IDF: Some flotilla participants planning violence
Israel Defense Forces sources reported to the Jerusalem Post that some of the activists on board the Gaza-bound flotilla are planning to kill Israeli soldiers if the IDF boards the ships and attempts to block them from breaking Israel’s maritime blockade of the region. 
The IDF says some passengers onboard the flotilla ships have prepared sacks of sulfur to throw at Israeli soldiers. If sulfur is poured on a soldier it could render him paralyzed and helpless — and could be fired up like a torch with the flick of a match. If these reports are accurate, the soldiers on this mission are in grave danger, and will need to board the ships prepared for anything.
Of course, flotilla participants claim that the IDF’s concerns are only meant to give Israeli soldiers a pretense to use force. One of them, Dror Feiler, stated that “violent people are not permitted to take part in the flotilla….All of the passengers signed a pledge of non-violence.” But these assurances are totally implausible. Look at last year’s ordeal with the Mavi Marmara, when IDF soldiers, in full accordance with international law, attempted to stop a flotilla ship and were swarmed by a mob of club and knife-wielding thugs.
The “peaceful activists” were not so peaceful then. The flotilla ships have already sailed and are fast approaching — and Israelis know that things could easily go wrong, despite Israel’s peaceful intentions.
Comments (6) »Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 at 9:38 AM | Amichai Farkas
Flotilla to depart from Greece this weekend
The Gaza “Freedom Flotilla” is set to sail from Greece this weekend. This, of course, is no mission of mercy — it’s a coordinated attempt by people with an ingrained bias against Israel to delegitimize and discredit the Jewish state and provoke violence. 
You’ll hear about the flotilla in the media — and much of what you’ll hear will reflect badly on Israel, and mention nothing of the real intentions of the flotilla organizers. So this is a good time to remember Rabbi Eckstein’s words on the subject from his message earlier this month:
We must hope for the best as Israel faces yet another challenge to its security. The Bible says, “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment” (Proverbs 12:19). Let us pray that the true intentions of the flotilla organizers, and indeed of all those who actively attempt to delegitimize and compromise the security of the Jewish state, will be revealed. Let us pray for the safety of the IDF soldiers who put themselves in harm’s way protecting the country they love. And let us pray for the day when God will bless the entire world with his most precious gift of shalom, peace.
Amen to that.
Comments (5) »Friday, June 24th, 2011 at 2:10 PM | David Kuner
Meron: flotilla’s goal is not what it seems
The commander of Israel’s Navy, Vice Admiral Eliezer Meron, recently stated that the flotilla planning to head towards Gaza is not interested in bringing humanitarian aid but to confront the IDF in the Mediterranean Sea. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has pointed out that the U.N. has declared that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza, since all merchandise except weapons and material used for weaponry goes in and out of the Gaza Strip via overland routes. 
Israel enacted the naval blockade after Hamas’ violent takeover of Gaza in 2007. Obviously, measures must be taken to prevent the flow of arms from reaching the hands of the terrorist group.
Israel’s navy has undergone extensive exercises to prepare for a host of scenarios once the flotilla nears the shores of Gaza. Everyone hopes that the navy will be able to reroute the ships with minimal confrontation. This, however, may prove to be a difficult task, considering the premeditated violence that the IDF encountered last summer when boarding the Mavi Marmara.
Comments (8) »Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011 at 1:48 PM | Amichai Farkas
Ingrid & Jörgen go to Gaza
So … just what are those brave Flotilla Freedom Fighters up to anyway? Let’s watch:
Comments (0) »Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 at 12:24 PM | David Kuner
Assad blames crisis on “saboteurs”
Syria’s President Bashar Assad addressed a crowd of supporters for the third time since the start of the Syrian uprising in March. Assad lashed out at protesters, calling them ”saboteurs” and claiming that reform will not be reached through “vandalism.” 
Meanwhile, the opposition to the Syrian president reported that 1,400 protesters have been killed and over 10,000 detained by Syrian forces. Another 11,000 Syrian people fled to Turkey out of fear of Assad’s regime.
It is hard to report exactly what has taken place in Syria since March, because the Syrian government has imposed a media blackout. But refugees who have fled to Turkey have reported seeing Iranian National Guardsmen joining Syrian forces in crushing the opposition. It has also been reported that Syrian forces have routinely opened fire on demonstrators, leaving many to die in cold blood while those detained have been maliciously tortured.
These kinds of accusations might seem shocking to western ears. But here in Israel we are well aware of the brutality that prevails in much of the Arab Middle East. From Libya to Iran, as well as in Gaza – remember the Hamas-Fatah civil war in 2006-2007? – we have seen Arab leaders and warring factions inflict violence on their own citizens.
After seeing Assad’s cruelty toward the Syrians, the horrors Libyan dictator Kaddafi has unleashed on Libyan civilians, and other atrocities, it’s even more clear that Israel must be victorious against the forces of oppression that surround her. This is battle between a culture of life and peace, and a culture of violence and death — and the fate of the entire civilized world, not just Israel, hangs in the balance.
Comments (0) »Monday, June 20th, 2011 at 2:54 PM | Amichai Farkas
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