Further, apologizing = caving implies that there IS INDEED something wrong with our cause, that the world criticism is right; and that means we had no business doing what we did. The ONLY way to handle this effectively is to stand by our right to defend ourselves--until hell freezes over!!! The misojudaic world can go there--like Torah prophesies--and wait for the freeze!

"Liberal" lynch mob,"peace activists",groups of hooligans,etc., such as Holocoust survivors etc. ? On the other hand "we" have: ..acted like any progressive country", .." to appeal to logic"," yet this is a war"," we dealt with the essence of the huminitarian aid ", etc. You have missed something, but I do agree with ..." It doesn`t look good"..

Lives were lost because of Mr. Defense Ministers lack of intelligence and planning. Same thing as when he lead the back out from Lebanon. He is dismal as a minister and his head should roll along with a proper apology to those whos lives were lost because of his incompetency.

very true article Yoaz.

Thank you! I saw the films of these "peaceful" people in Turkey, proudly shouting jihad and that they would have one of 2 happy endings: entry to Gaza or martyrdom. They wanted blood and when they got it they squeal like stuck pigs. Finally, I must say that we need to be rid of Barak--sending our children into battle with paintball guns? And orders not to shoot? The challenging words of these activists was all over the media for days--everyone but Barak seemed to know they were coming with hate in their hearts and blood on their minds.

I guess when a military move in on a potentially volatile situation with paintball guns in order to minimize casualties then the enemy is bound to feel up for the fight and attack - and so they did, and lives were put at risk and ...as a result live weapons were used to save themselves. Is there anyone out there that feels there is no risk to your life when attacking a military force with deadly intent? If I choose to protest in Istanbul and walk up to a Turkish soldier with my friends and attack him with metal bars, I'm sorry, but I have accepted that I will probably die on this day. Why? Because every soldier on the planet will use whatever force necessary to protect his life...and so will his fellow soldiers do whatever is necessary to protect one of your own. This propaganda stunt is an insult to humanity and has backfired on those that will be buried and should be a lesson to all 'peace activists' to be careful who you team up with on any 'mission'. Turkey, Ireland, Malaysia and whoever else flew your flag on this stunt mission - you should bury your heads in shame and beg the families of those killed for forgiveness. Israel - stay strong.

everyone still maintains that the blockade was enacted to stem Hamas's authority in Aza and the spread of Islamic extremism ala Iran. This is not entirely correct. The blockade began when Gilad Shalit was taken hostage four years ago this week. Perhaps when the UN is finished badgering us and claiming how "impartial" they can be in a "probe"--absurd, given their long track record to the contrary regarding Israel--they might be prevailed upon to mention how "unfair" it is that one of our soldiers has been rotting in an underground bunker somewhere in Aza without anyone there bothering to wonder if this isn't a "war crime". When you see the images of those taken prisoner after the assault on the Turkish ship, they strongly resemble soccer match hooligans, minus their beer and team t-shirts and swaztika tattoos on the backs of their heads. Ask who was paying their way and you will figure out who is behind this sort of activity. My guess is it was a "deep pocket" known to all as either Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Thumbs up for your article, and Israel should seriously concern the possibility to employ PR - for palestinian premier had his statement ready half an hour after riots. Why Israel always "follows" the news? After something becomes "news" - you can deny it as much as you want - it stays as "event which Israel is denying". Israel should be the first to tell what happens, so terrorists can "deny it" if they want, but than it's whole different cup of tea.

Guilty ones will pay the price before history... This is not the first and I'm sure won't be the last.Because it is a mentality problem.Noone can explain to me about killing people whoose purpose is aim.Maybe they follow a different practices about conveying the aims but this does not mean they deserve to die. We believe the same God,although we have different ways about approaching him and I don't think God will forgive the people who is in charge of this black day.

Turkey is actively trying to open Gaza to Iranian weapon supplies. Erdogan is a radical Islamist in the mode of Ahmedinejad, and the sooner Israel recognizes it the better. Turkey organized this flotilla and refused to prevent it. This is the end of relationship between Islamists controlled Turkey and Israel.

Extremely well put - I think many people dont really understand just why there is a blockade in the first place. To try to prevent Iran helping Hamas arm itself. Its the same people who dont agree with the security fence either in stopping genocide bombers. ...and lastly what about Gilad Shalit? Where is he? Why is imprisoned like a dog without any real attention, not even visit from the RED Cross? WHY!

winners and many parliament members from many countries, were they hooligans? I think not.

B"H Sending our best navy seals to war with toy painball guns and with orders not to fire is wrong, immoral and criminal as well as misguided. Our best sons are not cannon balls to lower into war from helicopters unouthorized to fight the best they can. Idiot Barak must go home.

Israel has no reason to apologize as it did nothing wrong. These 'peace activists" are thugs and murderers who were carrying knives and iron bars. And more blame should be placed on Erdogan and the Turkish government for its role in this incident.

this is the biggiest load of crap iv read it seems the jewish propaganda machine is on full speed pumping out its twisted truth and lies.

DITO

Why were ONLY 9 of the terrorhoids killed!??? We need to investigate THAT disgrace!!!

IDF should have waited for the Flotilla to exit International waters and enter Israel's sea border.

May be I am blind but I just fail to see how this flotilla undermines the sovereignty of this progressive country? Since when blockade started to be a sign of progress ?

Thank you Yoaz, I couldn't have said it better.

crud.

It may be time for Israel to reconsider the peace process and withdraw from it. If Israel cannot be treated fairly by the world community then there is no point to further negotiations. Past appeasement and weakness by Olmert, Livni, Barak, Peres, and Rabin and others have destroyed our deterrance. Israel must develop a real policy of Mutual Assured Destruction the type of policy the US had during the cold war against any country that would seek to destroy Israel both physically and economically. Normal rules of diplomatic behavior does not seem to work. http://ralphsrant1.blogspot.com

The article is full of lies, it is really a funny article, if the majority of the Israelis are thing like this then Israel is in deep trouble. How come that the mighty Israeli navy was threatened by bats and knights?? And where is the Israeli sovereignty in the international water or in Gaza showers that is Israel claims it left 4 years ago?

Low I.Q. does not help...

I love our country and I love IDF!!!! KOL HAKAVOD!! The world is full of evil and hatred and waits for arab lies with an open mouth just like a gosling.

100 % agreement! I shame for the Europeans, we have to apologize, but a lot of people are terrible in fear of Islam. They think, if they do Israel-bashing, they will survive.But I think, we are next. P.S. I always hated the depressive books of this Mankell. He must have bad personal problems. And the trainee-terrorists from the German left-party are very upset, that they lost DDR. The "peace-activists" would be a serious case for a shrink. Israel did a perfect job, could you do the same for us, please? We need urgentley someone intelligent to save us from EU and our corrupt gouverments.

What a fiasco Israel !!! Commando soldiers dangling from a rope into an angry mob with paintball guns? Cant you think of ANY other ways of stopping the flotilla? Time to learn from the Japanese on how to disable a Green peace vessel (not that I'm against green peace but the Japs are pretty effective in their tactics). Oh, by the way, there is another flotilla on the way...

And the Nobel prise winner... Well, they werent injured or killed, were they? Which means that they were not part of the angry mob that waited for the soldiers... Get your facts right, whoever was NOT involved in the attempted lynch, did not get hurt !!! By the way, my grandparents are Holocaust survivors and they would NEVER attempt to board a flotilla headed with humanitarian aid to, say, the KURDS in Turkey !!!

The only people the Israeli government should apologize to are her soldiers who they sent into a mob of jihadis and their brain dead leftist supporters armed with paint to defend themselves with.