks ago.

Organizers had planned to challenge Israel's naval blockade of Hamas. Iranian vessels with similar aims announced recently that their plans had been canceled due to “Israeli threats.”

The Lebanese flotilla's delay follows warnings from Israel and America. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned that Lebanon would bear responsibility for the consequences if a flotilla launched from its shores clashed with Israeli troops, while the United States urged Lebanon to “behave responsibly” and send supplies to Gaza by land, not by sea.

The delay also follows mounting evidence that the flotilla was organized and backed by supporters of Islamic terrorism. One organizer, Samar Al-Haj, is known to have ties to Hizbullah head Hassan Nasrallah and said Nasrallah was her motivation in working to create a flotilla.

In a message to Israel, Al-Haj said, “We do not recognize you... I don't advise [to stop the ship] because the Lebanese flag won't be the only one aboard the Maryam.”

The Maryam was supposed to exclusively carry female passengers while other ships in the flotilla were to carry men.

You may recall that they had clearance to sail to Cyprus, but not directly to Gaza. You may also recall that Cyprus refused to let the Turkish flotilla stop at its ports to board 'dignitaries,' and that the 'Free Gaza' movement closed its headquarters in Cyprus and moved them to London as a result. I suspect that nothing the Cypriots saw on the Turkish flotilla made them want to be involved with another flotilla.

Heh.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:29 PM