this article contains the biggest nonsense I have ever read. If a journalist covers a bank robbery by joining the thieves as they go about their act he would be held accountable. The same should apply to journalists aiding and abetting the follita by providing it with the publicity it craves for its anti-Israel acts.

The foreign press bias against Israel is inciting others to harm Jews world wide.

If the flotilla crosses into Israeli waters, Israel has the right to first warn by loudspeaker and radio, second fire a warning shot across the bow. If the ship does not still stop, international law allows Israel to sink such a ship violating Israel's sovereignty. Even if Israel is merciful, putting its own soldiers in danger instead of just sinking the ship, the ship immediately turns into a war zone with very little cover. Does the FPA really not care if journalists on the ships get taken hostage or used as human shields? The fewer non-hostiles on these ships, the better and easier it is to make sure that the only terrorists get hurt and not innocents.

shit is shit no matter what the shitter calls himself.

We all know the truth is on Israel's side. It was able to be hidden on the last flotilla do to the lack of credible video evidence of the entire sequence of events. This time around the world will have no other choice but to see the entirety of the humanity of IDF forces.

if breaching a naval blockade is illegal, then these journalists are willingly participating in an illegal act. where is the line drawn when it comes to journalists

It is naive to think that the foreign press corps is an impartial observer.Much of the foreign press sees itself as an advocate against Israel.We have seen the reporter from Aftonbodet falsely accuse the IDF of stealing organs. In the Lebanon war foreign media distorted photographs.No democratic country is obligated to allow advocates for terrorism enter its territory.

So, it was a free press that made cover at the Libanese border when lebanese soldiers killed Colonel Dov Harari!! Or was it free press when Muhammad al-Durrah was shot by palestinians/hamas/tansim in an orcestrated PR-stunt? Was the cover in Jenin done by free press?Islamists are using journalists for their own sake, and sadly journalists goes into the trap.

It would be ideal and if true, indeed should not be hindered. However, has anyone besides the "organizers" (inciters?) of this "Flotilla" seen their "credentials". Who do they work for? What are their political and organizational affiliations? In fact, there could be honest journalists among them, but how would one know, Mr. Federman? Have you seen a list of names and photos? Have you (as a journalist) investigated that list no one has seen? How can we know when honest journalists such as yourself don't inform us or the facts so we can make our own decisions?

In order to maintain neutrality and avoid being involved in illegal action, journalists should be on a separate press boat, which would tag along the flotilla without breaching the blockade or stating their intentions to do so. All those who choose to board the flotilla boats should share the fate of other passengers, as their presence there would constitute an illegal action.

Their information is neither credible nor impartial. As far as I am concerned, they should be encouraged to sink. When you take one side and provoke the other, you should bear the consequences. If they can swim well, I would be magnanimous and wouldn't interfere.

This article does a disservice to the debate by failing to engage with its main component. Journalists who board and sail with the flotilla -- an initiative whose legitimacy under international law is, at best, unclear -- are acting as embedded journalists. Embedded journalism has been the subject of vigorous debate in the past. When the person who styles himself the head of the non-Israeli media in Israel tries to sweep that debate under that rug, it is unhelpful.

Where? Show me. You have GOT to be joking.

press that tilt the reports to fit the world perception of their audience is not press.

"In no way does it mean that these foreign journalists pick sides. They merely cover events." One the major problems that has been factually proven is indeed the bias of foreign journalists covering the Israeli-Arab conflict. While many journalists do indeed cover the events, an disproportionately high number of them arrive here with preconceived bias already in their coverage. There is more than enough factual evidence to prove this with agencies like the BBC and outlets like the Guardian. I obviously agree to a free press, and abhor restrictions on the press. However, when covering news I do indeed want to see a "free" press, not one that is already in the pocket of the Palestinians and parroting Pal propaganda. The next time a foreign reporter asks about Palestinian violence and is countered with the "legitimate resistance to the Israeli occupation" and "illegal settlement" retorts - I want to hear that reporter stop and say "hold it, I asked you about the repeated Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians that both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have concluded are war crimes. When are these going to stop and when is the PA going to arrest these people and put them on trial?" Let's wait and see if covering the events includes covering Palestinians they way journalists cover Israel.

If unbiased and impartial, yes, let journalists do their job ... but too many journalists do not report the facts and view from all sides, but have an agenda, a mission to further a cause. I stopped reading the New York Times, the Economist, the BBC website and the Guardian because their reporting favors the Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims in general.

the majority of the press only purvey their views and the editorial wishes which has little to do with truth when it comes to Israel

Because if they do not join they would not be alowed to visit Arab countries, some will be killed in Arab countries. Arabs know the names of all journalists in Israel, and know where their famillies live and children go to school. They may be killed if they not join. I believe the sheap with woumen will be blown up by the leaders of the boats. We shall see. Anything less than 50:0 will bad press

Right? Left wing press....or is this just another of many contradictions...?

there are free press journalists . "Israel" is a shining example.

Yes it can, according to the law of blockade which was derived from customary international law and codified in the 1909 Declaration of London. It was updated in 1994 in a legally recognized document called the “San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea. On the basis that Hamas is the ruling entity of Gaza and Israel is in the midst of an armed struggle against that ruling entity, the blockade is legal the journalists helping to an iligal action to take place in israeli waters.

Unfortunately, i dont see it that way. i dont think a Flotilla would take place if there were no Journalists willing to travel with them. If there was no interest by the Media this flotilla would not happen. So they are complicit in breaking Israeli law, whether you agree with it or not they are breaking the Law.

However, well all know how the foreign media are totally subjective when it come to Israel so how can you say they are just doing their job? The Free International Press cater to the Free World who want nothing less that a Jew Free Israel! So much for Freedom of the Press!

Hi Sensible guy! It's hard to say where journalism stops and illegal action begins but please remember that there are many examples throughout history of journalists who have travelled with or in other ways spent time "illegally" with illegal guerliias, terrorists etc. It is important for the journalist to not participate or help in the alleged crime being commited but it is also important to show what is going on in the world. The Ship To Gaza is not the same thing as say a bank robbery as the organisers have made their intentions and plans clear to everyone. If it is legal or not is debatable but I can't see in what way a foreign journalist or two would change the situation - apart from offering Israel and the world an inside report from the ships.

Unfortunately all media is biased and "takes sides" even when it doesn't think it is. That is the case in both pro and anti-israeli publications all over the world. Some (again on both sides) cross the line into racism, slander and lies but they are all that we have. I would love for say Fox News and some Israeli "right" journalists to join the ships as well to give their reports and I would also love it if the IDF invited journalists so that we can get an insight in how they look at the problems with SHip To Gaza. At the end of the day we always have to read media reports critically anyway.

Sitting on board a Gaza flotilla vessel is not the job of a "serious" journalist! - "Citizens canot make wise decisions..."? I can make up my mind, and have already made some serious (and hopefully wise) decisions concerning my attitude towards Israel, without relying on still another piece of desinformation from people who cross any red line, just to get their "job" whatever done! - To #1: good point!

The crux of the matter is "It is fully in the public’s interest to allow professional and objective journalists – who are not a party to the affair and therefore are not biased – to present the story to the whole world" AND TO VERIFY FACTS BEFORE PUBLISHING. Objective journalists, I could probably count on the fingers of one hand.