Israel Navy attempted to enforce Gaza blockade, provided warning, and then was attacked

It is always upsetting to hear about the loss of life. However, this morning, the Israeli Navy announced to the Gaza flotilla, carrying, what they claim, to be supplies to provide humanitarian aid.

While I will acknowledge the situation inside Gaza is an unfortunate situation, the blockade is understandable. First, it is one thing if one country, Israel, is doing this; however, a fact lost in the discussion, is the this blockade is being supported by and enforced by Egypt as well.

Second, that this organization and groups of organization has been linked to terrorist organizations that support the work of Hamas and other Islamic terrorist activities, according to the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center's report (click here for the report and click here for the follow up report). As if one needed any further evidence of this connection, only days ago, Palestinian Media Watch released this report video below:



Earlier this morning, according to a report by London's Telegraph, Israeli Navy ships went out and made the following announcement to the flotilla:



When the ships did not respond, troops where flow in to enforce the blockade. The Israeli Navy released this shocking footage:

Without sound


With sound


It is clear that after seeing these videos and this report from Reuters, the Israeli Navy troops where acting in self defense.

***************************UPDATE*************************

Here are some pictures of what was recovered from the flotilla from the IDF Spokesperson blog.





Video:


****************** Update #2 06/01/2010 ***********************

Israeli Navy soldier describes what happened on the ship



**************** Update #3 06/01/2010 1:27PM EST *******************

Video of Israeli troops being fired at:



Another video showing the true aim of the flotilla:



*********************** Update #3 06/01/10 7:29PM EST **************************

More video of what was found on the ship that was used to attack the Israeli Navy soldiers:



******************* Update #4 06/01/10 10:20PM **********************************

According to the Jerusalem Post, the goods that the flotilla were carrying were not in shortage in Gaza. For more info, click here for the full report.

****************** Update #5 06/02/10 ***********************************

As this video clearly shows, Israeli Navy soldiers were being attacked before they even were on the ship (recovered video from an activist on the ship):



***************** Update #6 06/02/10 12:26PM ********************

According to the IDF Spokesperson's official blog, Hamas is currently refusing delivery of the aid from the flotilla to go into Gaza. See full blog post here.

**************** Update #7 06/02/10 1:17PM **********************

More video of "humanitarians" preparing to attack Israeli Navy troops



************* Update #8 06/02/10 7:55 AM **********************

Israel has released a couple of new videos, providing further evidence that the flotilla was not intent on carrying aid to Gaza, but prepared to fight, and even kill, Israeli's.

First, weapons and footage of passengers preparing the weapons:



Second, video of a passenger talking to Iranian government controlled Press TV talking about what he wants to be on this "humanitarian mission." I wonder if it is to be a good person?

90% of Arab/Muslim Nations surveyed view Jews "unfavorably."

The Pew Research Center, "an independent, non-partisan public opinion research organization that studies attitudes toward politics, the press and public policy issues," has released polling numbers conducted in Muslim/Arab countries and the numbers, while not surprising considering their "educational programming" (see here) and textbooks that they teach children with (see here), that they view the Jews "unfavorably." The numbers speak for themselves (click here for full article):

"In the predominantly Muslim nations surveyed, views of Jews were overwhelmingly unfavorable. Nearly all in Jordan (97 percent), the Palestinian territories (97%) and Egypt (95%) held an unfavorable view. Similarly, 98% of Lebanese expressed an unfavorable opinion of Jews, including 98% among both Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims, as well as 97% of Lebanese Christians.

By contrast, only 35% of Israeli Arabs expressed a negative opinion of Jews, while 56% voiced a favorable opinion.

The survey was conducted between May 18 to June 16, 2009.

The sample size of each of the countries surveyed was over 1,000 people and the margin of error was 3%. Results for the surveys in these nations are based on face-to-face interviews conducted under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International. All surveys are based on national samples, except in Pakistan where the sample was disproportionately urban."

While I am a proponent of real & lasting peace, the numbers here clearly show us a picture of the Middle East where Israel continues to be ready for negotiations (see here and here) and the Arab/Muslim countries in the region show that only through killing innocent people, more so Jews, Israelis and Americans (see here), they could continue this process of radicalization and leading their citizens to thoughts and beliefs in racism, bigotry, and Antisemitism.

Hamas attacks Christians in Gaza

The following is a news report from Israel about attacks against Christians in Gaza.

Obama & Swastika images carved into green at Massachusetts golf course

Where is Gilad Shalit?

A few weeks ago, Israel released 20 females prisoners (prison officials said these women were at the end of their prison sentences and no longer a threat) in exchange for a video showing Gilad Shalit alive and well:



However, one video that wasn't shown involving Gilad Shalit shows, if anything, that Hamas and other terrorist organizations plan on using this technique of kidnapping Israeli soldiers to get what they want, as shown in this disturbing video, broadcast on April 21, 2009 on Hamas Television:

The Goldstone Report and the latest blood libel against the Jewish State

Israel's most recent defensive measures in Gaza against Hamas have been deemed a violation of human rights, according to the Goldstone report. The report has been used by Israel bashers left and right as an "independent resource" from a Jewish person (Richard Goldstone, the head of the committee) as proof of "Israeli aggression" against Palestinians. Here are some of the other remarks at a recent meeting of the UN Human Rights Council. Take note not just on the remarks themselves, but also of who is saying it. You will also here from Ms. Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute of Human Rights and the Holocaust and the Hudson Institute:

Swastika painted outside Congressman's Office

Each summer brings it own "flavor." Last summer, we had the 2008 Presidential campaigns. This summer, it's about Healthcare reform. Now, I'm not going to give any opinion on health care reform, but in recent days things have been getting out of hand. Take for example the case of Rep. David Scott (D-GA 13th), whose office in Georgia found a Swastika was painted outside his office. His staff called the police and Capitol Police in Washington, DC have been notified of the incident and continue to beef up security as the protests get louder and, to some extent, more violent. Rep. Scott also said that he's been getting hate mail which uses the "n word" and makes claims that President Obama is a Marxist.


While I will not give an opinion on healthcare reform or on President Obama, going to calling them critics racial slurs and swastikas, something clearly has gone too far. So if you want to be critical, be critical, but don't allow yourself to fall into that trap of racism and bigotry. Stick to the politics.