Hasbara, Haaretz style
Once again, Israel's Hebrew 'Palestinian' daily undermines Israel's hasbara (public relations) efforts abroad. In an editorial that could have been written by Haaretz reporter Amira Hass - who is a 'passenger' on the flotilla of fools - Haaretz calls on the Israeli government to allow the flotilla to land in Gaza. At first glance, there does not appear to be a practical reason to send the aid, since in the wake of the 2010 flotilla, Israel was compelled to lift many restrictions it had put in place as part of its brutal blockade, and Egypt has decided to open the Rafah crossing to civilians. Moreover, Israel has even offered to transfer the aid shipment to Gaza, as long as the ships don't dock there.How does Haaretz know what is on the flotilla? And are they going to vouch for the terrorists that no weapons will be shipped if the blockade is lifted?
At best, the flotilla's contribution to lifting the blockade is symbolic, in that it reminds the world that Israel's closure policy is still partially in effect, and that the population of Gaza remains under occupation. But the Israeli government imputes far greater significance to symbols than it does to wise policy. The government seems to be as frightened of the flotilla as one would think it would be of an attack by an armed naval fleet. It is preparing to keep the ships from reaching the Gaza coast as though it were preparing to fight an enemy seeking to infringe on Israeli sovereignty.
It appears that even though a year has passed since the first flotilla fiasco, Israel is showing that it has learned just one lesson: the military lesson. As though better military preparation or training for specific scenarios are what will save Israel's honor. The country is not willing to give up a display of power, thereby no doubt contributing to inflating the flotilla's importance.
But then, what can you expect from the newspaper whose editor-in-chief once asked the US Secretary of State to rape Israel. They're just trying to set us up for rape again.
Labels: flotilla of fools, Gaza plenty, Haaretz, Israel's Hebrew Palestinian daily
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:50 AM
8 Comments:
Nowhere does Haaretz note in its editorial Gaza is governed by Hamas, a terrorist group with a genocidal anti-Semitic ideology dedicated to Israel's destruction and the sole purpose of the maritime blockade is no longer to undermine Hamas' rule of Gaza but rather to prevent the importation of heavy armaments into Gaza that could pose a threat to Israel and its citizens. A blockade to ensure this is legal under international law and must be enforced as well as proclaimed. And Israel cannot take outsiders' word for it they are simply transporting innocent cargo to Gaza. If the Flotilla Of Fools really had a humanitarian mission, they could offload at El Arish or at Ashdod. They have refused to do so. All this Haaretz ignores in its editorial. But its too much to expect Israel's Hebrew Palestinian daily to defend the country's right to defend itself from possible dangers like smuggling arms to a known terrorist group that is an avowed enemy of Israel.
What could go wrong indeed
How does Haaretz know what is on the flotilla?
Innocent till proven guilty, seems to be something that some do not subscribe to.
And are they going to vouch for the terrorists that no weapons will be shipped if the blockade is lifted?
Shouldn't it be the other way round? Those who are claiming otherwise, have to make their case.
How can weapons be shipped in when the world will be watching, and will the activists on board not be able see weapons being offloaded? Or will they be concealed within food and medicine parcels?
But then, what can you expect from the newspaper whose editor-in-chief once asked the US Secretary of State to rape Israel.
Landaeu didn't mean that literally. He meant the USA should take a more assertive role.
They're just trying to set us up for rape again.
The simple solution to this, is to request monitors be there in Gaza when the ship offloads. If there are any guns, armoury, tanks, nuclear bombs or weapons of mass destruction filmed offloading along with basic commodities and food, then rest assured the world will sympathise with Israel being "raped".
Until then, lie back and enjoy it!
Chayma, read NormanF's post again. A blockade is a blockade. It does not cancel itself and permit highly insecure media circus inspections by third parties under the very auspices of the blockaded authority. So, refer to NormanF's description of what the blockade does--prevent arming of Hamas--and who Hamas is--genocidal anti-Semites, and what your are actually suggesting. hmmmm.
This is the reasonable "solution" under international maritime law:
Remind passengers that they are violating an internationally permitted maritime blockade on a self-avowed enemy of the "zionist entity" and Jews generally--notwithstanding that the passengers' themselves believe that Israel needs to go and has no permitted rights of defense.
Remind the passengers that a maritime blockade will necessarily maintain an inspection regime under its own authority--the PR gambit of hostile media saturated third party "monitors" of the flotilla and the flotilla itself ignore Israel's offers to sponsor humanitarian transfers.
They are by intention not humanitarian but political and military feints to cancel the Israeli blockade to permit unfettered freedom of Hamas to rearm and redeploy terrorist agents and continue its war against the Jewish state now and forever (and Fatah later).
Remind passengers of the flotilla that those who offer direct "resistance" are placing their lives in immediate danger as they become combatants.
If necessary, of course, to avoid loss of Israeli life, as the maritime blockade is legal and has been well publicized and will further be announced to the passengers of the flotilla when their ships are intercepted, if the flotilla ships cannot be safely diverted, the ships should be sunk.
Passengers, including "journalists" who insist on boarding, may demonstrate non-violent intentions and permit themselves to be detained.
Or they can "lie back and enjoy it".
Sparky The Wonder Dog
description of what the blockade does--prevent arming of Hamas--and who Hamas is--genocidal anti-Semites, and what your are actually suggesting. hmmmm.
The way to defeat Hamas isn't by starving the Palestinians.
Even Efraim Halevy has recommended dialogue with Hamas. We all know that eventually Hamas will be history. How can they be armed when they are not even recognised by much of the world?
The rest of your post is just supposition and "what if".
There is no reason the flotilla and it's aid should not be allowed into Gaza. The only legitimate complaint Israel has, is that it may have weapons. Fine. In that case send monitors there, with press. It's a win win situtation for Israel.
Why are you denying aid to those who need it?
Chayma,
As soon as one ship goes through the blockade, it is deemed ineffective and therefore becomes illegal. If one ship goes through even after being inspected Israel is no longer justified in stopping anyone.
Chayma:
Israel cannot send monitors to Gaza. Hamas kills or kidnaps any Jews it can get its hands on. Israel does not recognize Hamas because Hamas refuses to recognize Israel and is an enemy state.
Permitting ships to off-load at Gaza under third-party monitors ends the blockade. see mrzee. The point of a blockade is to have an inspection procedure at sea--Israel does not occupy Gaza and has no presence there. Some kind of half and half series of exceptions permitting ships to land and then maybe be inspected under Hamas sovereignty breaks the blockade.
Hamas is rearming. Israel has discovered Iranian sponsored ships preparing to ship heavy ordinance to Hamas. So, the maritime blockade must inspect all ships consistently. I believe there are also international sanctions on Hamas banking so the ships also run cash. For some individual participants this may also be a feel-good stunt.
But no, there is no starvation in Gaza. The UN says there is no humanitarian crisis. Even the New York Times reporters on the ground say there is no humanitarian crisis. Israel day by day admits truckloads of goods to Gaza and has offered to off load voluntary humanitarian goods itself contributed by foreign volunteers. But leading flotilla activists, from IHH to the Free Palestine folks have openly explained the flotilla is aimed at breaking the blockade and supporting the Hamas regime (IHH is also jihadist).
This is why the flotillas demand to directly land at Gaza--not to bring in humanitarian assistance, but to break the blockade and establish direct access to the sea for the Hamas regime.
A website provides information on the anti-Zionist/jihadist ideology of flotilla organizers and the "false flag" humanitarian pretext of their blockade running:
http://www.flotillafacts.com/
@mrzee
If one ship goes through even after being inspected Israel is no longer justified in stopping anyone.
If it were a normal ship or vessel, then yes i'd agree.
But this is a humanitarian flotilla. An exception can be made surely? Even when a country is under some sort of trade sanction, ships and planes are allowed to fly in charitable and humanitarian aid. The Red Cross for example. Despite the trade sanctions many countries sent aid to Iran when there was an earthquake there. Israel offered too, though Iran refused.
The point being, there is no good reason for Israel to refuse to get the ships through. As I said to Sparky, Israel should request that monitors be present (their own if they want) with camera's to film any non declared goods like weapons. Mahmud Abbas would not refuse this request, and it would be the ideal solution for everyone.
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