Arabs Shed Crocodile Tears

Israel Enforces 3-Year Quarantine of Hamas Stronghold
Activists' Attempt to Break Through Blockade Claims 9 Lives

The extremists of the Arab world, who danced on the streets when thousands of Americans were killed in the September 11 [2001] terrorist acts, are lamenting now over the death of some activists on board of vessels that have been directed by Hamas in an attempt to break the naval blockade of the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip. The blockade has been imposed after Iranian weapons were smuggled into Gaza in circumvention of UN resolutions some 36 months ago.

The flotilla of six vessels, 3 under US and three under Turkish flag was partly organised by a group closely affiliated with Hamas. The US-flagged ships turned away after prompted to do so by the approaching Israeli naval force. Israel has offered to tow the other vessels, with some 700 people on board, into an Israeli harbour and let any 'humanitarian aid' be transported into Gaza over land. Obviously, there was not much room for any "aid of goods" as the vessels were filled to capacity with activists. When Israeli police and military boarded one ship that refused to abort its journey towards Gaza, they were received with an agitated mob of knife and ax wielding hysterics. When first Israeli commandos were injured the force opened fire.



Principally, it is Israel's right and declared policy to defend itself against the threat of a re-armed Hamas terrorist organisation. The knowledge of the naval blockade is known around the world, as is Israel's determination to maintain its tight grip on the terrorist strip of land. The Israeli commandos acted in self-defence and all responsibility for the loss of life lies within the organisers of the law defying flotilla. On board of the three vessels was not a load of "10,000 tons of goods" as claimed by Hamas, but - according to independent observers from 5 countries - a maximum of 15 tons of goods. In the past such 'humanitarian aid' consisted of materials to build missiles, ammunition and explosives.

Hamas are happy with the result of their misdeed to kill yet again. They did not intend to help the civilians that they entrap in Gaza Strip but to "break the blockade as a publicity stunt" according to their own spokesman. It cost nine people their lives. The same Hamas that forced rival Palestinians to jump off buildings to their deaths three years ago feign compassion for the victims of an operation they themselves concocted.

In Britain the BBC spearheads the media blitz to condemn Israel with paradoxal drivel, culminating this morning in an interview of the Israeli Ambassador with newsreader John Humphrys on Radio4, in which an agitated John exclaimed, "but a knife is not a weapon, Mr Ambassador!" How curious, broadcasting from a British city where on average 18 juveniles a year get stabbed to death with non-weaponry such as knives and daggers...

I join Israel in its condemnation of the cynical plot of Hamas to maim and kill, the expressed regret over the loss of life, and especially in praise to maintain Israel's safety and integrity.