Opinion
Israel lost flotilla war
Asaf Gefen
Published: 01.07.11, 16:24
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1. It's not a story outside of Israel.
Ben Yisrael ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (07.01.11)
A daily perusal of European and American newspapers shows it is being ignored as a story. No one cares about this PR stunt anyway while the Arab street is burning over its own problems.
2. Stupidity???
Rozie   (07.01.11)
Your article is what is helping in the area of stupidity!!!! Wha...it is amazing how Israelies are helping the radical cause.
3. Alan Gefer should be fired
Josh ,   Canada   (07.01.11)
He has no clue what he's talking about and has no right to be telling governments how to run there blockades, this isn't journalism just an ignorant assessment of old news.
4. Ignore
Zachary ,   USA   (07.01.11)
Israel’s deterrence and credibility is the issue. If the Jewish state itself doesn’t act as if it cares that one group of enemies are blatantly arming another foe, why should anyone outside or even in Israel aid the country.
5. Will the author be participating as well?
Leo ,   UK   (07.01.11)
It's jfunny how every single step meant to secure the state of Israel is harshly criticised by radical leftist no matter how successfull it was.The number of those who'd like to participate dicreased from 900 to less then 300, IHH terrorists refrained from participating,US,Greece,France,Turkey and even UN declared that the flotilia is a provocation...But radicals still keep saying: "we lost,we lost,PR failure..."Probably they should join Dror The Organiser in Sweden and then Israel will get rid of its lefty fools.
6. Story
michael Pielet ,   boca raton, Israel   (07.01.11)
its only a story for the sensationalist Israeli press, that continues to feed the story.
7. Ignore an act of war! The author is mad.
Chaim ,   Israel   (07.01.11)
The flotilla against a legal Israeli blocade is an act of war. Gefer urges Israel to ignore an act of war. Perhaps Israel should also ignore rockets landing in our cities and terrorist atrocities. Heaven forbid Israel should look like we're defending ourselves. The author is mad.
8. stupid thinking.
ralph   (07.01.11)
9. To: Asaf Gefen
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (07.01.11)
Anyone ever tell you how incredibly stupid you are? Stick to tiddlywinks; political analysis is definitely not your thing.
10. It’s all about establishing a precedent
Stephen in New York   (07.01.11)
This article misses –or evades- the point. Stopping this flotilla is all about Israel preventing the establishment of a precedent whereby Hamas would have unrestricted access to import heavy arms by sea. Which would be the case if the precedent were established that the sea border is open for Hamas to import whatever it wants. Israel is not concerned that this particular flotilla carries arms. The point is that Israel will not allow Hamas to import arms by sea. Period.
11.  flotilla
larry butler ,   kibbutz Israel   (07.01.11)
What a bunch of crap, Israel lost the flotilla war? Israel is still the only power on the ground in the Middle east nothing else matters much, does it "?
12. Ignore my ass,then they start bring in
Eric.... ,   Israel...   (07.01.11)
arms and all kinds of other stuff.Then we have a bigger problem.Asaf your not very bright.
13. A LOSER puts on a BRAVE face
CK Tan ,   Singapore, Singapore   (07.01.11)
Poor Asaf. The WHOLE episode of this year's flotilla has been a complete DISASTER for the various organisers. So Asaf WRINGS his hands in despair and writes a "victorious" EPITAPH to fool himself. Well, MORE power to such "victories" by Asaf and the bashers.
14. Asaf Gefen
Gadi ,   Jerusalem   (07.01.11)
Is an idiot who should be fired.
15. I don't think so
Mark ,   USA   (07.01.11)
So, let me see if I get this...Israel has shown its stupidity by trying to stop the flotilla from breaking a legal blockade of a terrorist entity-hamastan? Then, the US should ignore the rampant illegal immigrants flooding the Southwest and perhaps the problem will just go away. Never mind that terrorists can infiltrate into the US-just ignore them.
16. Nonsense, Israel has to treat each one as if it was Katrina
Eric ,   Tel Aviv & NY   (07.01.11)
Under the rules set forth in the San Remo Manual, Israel has to treat every ship equally. Thus every dingy needs to be treated as if it was the Katrina A, with tones of weapons. If even 1 pleasure boat gets in then the blockade becomes illegal, so Israel must be vigilant and clear - no one enters Gaza by sea.
17. @1 You Are So Wrong On That
World Citizen ,   the world   (07.01.11)
Obviously you don't frequent any other news websites but this one. Why don't you Google "second Gaza flotilla" and see? The world is watching Israel. We're sure your government will be as stupid and brutal this time as it was last time. In fact we're so sure we would wager on it. I mean we're talking about Bibi Netanyahu and Mr. Lieberman here. They never met a problem that that didn't send in the Israeli military to solve.
18. Israel losses flotilla war
Yoel ,   OSSINING, NY 10562   (07.01.11)
What the author proposes here is plainly a craven surrender of principle and rights for a purported public relations triumph. I say "purported triumph", because such a craven surrender of rights and principles only breeds contempt and no respect.
19. Gefen's "analysis" is utter rubbish.
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, USA   (07.01.11)
Asaf should get a clue. Israel's moves, with assistance from groups like the Israel Law Center, have already won this round. Consider: Flotilla promoters were originally hoping for 1,500 participants, 15 vessels. They're now down to less than 350 (including journalists), maybe 9 vessels. Turkey has dropped out, a French vessel out of Marseilles was blocked, and boats are stuck in Greece. Danish journalists dropped out en masse due to lack of transparency by flotilla leaders. And lots of the dilettantes who hoped to sail have already gone home. The Israel Law Center (Shurat HaDin) warned insurance and satellite companies they could be held liable if they provide support for the flotilla, and initiated a lawsuit which could result in seizure of one or more of the vessels themselves. Even the US State Department has warned American participants they could be subject to prosecution for violating US law. Gefen's true sentiments are exposed when he writes, "according to optimistic predictions, it [Gaza's standard of living] may rise to almost-humane levels this year" and "Their objective - isolating Israel on the international stage and driving it mad - had already been secured." Typical leftist rubbish. Finally, Gefen would have Israel just ignore the flotilla, and presumably the next ones carrying weapons. That's just willful blindness, if not congenital stupidity.
20. Who says Israel is losing PR battle?
Rachel ,   US   (07.01.11)
A leftist of course. I believe the govt is actually on the ball this time.
21. Bingo!
Tomasz Krzyzanowski ,   Peterborough   (07.01.11)
" it appears that the current flotilla was meant to present Israel's stupidity" You hit the nail on the head with the end of your second paragraph. Thank you for pointing out Israels stupidity to the world.
22. your bathtub is a good place to learn modern warfare
Sid   (07.01.11)
To present Israel's brutality?. Asaf Gefen you are a nut, and a big one. America has shown to the world it's brutality agaist the Nazis, the Japanese, N.Korea and as far back as the 1800's in the gold coast against the barbarians, the pirates. Asaf your brains are all screwed-up These bastard , now en route, just want to show that they are mightier than little Israel and that they can brake a lawfull blocade.Gaza is exploding (for quite some time) with everything you can imagine. Their oun people don't want anymore goods. The West, America, and the rest of the world insist on shoving down their throats Billions in cash, fancy cars, swimming pools, fancy hotels and restaurants, the latest from Paris and more. The price humanity has paid for not imposing a blocade on the " Bismark ", the Graf Spee "; untold thousands of young Germans, Brits are now resting forever with their ships. the price of folly.
23. I think you misunderstand
Golan ,   modiin   (07.01.11)
the point is to cause a scene. And as long as the "scene" is in Greece, and France, and not in the high seas or Gaza they are losing. They look inept, stupid, and plain absurd (aka failures) Once there is an altercation with Israelis we will be in a better position to present "these provocateurs not peace activists." `Thank G-d you are not in charge of anything (but your mouth). You would make a bigger mistake that those you criticize.
24. A sad article
Tricia   (07.01.11)
Of all the gifted writers with an opinion regarding the hype-heavy flotilla, you had to feature one who leans to the side of those aboard? That saddens me and I fear for the credibility of Ynet, which I always believed to be fair and balanced...
25. Utter rubbish!
Ehoop ,   UK   (07.01.11)
Israel has already succeeded in squeezing flotilla participant numbers, and governments have warned their citizens against going along. Israel won the last round on the basis of the evidence of the videos and is winning this one.
26. Let's heed the author's advice - and ignore this article.
Tahl   (07.01.11)
Or at least, view it as no more than comic relief. Writing a serious response to this pile of crock would be a waste of time and energy.
27. who's stupid?
tiki ,   belgium   (07.01.11)
People with brains all understand this is a 'political stunt with Hamas lovers steering it. These Flotilla fools want to 'proof something at any prise. Israel should ignore it, why?There are things which can't be ignored.
28. Mr Gefen: we rallied intn'l condemnation: A Failure?
EZ ,   USA   (07.01.11)
Even the UN spoke out against the flotilla: greek coast guard stopped a flotilla vessel today from sailing: the total flotilla population went from 1,500 down to less than 300 (please do t count the journalists)...how is that a failure? Exactly one year ago the world condemned Israel Cor it's actions against the flotilla: today they're against it: how you can see the Israeli PR work on this issue as a failure takes quite a stretch of the imagination. This was a WIN for Israel, NOT A FAILURE. There will be no violence and no deaths, no opportunity to demonize us but you say we should have ignored it!? Wow! I guess this world is filled with all kinds of kupfs. Unreal.
29. Not Anymore
James H ,   New York   (07.01.11)
This is quickly becoming a mainstream story in the US thanks in part to the US State Department's threats of incarceration and fines to those participating in the flotilla and, now, Greece's ridiculous and illegal ban on travel to Gaza from Greece. I agree, the flotilla has already accomplished much that it set out to accomplish. Still, they will reach Gaza and they have the support of many of us here in the USA.
30. How can somebody born and raised in the West work so strenuo
Stephen in New York   (07.01.11)
Many flotilla participants and supporters state that Hamas is the legitimate government of Gaza and that the Hamas are freedom fighters. This effort is all about true useful idiots who simply support Hamas. How can somebody born and raised in the West work so strenuously for the interests of Iran?
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