News
Sources: Flotilla report says blockade legal
Attila Somfalvi
Published: 06.07.11, 19:47
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
51 Talkbacks for this article
31. Enough with the world's hypocricy
David M.   (07.07.11)
Why do we need to worry about every international report? We all know how biased and one sided the UN is and Europe and the most of the world is no better. If Arabs didn't have oil, they would at least pretend to be more principled. It's important we know that we acted in the best way possible under the circumstances. We should be proud and dignified and not allow Turkey or anyone else to intimidate us. We`are not in a ghetto or a Polish shtetl any more.
32. on #5, ari gold
joel ,   usa   (07.07.11)
yeah, that is the best thing israel should do, strenghten alliance with those countries, and leave the muslim "turkeys" to the iranians, they like it bake?
33. everyone clear in mind konws
Franz ,   Munich, Germaby   (07.07.11)
that the "blockade" is legal. I do not need any report.
34. Screw Turkey, thhey act like spoilt children
Hannah ,   TA   (07.07.11)
Their government openly collaborated wiyth IHH terrorists , the report makes that clear. No apology no money from Israel.
35. As I said - the UN is just political theatrics
William ,   Israel   (07.07.11)
If the UN really acted as an Intl governing body and pushed Intl Law to the letter, Israel wouldn't see any terrorism today and the Kurds would have their own State. Politics and money push oppressed people into limbo and hand power to despots.
36. Israel used excessive force...with paintball guns?
William ,   Israel   (07.07.11)
I guess because they used a gun to protect themselves from being lynched by a mob with knives and metal pipes, the IDF is accused of using "excessive force". I suppose the authors would have liked the IDF to say "wait one minute. Give me a second while I saw off my own metal pipe so this is an even fight" and the crowd with the intent on harming the soldier would simply say "oh yeah, take your time."
37. #6 - the US already released USS Liberty materials
William ,   Israel   (07.07.11)
and like this report to Turkey, you're upset that it doesn't meet your pre-conceived notions of guilt and conspiracy so you reject it out-right. The video on the Marmara was indeed released, which the BBC's Panorama used to prove Israel's innocence and Turkey's guilt. And with Pro-"palestinian" groups in the UK, it didn't meet with their pre-conceived notions of guilt so the BBC was called "racists" and the truth was rejected out-right. We thank you for the compliment of "biggest PR machine" but even that tiny item is not fact. It's good to see your lies are consistent.
38. Was this report timed with Turkey's election?
William ,   Israel   (07.07.11)
I wonder how different the election would have turned out for AKP if this report showing Turkey as guilty in supporting terrorists and an illegal flotilla was released just a month earlier.
39. I would dispute the issue of "extreme force"
William ,   Israel   (07.07.11)
In total, there were 6 boats, with the Mavi Marmara having the most people. Out of all 6, only the Marmara produced violence, due to the actions of the people on board themselves. The other boats were peaceful and no violence occurred. There were 660 people on the Marmara, out of which only 9 of those who took part in aggression died. Those who were peaceful were not even injured. The flotilla brought about 1000 people. So if 9 died, and about 100 were injured - that's 0.9% and 10%, respectively. In a military situation, or even a police action, that's very low. More people were injured and killed (as a percentage) in the Greek riots and WTO protests.
40. #23 - Turkey NEEDS Israel to apologize
William ,   Israel   (07.07.11)
otherwise they'd have to take the heat for supporting this terrorist flotilla and the outcome in deaths resulting in running a legal military blockade. If they can get Israel to apologize, Erdogan saves face and the Turks don't demand his head on a spike.
41. Israel should now demand compensation from Turkey
Harry Wright ,   UK   (07.07.11)
for the injuries and trauma suffered by its soldiers at the hands of the IHH thugs who acted illegally in trying to breach the legal blockade. Israel should also DEMAND an apology from Erdogan who acted downright unlawfully in aiding and abetting the illegal flotilla which resulted in the deaths of nine people. He should therefore also compensate the families to the 9 thugs killed - But I suspect that he has already done so.
42. #39 William
(07.07.11)
To an outsider the Palmer report sounds like a resounding victory for Israel and a massive embarrassment for Turkey. Thats why the Turks are squealing about it. Everyone who devotes time to defending Israel against the charge of ''excessive force'' is diverting attention from the far more serious accusations against Turkey. ''excessive force'' is such a general subjective term its almost meaningless. If it was a serious case Palmer would have recommended an Israeli apology and compensation. Neither were recommended. Its best to stay quiet sometimes.
43. 6 Israel's PR machine worst in the world
Emma ,   London   (07.07.11)
Is the USS Liberty the American ship that during the 1967 War was sending information about Israeli troop positions to the Egyptians? If Israel had the biggest PR machine in the world it would have made sure that the video footage of the terrorists on the flotilla beating the soldiers with iron bars had got to the world much sooner. Israel has the worst PR in the world, it always has and that is why Israel haters like you have been able to foist their lies and distortions on the rest of the world. The Arabs are brilliant at PR because they do not care whether what they say is true or not. Have you heard about Pallywood? The Palestinian film industry that stage manages and films fake funerals (where the corpses jump of stretchers), the photographers that stage photos of ruined buildings with a child's toy strategically placed, the photo editors who edit out knives held by the terrorists standing over the bloodied Israel solder on the Mavi Marmara. Look it up on the net, there are loads of examples
44. IHH fact nu. 1:
jennifer ,   Sweden   (07.07.11)
Turkish authorities investigated IHH in 1997 after receiving information that senior members had purchased weapons from Islamic radicals. A raid on the organization’s bureau turned up weapons, explosives, and instructions for making IEDs[4].
45. @William #38: You got it!
Adam ,   Golan Heights Israel   (07.07.11)
The report was ready and scheduled to be made public on the 15th of May, just 2 weeks before the elections in Turkey. The US pressured Israel into allowing the report's delay until after Erdogan's reelection. In effect the Turkish election was manipulated by the US and Israel, to win Erdogan a second term. The whole scam reeks of corruption. I am sure there are many honest Turks right now hanging their heads in shame, who would have voted differently had the report not been held suppressed.
46. IHH fact nu. 2:
jennifer   (07.07.11)
•French counter-terrorism magistrate Jean-Louis Bruguiere testified that IHH maintained contact with Al Qaeda in Milan and Algerian terrorists in Europe; recruited militants for fighting in Bosnia, Chechnya, and Afghanistan; and played a “central role” in the Al Qaeda bomb plot targeting LAX airport.
47. " IDF acted "too soon" and with excess force "
Rebecca ,   Modiin   (07.07.11)
tut tut. Israel should have waited for at least one of their soldiers to be killed, preferably all of them, and then sent some flowers to the M.M. with a note to invite them into Ashdod for tea and cookies.
48. No. 30 Joe
NYC Girl   (07.07.11)
Thanks for the information. There's so much b.s. being flung around regarding that incident and, of course, those who chronically savage Israel can't get enough of it. And there's just one more thing. Israel paid compensation to the families of those who were aboard the Liberty...because they felt it was the proper thing to do under the circumstances.
49. To: No. 6
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (07.07.11)
Okay, here we go with the truth about the USS LIBERTY. In 1967, when it became apparent that Israel was going to hand the Arabs the absolute worst defeat they had EVER sustained, the USS LIBERTY -- an electronic signals interceptor vessel (spy ship) was dispatched to the Mediterranean, just off Haifa/. Egypt had already been completely destroyed, but Israel was actively engaged in armed combat against both Jordan and Syria. Well, on orders of no less than then-U.S. president Lyndon Baines Johnson, who desired to make the humongous humiliation of the Arabs a bit less, the USS LIBERTY was ordered to intercept the military signals of Israel. They then promptly proceeded to RELAY those signals to the Syrian and Jordanian military high commands. While a shooting war was still in progress. That is EXACTLY what the USS LIBERTY did; that is EXACTLY why Israel blew them out of the water. What country would have done differently?
50. #47
(07.07.11)
''too soon'' in the report refers to the distance from Gaza's territorial waters where the flotilla was stopped. The ''excessive force'' charge is not particularly meaningful especially as the report did not suggest Israel apologise or pay compensation. Its an excellent result for Israel and people should concentrate on the good parts. Its a humiliating defeat for Turkey and especially Erdogan. You could hardly ask for more.
51. Excess force? UN (as usual) is wrong
Devasahayam ,   Reston, VA, USA   (07.07.11)
Any force lesser than that used by IAF base Naliya in 1999 against the intruding PNS Atlantique cannot by definition be excessive! IDF should have used choppers and fired rockets at the boats directly!
Previous talkbacks
Back to article