" ... that the Israel Defense Forces acted lawfully. Just as Britain and Russia did when they enforced a blockade on Nazi Germany."

Now there's an interesting comment. Why doesn't he say
"Just as Germany did when it enforced a blockade (or attempted to) on
Britain and Russia"
Would that have been lawful? Or does the lawfulness of the "war" - or their involvement in it - have something to do with it?

I actually would really be interested to know this.
Jonathan J. Ariel isn't much better at informing us on this than the Fairfax media. (and of course there's no indication as to whether he knows anything about international law).

Incidentally - in WW2 it was Germany, not Britain and France, which started it by progressivly grabbing neighbouring countries.

This 'article' is nothing but a duplicitous, pro-Israeli propaganda piece.

With nine peace activist killed (some of them shot in the back and in the top of the head)and no Israelis, we know who the terrorists are.

They were the same as the lot than bombed Gaza and killed 400 children along with a 1,000 adults and are now imposing an illegal siege, a blockade, and collective punishment (a war crime) on the Gazans.

The sooner Israel is extinguished the better. Hopefully it will occur before Israel drags the world into a nuclear war.

http://www.dangerouscreation.com

"There was absolutely no categorical mention of the fact that Gaza’s democratically elected government is sworn to the annihilation of the Jewish people, in its charter, in its mission and by its deeds."

Elsewhere I've heard (frequently) that Hamas's official policy is to refuse to recognise or accept Israel as a Jewish state. I suspect this is closer to the truth.

I don't defend this, but I ask - how is this more represhensible than the Israeli politicians (and, I have heard, the official position of the Likud party) who refuse to accept a Palestinian state.

"What are the Jews supposed to do?"

I can't believe you really want to know - but just in case - try this

(1) Israel should confine its territorial ambitions to the territory that is legally theirs

(2) Allow the return of those (and their descendants) who were expelled from that territory, or fled the fighting, in 1948.

From all the reporting I've heard, notwithstanding Hamas's official policy about Israel, this would be sufficient to produce peace - in fact widespread Palestinian demands have been for less that this. But they seem to be prefectly reasonable demands to make of Israel.

The article contains:

"America, especially under Barrack Obama, hasn’t the stomach for policing anymore.

After all he reasons: Iran is about to go nuclear and his co-religionist in Washington has refused to wave the big stick at the mullahs. Would Washington really retaliate against a few ships carrying crude missiles?"

Barack Obama is not a Muslim and has decided that the role of world policeman is not suitable for his country. He uses his brain rather than his stomach. "Conveniently ignoring the truth" is a great title for the article.

I am a dual citizen of Australia and the US and voted for Obama. Obama is apparently aware of the futility of waving big sticks. Unlike his immediate predecessor he prefers to work in concert with other nations. He is trying to extricate the US from the wars that Bush got us into.

Of course the key to understanding the situation in Israel/Palestine and the entire Middle East altogether is that it IS a vast lunatic asylum.

A seething cauldron wherein the three major semitic religions are playing out their "end-time" apocalyptic fantasies. All mandated and commanded by each of their tribalistic deities.

And indeed particularly in the case of christianity and islam (and even to a lesser degree judaism), global warfare for the totalitarian rulership of the entire world.

Mr Ariel chooses to set the tone of his article with a link to a sophomoric parody, then expects us to take him seriously. Does this sort of obliviousness qualify him for a bright future in Israeli federal politics? Maybe not, considering this press release:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/05/gaza.flotilla.mock.video/

"Israeli government office apologizes for mock flotilla video
By the CNN Wire Staff June 5, 2010 -- Updated 1844 GMT (0244 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Israeli press office sorry for distributing video mocking flotilla activists "We Con the World" video created by Jerusalem Post columnist Israeli PM spokesman: Video captures what "Israelis feel"

Jerusalem (CNN) -- The Israeli government's press division is apologizing for circulating a link to a video that mocks the activists on aboard the a ship headed to Gaza that was blocked by an Israeli raid."

Well then, it seems that those who don't learn from history are condemned to repeat it. The Israeli government and IDF had a year to plan. The Gaza Flotilla was openly advertised and planned for that long. Instead, the Israeli government chose to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

It's worth looking at the history of the 1947 British blockade of Palestine, and the consequences of a planned confrontation by European Jewish refugees, in 1947. That incident was a milestone toward the formation of Israel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Exodus
"The ship left Baltimore February 25, 1947 and headed for the Mediterranean. ... with 4,515 passengers ... The British Royal Navy cruiser Ajax and a convoy of destroyers trailed the ship from very early in its voyage, and finally boarded it some 20 nautical miles (40 km) from shore. The boarding was challenged by the passengers ... Two passengers and one of the crews, ... died as a result of bludgeoning and several dozen others were injured before the ship was taken over."

Who is Mr Ariel defending, and to what purpose?

If you wish to defend the activists, just ask yourselves one thing.
Who threw the first stone? From videos it was not the Israeli troops.
They hailed the ships to divert them to another port, where they could be processed legally.

Now while you are thinking constructively, think of the blockade of
Russian ships by America during the Cuban crisis. Where they wrong?

I lived near Israel before the six day war. And the area known as modern day Israel, is such a small area, flanked by Arab countries,
its only about 150-180 miles long by about sixty miles wide at its
widest point. The Mediterranean sea stretches the full length of
their country.

Personally, I would give these activists one bit of advise, you are kittens trying to take on a tiger. Don't get involved illegally or
you will pay the penalty. If you wish to give aid, do it through
legal channels.

Jewish Israel have been punished, but one must appreciate the small
area they are defending. In Australia, it would be like defending
Newcastle to Coffs Harbour, at most, and inland to say (I'm thinking?) Cessnock, Singleton or Dorrigo. (And the latter is protected by high elevated hills) Not so Israel.

And add to that the marked anti-Jewish prejudice around the world particularly with the Muslims and Christians. They are a nation of
farmers and fishers after all

Right on the Mark, Jonathon Ariel!

If my employer directed me to land by rope from a helicopter onto the deck of a ship and in doing so my colleagues and I were bashed with metal bars, chairs etc. (plus I saw a colleague thrown overboard in the middle of it all) and I was permitted to apply lethal force (i.e. shoot at people) to make them stop then I guess I'd be labelled a murderer by some of the people posting here. An interesting article, if only for the wave of confused hatred it unleashed amongst some readers. I am not a pro-Israel or a pro-Palestine reader. I prefer to search for some factual basis to form my conclusions. Does anyone challenge the veracity of the video footage available at the link in the article? I think Mr Ariel has made a strong case for more balance in the way media covers these sorts of events. There, ready for the barrage of bile. Please proceed.

I think the majority of posters are understanding of the Israeli defense. Those that aren't are politically biased. Another ship was
also detained without any casualties on both sides.

These aid workers (?) peace loving people, if they were mad enough or fanatical enough to attack armed professional soldiers or SAS personnel, they were absolutely mad or being paid to resist by the journalists on board the ship, to their obvious detriment.

Did you see the smerks of the Fairfax journalists when being returned
to whence they had come to cheers. What are they smiling about eh?

DAVID G.

err.. you said:

"The sooner Israel is extinguished the better."

Sounds like you are encouraging terrorism to me.. and calling for genocide.

"hati hati" (look that up in online translation)

For the rest.. who support Islamofascism and Marxist materialist spin...

mene mene tekel uparshin.

(1) If the world or any humanitarian organization wanted to send food parcels and medical supplies into gaza why didnt they use the UN humanitarian agencies already in place?
Shouldnt they have used UN flags if their mission were dinkum or couldnt they find any?

(2) Why wouldnt the leaders of the "peace" flotilla use Israelli offers to take the fleet safely into the nearest port, Ashdot? The commando leader offered safe passage and help to take and unload the cargo into Gaza.
They rejected all such overtures.

(3) After all both Egypt and Israel had agreed to open the border posts for the supplies of food and medical parcels.

(4)On board the vessel there were some Pakistani mercenaries. Ideal for such a mission of peace, goodwill and humanitarian efforts?

(5) Why was one of the boats fitted out as a fully sophisticated media outfit?For loading supplies to the starving Garzans or were they after an obvious news story that was about to break?They knew what the Israeli response was going to be or at least praying that the confrontation would take place. After all the media revel in such situations. Goodnews stories dont make as good headline news.They could count on the Israelli!
(6) Why were the commandos assaulted whilst they were rappelling down the ropes and very vulnerable? Any show of violence discredits any so-called peace initiative.
The commandos should have been welcomed on board. They had offered to protect the crew and protectors by taking thjem to a place of safety and helping them with the cargo.
(7) So much is being made of the incident occurring in internatuional waters. If this is a flagrant act of piracy then please also consider the stop and search operations we have been conducting in the Persian Gulf and in waters off North Korea. Then that entitles Israel to do the same for its own protection,. They are still in a war against Hammas that operates in Gaza and whose charter begins with the resolution to wipe out the state of Israel.

socratease

The piracy crap was a red herring from the beginning, the Helsinki Accords, the Hague Conventions V & XIII, plus the San Remo Handbook on International law, particularly around ss.100-110, demonstrate that.

A blockade was being enforced, this was primarily a board and search operation, as happened with 7 other ships in total. Only on this one was there any problem, which started with the IHH Terrorists beating & stabbing troops as they boarded the vessel.

Turkey has chosen to lay down with Iran, so be it. Let's see what comes of that shall we?

Oh, for the sufferer's of AIPD, get help...

By extinguishing I meant Israel should be disbanded and its citizens returned to where they came from. That way they couldn't again amass a huge military, the fifth most powerful in the world, then use it to tyrannize their neighbours.

To all the Israeli-apologists on this thread let me suggest you have a look at: http://desertpeace.wordpress.com

The blog is run by an American Jew who lives in Israel. If you go back over the archives, you'll soon realize that racist, militaristic Israel has been fooling you, that your loyalty to it is misplaced, and is based upon a series of gross lies and duplicity.

Israel is a rogue state and its leader makes Saddam look like a choir boy!

Wait until all the evidence is revealed.We have reports of a young teenager being shot in the stomach and then four times in the back of the head at close range.

There is no doubt that Israel is giving far more than it takes.There is no doubt that it is practising genocide against the Palestinians.That they cannot deny.Israel must change it's ways and the USA must stop funding it's terrorism.

This whole article was nothing more than a running demonstration of Godwin's Law.

David G? What planet do you come from? Do your history.

If they were to replace citizens from Israel, they wouldn't be all those
proclaiming Jewish religion. Arabs too. Where would you put Palestinians, in Jordon, Syria, Egypt?

You are one of those ignorant people that deem to make profound ignorant
statements that have no basis. Just to make a loud empty statement.

Like Americans should go back to their original country and leave the indigenous people with it....

Bush Bunny, I reckon that your ill-informed comment demonstrates that most rabbits have more intelligence than you. Like a few others on this thread you show how clever Israeli propaganda is.

Helen Thomas, a veteran journalist in America, has said, "The Jews should get out of Palestine." That's the most sensible thing any American has said for a long, long time.

Great article. Finally, some common sense. Of course, the discussion will get buried under people who have NO IDEA about the bigger picture but I'm glad to see someone who can articulate the reality.

I even saw one comment that "activists" actually grabbed the Israeli weapons to STOP the shooting.

The killings were unfortunate, tragic, if there were innocent bystanders killed, but there is NO DOUBT people on those ships were there to cause a ... display. No one deny's the calls to get the aid to Gaza via the Israeli's was dismissed by the organisers. Wasn't that their priority. Wasn't that why they were there?. The ONLY reason they ignored those offers was to cause a scene. It blows my mind that educated and intelligent people can't see this, or acknowledge it. Why?.

So, if you 'cause a display' and 'make a scene', it's enough excuse to murder people? The emo kids at the local mall better watch out, then.

I appreciate some folk venting their opinions, but sadly, it is no more than opinion. It is not fact.

Fact: there is an Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the nascent the Islamic Emirate of Gaza.

Fact: when Israel exited of Gaza, it did not impose a blockade. On the contrary, it left behind a wealth of agribusinesses hoping that the Arabs there would make their own families and nation building their priorities.

Instead, the Arabs embraced the terror group HAMAS as their government. And HAMAS’s first acts were to rekindle warfare against Israel. Proof if ever it was needed, that HAMAS doesn’t want Jews out of Gaza (where there aren’t any) but it wants Jews out of Israel.

Fact: HAMAS’ nearly 10,000 acts of warfare included anti-personnel rockets, directed at Israeli civilians. These are not only acts of warfare, they are war crimes.

Fact: Following HAMAS’s declaration of war, Israel responded with a blockade, the purpose of which was to assure that no material that could be used for making war against Israeli civilians, was permitted into Gaza. Humanitarian aid was and is allowed by Israel and Egypt into Gaza.

Fact: Blockades are legal responses to acts of war.

Fact: The United States blockaded Cuba during the missile crisis. This was found to be “lawful” by the U.S. State Department, even though Cuba had not engaged in any act of belligerency against the United States.

Fact: It is lawful to enforce a legal blockade in international waters, if there is no doubt that the offending ships are determined to break the blockade.

Fact: The purpose of the flotilla was not to provide humanitarian aid, but rather to break the lawful blockade.

The barrage of unconstructive criticism directed against Israeli self-defence actions will only encourage more jihadist acts against Israel. But then, that may be the intention of some posters.

...and again, no comment on the facts.

Dispute they were armed. Dispute they attacked the boarding commandos. Dispute they turned down offers from the Israeli's getting the aid into Gaza. Dispute the facts. Prove to me over the evidence from even some of the activists that they didn't have a planned and coordinated resistance to being boarded.

I'll debate it here. I'm more than happy too. Just discuss the facts. The author of this article laid out point after point after point that you could contend. Do that, instead of these ridiculous little smart mouth comments without ANY substance.

Intellectual coward.

Helen Thomas said..... <Who actually cares>, the basis being that all the Israeli's should go back to Poland/Germany/Russia/etc.

Helen Thomas has lost numerous book deals, and may yet lose her white house credentials. Real good role model fellas.

If I were tasked with taking on that ship, seeing the armed protestors ready & waiting for me at the bottom? There'd be a whole lot more than 9 bodies and very few of the holes would be 9mm. That deck would be hosed down with door guns or I would not let my troops down the rope.

The majority of the casualties would be from 7.62/12.7mm rounds, with shrapnel wounds coming a close second. I honestly cannot understand why any troop commander would possibly lead his troops into what was a blatant ambush. Personally, the officer who decided on doing so without suppressing fire should be dishonorably discharged, while those at every step up the chain, the people that not only allowed, but ordered, their own troops into that, should be fired.

As for the "Peace Activists", they would have been classified as hostile from the get go. The boat had to be taken, so obviously they needed to be neutralized. The ADF would do so without putting its own soldiers at risk, who cares about the other side (or the ADF I remember). As long as the ROE's are adhered to, no worries mate.

Some clown took 4 in the chest and then one in the head? I'd suggest he was one of the clowns that took the pistol(s) off the marines they'd captured. Armed enemies are not neutralized until they stop moving. It isn't pretty, it turned from a supposed "peace" cruise into a war, those who chose to make it so paid. I have no pity for them, the same way as I have no pity on the clowns that take on the ADF daily and get slotted for their trouble.

We all make choices, if they are extremely dumb, suicidal ones, we are unlikely to survive them... That is what happened.

Let's put some more facts on the table to maybe open up some debate.

International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea:

http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/385ec082b509e76c41256739003e636d/7694fe2016f347e1c125641f002d49ce

Someone explain to me how what the Israeli's did was illegal...

StG, it doesn't matter what you link to mate.

There is a real issue, Steven Meyer call's it IOD, I call it AIPD, in either event, the majority of posters will just continue to state that it is illegal despite all the evidence to the contrary.

They say that anyone who says otherwise is a Zionist, a tool of Mossad, whatever...

Personally, I don't like to see soldiers/sailors put in the predicament these poor buggers were, they were obliged to continue the blockade (it is there for a reason), but instead of being equipped to deal with what they could no doubt see where violent, armed thugs and thus being beaten half to death (with non-violent iron bars - whoever thinks they are non-violent has never been hit with one).

To see that, then be told they are murderers for following their Rules of Engagement, ie. when their comrades are in mortal peril, they are entitled to use deadly force, makes me wonder what will happen one day if such a mess befalls the ADF...

Trouble is, not a lot on here can think for themselves, they merely regurgitate the blatant falsehoods (like piracy & peace activists) and outright lies (that the whole thing was about getting aid to Gaza - last I read, it was still at the border checkpoint, HAMAS won't let it in).

Despite the footage, much of which was shot by the protesters, showing what started the fight, despite the pictures of badly injured and captured IDF members (from the IHH itself) and despite the evidence fitting the facts, they refuse to even contemplate it, or they skip your post.

TROLLS - for your own sanity, just ignore them. These are the sort of people who would not stand up for anybody or anything in a physical confrontation on the whole. They have no idea what a fight/brawl is like and don't want to know. It is COOL to support HAMAS, so that is what they do.

David G “By extinguishing I meant Israel should be disbanded and its citizens returned to where they came from. “

I would note, the land on which the Palestinians sit, in Gaza, was forfeit as the spoils of war following the failed 1967 combined Arab military attempt to push Israel into the sea

But it is an Interesting idea….. similar suggestions, usually from those with only a very limited grasp of reality or existing in a state of practical denial, are made for non-aborigines to vacate Australia

But when such things happen we have only to look at Zimbabwe for the outcome

and if anything, Palestinians are even worse civil administrators than Mugabe

“That way they couldn't again amass a huge military, the fifth most powerful in the world, then use it to tyrannize their neighbours.”

It seems to me that despite “a huge military, the fifth most powerful in the world”, Palestinians are hardly tyrannised by it or they would have stopped hurling rockets and suicide bombers at their “tyrannising” neighbour.

“Israel is a rogue state and its leader makes Saddam look like a choir boy!”

Somehow such rhetoric conveys more about the writer, far more than the status of Israel, a country which maintains democratic elections in a manner completely alien to say Palestinians .

I might consider the blood, death and destruction which can be fairly seen dripping from the hands of Palestinians and the governments of many Middle eastern, Asian and African countries illuminates Israel in an entirely different light.

Mr Ariel,

Your article is no different to a seemingly endless procession of Israeli apologists trying to excuse the inexcusable.

In truth both you and I know or should know that there are many possible alternatives to the two extremes.

Untill primarily Israel is prepared to compromise or defuse the issues by genuinely involving a third party the problem is insoluble.

The clear evidence is that military solutions are not credible for asymmetrical ideological conflicts. Nthn Ireland are Afghanistan are clear proof of this.
The only plausible *suite of solutions* are political i.e. negotiated ones.

This tragically the intransigence of both sides to acknowledge and act on this only increases the window of opportunity for the proxy war to continue.

How is it that Israel can secretly amass 200-300 nukes illegally and no weapons inspectors are present in their country? Why just recently do we have 444 USA Congressmen signing a letter of allegiance to Israel and promising not to critise them?Iran has yet to develop one nuke ,yet the USA under pressure from AIPAC have now instigated sanctions against them.Iraq was invaded under false pretenses.There were no weapons of mass destruction.It was all about the oil and contacts Israel has with Wall St and the Global Reserve Banks.The Next big prize is Iran.That is the reality.

Iran now have made the mistake of wanting to escort future aid to Gaza via their revolutionary national guard.Iran should stay out of this conflict and let those in the West who have real integrity and good judgement,deal with country that has gone insane.Iran has done no wrong and we in the West now know who needs to be brought into line.

The truth of the matter is! Bouth sides of the fence could't live in
pease if their lives depended on it! There is so much inground hatred on bouth sides, I say give them all more wepons, and let the morrons
wipe each other out! Shorly we all have had a gut full of these war-mongering Looses!

JJ Ariel's post of 8 June is devoid of evidence, but ripe with opinion. He doesn't even offer any reference to evidence for what he calls facts, so how can anyone reasonably judge his eight assertions?

Does evidence matter to Mr Ariel? I do not know. Does he know the difference between fact and opinion? His article does not inspire my confidence in his judgement.

He ends by saying
"The barrage of unconstructive criticism directed against Israeli self-defence actions will only encourage more jihadist acts against Israel. But then, that may be the intention of some posters."

And there is no dearth of unconstructive criticism, from all quarters.

The words of renown Swedish novelist Henning Mankell, on the Flotilla ship Sophia, offer some perspective:

"I think the Israeli military went out to commit murder," Mankell said. "If they had wanted to stop us they could have attacked our rudder and propeller, instead they preferred to send masked commando soldiers to attack us. This was Israel's choice to do this.

"And it was the most stupid thing they could have done, because look around, Israel has never been so criticised in the world as of today, and if you ask me, this blockade will be over within the next six months."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/03/gaza-flotilla-attack-henning-mankell

Arjay, congrats once again for seeing the light about Israel. Problem is American Zionists are full bore behind the foolish Israelies, more and more Israelies themselves declaring that after the savage recent ariel attack on Gaza, Israel itself must expect to pay the penalty.

Further, as the rebel Israelies according to reports are mostly youngsters, it could be said that Netanyahu should be worrying about his future.

Brushbred,you are welcome.To be honest,I do post with a great deal of self interest,since I see Israel causing a serious conflict in the Middle East that could result in a nuclear war.War is an abomination created for a few elites for profit.

On this Friday 11th June at 11.00am ,Architects and Engineers for 911 truth will meet outside the Sydney Town Hall to educate the public about the facts of 911.There are now 1205 Architects and Engineers calling for a new investigation into 911.