BY EARL COX
To those who embrace the truth and support Israel, the following is lengthy but it contains many facts which have yet to be disseminated by the media. To know the truth you MUST have the facts which I am providing to you below.
From all reports, the anticipated flotilla provocation of Israel will likely happen within a couple of days. Make no mistake in believing that the flotilla is on an humanitarian mission. It is on a mission but the mission is to provoke the government of Israel and draw international sympathy through a public relations stunt planned and organized by the Muslim Brotherhood and their radical followers for the purpose of deceiving the world into believing that Gaza has a humanitarian need. The fact is, the people of Gaza are not in need of humanitarian aid. This has been well documented by many sources including the International Red Cross.
I urge each of you receiving this email to carefully review the material below and then please forward it to everyone on your email list. Those who support truth, liberty and justice must not remain silent. Israel is the victim and not the aggressor as the radical Islamic community would have the world believe. If you embrace freedom and democracy, please do yourself, your family and your nation a service. As this flotilla moves closer and closer to challenging Israel in the hopes of creating an international incident designed to force Israel into taking a protective stand, speak out against this injustice. Israel’s posture will be DEFENSIVE in nature and not offensive, although those involved in the flotilla will want you to believe otherwise. With your help, we can make the truth of this situation known around the world. Here are the facts.
1. Goods for Gaza can be delivered through ports in Israel and Egypt
Israel has proposed that the organizers of the flotilla peacefully transfer all of their merchandise to the port of Ashdod in southern Israel. Israel has stated repeatedly that she is willing to ensure that the goods will be delivered to nearby Gaza.
The flotilla organizers can also dock at the port in El Arish in Egypt as has been done by previous flotillas.
Anyone who has done even brief research knows that legitimate international organizations regularly use the land crossing from Israel to Gaza to import goods. There is absolutely no need to sail directly to the Gaza Strip. Additionally, it is documented that any person who wishes to enter the Gaza Strip may do so by first submitting a proper request.
2. There is no need for a flotilla: the Gaza Strip is open to all goods
There is no humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. In fact, growth there in 2010 reached 16%; a number which outpaced even some of America’s largest and most prosperous cities. The Gaza Strip is open for the import of all types of goods except weapons and those materials which can be dangerous.
Over the past year, Israel has significantly increased the quantity and type of goods that are delivered to Gaza every day.
3. The international community is opposed to the flotilla
The international community opposes the flotilla and sees it as a dangerous and provocative action which can lead to an unnecessary confrontation at sea.
Recent quotes by world leaders – including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Canadian Foreign Minister Baird, the State Department and the Quartet – condemning the flotilla can be found below.
4. Israel MUST monitor the Gaza coast for one reason only and that is to prevent the smuggling of arms to Hamas.
Hamas, with the support of Iran and other terrorist organizations, conducts a worldwide operation for smuggling arms and terrorists into the Gaza Strip. Recently Israel stopped another cargo ship carrying Iranian arms destined for the Gaza Strip: The “Victoria” was carrying some 50 tons of weapons destined for terrorist groups in Gaza. Among the Iranian-sourced weaponry were advanced C-704 anti-ship missiles. This dangerous cargo was concealed on a civilian vessel, hidden behind innocent cargo.
For this reason, Israel cannot allow the initiation of a supply route via the sea to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. Such a route would strengthen Hamas, an internationally recognized terrorist organization, and endanger the citizens of Israel.
Hamas’ primary goal is the destruction of Israel. They have repeatedly stated this loudly, openly and in the media. It does not recognize Israel’s right to exist and is opposed to the peace process – any peace process that states Israel has a right to exist. As recently as May 15, 2011, the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyyah, expressed his organization’s genocidal aspirations, stating: “Our great hope is to see the end of the Zionist project in Palestine.”
Hamas is responsible for the launching of thousands of rockets and mortars at Israeli population centers in southern Israel, an act that constitutes a grave war crime.
This terrorist organization has also held Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit captive for five years, denying him his basic human rights in gross violation of international law.
5. Third-party searches would not be effective
Suggestions that third parties search the boats before they reach the Gaza Strip fail to take into account the fact that searches at sea are a complicated process, and extremely ineffective. Indeed, it is nearly impossible to conduct a thorough search of a large vessel in transit. Even if the ships could be searched, they could not be allowed to dock in Gaza. International law requires that a blockade must be effective (applicable to all) to be legal, and therefore no ships may be allowed through a blockade (“the effectiveness test”). Under international law, no exceptions are allowed to the effectiveness test.
6. The goal of the flotilla is to hurt Israel, not help Palestinians
Participants of the flotilla have stated that their objective is political and not humanitarian. A Free Gaza Movement document that was found on the Mavi Marmara ship last year stated, “The operation’s goal is to generate a lot of media interest in the Gaza blockade and its illegal/criminal nature, and to pressure foreign governments to do more than issue statements, to take punitive action against Israel.”
7. The flotilla is a dangerous provocation by extremist groups
The flotilla is aided and abetted by Hamas, which is a terrorist organization acting as Iran’s proxy in the region.
Among the organizers are extreme anti-Israeli organizations, such as the Free Gaza Movement and the ECESG (European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza), as well as radical Muslim organizations.
8. Human rights organizations are being led astray
Innocent human rights activists among the passengers are being exploited by the extremists, who are operating according to their own agenda. They apparently are unaware that the flotilla will give support to Hamas, a terrorist organization that violently oppresses women and minorities, including Christians and homosexuals, as well as political opponents. Hamas also suppresses basic human rights, such as freedom of expression and freedom of the press, and has imposed radical Islamic laws on the Gaza Strip.
True human rights activists should not allow themselves to be used by the oppressors of human rights.
9. Israel is acting in accordance with international law
Israel’s actions are in accordance with the rules of international law. Israel has a right under international law to impose a naval blockade and enforce such a blockade in order to prevent the smuggling of weaponry to Hamas and other terrorist groups via the sea.
Israel’s compliance with international law was affirmed by the Turkel Commission, the public committee that investigated the Mavi Marmara incident. The Commission included two highly regarded foreign observers – Nobel laureate Lord David Trimble of Northern Ireland and Brigadier-General (ret.) Kenneth Watkin of Canada – and two special consultants: Prof. Dr. Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg of Germany and Prof. Michael Schmitt of the UK/USA, who are both leading experts in the fields of humanitarian law and maritime law applicable to armed conflicts at sea.
According to international law, if there are reasonable grounds to believe that a vessel intends to breach a naval blockade, enforcement action may be undertaken in international waters, even prior to an actual breach.
10. Israel will not permit the flotilla to reach the Gaza Strip
Israel has called, and continues to call, on the participants of the flotilla that wish to deliver merchandise to the Gaza Strip to dock at Ashdod Port, and the goods will be delivered to the Gaza Strip. They can also dock at the port in El Arish, Egypt.
Contrary to what the media would have us believe, the Israeli Defense Forces have no desire to employ force, but have stated they will act firmly and with determination if necessary. Since the flotilla is continuing to move forward, this is proof that their only desire is to provoke Israel into taking action in order to create an incident which they hope will make Israel appears as though they are denying humanitarian aid to reach the Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel has further warned that flotilla participants who attempt to infiltrate the closed area may face prosecution and may be denied entrance into Israel for a period of ten years.
QUOTES to support the facts:
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: “Assistance and goods destined to Gaza should be channeled through legitimate crossings and established channels”… and called on all governments concerned to use their influence to discourage such flotillas. (May 27, 2011)
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton: “I do not consider a flotilla to be the right response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.” (May 11, 2011)
British PM David Cameron: “When rockets are being launched at Israeli citizens, and when children are in danger, Israel is within its rights to protect its people. When over 100 rockets are fired into Israel from Gaza in one year, Israel is within its rights to search vessels bringing cargo into Gaza.” (March 3, 2011)
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird: “I strongly urge those wishing to deliver humanitarian goods to the Gaza Strip to do so through established channels. Unauthorized efforts to deliver aid are provocative and, ultimately, unhelpful to the people of Gaza. Canada recognizes Israel’s legitimate security concerns and its right to protect itself and its residents from attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups, including by preventing the smuggling of weapons.”
US State Department/Quartet: “We urge all those wishing to deliver goods to do so through established channels so that their cargo can be inspected and transferred via land crossings into Gaza. There is no need for unnecessary confrontations.” (June 23, 2010)
The Netherlands
Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal: “The Dutch government believes that the second Gaza flotilla is counter-effective to further opening of the regular border crossings. …The Netherlands government has called upon organizations to refrain from participation in the Gaza flotilla since it will not help to improve the situation in Gaza.” (Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal, April 29, 2011)
France
“…it is formally advised not to go aboard boats who want to break the maritime blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, as there are important security risks related to it.” (Translated from a French Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs travel advisory, May 4, 2011)
Germany
German Ambassador Wittig expressed Germany’s serious concern about a possible “second Gaza flotilla,” noting that the planned activities carried considerable potential for escalation and called on the organizations involved to find other ways to deliver aid.” (Notes from UN statement, in reference to Ambassador Peter Wittig, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, April 21, 2011)
Ireland
“We advise against any attempt to enter Gaza by sea, or sailing in the waters off the coast of Gaza.” (Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
Spain
“…the Government advises against Spanish participation in the flotilla for political reasons and because of the risk to participants in the initiative.” (Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, June 10, 2011)