I just got off the phone from a ‘New Media’ briefing regarding the flotilla, from Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich of the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit. There were a few interesting themes regarding the nature of the organisations involved and also how Israel will manage press coverage of any confrontation, which I’ll blog about in further detail soon.
When it came to questions, I raised the aspect of this issue that bothers me most. I asked what assurances she could give that enough steps are being taken to prevent Israeli soldiers being harmed at sea.
She replied: ‘We have learned lessons from last year’s flotilla. We have developed different “soft power” tactics, because while our goal is to prevent the ships breaching the maritime blockade, we also want to bring our soldiers back home safely.
‘We don’t want to reach a situation where we have to have any physical contact with the passengers. We are planning to do whatever we can, in whatever way there is, before having to engage physically with the passengers. We don’t want that. But we cannot allow a breaching of the maritime security blockade.
‘By the way, I hear an idea from time to time about inspecting the cargo at sea. There is no possibility to inspect cargo at sea. If they really want to bring the cargo [to Gaza], they should do it through our shore.’ She also cited the Miles For Smile cargo, which quietly transferred cargo to Gaza via Egypt last week, explaining: ‘There is a legal way to do this thing.’
She added that, just in recent weeks, among the many goods that have entered Gaza are hot tubs, Mercedes cars, jeeps and gold jewellery. ‘The situation in Gaza is that they have everything going in that they need,’ she said.
Chas. I share your concern for the soldiers. See report “IDF sources said Monday night that new intelligence information obtained in recent days shows that participants of the flotilla planning to break Israel’s sea blockade over the Gaza Strip later this week plan to kill IDF soldiers who board their ships.
According to the information obtained by the IDF, some of the participants have prepared sacks with sulphur, which they plan to pour on the soldiers as they board the vessels.
“This is a chemical weapon, and if poured on a soldier it can paralyze him,” an IDF source told The Jerusalem Post Monday night. “If the sulfur is then lit on fire, the soldier will light up like a torch.” http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=226829
There was something about this in Arutz7, as well. I think the American ship is going to be the most difficult. I am sad that Netanyahu rescinded the decision to inflict a 10-year ban, as well as other legal penalties, on “journalists” who were on board with them. It is imperative our guys are safe.
Interesting post. Looking forward to hearing more about your call.
Thanks. Will post more asap.
You only seem to care about the wellbeing of Israel’s soldiers. Do the flotilla passengers not count too?
Do tell us
No, the flotilla passengers don’t count.
My concern is for the innocent.
Stan
The thing is, Steven, from Maidstone, you are trying to create equivalence where there is none.
So yes, as Stan and Simon said, my concern is for the brave soldiers who are enforcing a blockade that exists to protect Israeli civilians from terrorist attack, rather than with the band of terror-supporters, misguided do-gooders and bored provokers of the flotilla.
I’d add, Steven, from Maidstone, that I hope there is no confrontation at all – ie I’d like it if this whole vacuous flotilla exercise was cancelled. That would be Chas, from Windsor’s, ideal outcome.
[...] http://www.oyvagoy.com/2011/06/28/we-want-to-bring-the-soldiers-home-safely/ [...]
No Steve, they don’t. They are deliberately attempting to provoke and aggravate an army enforcing a military blockade. If they actually wanted to get stuff into Gaza they can do it perfectly easily through either Ashdod or Egypt.
I wonder how many other journalists ask Avital Leibovich for assurances about the safety of IDF soldiers. And why don’t they publsh pictures of hot tubs and Merecedes or would it be considered propaganda?