BICOM

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday defended Israel’s right to work against the planned flotilla to Gaza. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for Israel Air Force pilots, the prime minister characterised the flotilla as an attempt to open up a permanent naval route into Gaza that would then serve as an additional means for smuggling weaponry into the Hamas-led Gaza enclave. Netanyahu said that Israel was sometimes required not only to fight its enemies, but also to defend its very right to defend itself. In this regard, he thanked US and European leaders for speaking against the ‘provocation flotilla.’ The prime minister also thanked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, and singled out Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou for praise.

The prime minister’s words came as the remaining ships due to take part in the flotilla assembled in Greece. They are expected to depart over the next couple of days. An Irish ship, the MV Saoirse, has been forced to pull out of the flotilla, after damage was discovered on the vessel. A Swedish-Greek-Norwegian ship, the Juliano, is still undergoing repairs. Irish pro-Palestinian activists have accused Israel of being responsible for the damage. Activists are planning a demonstration outside the Israeli embassy in Dublin today.

Palestinian businessmen in Gaza, meanwhile, were dismissive of the flotilla initiative. In a conversation quoted in Ynetnews, Salah Ayash, who owns a textile factory, said that the problem for Gazans was not shortages, but rather difficulties in exporting goods. The flotilla is now down to 350 participants – far less than the projected 1500 that its organisers had predicted would be involved.

For further details regarding the flotilla:

• BICOM Gaza Flotilla information centre
• BICOM Briefing: Israel seizes weapons shipment
• BICOM Focus: Hamas’s weapons smuggling
• BICOM Briefing: The Turkel Committee findings