IHH sending another terror flotilla, this time accompanied by the Turkish military
The IHH terror organization - the same group that organized the 2010 'freedom flotilla' that ended in nine dead during an Israeli navy raid on the Mavi Marmara - says it is organizing another flotilla designed to break Israel's 'blockade' on Gaza, but this one will be protected by the Turkish military.
IHH chairman Bulent Yildrim was quoted by The Middle East Monitor as
telling Gulf Online last week that the activists would set sail as soon
as they receive the necessary permit from the authorities in Ankara
and that the Turkish military would provide protection to the ship.
Diplomatic officials said Jerusalem was following the reports
carefully, but stressed that it was not clear whether the flotilla would
ultimately set sail.
So far there has only been a declaration of intent, with no firm date set, one official said.
Harold Rhode, a senior fellow at the New-York-based Gatestone Institute
and a former adviser at the in the office of the American defense
secretary on Islamic affairs, told The Jerusalem Post in an interview
on Sunday that the real issue in the ongoing conflict is that Turkey
and Qatar are supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas in their
goals.
“[Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan has been associated with
the Muslim Brotherhood long before he was prime minister,” Rhode said.
It should now be clear to all that Erdogan “is now out of the bag,”
Rhode said, adding that US President Barack Obama does not speak to the
Turkish leader anymore despite previously describing him as one of his
closest friends among the world’s leaders.
“Erdogan is doing whatever he can to help Hamas,” he said, asserting that it will only hurt the Palestinian people in the end.
Sorry but I'm nowhere near as optimistic as Rhode. I don't know whether Obama still talks to Erdogan or not, but the bottom line is that the United States has been serving Turkish interests in the 'cease fire' negotiations. As far as I'm concerned that's all that counts.
The Mavi Marmara may not be participating in the flotilla of fools - which is now scheduled to set sail on Saturday - but that doesn't mean that the IHH terrorists are going to skip the party. They plan to join other ships.
According to Turkish daily Gazeteport's report, and the IHH's official website, despite the fact that Mavi Marmara will not sail to Gaza in this year's flotilla, many of its activists will be placed in other participating vessels. This way, the leading organizer of the flotilla (IHH) will be taking part in the flotilla. IHH chairman Bulent Yildirim also said that currently they are in the process of purchasing a small boat in Europe, and if formalities are completed on time, the new boat would sail to Gaza.
Citing intelligence sources, the German daily Bild reported on Saturday, Iran's suspected connection with the Turkish IHH flotilla, and wrote that out of concern over this revelation Iran was holding in house arrest three of its own spies who have been in Istanbul earlier, and falsified passports and travel documents for IHH officials.
And you thought those ships were 'sold out' and couldn't take on any more passengers.
In addition to announcing the preparations for the second Gaza flotilla of over 15 vessels that will set sail from Europe in June, Yildirim said that the town of Alanya was center for tourism that the Israelis come for vacation with cruise ships. He said, “They (the Jews) don’t leave a penny to the shopkeepers here. They don’t spend money but they come here. On behalf of our shahids I ask this of you. Unless they apologize, pay compensation, and lift the embargo (on Gaza) and unless their prime minister and their ministers that committed this massacre are put in jail, do not allow them to vacation here. Anyhow, if you think we should keep quiet for the money, these people are stingy. They don’t spend a penny”.
This was apparently part of the same speech I cited in an earlier post.
IHH Head Bulent Yildirim: 'Our Problem Is Zionism – Which, Like a Virus, Has Infected All Humanity!'
From the people who brought you the Mavi Marmara, Bulent Yildirim, the head of the IHH terror organization addresses more than 1,000 of his organization's 'activists' to share with them plans to bring another 15-20-ship flotilla to Gaza next month, plus land convoys and an airplane.
Let's go to the videotape. It's in Turkish but an English translation can be found here or in part below the fold.
"We are getting ready... There will be a ship from every country... in Europe. Our own Mavi Marmara will also set sail from Europe... Vessels will come from everywhere in the world...
"Israel will learn this: The Mediterranean does not belong to Israel... Just because we have had shahids, we are not fearful... We will not step back...
"Let all know this: Until the blockade on Gaza is lifted... and until our march to al-Aqsa is completed, this sea intifada and land intifada will continue!
"Also, it will not be only by sea. We are preparing for land convoys as well. And with Allah's permission, our project for the purchase of an airplane will soon be realized. This way we will reach Gaza by air too."
"Our Problem Is Zionism – Which, Like a Virus, Has Infected All Humanity!"
"What do we say to the world leaders? Do not expect us to live in peace, when people in Gaza are dying... And do not expect us to remain silent when al Aqsa mosque is a prisoner...
What do Noah's Ark, the Titanic and the Mavi Marmara have in common?
What do Noah's ark, the Titanic and the Mavi Marmara have in common? Well, nothing, unless you're Bulent Yildirim, the head of the Turkish terror organization IHH.
At a ceremony in Beirut honoring the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, with the participation of Lebanese politicians, representatives from the Iranian, Turkish, and Palestinian Authority Embassies in Lebanon, representatives of the Palestinian factions, and former British MP George Galloway, Bulent Yildirim, the head of the Turkish IHH organization that led the flotilla, said that there were three historic ships that would never be forgotten – Noah's Ark, the Titanic, and the Mavi Marmara.
He said that the Turks had sacrificed nine martyrs whose blood had mingled with the blood of the Arabs and with the global conscience.
Relatives of those killed on the Mavi Marmara expressed pride in their loved ones' martyrdom for the sake of Palestine and Jerusalem.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
