Political Aid to Gaza

The opponnents of the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza condemn it as a political provocation, and say that the activists on board are not humanitarians, but hypocritical Terrorists.

I agree that the Freedom Flotilla was indeed a political mission rather than a humanitarian one. As such, despite—or because of—its tragic climax it must be considered a success. This is not in any way a stain on either the activists’ characters or their motivations; rather it is a credit to their courage and wisdom.

The Need for an International Investigation

This morning I was tagged on a Facebook post entitled “EVIDENCE on[sic] IDF SHOOTHING[sic] before ENTERING VESSEL.” It was a link to a video that has been recently released of the beginning of the assault on the MV Mavi Marmara. It appears that this video was shot after the Israelis jammed satellite communications on board the Turkish vessel, and that it had been somehow recovered later.

The Siege of Gaza

It has now been three years since Israel imposed its cruel and crippling siege of the Gaza Strip. I find it incredible, as a Jew and as a human being, that Israel—which calls itself the Jewish State—would blockade nearly a million and a half people in a small territory, effectively turning it into an enormous ghetto, periodically raid and murder them, and deprive them of a list of goods that seems to have been compiled for sadistic effect.

Who Delegitimizes Israel?

Israel has said that the Freedom Flotilla, a maritime convoy carrying 10,000 tons of much-needed aid for the destitute population of Gaza and around 750 international activists protesting Israel’s siege of the territory, is “a provocation intended to delegitimize Israel.” If that were a just characterization, then the Flotilla would be unnessecary; it seems that Israel is doing a great job of delegitimizing itself.