Cyprus: The hell you'll get us in the middle of this
Lebanon is still trying to send that 'women's ship' to break the Gaza blockade, but they are afraid to have it sail directly from Lebanon, because Israel would deem that an act of war. They have now re-raised an idea that they raised earlier: to have the ship sail first to Cyprus and then to Gaza. But the Cypriots, who probably have profited handsomely this summer from Israelis' self-imposed boycott on travel to Turkey, aren't willing to get involved. In fact, they say that if the ship lands there, they will impound it and deport all the passengers. But on Thursday, the Cypriot ambassador to Lebanon told The Associated Press that the boat, the Miriam, will be turned back when it reaches Cyprus.Maybe they could sail to Istanbul first. Heh.
"We decided that such a ship will not be allowed to enter Cyprus and if such a Gaza-bound ship docks in a Cypriot port the crew and the passengers will be deported to their country of origin," Kyriacos Kouros said.
Kouros said Cyprus has a "moral and legal responsibility" to those allowed into its waters, and that a blockade-busting ship could endanger lives along with "regional peace and stability."
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:21 PM
3 Comments:
It's good the Cypriots are taking this stance, but what's to stop the boat from docking in Northern Cyprus, especially given its Turkish links and the fact that TRNC has no relations with Israel?
This comment has been removed by the author.
They could dock in Northern Cyprus. I don't see it as likely and besides getting the boat into Gaza waters is easier said than done and this time the IDF is not going to send its marines with paintball guns. It will come prepared to take over an enemy ship with deadly force, if necessary.
Post a Comment
<< Home