Israeli navy 'intercepts' Rachel Corrie Gaza aid ship - Polidicks

[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/10244301.stm[/url] [release]Israel has intercepted the latest aid ship attempting to break its blockade of the Gaza Strip, activists say. Israeli officials have not commented, but they had warned they would not let the MV Rachel Corrie reach Gaza. The confrontation comes days after Israeli troops stormed a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, leaving nine people dead and many injured. That raid brought strong condemnation of Israel, especially from Turkey where most of the victims were from. It is unclear whether Israeli forces have boarded the vessel or if they are just tracking from a distance. The activists on board the Rachel Corrie had said that they would not resist. The ship is named after a US college student who was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer as she protested over house demolitions in Gaza. Earlier, Israel told the ship to dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod and promised that the aid will be taken by road to Gaza. The US urged the activists to do what the Israelis asked. However Irish Nobel peace laureate Mairead Maguire, who is aboard the ship, insisted it would not be diverted. Activists said there were 20 people on board the Rachel Corrie, including five Irish nationals, six Malaysians and nine crew members. The ship had been a part of the previous flotilla, but was delayed by technical problems. The international outcry over Israel's actions when it intercepted the last flotilla has still not died down. Accounts differ as to what happened when Israeli soldiers abseiled from helicopters on to the Turkish passenger ship Mavi Marmara in the early hours of last Monday. Israel says their commandos were attacked with sticks and knives and used their weapons in self-defence. Activists say troops opened fire without provocation.[/release] According to Israeli media: [url]http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/activists-deny-israel-navy-boarded-gaza-bound-aid-ship-rachel-corrie-1.294265[/url] Israel still didn't board the ship, but is following it. The event is still unfinished.

Do they hate Palestinians that bad? Do they realize if they let aid in and treat Palestinians like people, then co-exist peacefully side-by-side, Hamas has absolutely no ammunition and have the media attack them instead?

Jesus, they're insane, why would they toe the line so constantly?

Hamas can use construction materials like metal and pipes to create weapons, and cement to make tunnels for smuggling other weapons.

And food to feed terrorists!

I say that Israel is going to far with their Gaza Campaign, NATO or the US needs to crackdown on their ass.

Ugh, I'm sick of my grandpa supporting them. I asked him what he felt about the us allowing them to investigate their own shit and he said "Because they know that Israel was right"

[QUOTE=lolwutdude;22384892]Do they hate Palestinians that bad? Do they realize if they let aid in and treat Palestinians like people, then co-exist peacefully side-by-side, Hamas has absolutely no ammunition and have the media attack them instead?[/QUOTE] They are letting aid in god damnit, but they aren't going to let random ships waltz in and drop off whatever they're carrying because they don't want things like weapons brought in. That's why they bring it to the Ashdod port, screen it, THEN bring it to Gaza.

This sounds terrible, but Israel thinks that since it suffered from the Holocaust 60 years ago they're justified in doing whatever they want. Do you guys know about the west bank? How they're stealing land? Does it not matter? No one seems to care.

[QUOTE=Bbarnes005;22384921]I say that Israel is going to far with their Gaza Campaign, NATO or the US needs to crackdown on their ass.[/QUOTE] Why should the U.S. do anything about it? You know what? I think Macedonia should seriously send in troops to stop the Israeli tyranny. They need to stand up for democracy and freedom. Go Macedonia!

[QUOTE=BurnEmDown;22384906]Hamas can use construction materials like metal and pipes to create weapons, and cement to make tunnels for smuggling other weapons.[/QUOTE] They can also use construction materials for replacing all the people's homes that have been destroyed.

[QUOTE=Nyaos;22384996]This sounds terrible, but Israel thinks that since it suffered from the Holocaust 60 years ago they're justified in doing whatever they want.[/QUOTE] Why does everyone bring up the Holocaust? It doesn't help and no sensible Israeli would use it to justify anything. It just makes it look like you have a very poor understanding and the only thing you know about jews is they were involved in the Holocaust.

[QUOTE=Devodiere;22385040]Why does everyone bring up the Holocaust? It doesn't help and no sensible Israeli would use it to justify anything. It just makes it look like you have a very poor understanding and the only thing you know about jews is they were involved in the Holocaust.[/QUOTE] Uh, all you have to do is look at one of the many threads about Israel the past few weeks to see that there are plenty of people who act like Israel can do whatever it wants because of it's history.

[QUOTE=TH89;22385038]They can also use construction materials for replacing all the people's homes that have been destroyed.[/QUOTE] Maybe since Israel destroyed their homes, they have to rebuild them. Concrete is kept as a controlled substance by Israel, more houses are built, Gaza doesn't have to pay, Israel saves face by atoning for their mistakes, everyones happy. Except Hamas.

[QUOTE=TH89;22385038]They can also use construction materials for replacing all the people's homes that have been destroyed.[/QUOTE] Construction materials are allowed into Gaza if humanitarian aid groups ask for them, only private merchants can't get them in Gaza.

Look! A ship containing humanitarian commodities en route to Gaza. We're in clear danger, and we must defend ourselves by taking that ship!

[QUOTE=CabooseRvB;22385138]Look! A ship containing humanitarian commodities en route to Gaza. We're in clear danger, and we must defend ourselves by taking that ship![/QUOTE] Nice way to oversimplify things in your favor.

[QUOTE=lulzbocks;22385017]Why should the U.S. do anything about it? You know what? I think Macedonia should seriously send in troops to stop the Israeli tyranny. They need to stand up for democracy and freedom. Go Macedonia![/QUOTE] Uhh, the US has a [I]lot[/I] of power over Israel.

Let me clarify what I meant. The US support for Israel is from the holocaust. Why else would we continue to support them? We feel that the Jews need their own state. Now we agree, but why is it okay for them to continue to pass their legal boundaries into Palestinian territory?

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;22385161]Uhh, the US has a [I]lot[/I] of power over Israel.[/QUOTE] Fixed.

All these activists are media whores who want to get their picture taken giving a chocolate bar to a starving Palestinian boy. Is it that bad to just drop of the supplies at a major port, where it can be checked, then delivered to Gaza? Also, if IDF delivers it, they have people who can make sure it gets delivered, whereas activists could be stopped by Hamas.

Its fairly simple, you don't try to bring materials in and NOT expect to get boarded. They should have done what every other humanitarian aid group has done and gone through the government instead of trying to go on their own. I'm all for helping people in Gaza but Israel has every right to board that ship. Hell if you hopped on a boat and tried to bring shit to Cuba you would have been boarded and arrested, not to compare Israel to Cuba, its just an example.

[QUOTE=Nyaos;22385166]Let me clarify what I meant. The US support for Israel is from the holocaust. Why else would we continue to support them? We feel that the Jews need their own state. Now we agree, but why is it okay for them to continue to pass their legal boundaries into Palestinian territory?[/QUOTE] If you are talking about Gaza, it is because the Hamas who is the group in control of Gaza, is a direct threat to Israel, and Israel is acting in order to remove the Hamas from power and defend its borders.

I'm following this on BBC World News and the Israeli Navy said that the ship is going to dock in Israel to allow a screening. They say it's about 50 km from the port Ashdod

The whole point of circumventing the Israeli government is actually getting the supplies delivered. Otherwise, most of it just ends up rotting in some warehouse or confiscated. Then, of the supplies that are actually shipped to Gaza by Israel, even more of it is taken by Hamas.

[QUOTE=BurnEmDown;22385210]If you are talking about Gaza, it is because the Hamas who is the group in control of Gaza, is a direct threat to Israel, and Israel is acting in order to remove the Hamas from power and defend its borders.[/QUOTE] I'm referring to the west bank actually.

[QUOTE=Hypothermic;22385212]I'm following this on BBC World News and the Israeli Navy said that the ship is going to dock in Israel to allow a screening. They say it's about 50 km from the port Ashdod[/QUOTE] If they voluntarily go to Ashdod, no need to board. Sounds like a good plan.

[QUOTE=Nyaos;22385230]I'm referring to the west bank actually.[/QUOTE] Thought you were referring to Gaza since it's in the spotlight right now, not the West Bank.

[QUOTE=Nyaos;22385166]Let me clarify what I meant. The US support for Israel is from the holocaust. Why else would we continue to support them? We feel that the Jews need their own state. Now we agree, but why is it okay for them to continue to pass their legal boundaries into Palestinian territory?[/QUOTE] Actual we support them because they are one of the few stable democratic governments in the middle east, and if your gonna bring the Holocaust in on this you might as well bring in the fact that half of the middle east would just love to roll into Palastine and take it back. Sorry that Israel has a ton of enemies and they take measures to stop potential attacks. [editline]01:07AM[/editline] [QUOTE=johnlukeg;22385229]The whole point of circumventing the Israeli government is actually getting the supplies delivered. Otherwise, most of it just ends up rotting in some warehouse or confiscated. Then, of the supplies that are actually shipped to Gaza by Israel, even more of it is taken by Hamas.[/QUOTE] Would love to see you find proof to back up your statements, find an article or something for me 'cuz right now I find that hard to believe.

[QUOTE=Devodiere;22385236]If they voluntarily go to Ashdod, no need to board. Sounds like a good plan.[/QUOTE] Apparently the navy hasn't really done anything besides flank the ship with two of their own ships and apparently block the ships radio communication. The people on the ship say that their comms are blocked and they're communicating to Ireland through email, although i don't really know about all that.