After this weeks debacle in the Mediterranean what can Israel do when the next boat arrives? More of the same? What happens when the numbers of boats keeps growing. How will the world react if the same thing happens? Is there any way to stop the boats without the risk of deaths and injury? Will they be forced to just let them pass? What sort of damage would that do?

Those supporting the Palestinians must see this as the first propaganda coup in a long time that they are winning. I must say this is much better than lobbing missiles or strapping on explosives. The world will not be won over by seeing Israelis blown to bits. It apparently wont be swayed by the deaths of thousands of Palestinians either. But if citizens of third countries die it seems to make a difference. Strange I must say but if thats what it takes. Will the peoples of the world who support the Palestinians stand up and put their lives on the line?

Could this be the way to force the issue? I have always said that violence and terrorism will never solve this issue. You dont win friends by blowing them up.

Dear Mikk,

Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi
once said, "Now is the time for the
US, for the international community,
the Quartet, to stand up and say,
this is not finished... Israel does
not have the right to act unilaterally,
it does not have the right to wreak
havoc..."

Israel has been calling the shots since 1967,
and clearly believes that the US will
support them no matter what they choose to do.
This time however, there is global outrage
and concern. It will be interesting to see
what the US will decide to do (if anything).

Antony Loewenstein in his book, "My Israel
Question," summed it up rather well:

" The Kadima vision is of a concrete wall,
with Jews on one side and as many Arabs as
possible on the other. Sooner or later,
Israel and the Palestinians will have to meet
face-to-face, listen to each other's
grievances and negotiate with honesty.
Only then - and on the condition that both
Israel and the Palestinian state achieve safety
and security - will this conflict be resolved.
Neither side has a monopoly on suffering, but
only one party has the power to end the
occupation and to recognise that Israel and
Palestine are historically destined to share
the same homeland."

The real challenge is to persuade the US,
and their (and our) political leaders and news
media to listen to voices that challenge their
prejudices and preconceptions. The establishment
of an independent, Palestinian state is
inevitable, but it will not happen easily, nor
without the involvement of many caring people.

Mine the coastline of Gaza, it is Israeli Territory after all. Advise any ship that decides to run the blockade to stop, if they don't they don't, they will have accepted a known risk. It is a shame it had to come to this, but irresponsible fanatics have misused respected peace activists in order to provoke a violent, bloody conflict.

The only way to stop it is to make it insane to take the risk, then only the insane will risk it. That won't stop Hamas/IHH but it will stop the Westerner's they have co-opted and used. As Hamas has blocked the aid, obviously it isn't critically needed (Hamas wouldn't deny it's people much needed aid to suit itself would it?)...

Oh I adore watching this play out, the first outburst of mad hysteria, then the evidence starts to be weighed and given weight according to its credence... A propaganda coup is about to become Palliwoods worst nightmare, they have embarrassed some VERY influential people.

mikk

you said:

"this is much better than lobbing missiles or strapping on explosives."

OF COURSE it is! but what seems to escape many is that the Israeli reaction to this 'peace flotilla' is BECAUSE of those missiles and strapped on explosives over many years.

Another dimension to this is also escaping many supporters of Palestians.

This type of 'aid' would not even be neccessary if the Tyrant thug fascist Neo Nazi's of Hamas were not governing/oppressing the inhabitants of Gaza.

There would be peace...if they demonstrated a desire for peace.

PROBLEM But when you look at the underlying issues... Hamas have never wanted peace nor the existence of Israel. So.. as the violence grew...based on that fundamental anti-Jew hatred and loathing .. a hatred which would if not checked result in exactly the same kind of 'final solution' dished out by the Nazi's.

FASCINATING VIDEO EXPOSE'

http://americanpowerblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/david-horowitz-at-ucsd-muslim-student.html

In the video a Muslim student at a David Horowitz lecture 'begins' her question with the typical 'soft' approach that characterizes political correctness these days. But it ends with the true colors of Hamas/Hezbollah displayed naked for the world to see. Hamas is nothing less than re-invented 'death camps for Jews' mindset.

The student confirms this.

So.. with this background, Israel's reaction is entirely understandable. It also means that criticism of it, is entirely irrational and could be said to be supportive of a 'death camps for Jews' mentality. Mikk? is this you?

Aaah.. gentle sweet, amiable foxy :)

//Sooner or later,
Israel and the Palestinians will have to meet
face-to-face, listen to each other's
grievances and negotiate with honesty.//

But foxy..if those 'negotiating positions' are irreconcilable.....what is the likely outcome ?

I don't think I'll try to change you... I'm only asking in order to understand your thinking.
But you might benefit in your background thinking by reading that chater in detail.

FYI

HAMAS CHARTER.
http://middleeast.about.com/od/palestinepalestinians/a/me080106b.htm

Introduction:

Surat Al-Imran (III), verses 109-111 Israel will rise and will remain erect until Islam eliminates it as it had eliminated its predecessors.

Article One: The Ideological Aspects: The Islamic Resistance Movement draws its guidelines from Islam; derives from it its thinking, interpretations and views about existence, life and humanity; refers back to it for its conduct; and is inspired by it in whatever step it takes.

COMMENT
I don't find much comfort in such documents for your recommendations Foxy. Do you see this kind of assertion as just like a Union bargaining position...say "We want 120% pay rise..or we strike indefinitely" of course they know that is impossible but the shock value certainly gets attention.
Their real position is maybe 10% rise.

Is that how you see this Fox

There will never be peace in the middle-east until the entire Arab culture changes.

What passes for television there is nothing short of Nazi-like propaganda. It's horrific, even children's shows are hijacked by these cowardly death cult values, and shoved down their little throats via cuddly friendly characters telling them that killing Christians and Jews is fun.

The entire region needs to be occupied. We need another world war, but this time, we need all the decent countries of western Europe to help out.

We could have a 10 million man army to control and guide such cultures out of 7th century desert Arabian values.