Fact: Israel does not want the Flotilla Fact: Gaza Business men apparently don't want the Flotilla Question: Who DOES Want the Flotilla Possible Answer: The foreigners and who need world wide publicity for their actions which help no one, hurt many BUT get their name in the news!

The flotilla is a jihadist and suicide mission in support of and organised by Hamas. OMG! The looney infidels want to die for the looney jihadists.

Obviously, the flotilla has absolutely nothing to do with humanitarian aid and more to do with demonizing Israel after bashing a few soldiers with some iron clubs.

They never were. Acts like these are exclusively for the benefit of self-centered Leftists and guilty Westerners. These people aren't bringing Gaza any aid, and none of the possess any skills lacking in the terror enclave. They're embarking on a free Mediterranean cruise, to get their picture taken, and get bragging rights to friends and family. That's all.

Israel readies floating operating rooms, the navy engages in flotilla deterrance exercises, and I suppose the whole country will go into code red alert as the 300 elderly, peace activists, student idealists etc. get within 50 miles of Gaza. Any body heading for the shelters ahead of time?

"some of the workers are forced to find other income sources and enlist in Hamas or Fatah to support their families." if Hamas and the PLO recognized Israel and did not threaten to destroy Israel, this tragedy could have been averted long ago. The Palestinians are locked in an open jail and Hamas and cohorts are their wardens. The Palestinian people should rise up against their leadership who have exploited them for years.

Quote " Gaza doesn't need anymore humanitarian aid " as per Gisha movement director. ---- the flotilla isn't bringing things that reach the man on the strip ( fancy cars, clothes, hotels de luxe, restaurants, gastronomy and more) do. We need export, but the export of fruits and vegerable ceased because of shoddy quality. To add to the 'misery' of glut, Europeans, Americans, this damn UN and other agencies are forcing Billions $ down the palis' throat, so the fat effendis get fatter. Not to be left behind, the new breed of pirates, like the jerks above insist on having their flotilla shoved down Gaza's throat as well -- as long as the cameras are rolling. How pathetic they all look, particularly reporters who will miss their gory story / pictures. But they know how to improvise; nothing like experience. It is very obvious that hatred for jews/israel are the main driving force and not the despised muslims. The Billiond siphoned by all those " do- gooders " organizations will disappear. So those idiots from France,UK, ireland,,US,Spain and others ( all broke by the way), will have to find another way to steal.

I totally agree with these businessmen. JUST STOP EXPORTING ROCKETS TO ISRAEL.... It's that simple!!!

Oh well Ok then some bnloke in Gaza said he wants to export his stuff, So theres no need for a flotilla. So call off the Flotiall then. Wait.... How is he gonna export his stuff ???

I do hope Hamas doctors will conduct virginity tests on the armada women. The modesty of Gaza females needs to be ensured. Maybe it would be best to test before they sail and again when they arrive.

Why are we involved? Gaza's well-being is not our concern, it's none of our business. We have no reason to help them export, this is just dumb. Why should we help Hamas stay in power by helping to improve the Gaza economy?

Let Major-General Eitan Dangot take a hike. Let the Palestinians have free access for themselves and their produce without Israel interference, to import and export their products without Israel laying siege to their land, bombing their Airports, bombing their Power Stations etc.

Gee Matt, he might be able to export his stuff when he quits electing terrorist organizations into office that have declared an endless war on their northerly neighbor. Funny how endless war leads to an economy that isn't so great...

even the un stated that!!! In a 2002 article, ISM co-founders Adam Shapiro and Huwaida Arraf wrote: “The Palestinian resistance must take on a variety of characteristics, both non-violent and violent. Yes, people will get killed and injured,” but these deaths are “no less noble than carrying out a suicide operation. And we are certain that if these men were killed during such an action, they would be considered shaheed Allah.” these people want provocation for political reasons!!!

well said.

Lydia your statement is one-sided. Israel only RETALIATES to Gaza's terrorist activities.

...and the people who ELECT them as their govt. The ONLY time when Israel should stop "interfering" is when the pali leaders and their people OFFICIALLY recognise Israel, ACCEPT its right to exist and DECIDE and truly demonstrate the ONLY way left is to live in PEACE with Israel. Then again, all that a DEMENTED parrot does BEST is simply mindless SQUAWKING.

Israel must help only those willing to help us. Israel must help only peoples of good will. It is a road of 2 ways. It is foolish to help evil people. If one day these evil peoples repent,then we could think in streching them a hand ,but not before. The same goes to those "palestinians"living in Judea and Samaria-those belonging to Jordan.

or those that live in Australia pretend concern for the Palestinian's, while they themselves abuse the Native Aboriginies, living on land you stole from them by force of arms Dear Girl, smell under your own armpits, the stench is overwhelming, try this for starters, ever so much closer to home http://www.ricenpeas.com/docs/apartheidlaws.html Ishmahil Blagrove, Jr. talks to Aboriginal activist and community leader Shane Phillips about the plight of Aboriginal people in Australia, the suspension of the Race Discrimination Act, and the country’s Intervention Laws which have been described as Australia’s Apartheid. What is the National Aboriginal Alliance and why was it established? The National Aboriginal Alliance is a great concept for the moment; it’s a very good vision. A lot of community groups from the different states wanted to establish a voice. We need a voice that says what the majority of Aboriginal people are feeling and what’s happening in Aboriginal communities, a voice that can talk about the issues so that when people make negative comments about Aboriginal people, we have someone to respond with a more objective and balanced view. We also need to make sure that we are influencing our people to create unity, self determination, and economic development, but, most importantly, a united voice

They can export via Israel, they don't need the blockade to be removed, that would only lead them into bad ways, like again trying to smuggle in arms & ammo under the pretenses that they were innocent imports Google "karin A & Santorini", maybe you'll get the idea why Israel doesn't trust Gaza one tiny bit

If it were only produce "Palestinians" were obsessed with, they wouldn't be in this situation today. It's Israel they're obsessed with, whether it's attacking Israelis in Tel Aviv or whether protesting them in Milan. Perhaps groups like Hamas should stop interfering with the Israelis and focus on the people that voted them in to create jobs and build infrastructure.

When Israel left Gaza several years ago they left behind greenhouses which produced vegetables for export worth US$ 100 mil per year. The first thing the gazans did was to destroy them. The terrorists don't want a healthy economics - if the people have work and normal life they will not depend on them. What both HAMAS and FATAH want is not a normal economics but influx of international help which they control and distribute to preserve the people dependency.

I live in Sweden and I have often seen ships going on international water outside the swedish coast with supplies from e.g. Finland to Estonia. So far it has not provoked me.

This paper is just a master in manipulating stories. A few Gazan businessmen say that the flotilla doesn't help because they need exports not imports and the top headline of the website runs "Gazans unimpressed by flotilla". Never mind the 99% of Gazans who are actually pretty happy about the flotilla. In fact later in the text we learn that also: “The Gazan businessmen stress that they are not opposed to the flotilla: "It is not that we don't support the flotilla, we just want both. Not just the entry of goods but their export so that the economy will be rehabilitated…”. And the exports and free movement of goods between Gaza and the West Bank are blocked by? You guessed it, Israel. For all those who refuse to understand: The flotilla is not about bringing supplies! Nobody ever claimed that. The flotilla is mainly meant to make a political statement in order to raise awareness that the continuing blockade of the Strip is illegal and degrading. A point that obviously also the businessmen somewhat missed (if they were not quoted out of context). And actually the first flotilla achieved a great deal in the easing of the restrictions. This article is clearly meant to reassure its readers that the flotilla-activists are just evil and doing this for their own ego since obviously not even the Gazans are impressed by the flotilla. A complete distortion of the facts and a conscious manipulation of the public. Check out the homepage of Gisha (the organization quoted in the article) for some more accurate information about Gaza and the blockade: www.gisha.org

If these Gaza business want to get the Gaza Strip back to prosperity and freedom,let them point their fingers in the right direction. Straight at the Hamas regime that's using all the Gazans as pawns to further its cynical ends. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

Attacking Aust. policies and noting Aust. atrocious history toward its aboriginal population does not render Lydia's comments about Israel and its policies toward the P.A. invalid or wrong. I believe Lydia is wrong and the unwitting victim of jaundiced info but attacking her on the basis of her Aust. identity does nothing to refute her contentions or advance Israel's interests and status on the int. platform.