Israel may let new flotilla reach Gaza

Irish Times

A Palestinian worker walks past iron rods
at a construction site in Gaza.
Photograph: Marco Longari/ Getty Images

Israel is considering allowing the Freedom Flotilla 2, due to sail next month, to reach Gaza, to prevent a repeat of last summer’s clash between flotilla participants and Israeli forces.

A document drawn up by the foreign ministry in Jerusalem and presented to prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu suggested as one option allowing the vessels to reach Gaza without interference.

Such a scenario, it was argued, would not undermine the legality of Israel’s naval blockade imposed on the Hamas-controlled strip. As proof, foreign ministry officials noted that when Ehud Olmert was prime minister several vessels were permitted to reach Gaza.



 Another alternative presented to Mr Netanyahu is to have Cypriot forces carry out security checks on the flotilla. If the vessels were not carrying weapons, they would be allowed to proceed.



According to reports, Turkey’s IHH organisation is planning a large flotilla to mark the one-year anniversary of last year’s interception. Six vessels were boarded by Israeli commandos on May 31st, resulting in the deaths of nine Turkish activists when clashes broke out on the main vessel, the Mavi Marmara . The lead vessel on this year’s flotilla is again expected to be the Mavi Marmara, which will be accompanied by 15 vessels and nearly 1,000 activists from dozens of countries.



Irish supporters have reportedly purchased a vessel to take part in the flotilla. Irish activists due to sail include former Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews and his party colleague Senator Mark Daly, Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Left Alliance TD Richard Boyd Barrett, Sinn Féin councillor Gerry MacLochlainn from Derry and artist Felim Egan.



Israel is keen to avoid a repeat of last year’s clash which soured relations with Turkey and forced Israel to significantly ease the restrictions on what it allowed in to Gaza. Over recent months, officials said that a new flotilla will not be allowed to reach Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu told European ambassadors this week that the flotilla was a provocation. “This is not a peace flotilla but a deliberate provocation to seek to ignite this part of the Middle East. You should transmit to your governments that this flotilla must be stopped,” he said. Israeli officials stressed that any genuine humanitarian assistance can be delivered overland to Gaza via the Israeli-controlled crossing points.



Israel has contacted all the states where activists are organising, including Ireland, in an effort to persuade them to co-operate with Jerusalem to stop the sailing. So far these efforts have not borne fruit.

Israel’s ambassador to Turkey, Gabi Levy, met foreign ministry officials in Ankara this week to express Israeli concerns.



In tandem with the diplomatic moves, the army continued preparations to intercept a new flotilla.



Operation Green Pastures is aimed at stopping the vessels as far as possible from Gaza. Military sources said the army was working on “new methods” to deal with the activists, but warned that despite the planning there was a “high probability” of casualties this time around as well.



Arthur Beesley adds : After US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said the Obama administration was planning a new push to promote a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace deal, Middle East envoy Tony Blair said it was important to revive the process “as best we can”. “I hope very much that in the coming weeks, because I think this is very urgent, we will see an attempt to revive the political process in a way that gives us a chance of putting together the state-building exercise that we are advocating,” he said.

Mr Blair was speaking to reporters in Brussels after a meeting of the international donor group for the Palestinians. The group, chaired by Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Gahr Store, welcomed the joint World Bank, IMF and UN assessment that the Palestinian Authority was “above the threshold” for a functioning state in key sectors.

While the authority’s prime minister, Salam Fayyad, welcomed that report as being akin to a “birth certificate” for a Palestinian state, Mr Blair said that could happen only through negotiation. “What we need to go along with this now obviously is a credible political negotiation, so that the politics can start to help and support the changes that are happening on the ground,” he said.



“If we can achieve a political process that in a way matches what is going on the ground . . . That is the optimum outcome and that is what we want to see.”

Martin demands entry for Irish aid ship

Irish Times

Nobel peace prize winner Mairead Maguire pictured beside the 'MV Rachel Corrie' before it left Dundalk for Gaza last month. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire

PAMELA NEWENHAM

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has called on Israel to allow Irish humanitarian ship, the MV Rachel Corrie, pass through its military blockade of Gaza.

The cargo vessel is ploughing ahead with its attempt to deliver aid to Gaza despite yesterday’s deadly attack by the Israeli navy on a Gaza-bound flotilla.

The Israeli army has warned that it will be stopped if it attempts to enter Israeli waters.

The Rachel Corrie, which has five Irish nationals and five Malaysians aboard, is due to arrive in Gazan waters over the coming days, a spokeswoman for the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign said. It became separated from the main aid flotilla after being delayed for 48 hours in Malta due to logistical reasons, and is currently off the coast of Libya.

Mr Martin, who called Israeli Ambassador Dr Zion Evrony to account yesterday, said the boat should be allowed through peacefully.

“The Rachel Corrie, the Irish ship on which citizens of Ireland are on ... can be shadowed in, but unimpeded, given what has happened and the need to diffuse the situation rapidly and allow them to discharge their goods,” he said.

Mr Martin said Israel was also obliged to respect its international obligations under the Vienna Convention and ensure Irish citizens have access to full consular support. He also expressed his condolences to the Turkish government and the families of the people killed when Israeli commandos raided the Turkish registered Mavi Marmara aid ship in international waters as it travelled from Cyprus, killing nine people.

The Government has called for a full independent international inquiry, preferably under the auspices of the United Nations.

Five Irish campaigners - including leading activists Dr Fintan Lane and Fiachra Ó Luain - are being held in the Be’er Sheva detention camp, from where they face deportation. Dr Lane and Mr Ó Luain were on board Free Gaza boat Challenger 1 which was boarded by Israeli forces.

Mr Ó Luain’s father, Joseph Bangert, said he supported his son’s actions. "He marches to a different drummer than most of us,” he told RTÉ today. “I’m sure he is sticking it to them. I think they have a Trojan horse on their hands".

Two Irish people, including activist Shane Dillon, have been deported and are expected at Dublin airport late tonight. The Irish ambassador in Tel Aviv was given permission to meet Mr Dillon at Ben Gurion Airport before his departure. It is understood Mr Dillon said he was treated well. Officials have been waiting to see the other detained Irish citizens during the day.

Nobel laureate Maireád Corrigan-Maguire, former UN assistant secretary general Denis Halliday, film maker Fiona Thompson and husband and wife Derek and Jenny Graham are the Irish nationals on board the Rachel Corrie.

Speaking from the ship today, Mr Graham said the vessel was carrying educational materials, construction materials, medical equipment and some toys. “Everything aboard has been inspected in Ireland,” he said. “We would hope to have safe passage through.”

Ms Maguire said none of the aid ships carry arms and are "purely humanitarian". She said it was necessary for the vessel to complete its mission to assure the people of Gaza the world does care. “Could you imagine if that happened to the 1.5 million people in Northern Ireland? The world would be absolutely crying out that this stop immediately."

Free Gaza Movement activist Greta Berlin, who is based in Cyprus, said the group wanted to break Israel's blockade of Gaza. "Our mission has not changed and this is not going to be the last flotilla."

However, an Israeli marine lieutenant, who was not identified, told Israel's army radio his unit was prepared to block the Rachel Corrie. "We as a unit are studying, and we will carry out professional investigations to reach conclusions," the lieutenant said, referring to yesterday's confrontation. "And we will also be ready for the Rachel Corrie ," he added.

Fine Gael foreign affairs spokesman Billy Timmins and Labour’s Michael D Higgins today called for the safe passage of the vessel, while Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to initiate a trade boycott of Israel at national and EU level.