Confrontation may loom in waters off Israel

AP

The Israel navy would seize a ship with pro-Palestinian activists and Nordic lawmakers on board if it tries to break the navy's blockade of the Gaza strip to deliver humanitarian goods, Israeli media say.

The "Estelle" is expected to arrive this weekend.

The army considers the trip an 'International media provocation" and plans to take over the Estelle a few dozen yards from the coast of Israel, in case of a physical confrontation, Israeli media say.

Meanwhile, Norway's foreign ministry has cautioned those on the ship not to go through with their plans.

Spokesman Svein Michelsen says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide regards the mission as inherently dangerous and that activists risk being exploited by groups they would not want to support. The minister believes there is no humanitarian crisis that would warrant such a delivery, the spokesman says.

Activists said Thursday that the minister's comments would change nothing.

The Estelle is carrying medical, sports and musical equipment, as well as children's books. Five European lawmakers -- two from Greece and one from each Spain, Norway and Sweden -- are on board.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

DOVBENMEN
Repubs, you are free to start your hateful and prejudiced whining now ..

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Nice projecting there, Dovbendovermen.

[pegberlin]

Adieu - time for the Cardinals-Giants game.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

Well, since Dovbendoverman has been complaining about my comments, I'll just have to repeat this:

Israel is a criminal government with over 60 HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS that the US agrees with.

And now they are continuing to wage their war off attrition by cutting off supplies like books for kids and medicine for civilians.

It's an evil government - nothing more, nothing less.

[pegberlin]

Correction: "discount"

You have taken over the propaganda of the people on the boat. Israel is not saying that books and food and medicine can't be shipped to Gaza, as you imply. Israel is saying: "Since we are in a state of war with Hamas - who openly says it wants to destroy us - we will do anything we can to prevent arms from being delivered to Gaza. Sail your ship to Ashdod - or we will force it to sail to Ashdod - and we will transport the non-military items to Gaza."
Unfortunately, as in all wars - at least modern wars - the civilian population gets caught in the middle. That cannot be avoided, although it can be alleviated somewhat.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

Israel is not saying that books and food and medicine can't be shipped to Gaza, as you imply.

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PROVE IT.

They turned the ship around.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

PEGBERLIN
Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals
Why don't you say it as you think it, man: "The Jews only care about the Jews"?

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Because I'm talking about the government of Israel. Not the people.

Sheesh.

[pegberlin]

Oh, then why don't you say so? You did not say Israel has a criminal governemnt, in your estimation. Now you say it, distinguishing the Israeli government from the Israeli people. Unfortunately...for your argument...it's the Israeli people who elected the government. In what direction does your "criminal" go then?
And even if we accept your distinction you just happen to be using the language used by people like Ahmadinejad when he talks about Israel. If you are a fair man and you accept the right of the so-called Palestinians to defend themselves, then you can't deny the Israelis/Jews that right.

And down below you ask whether I am "hasbara" as Dovbenman is. I have no idea who or what Dovbenman is. Hasbara in Ivrit means "advocacy" or "propaganda"...if you mean am I an advocate for Israel then I would answer: I am a Jew who is an uncompromising supporter of Israel.
With that you can discout all my arguments, of course.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

PEGBERLIN replies: linkiconreporticonemailiconOh, then why don't you say so?

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I have ALWAYS said so.

[pegberlin]

Some commenters here don't seem to be aware - or pehaps to care - that Israel is in a state of war with Hamas, as the continual rocket bombardments of southern Israel from Gaza show, as well as the public announcements of Hamas that their goal is the destruction of Israel. Under such conditions Israel has the right - of self defense - to prevent arms from getting to Gaza. If European politicians allow themselves to be used as "well-meaning" puppets in what is a war situation they can't be surprised or shocked if they get hurt. That they might be bringing in "innocent" goods is of no significance: their purpose is not to bring in goods but to force Israel to end its blockade. Then we'd see what they begin bringing in.

[pegberlin]

Response to Dovbenmen
What you say comes in addition - but I didn't want to mention the UN report because I don't place much stock in UN reports and statements and decisions, given the massive role played by the Arab/Moslem bloc, with its "Zionist" obsession, in the organization.

[pegberlin]

Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals
Why don't you say it as you think it, man: "The Jews only care about the Jews"?
And that in the face of some of the most racist societies on the face of the Earth: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria.
You're entitled to your opinion, I suppose, given that we live in a secular, democratic society. But I'd like to see what would happen to you if you had my opinions and made it public in Teheran or Damascus or Riyyad...you KNOW what would happen to you...whereas if you went to Israel and expressed the opinions you have they might not like you but I think...and I believe you know...you could move around unscathed.
Israel, since its founding, is the voice of the reborn Jewish people. You may not like that, that might mean nothing to you, but I'll let you in on a little secret: we're not going to listen to people of your ilk.

[Mark_A234]

Yes, poor impoverished Palestinians blockaded by the horrible Zionazis starving them into Somali-Bangladeshi like skeletons. EXCEPT, truth is stranger than lies. How's this for a barometer of socio-economic health?

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/10/16/244132.html

[b]Apple's new iPhone 5 sells in Gaza before it reaches Israel[/b]
Apple's new iPhone 5 is selling well in the Gaza Strip despite inflated prices.

It reached the Palestinian enclave via smuggling tunnels even before neighboring Israel received official deliveries of the gadget. The newest smart phone is being sold for almost double its price in the United States.

The price has been jacked up by middlemen as deliveries of the iphone made their way to Gaza via tunnels linking the blockaded territory with Egypt.
New iPhones have been available for a couple of weeks in Gaza and they were on display on Monday in three independent mobile stores in downtown Gaza City. Prices on show ranged from $1,170 for the 16 gigabyte model to $1,480 for the 64 gigabyte version.

"I ordered 30 and I've sold 20 so far," said one dealer, "we can order as many as we want, but most people are waiting for the price to go down, they're pretty expensive.

[formerlyluvnut]

israel, israel, israel, iran, iran, iran, palestine, palestine, palestine.
GAWD they are annoying little whiners. Have been since time began.

[Jim1900]

It is probably safer to be arrested by the Israelis than to be among the mass-murders in Norway.

[langas90]

The Estelle will likely not *be* anywhere near Israeli waters.
The announced plan is to sail from international waters into Gazan waters--
I hope the update of this report includes their actual path.

[MidRoadAlone]

How are sports and musical equipment, and children's books considered humanitarian aid? I can see the medical - as well as real aid such as food (like MRE) or agricultural seed.
But other stuff, say munitions, are probably just as likely to be on board and hence the blockaide.