The Gaza flotilla was a spectacular own-goal and a PR disaster. But it's sad to see so many otherwise intelligent people deceived by it - and saddening to see Israel fall for such a trap.
The flotilla idea was designed to create an inroads into Gaza, a place where weapons can be smuggled and, more spectacularly, to provoke Israel into severe action which could then be used against them.
Israel is not about to weaken its grip on Hamas-controlled Gaza, nor should they, until such times as Hamas understands that its constitutional cry for the destruction of the Jewish state is a call to war.
The hypocrisy of this is extraordinary - the Turks as great defenders of human rights (who would have ever thought we would live to see such a thing???!!!!!), Hamas leadership in Gaza saying they DON't WANT ANY of the aid unless it comes in from one of the ships - either they're not that needy or they really do not care about their own people; warnings by Israel not to attempt this manouevre; invitations to dock the aid in Ashdod first - all ignored...
Nothing is like it seems in this case.
The organisation which sponsored this, the IHH, is led by the useless Al Qaradawi. A man hardly known for his great love of all humanity, but certainly known for his desire to spread political Islam across the world and for his ties to terrorist - yes, terrorist - organisations.
Fine humanitarian credentials, there, then.
At least we can agree on one thing, however: Israel WAS WRONG to do this in international waters. They should have waited til it was within Israeli waters, issued a clear warning, dropped a few leaflets..
.. and then torpedoed and sank every ship in the flotilla.
This would be an appropriate response to a deliberate act of war.
And you know what - if they do that with the Rachel Corrie, not a single thing you can do about it. Burn as many Israeli flags as you like. It won't make any difference whatsoever!
Israel really needs better PR - and better neighbours.
The Gaza flotilla was a spectacular own-goal and a PR disaster. But it's sad to see so many otherwise intelligent people deceived by it - and saddening to see Israel fall for such a trap.
The flotilla idea was designed to create an inroads into Gaza, a place where weapons can be smuggled and, more spectacularly, to provoke Israel into severe action which could then be used against them.
Israel is not about to weaken its grip on Hamas-controlled Gaza, nor should they, until such times as Hamas understands that its constitutional cry for the destruction of the Jewish state is a call to war.
The hypocrisy of this is extraordinary - the Turks as great defenders of human rights (who would have ever thought we would live to see such a thing???!!!!!), Hamas leadership in Gaza saying they DON't WANT ANY of the aid unless it comes in from one of the ships - either they're not that needy or they really do not care about their own people; warnings by Israel not to attempt this manouevre; invitations to dock the aid in Ashdod first - all ignored...
Nothing is like it seems in this case.
The organisation which sponsored this, the IHH, is led by the useless Al Qaradawi. A man hardly known for his great love of all humanity, but certainly known for his desire to spread political Islam across the world and for his ties to terrorist - yes, terrorist - organisations.
Fine humanitarian credentials, there, then.
At least we can agree on one thing, however: Israel WAS WRONG to do this in international waters. They should have waited til it was within Israeli waters, issued a clear warning, dropped a few leaflets..
.. and then torpedoed and sank every ship in the flotilla.
This would be an appropriate response to a deliberate act of war.
And you know what - if they do that with the Rachel Corrie, not a single thing you can do about it. Burn as many Israeli flags as you like. It won't make any difference whatsoever!
Israel really needs better PR - and better neighbours.