Jun 20, 2011
JCRC Reports on Flotilla and Fly-In
A year after a flotilla of anti-Israel ships attempted to break the legally sanctioned naval blockade of Gaza, resulting in a confrontation with the Israeli Navy, a second flotilla has been blocked by Greek officials from sailing to Gaza from Greek ports. Now pro-Palestinian activists are planning a mass “fly-in” at Ben-Gurion Airport July 8-16.
As the story unfolds, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation is providing the following informational update and resources shared through its partnerships with The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and its Israel Action Network (IAN), as well as other entities. Members of Miami’s Jewish community are encouraged to share these resources with others.
July 6, 2011 – From The Jewish Federations of North America:
Several boats taking part in the planned flotilla to Gaza, including the U.S. boat “The Audacity of Hope,” were barred from leaving a Greek port on July 1 by the Greek coast guard. The captain of “The Audacity of Hope” was briefly arrested by Greek officials for violating orders and flotilla participants rejected a Greek offer to transport all humanitarian aid through proper, legal channels. These actions adhere to Israel’s legally sanctioned maritime blockade off the coast of the Gaza Strip, which aims to block attempts to smuggle weapons to terrorists and deter further missile attacks into southern Israel from Gaza...
The Greek government displayed great leadership and a genuine commitment towards achieving a peaceful solution that meets the needs of both Palestinians and Israelis alike.
According to the IAN, Israeli officials are now preparing for another new tactic by pro-Palestinian activists in the propaganda war against Israel – this time a potential mass fly-in.
Hundreds of activists are reportedly planning to join a "Welcome to Palestine" fly-in, July 8-16. Organizers are asking participants to fly to Ben-Gurion International Airport and declare upon arrival that they are heading to “Palestine.” Once they land, they have scheduled tours in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron, the Jordan Valley and Jerusalem.
Israel’s Internal Security Ministry and Israeli police have started preparing for various scenarios, including the possibility that hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists will fly into Israel with the sole purpose of disrupting the airport’s operations and stirring a media sensation.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking this potential scenario seriously and believes that pro-Palestinian activists have every intention to cause a ruckus for the sheer sake of garnering the media attention. Israel’s Public Security Minister, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, has vowed that Israel will refuse entry to any fly-in ‘hooligans’ and will deport them to their home countries.
Important points to keep in mind include the following:
- The only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is around the negotiating table, through direct unconditional talks. The Israeli government has long offered to resume such negotiations.
- Such actions as the flotillas and fly-in are meant to demonize, embarrass and isolate Israel, and will not help the Palestinian cause: On the contrary, such actions only distract from the real issues and make it harder to deal with already difficult and complicated questions.
- Such actions mislead the Palestinians into thinking that international pressure will achieve statehood, rather than through negotiations.
For more information about the flotilla or fly-in, click one of the links below.
Haaretz Israel intercepts sole remnant of flotilla heading for Gaza
Israeli Navy Intercepts Last Boat from Gaza Flotilla
124 pro-Palestinian activists arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport
UN report: Gaza blockade legal, Israel doesn't owe Turkey apology for Marmara .
JTA – Stop pro-Palestinian ‘fly-in’ activists, Bibi orders
Yediot Aharonot (Ynet) – Fly-ins to take place of flotillas?
Jerusalem Post – Aharonovitch: Fly-in ‘hooligan’ activists will be deported.
Updates from The Israel Project
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View previous flotilla story on JewishMiami.org.
