Israel Peacefully Intercepts One "Gaza Flotilla" Ship
The planned Gaza Flotilla, which ended up as just a single ship challenging Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, was "peacefully, calmly" intercepted and boarded by Israel on Tuesday [July 19], according to IDF [Israel Defense Forces] spokeswoman Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich.
Leibovich said the crew of the Al-Karame offered "no resistance whatsoever," in contrast to activists aboard the Mavi Marmara ship last year that attacked Israeli soldiers in a conflict that lead to the deaths of nine activists. Israel maintains its naval blockade of Gaza in order to prevent arms smuggling to terrorists.
On Tuesday, prior to boarding the vessel, Israel contacted the Al-Karame and offered them the option of transporting any goods following inspection to the Gaza Strip by land, instead of illegally attempting to enter Gaza by sea in contravention of Israel's blockade. The Al-Karame refused, and so Israel commandeered the vessel to enforce the blockade.
Having taken over the vessel, the Israeli soldiers offered the Al-Karame passengers food and drink, which Leibovich said they accepted. "We never have intentions of harming people on board or not on board," said Leibovich. "The first priority, as I said, is for them to return back to their home port, but since they chose to provoke we did everything thing we can in order to deal with the situation in a calm way… The operational part ended and ended successfully on our part."
The ship was then towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod for inspection, while the passengers were set for the process of deportation like anyone attempting to enter Israel illegally.
"I think the bigger picture that we're looking at is actually a provocation, an ongoing effort of delegitimization of Israel," said Leibovich of the activists. "It can be through the sea, it can be through the international airport that we have [with the "Fly-In"], it can be on our borders, but the one thing in common that all these provocative actions have is the attempt to delegitimize Israel."
Israel had previously faced the prospect of a much larger flotilla with hundreds of participants. In the end, only the single-ship "flotilla" made it, in part due to the support given Israel by other nations, especially Greece, which prevented multiple ships from heading to Gaza.
"Listen to the different comments that were made by world leaders before the ship even left, and I heard a lot of condemnation from these leaders [of the flotilla concept]," said Leibovich. "So I think the world understands that we are talking about a cheap provocation and nothing substantial really is behind it. If they really want to help the people of Gaza, wouldn't it be wiser instead of investing [US] $800,000 in buying a ship, to invest that money for the people there?"
Leibovich noted that 200–400 trucks are entering Gaza with aid and supplies every day. She listed the products entering Gaza as ranging from Mercedes cars to hygiene products, from school gear to bonsai trees. She said that Gaza is also receiving approximately 400,000 liters of gas every day and that Israel is providing the Strip with 70% of their electricity. The Israeli blockade is focused on preventing items that can be used for military purposes from entering Gaza, which includes construction supplies.
However, Israel does allow construction products for verified projects that are being sponsored by the Palestinian Authority, with the goal being to not let the construction in Gaza benefit the Hamas terror group. Noting the danger of allowing just any construction materials into Gaza, Leibovich said, "We don't want to find the cement inside the rockets that target Israel."
The same goes for allowing just any ship to reach Gaza, as Israel is seeking to prevent weapons from reaching terrorists—a threat exemplified by the interception earlier this year of a major weapons supply on board the cargo ship Victoria. Said Leibovich, "When you impose a maritime security blockade, then you cannot lift it in the middle just because you think it might be an innocent ship. We cannot take that risk."
(By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, July 20, 2011)
Prayer Focus
Praise God for a peaceful resolution to this potentially explosive situation. Pray that additional efforts to delegitimize Israel, through flotillas, fly-ins or other means, will come to an end. Pray that the international community will see the truth about Israel.
Scripture
"In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He heard me. Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue" (Psalm 120:1–2)
portions taken from Bridges for Peace newsletter
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