The Flotilla....IDF Actions Validated!

[MHz]

As anyone with a functioning intellect that bothered to look up the rules, already knew.

Did you bother? The rules say the ship can be searched at sea and then it is allowed to continue to it's destination. Diverting it to another port is an act of piracy on the high seas, look it up. If you see that as being in error post the relevant text from the 'rules' book.

The Jenin massacre did happen, Israel only objected to the term 'massacre', they didn't deny the actual campaign or the true number of deaths.

You define Hamas as any employee of the Government of Gaza, that makes 'mailmen' qualify as a 'militant'.

Jew haters are much like the enviro weenies that keep protesting logging round here. What is right and legal does not phase them in their quest for donations from the gullible. Their motto is "a lie is as good as the truth if you can get someone to believe it. Better if it gets a donation"

Care to point out anything in the vid that is a lie.

YouTube - ‪Benjamin Freedman's 1961 Speech at the Willard Hotel (Complete)‬‏

 

[Corduroy]

If the United Nations says something is legal, it must be legal - but is it right? We're talking about the UN here.

 

[MHz]

Way to not read the instructions, from the specific UN 'documents on the rules and regulations covering blockades' does it allow a ship to be detoured to another port, let alone anything that goes on after that. Is it legal or not.

Do you need help finding the UN website?

 

[petros]

UN Committee Says Israeli Naval Blockade on Gaza Is Legal
Published 22:13 06.07.11
Latest update 22:13 06.07.11
The UN committee investigating the events of last May's Gaza flotilla, headed by former Prime Minister of New Zealand Geoffrey Palmer, convened Wednesday in New York to conclude the report.

According to a political source in Jerusalem, the final findings of the Palmer Report show that the Israeli naval blockade on Gaza is legal and is in accordance with international law.

The report also sharply criticizes the Turkish government's behavior in its dealings with the committee. Palmer, an expert on international maritime law, added in the report that Israel’s Turkel commission that investigated the events was professional, independent and unbiased.

His findings on the Turkish committee were less favorable, with Palmer concluding that the Turkish investigation was politically influenced and its work was not professional or independent.

On Thursday, the Palmer Committee will present its findings to UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, yet it remains unclear if it will be made public. Turkey is pressuring the UN to delay that release of the investigation's findings, but the report is likely to be made public in the coming days.

The Palmer Committee also criticizes the IHH organization that organized the Gaza flotilla as well as its ties to the Turkish government, suggesting Turkey did not do enough to stop the flotilla.
Israel does not come out of the report unscathed, with the committee concluding that based on testimony given by passengers, the Israeli naval commandos used excessive force. Israel claimed the soldiers acted out of self defense, thereby justifying the use of force.

According to the final draft of the probe, Israel is not asked to apologize to Turkey, but the report does recommend it expresses regret over the casualties. The Palmer Report also doesn't ask Israel to pay compensation, but proposes Israel transfer money to a specially-created humanitarian fund.

Palmer says that although international law permits the interception of ships outside territorial waters, Israel should have taken control of the flotilla when the ships were closer to the limit of the naval blockade – 20 miles off the coast. Israel responded by saying that its interception of the flotilla so far from the coast was due to military and tactical considerations, following the organizers' refusal to stop.

Meanwhile, the efforts to mend relations between Israel and Turkey have reached a deadlock yet again, said a senior political source in Jerusalem on Wednesday. According to the source, talks between Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Turkish senior officials Wednesday in New York ended without conclusive results, and each side remains unrelenting in its stance.

"There is no agreement and no breakthrough on the horizon," said the source. "Everything still depends on the (Turkish demand for an Israeli) apology. The report will be released soon and a compromise seems very unlikely."

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered the Turkish negotiation team not to back down from the demand for an official aplogy. Ya'alon told Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu that Israel will not apologize, but is willing to express sorrow for the flotilla's tragic results.

Over the past two weeks there have been three rounds of negotiations between Ya'alon and Sinirlioglu - two of them took place in Europe and one in New York. They all ended in deadlock

More here......


S/2011/322 of 23 May 2011

 

[Corduroy]

Way to not read the instructions, from the specific UN 'documents on the rules and regulations covering blockades' does it allow a ship to be detoured to another port, let alone anything that goes on after that. Is it legal or not.

Do you need help finding the UN website?

Are you trying to use a UN document as an authority to counter the authority of a UN document? Hmm, it's hard to decide who is right in this situation. Is it the UN or the UN?

One would expect that a normal rational analysis of the documents would lead someone to believe that the UN is full of **** and has no real authority when ruling on international law because it just makes it up and no one actually listens. But since this is about Israel and those on either side of the Israel/Palestine debate are unswerving fanatics for their side, one camp will believe the argument that makes Israel look good and the other the argument that makes them look bad, despite the apparent nullifying authority of both sides' evidence.

When confronted with such a debate, it's smart not to trust the sincerity of those on either side, because they would say anything for their side. You chose the document that supports your hatred of Israel. Why am I not surprised? Why should I even believe your arguments are at all sound when in every case they are saturated with bias?

 

[damngrumpy]

The left are the intolerant racist bastards, Hmmm, a generalization one might say. I take exception
as someone on the left some of the time. I think Israel does go overboard, no reference to the blockade,
but most of the time they are defending themselves from the Muslim hard line Fascist regimes that
surround them. There is no wrong or right in this region only winning and losing.
The other problem I have surrounds the rules of war. My God we have moved into the twenty first
century people and some still believe there are rules of war. The only rules are those put down on paper
that mean nothing to any combatants fighting any war on the planet. In reality no one follows them.
Over and over I see people stating the international laws of war have been violated. People should ask
themselves why they believe any of these laws mean anything.
After WW II people needed something to justify hanging the leadership of the enemy that they could
capture. They came up with the international rules of war and these laws were violated before the ink was
dry.
When attacking Israel, these voice so critical usually leave out the parts about suicide bombers killing
people in the street. That includes Israelis and Palestinians alike. Wonder why we don't hear about these
acts of insanity by the Arabs in the same sentence? These humanitarian aid missions are a smoke screen
for bringing in arms for Hamas and Hezbollah, Personally if Israel just up and sunk the next ship coming in
there would be and end to it all and no more need for a blockade.Sink the ship and jail the survivors for a
period of time.
At the same time the attacks by the political left are not altogether accurate, now it may be true that some
on the left are taking that position. If you go to parts of Europe though the same left as you call it are
hostile to the Arabs in their country and would act on ethnic cleansing in a heartbeat. That is what I find so
strange, some are pro Arab in the Middle East while the hate the same group at home living in their midst.
Before jumping too quickly the right and the left want to throw the Arabs out of many countries in Europe.
We live in a very confused world, with double standards at every turn.

 

[MHz]

The point I'm making is that even blockades have certain rules to be followed if they are deemed to be 'legal' or not. Israel would have the right to board and inspect a ships cargo under a declared blockade. When diverting the ship then Israel was not obeying the 'rest of the rules'. Doe that make the act still legal or not. The UN site is offline but the rules follow the outline below.

(in part)
Sunday's interception raises other legal questions. A 1988 U.N. Convention, to which both Israel and Turkey are parties, prohibits seizure of ships on the high seas or acts of violence against the passengers. Ironically, the treaty was adopted in response to the hijacking of the Achille Lauro in 1985 by Palestinian terrorists.
Is Israel's blockade of Gaza against the law? - By Brian Palmer - Slate Magazine


The UN is used by the West to justify their invasions, when it goes against proposed/desired US goals it it is made ineffectual. The number of veots against Israel should have made that point crystal clear many decades ago.

"You chose the document that supports your hatred of Israel. Why am I not surprised? Why should I even believe your arguments are at all sound when in every case they are saturated with partisan hackery?"
Really, insisting that 'all the rules be followed' is hatred is it? Perhaps your not insisting all the rules be followed is supporting gang activities where no rule of law is followed,. activities in that a few do not have to obey any rules at all and their opposition is not even allowed hand weapons to their own Police force, a target at every opportunity as is any child over the age of 12, as determined through a sniper-scope..

Whose is asking you to take my word for it, go look up the actual guidelines before shooting off your mouth, it would makes thing so much shorter and to the actual point under discussion. Rather than your ramblings try quoting from this document to prove your point.

http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/52d68d14de6160e0c12563da005fdb1b/7694fe2016f347e1c125641f002d49ce

We live in a very confused world, with double standards at every turn.

It is our double standards that are the root of the problems, how many of the guidelines that UN 181 laid out quite clearly have been adhered to, including the war crimes of making 650 local residents 'refugees' within the 1st year of us (Canada) signing that document. Today we don't support one thing that is in that document when it comes to the rights of the Arabs and we do noting but kiss Israel's ass on whatever issue she dictates to Canada. That isn't even a double standard, it is willful slavery.

 

[earth_as_one]

This is the one conflict where I believe Canada's government and most Canadians supports the forces of evil. The Zionist State of Israel is responsible for the cruel oppression and injustice suffered by millions of people. Just because most Canadians are misinformed about this conflict, doesn't change the fact that what is going on here is cruel and that millions of people suffer injustice and oppression.

Some people who support Palestinian freedom and justice are anti-Semitic, just like some people who opposed the racism, oppression and injustice of Apartheid South Africa were anti-White. But the overwhelming majority of people who support Palestinians human rights are compassionate humanitarians. Fundamentally this isn't a left/right issue or even a religious one. This is about the right of people to live in their homes without facing forcible eviction because they aren't the right religion. This is about the right of people to earn a living and unobstructed access to food and medical aid. This is about the right of civilians to live without fear of being attacked and killed by war criminals.

Israel will have peace when they stop their ethnic cleansing to rid Palestine of non-Jewish Palestinians and finally treat non-Jews in the areas they control with dignity, respect and full equal rights.

BTW, Justice Goldstone said that if he had the cooperation of the Israeli government during his fact finding mission, the report would have been different. No doubt, but that's hardly a repudiation.

You can read the Goldstone report here:
United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza conflict

As a result of his involvement in this UN Fact Finding Mission, Justice Goldstone and his family have as been harassed mercilessly by supporters of Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity. Eventually he wrote this article:
Reconsidering the Goldstone Report on Israel and war crimes - The Washington Post

I hope he and his family aren't being harassed anymore, but I doubt it.

In this conflict, both Israelis and Palestinians have committed war crimes. Israel's ethnic cleansing and obstruction of humanitarian food and medical aid destined for 1.4 million Gazans who suffer a sub-Saharan level of poverty as a direct consequence is a crime against humanity. The point of this flotilla is to raise awareness of the injustice and oppression suffered by 1.4 million people as a result of Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Colpy and others here on this forum, like the Harper government unshakably support people in the Israeli government who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. In contrast, I and other compassionate humanitarians support the right of civilians (on both sides) to live in peace. We support universal human rights, freedom and justice. We oppose the war criminals on both sides. Colpy and others on this forum know they can't defend Israel's cruelty, so they attack people like myself who point out the obvious and label us as anti-Semitic Jew haters. I hate no one, not even war criminals or people who commit crimes against humanity. I only want people to be held responsible for their crimes, universal freedom and justice, and the Canadian government to treat all war criminals as war criminals.

 

[Colpy]

This is the one conflict where I believe Canada's government and most Canadians supports the forces of evil. The Zionist State of Israel is responsible for the cruel oppression and injustice suffered by millions of people. Just because most Canadians are misinformed about this conflict, doesn't change the fact that what is going on here is cruel and that millions of people suffer injustice and oppression.

Some people who support Palestinian freedom and justice are anti-Semitic, just like some people who opposed the racism, oppression and injustice of Apartheid South Africa were anti-White. But the overwhelming majority of people who support Palestinians human rights are compassionate humanitarians. Fundamentally this isn't a left/right issue or even a religious one. This is about the right of people to live in their homes without facing forcible eviction because they aren't the right religion. This is about the right of people to earn a living and unobstructed access to food and medical aid. This is about the right of civilians to live without fear of being attacked and killed by war criminals.

Israel will have peace when they stop their ethnic cleansing to rid Palestine of non-Jewish Palestinians and finally treat non-Jews in the areas they control with dignity, respect and full equal rights.

BTW, Justice Goldstone said that if he had the cooperation of the Israeli government during his fact finding mission, the report would have been different. No doubt, but that's hardly a repudiation.

You can read the Goldstone report here:
United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza conflict

As a result of his involvement in this UN Fact Finding Mission, Justice Goldstone and his family have as been harassed mercilessly by supporters of Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity. Eventually he wrote this article:
Reconsidering the Goldstone Report on Israel and war crimes - The Washington Post

I hope he and his family aren't being harassed anymore, but I doubt it.

In this conflict, both Israelis and Palestinians have committed war crimes. Israel's ethnic cleansing and obstruction of humanitarian food and medical aid destined for 1.4 million Gazans who suffer a sub-Saharan level of poverty as a direct consequence is a crime against humanity. The point of this flotilla is to raise awareness of the injustice and oppression suffered by 1.4 million people as a result of Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Colpy and others here on this forum, like the Harper government unshakably support people in the Israeli government who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. In contrast, I and other compassionate humanitarians support the right of civilians (on both sides) to live in peace. We support universal human rights, freedom and justice. We oppose the war criminals on both sides. Colpy and others on this forum know they can't defend Israel's cruelty, so they attack people like myself who point out the obvious and label us as anti-Semitic Jew haters. I hate no one, not even war criminals or people who commit crimes against humanity. I only want people to be held responsible for their crimes, universal freedom and justice, and the Canadian government to treat all war criminals as war criminals.

Well, Earth as One, you are wrong.

Your obsession with the Jewish State speaks volumes.

Israel has committed no war crimes. Their may have been crimes committed by individual soldiers.......and if proven, the IDF charges and punishes them.

The Goldstone Report has been repudiated by Goldstone himself. Now, what do you think it says about your attitude when the author repudiates his own report, but you cling to it with obvious desperation???

Arabs within Israel ARE free......they vote, they elect reps to the Knesset and in municipal elections, if (like any Israeli citizen) they complete honourable military service, they are permitted to carry arms.

Arabs within Gaza are NOT free, because they are ruled by Islamist lunatics that were elected ONCE, five and a half years ago, and have done everything possible to undermine democracy since then. Their mandate is more than exhausted.

Hamas promotes the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a lie perpetrated on the Jewish people, like the blood libel. Hamas is sworn to the destruction of Israel, and the murder of Jews.

Gaza is NOT occupied territory, Israel abandoned it years ago, forcibly taking Jewish settlers with them..........and would have done the same in the West Bank.....except the idiots of Hamas immediately turned Gaza into a launch point for attacks into Israel.

The blockade is legal, according to the United Nations report.

Meanwhile, Syria, since 1982, has murdered several times more Arabs than Israel has killed in battle since 1968.

Israel provides refuge for Palestinian gays from murder by their own people.

Palestine has the eighth worse obesity problem in the world (starving????)

Which are all facts, not rhetoric...............so what does that say about you????

 

[petros]

The Goldstone Report has been repudiated by Goldstone himself. Now, what do
you think it says about your attitude when the author repudiates his own report,
but you cling to it with obvious desperation???

Why would he do that?

 

[gerryh]

The blockade is legal, according to the United Nations report.

So, since the u.n. says it's legal, then we all take the u.n.'s word for it. Can we assume that you back other rulings that the u.n. have made? That you are not just picking and choosing what u.n. rulings you support and what ones you don't?

 

[Colpy]

So, since the u.n. says it's legal, then we all take the u.n.'s word for it. Can we assume that you back other rulings that the u.n. have made? That you are not just picking and choosing what u.n. rulings you support and what ones you don't?

I back nothing the UN says....

I think international law in itself is a bad joke.

But turning a UN Report on these guys is hoisting them with their own petard.........

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

So, since the u.n. says it's legal, then we all take the u.n.'s word for it. Can we assume that you back other rulings that the u.n. have made? That you are not just picking and choosing what u.n. rulings you support and what ones you don't?

I think the quicker we get out of the UN the better, but if the blockade were to be removed the arms would once again flow freely.

 

[earth_as_one]

We've had this discussion already C. I reject oppression and injustice in all forms against all people. You sometimes support it depending on who suffers and benefits re: race/color/religion. I don't believe relative cruelty justifies tolerance for injustice and oppression. You think it does... and so on.

The oppressed in this conflict will eventually gain freedom and justice. They always do... or die trying. Its human nature.

Some facts which indicate that the current cruelty is unsustainable over the long term.

Israel's chosen people have a low birthrate.

Israel's second class citizens and their non-people without human rights in the West Bank and Gaza have a much higher birthrate.

Israel's heinous crimes against all of its neighbors at one time or another, (deliberately attacking civilians, using chemical weapons, using civilians including children literally as human shields to block bullets and search for explosives, torturing and killing POWs, blocking food and medical humanitarian aid...) and live broadcasts of ongoing Israeli atrocities has led to an increasingly hostile environment.

For the record, I don't condemn all Israelis (the people), Jews (the religion) for Israel's (the nation/government) crimes, just like Israel's supporters shouldn't condemn all Palestinians or Arabs for war crimes committed on that side. We should all condemn the criminals on both sides who deliberately violate fundamental human rights. I am well aware that many people involved in the struggle for Palestinian freedom and justice are Jews and Israelis.

The US will collapse economically sooner or later. That collapse will we accompanied by a significant reduction in US military and economic aid for Israel and friendly dictators who support Israel and turn a blind eye toward Palestinian suffering.

Egyptians and Jordanians lack democratic freedoms as a direct consequence of US/Israeli military and economic aid for their dictators. Eventually these states will overthrow their dictators and replace them with representative governments, which reflects their attitudes regarding Israel, not US/Israeli foreign policy.

Israel has little to no influence on China which will become the dominant world economic (and military) power. Their middle east foreign policies are based access to resources. Their leaders are not influenced by Christian perceptions of Israel, Jews or Muslims.

Eventually Israel will have to support itself militarily and economically without anything more than the token help of a former superpower or the cooperation of friendly dictatorships near its borders.

Israel's adversaries continue to grow more wealthy and powerful. They will eventually acquire tactical and strategic parity with Israel. Iran (which is hostile to the state of Israel, not Jews) will acquire the ability to destroy Israel without nuclear weapons, creating a MAD relationship. Iran, Syria and wealthy powerful people though out the middle east (Pakistan, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen... ) and the world are currently engaged in an indirect proxy war with Israel. As a result of this economic and military support, the Palestinian resistance continues to receive improved quality and quantity of arms and training. Militarily, the long term trend is against Israel.

The current course leads inevitably to Israel's violent destruction and that gives me no sense of pleasure or satisfaction. I'd like to see a peaceful resolution to this conflict where civilians are not harmed by criminals. The Gaza flotilla is part of an international humanitarian effort to pressure Israel into obeying international laws, treaties and conventions. Effectively... part of the effort to end this conflict peacefully. So is the subject of this column:
http://fcnl.org/blog/2c/highlighting_the_importance_of_nonviolent_resistance_to_israeli_occupation/

BTW, its not just all of Israel's neighbors that grow increasing hostile toward the US/Israel policy regarding Palestinian oppression and injustice. The entire world grows increasing sympathetic for Palestinian justice and freedom. These flotillas indicate that the world is starting to pay attention to the details of this conflict.

 

[taxslave]

We've had this discussion already C. I reject oppression and injustice in all forms against all people. You sometimes support it depending on who suffers and benefits re: race/color/religion. I don't believe relative cruelty justifies tolerance for injustice and oppression. You think it does... and so on.

The oppressed in this conflict will eventually gain freedom and justice. They always do... or die trying. Its human nature.

Some facts which indicate that the current cruelty is unsustainable over the long term.

Israel's chosen people have a low birthrate.

Israel's second class citizens and their non-people without human rights in the West Bank and Gaza have a much higher birthrate.

Israel's heinous crimes against all of its neighbors at one time or another, (deliberately attacking civilians, using chemical weapons, using civilians including children literally as human shields to block bullets and search for explosives, torturing and killing POWs, blocking food and medical humanitarian aid...) has resulted in a hostile environment.

For the record, I don't condemn all Israelis (the people) for Israel's (the nation/government) crimes, just like Israel's supporters shouldn't condemn all Palestinians or Arabs for war crimes committed on that side. We should all condemn the criminals on both sides who deliberately violate fundamental human rights.

The US will collapse economically sooner or later. That collapse will we accompanied by a significant reduction in US military and economic aid for Israel and the friendly dictators.

Egyptians and Jordanians lack democratic freedoms as a direct consequence of US/Israeli military and economic aid for their dictators. Eventually these states will overthrow their dictators and replace them with representative governments, which reflects their attitudes regarding Israel, not US/Israeli foreign policy.

Israel has little to no influence on China which will become the dominant world economic (and military) power. Their middle east foreign policies are based access to resources. Their leaders are not influenced by Christian perceptions of Israel, Jews or Muslims.

Eventually Israel will have to support itself militarily and economically without anything more than the token help of a former superpower or the cooperation of friendly dictatorships near its borders.

Israel's adversaries continue to grow more wealthy and powerful. They will eventually acquire tactical and strategic parity with Israel. Iran (which is hostile to the state of Israel, not Jews) will acquire the ability to destroy Israel without nuclear weapons, creating a MAD relationship. They will fight an indirect proxy war. The Palestinian resistance continues to receive improved quality and quantity of arms and training. Today, all of Israel is within the range of the new class of rockets smuggled into Gaza, southern Lebanon and elsewhere... Militarily the long term trend is against Israel.

The current course leads inevitably to Israel's violent destruction and that gives me no sense of pleasure or satisfaction. I'd like to see a peaceful resolution to this conflict where civilians are not harmed by criminals. The Gaza flotilla is part of an international humanitarian effort to pressure Israel into obeying international laws, treaties and conventions. Effectively... part of the effort to end this conflict peacefully. So is the subject of this column:
FCNL: Nonviolent Resistance to Israeli Occupation

BTW, its not just all of Israel's neighbors that grow increasing hostile toward the US/Israel policy regarding Palestinian oppression and injustice. The entire world grows increasing sympathetic for Palestinian justice and freedom. These flotillas indicate that the world is starting to pay attention to the details of this conflict.

The Israelis ARE the aggrieved party. It is only you jew haters that refuse to admit this fact.

 

[earth_as_one]

I think the quicker we get out of the UN the better, but if the blockade were to be removed the arms would once again flow freely.

Arms currently reach Gaza through smuggler's tunnels, not through official border crossings and is not affected by Israel's humanitarian aid blockade.

Obstructing food and medical humanitarian aid entering Gaza through official border crossings is a crime against humanity and has nothing to do with arms smuggling. Israel's economic blockade which interferes with the ability of Gazans to export cut flowers, strawberries and other goods and services, though official border crossings is collective punishment and has nothing to do with arms smuggling. Israel's taxation of all goods and services flowing into and out of Gaza which is withheld by the Israeli government from the Palestinan people is a form of theft and has nothing to do with arms smuggling.

 

[MHz]

I think the quicker we get out of the UN the better, but if the blockade were to be removed the arms would once again flow freely.

LOL, we can't even get our troops out of Afghanistan, let alone have any say on if they get sent into Lybia. We alraedy took ourselves out of the UN when we started boycotting human rights conferences because it would make Israel look bad if she was the only one not to attend.
We never did back up anything in UN 181 so what makes us ever a member?

The Israelis ARE the aggrieved party. It is only you jew haters that refuse to admit this fact.

Tell me again how some letters being delivered to Gaza directly is a threat to Israel?

Interference with the mail used to be a hanging offense, knocking over a rural-mailbox is still a federal crime.

 

[earth_as_one]

The Israelis ARE the aggrieved party. It is only you jew haters that refuse to admit this fact.

The old "attack Israel's critics with anti-Semitism" smear. It even has a reference in wikipedia:
Criticism of the Israeli government - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I agree with this Jew regarding your "jew hater" comment in response to my criticism of Israel war crimes and crimes against humanity:
Palestine Monitor - Anti Anti Semitism With*(...)

I agree with this Jewish group:

About Us | Jews for Justice for Palestinians

I recommend this Israeli human rights group as a source of information regarding this conflict:
http://www.btselem.org/about_btselem

I often read this Israeli Jew's column:
http://www.haaretz.com/misc/writers/gideon-levy-1.402

While some criticism of Israel is based on anti-Semitism, I reject religious based discrimination/oppression. I fact that's why I oppose the Zionist state of Israel, which openly practices religious based discrimination, oppression and injustice.

I'm agnostic and don't see one religion as being superior or inferior to others. A person's religion is their personal business, not mine. I judge people by their actions, not their race, religion, sex, sexual orientation...

 

[petros]

I think the quicker we get out of the UN the better, but if the blockade were to be removed the arms would once again flow freely.

Ever heard of Darra? Why would Gazans lack the skills of those in Darra?

There will always be ams in Gaza. Blockades aren't going to make them go away.

 

[earth_as_one]

A little sanity regarding the Gaza bound flotilla by Haartz columnist Gideon Levy:

Israel has become a society of force and violence

What will Israelis think about when they are spoon-fed scary stories about the flotilla, if not about the use of force? Those activists want to kill IDF soldiers? We'll arise and kill them first.

By Gideon Levy

Israel has become a society of force and violence - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News