It’s been an upsetting week but this evening’s pro-Israel demonstration in London was not only well-attended and effective, but also therapeutic. On a personal note it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and also to meet lots of Oy Va Goy readers including regular commenter CityCa, the very brilliant and glamorous Stephanie Gutmann and many more. I also met the legendary Joel Weiner which was great and I had some lovely chats with some Lubavitchers.

It was encouraging that so many of us turned up to show our support for Israel. I took this photo which shows how colourful and lively the demonstration was:

On a different note my fellow blogger Richard Millett took this photo which shows me getting my butt squeezed by a total stranger:

Kol Hakovod to all who attended and arranged the demonstration. Let’s make ourselves heard as a movement more often. Oh, and in case you hadn’t guessed I’m feeling a whole lot better now.

Update: There is a brief video of the demo here.

Just Journalism has collected the various video clips of the flotilla incident, some of which was filmed by the flotilla passengers themselves.

First, a flotilla passenger speaks of his desire to become a ‘shahid’ (suicide martyr). You can watch the flotilla passengers prepare their weapons ahead of the IDF raid here and see a selection of their weapons here.

Watch the flotilla passengers attack the IDF before they even boarded the boat here and then watch the on-board attack on the IDF here and here.

These were not peace activists they were savages. To call these people peace activists demeans everyone who has ever worked for peace throughout human history.

A lot of people have asked me when I am going to write something about the flotilla incident. I suppose it’s nice that people want to know what I think about it, but I’ll be honest and say that I’ve been way too upset by it to write anything. So I’ve been posting other people’s thoughts which were all far more eloquent and important than anything I could have mustered up the will to write.

I’m still not feeling up to commenting at any real length but a few people have started asking whether my personal quietness on the issue is because I’m angry with Israel about what happened. So I feel I need to write and say clearly that I am 100 per cent with Israel on this.

Of course I am. The flotilla incident represents in microcosm so much of the narrative of what Israel has faced throughout its history.

1) A gang of murderous savages hid behind a humanitarian mission statement, while setting out on a mission not to build but to demonise and destroy. (cf. Successive Palestinian terror and ‘resistance’ groups and their backers.)

2) Israel calmly explained what the flotilla needed to do only to have its clear and fair offer flatly rejected by one of the boats. (cf. Arafat’s rejection of Barak’s offer at Camp David.)

3) The commandos arrived on the boat peacefully and with optimism but were immediately and savagely attacked. (cf. The attacks from five neighbouring armies on the state of Israel on its first day of existence.)

4) Even with this savage attack underway on the commandos they waited an astonishing length of time before finally responding. (cf. The years of thousands of rockets fired into southern Israel before it finally responded in 2008/09.)

5) In response to the incident the world immediately created and followed a demonstrably untrue narrative, all the better to demonise Israel. (cf. Where to start?)

I’m not sure why this incident has shaken me so much. I suppose it is partly because the videos of what those commandos went through were so painfully, horribly upsetting to watch. I know of the savagery that Israel has faced throughout its existence but rarely do those of us outside the country witness such savagery so starkly.

I think the other reason I’ve been so upset is that I’ve lost a part of my innocence when it comes to my view of Israel’s opponents and critics around the world. I was always loathed to  jump to extreme interpretations of what motivated people to be so strong, blindly and uniquely hostile to Israel. I liked to believe people were usually not antisemitic or even nasty. I believed they were simply misguided and ill-informed. That they were a quick lesson away from a more fair approach.

But people around the world have seen the videos of what the commandos faced on those boats and still many are refusing to accept what happened. They are still angrily, aggressively rounding on Israel in astonishing defiance of absolutely clear-cut evidence. I fear for these people and I fear these people.

My valued readers are always so generous with their encouragement and praise. People say they enjoy that I often manage to be upbeat, optimistic or witty, even when tackling difficult issues. I can’t be any of those things at the moment. I’m full of pessimism and exasperation. I don’t think I’ve ever been so unhappy.

But, most importantly, my thoughts and prayers remain with the injured commandos and their families.

This is a crosspost from Elan Miller at Destination Israel.

The events off the coast of Gaza in the early hours of Monday morning were a significant moment in the history of the State of Israel. More than that, they were a dual tragedy.

Before we go any further, it must be made abundantly clear that neither I nor anyone I know rejoices in the deaths of these activists. It is not in our nature to celebrate the deaths of anyone, not even those who were part of a group that had earlier chanted “Khaybar Khaybar ya yahud, Jaish Muhammad saya’ud,” meaning “Jews remember Khaybar, the army of Mohammed is returning,” a reference to a seventh-century Muslim massacre and expulsion of Jews from Khaybar, which is in modern-day Saudi Arabia. Despite this despicable loathsomeness, with the benefit of hindsight, I’d much rather that the ships had safely docked in Gaza than lives being needlessly wasted.

At the time of going to press, 15 people have died as a result of the IDF’s boarding the flotilla as it approached Gaza, but this does not mean that I criticize the actions of the IDF. Neither do I reserve criticism of the actions of these “human rights” activists. Taking a glance at some of the headlines from the world media, one would be forgiven that Israel had stormed aid ships for no particular reason. “Deadly clashes at sea as Israel intercepts Gaza-bound aid ships,” reports the Times of London. “10 Reported Killed as Israel Raids Boats Headed to Gaza” announces the New York Times.

Even reading the headline on the Jerusalem Post, “At least 15 activists dead, dozens hurt in flotilla clashes”, it is hard to get away from the pervading sense of injustice felt from that now all too familiar of situations; Israeli troops acting heavy-handedly and killing unarmed civilians. Irrespective of whether their actions were right or wrong, the balance appears so lop-sided, peace activists on the one hand and soldiers on the other, that most people’s minds are made up well before they read the articles themselves.

But a serious question lies at the heart of the affair. How and why did a supposedly passive peace demonstration turn rowdy to the degree for the military forces who had boarded the boat to feel threatened enough to open fire? The answer has been stated repeatedly of the last few days and stares us in the face: these were no peace activists. These were no human rights activists, these people had a very clear agenda in mind: the delegitimization of Israel.

Much has been said of this deligitimization of Israel, but what is it? What is being delegitimized, exactly? Well, Israel’s right to defense, for one. When every single defense operation is questioned, criticized and consequently condemned, we would do well to realize that we are witnessing the systematic denial of Israel’s right to defend herself.

Similarly, when events like the death of Mohammed Al-Dura in 2000, the so-called “Massacre in Jenin” in 2002, the bombing of Hezballah forces in Qana, Lebanon in 2006, and the “disproportional” Israeli offensive on Hamas in Operation Cast Lead are spun out of all proportion, we must understand that the damage done to Israel’s image is long lasting and its ability to strike out at terrorists is being methodically wiped out.

There’s one question I’ve asked myself repeatedly over the last few years: “And how would you handle it?” I’ve imagined this question being asked of Kofi Annan, Barack Obama, Gordon Brown and now I ask it of these activists and their supporters. Maybe Israel’s actions aren’t always correct, but Israel has the sovereign right to act in the way it deems fit. If you don’t like the way we deal with terrorists, how about proposing an alternative solution to prevent Hamas proliferating its stockpile of military grade weaponry? If you don’t like human shields, and you shouldn’t if you care about human rights, how do you propose that the IDF tackles Hamas, an extremist group bent on Israel’s destruction that also happens to make extensive use of this tactic?

News agencies worldwide reported that the Israeli Navy stormed a flotilla carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists and tons of supplies for Gaza on Monday morning. But they didn’t give more than passing mention to the fact that these pro-Palestinian activists had intentionally and deliberately provoked the IDF into acting. Amid reports from the IDF which claims that soldiers were met by well-planned lynch involving concealed handguns, knives, bats and metal pipes, we would do well to note that prior to boarding the flotilla, Maj. Gen. Eliezer Marom, Commander of the Israeli Navy, briefed the forces who participated in the interception of these protest boats, and called on them not be dragged into provocations with the passengers of the ship.

Referring to previous experience with such protesters, Marom explained that no matter what “provocation that they may create, and there are here a number of soldiers that participated in past events, for example to throw cigarettes, spitting, cursing, and so forth; we do not respond to these types of actions.” While Marom correctly identified these “peace activists” as paradoxically unpleasant to deal with, even he could not have predicted that there would be those amongst their number who would attempt to steal the soldiers’ guns, let alone stab them. But that is precisely what occurred. For us to regard these people as genuine peace activists would be a real tragedy.

Gen. Maj. Marom explained that “we have no intention of harming any of these people”, but that was sadly not the case with the activists. Beyond physically hurting the soldiers, their intention to give Israel’s image a good hiding could not be clearer. We may call them pro-Palestinian activists, but that would be a fib, for they had plenty of other options available to them, but instead went for the cheap PR stunt. And yet the PR stunt is the one way that wins. Israel yet again emerges as the loser, it’s entitlement to protect its population damaged. Worse still, this affair sets a dangerous precedent. Even after the criticism has faded and the media move on to the next big story, Israel will be left with at least 15 “Rachel Corries” to explain, 15 more images of Israeli unfairness, injustice, violent excess. No matter whether they foolishly tried to provoke a soldier in their last moments, they will become icons for the anti-Israel movement.

The events off the coast of Gaza in the early hours of Monday morning were a dual tragedy. People died, and for that I grieve. But if Israel’s right to defend itself continues to be eroded, and if a precedent has been set here, more people will die. And that would be an even greater tragedy.

Tomorrow evening (Wednesday 2nd June) the ZF will be holding a demonstration to show support for Israel. We will be meeting at the Israeli Embassy (2 Palace Green, London, W8 4QB) at 19.00 on Wednesday 2nd June. Please bring flags.

This will be a peaceful demonstration to support Israel’s right to defend itself, as well as asking for fairer media coverage. This is done in coordination with the CST and Police. Please forward these details to your contacts and encourage attendance.

This a speech by Jonathan Hoffman to the Israel Support Rally at Downing Street on May 31, 2010.

My friends,

We have all spent today glued to the screens trying to piece together what happened in the seas off the Israeli coast early this morning.

The first point to make is that Israel had every right to board the Mavi Marmara ship. Israel cannot allow unknown goods and people to enter Gaza. Gaza is controlled by Hamas, a terrorist regime that calls for the murder of Jews, the “obliteration” of Israel and its replacement with an Islamist theocracy. In the past, Israel has intercepted weapons-laden boats headed for Gaza’s coast. No government allows unidentified people and goods to flout their border regulations and enter their countries freely. If these activists behaved similarly at passport and security control in the U.S. or any other nation’s shores, ignoring their official protocol and violently attacking security personnel, they would also have been stopped and arrested.

The flotilla is organised by the Insani Yardim Vakfi, IHH, “humanitarian relief fund”).

In 2006 a Danish research institute called the Danish Institute for International Studies conducted a study which reported that in the past IHH had connections with Al-Qaeda and global jihad operatives. The well-documented study was conducted by Evan Kohlman, an American researcher who specialises in Al-Qaeda and related subjects. It deals with the involvement of Islamic charity funds and foundations in supporting terrorism. The IHH is an extremist Islamist organisation supporting global Jihad, and in this regard is no different from al-Qaeda and Hamas.

In recent years, especially since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, IHH has supported Hamas’ propaganda campaigns by organising public support conferences in Turkey. At those conferences, which featured the participation of senior IHH figures, the heads of IHH expressed their support for Hamas and its strategy (including the armed struggle it espouses), in defiance of the Palestinian Authority, Hamas’ rival.

IHH is a member of the Union of Good, an umbrella organization of more than 50 Islamic funds and foundations around the globe, which channels money into Hamas institutions in the Palestinian Authority-administered territories. As a Union of Good member IHH has connections with other worldwide Islamic funds and foundations which support Hamas. Israel outlawed IHH because of its affiliation with the Union of Good and because it is an important factor in Hamas’ global fund raising.

So this is the organisation that is behind this flotilla. An organization that also refused a request from Gilad Shalit’s family to take a package to him in Gaza.

I quote from the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (12 June 1994): “It is permissible under rule 67(a) to attack neutral vessels on the high seas when the vessels “are believed on reasonable grounds to be carrying contraband or breaching a blockade, and after prior warning they intentionally and clearly refuse to stop, or intentionally and clearly resist visit, search or capture.”

The flotilla was warned about breaching Israeli security regulations and was offered by both Israel and Egypt the opportunity to unload its humanitarian cargo in Ashdod and at Port Said – then it would be checked and then admitted to Gaza like all humanitarian goods. And let’s remember that the allegations of collective punishment and an Israeli blockade of Gaza are nonsense. Israel transfers about 15,000 tons of supplies and humanitarian aid every week to the people of Gaza.
But the Mavi Marmara ignored many warnings and sailed into a closed Israeli military zone.

The brave IDF soldiers were lowered onto the Mavi Marmara by helicopter. There is agonising footage taken from the helicopter which you may have seen of one of them being lowered onto the boat and then immediately assaulted and thrown onto the lower deck. He is clubbed with what looks like an iron bar. And then a large metal object. The so-called humanitarian passengers of the boat then try to kidnap him – like they kidnapped Gilad Shalit. Then they throw a stun grenade at the IDF soldiers and then a firebomb. This is all in the video. There is more footage from Channel Ten in Israel this morning which shows an IDF soldier being attacked by a knife.

The brave IDF soldiers tried to board the Mavi Marmara peaceably. Because the organisers of the flotilla had said they would resist peacefully. Israel took them at their word. At first the Israeli soldiers tried to use “paintball rifles” such as are used to disperse minor protests, such as the ones held in Bilin on a Friday about the separation barrier. They did have hanguns but they were to be used only as a last resort, to ensure minimum casualties. They would only use them in a life-threatening situation.

And that is what happened. It can be seen in the footage from the helicopter and from the side of the boat. Their lives were threatened. The “peaceful” humanitarians used knives, stun grenades, firebombs and metal pipes. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel said in his Press conference this morning that two guns were used.

Nevertheless when they came down from the helicopter, the brave IDF soldiers kept on shouting to each other “don’t shoot, don’t shoot,” even though they sustained numerous blows.

The result was tragic loss of life which we all regret. Some of the pro-Palestinian activists dies and five IDF soldiers were wounded, two critically. The wounded – and that includes violent activists – are receiving medical treatment in Israeli hospitals.

People of good will everywhere should condemn the violence perpetrated by the so-called “humanitarians” on those soldiers as they came down from the helicopter. It is on film for all to see. We call on the new UK coalition government to condemn the violence used by these so called “peace activists” who are a handicap to those in both Israel and Gaza who want to coexist in peace. We say “yes to peace, no to Hamas; yes to peace, no to extremism.”

But above all we salute the bravery of the IDF soldiers who carried out this operation. We wish those who are wounded a Refuah Shlehma, a speedy recovery. We salute their bravery and the bravery of all the IDF soldiers who keep Israel safe, who have done so for 62 years and who will go on doing so, whatever the provocation, whatever the slurs in the media and whatever the lies put out by our enemies.

G-d Bless the IDF.

This speech was originally published on CifWatch.