Flotilla again?
This letter was published in the Jewish Chronicle May 13, 2011:
Sir:
There are reports that a flotilla of ships is assembling in Turkey in order to again attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. The ostensible reasons for this action is that the blockade of Gaza by Israel is illegal and there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In fact, the blockade is perfectly legal under international law when there is a state of war existing between Hamas in Gaza and Israel, and there is in fact no humanitarian crisis in Gaza as attested to by the ICRC representative. Israel allows copious amounts of food and medical supplies into Gaza, as well as water, oil and building supplies. Also, the crossing between Gaza and Egypt at Rafah is now open for all deliveries. There is in fact no legal or rational reason for this flotilla except to cause a provocation and receive publicity.
I and many others would be more persuaded that the organizers of this flotilla were really motivated by "humanitarian" considerations if they were planning to sail to Misratah in Libya or Banias in Syria, where there are real and well-documented cases of human rights abuses and the need for food and medical supplies is indeed urgent. Why don't these so-called "international peace activists" actually try to do some good for humans who are really suffering?
Sincerely
Jack Cohen
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Since I did not have space to include all the details, here is the statement by Mathilde Redmatn, the deputy head of the Intl. Comm. of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza: "There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. If you go to the supermarket there are products....the problem is mainly maintenance of infrastructure..." as reported in The Jerusalem Post May 15, 2011.
The question of whether or not there is a de jure "state of war" between Israel and Gaza under Hamas control is irrelevant. In fact a state of war exists de facto, for the following reasons: 1. Hamas is responsible for the firing of ca. 12,000 rockets and other missiles at Israeli territory from Gaza over a period of ca. 10 years. 2. In response to this and other provocations Israel unleashed the Operation Cast Lead in 2008, which amounted to an actual war. 3. Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU and Israel, and refuses to recognize the existence of the State of Israel and in its Covenant and many statements threatens to destroy the State. 4. Strictly speaking a war situation does not have to exist or be declared only between two states, a state such as the US or UK can be at war with a terrorist organization such as al Qaeda or the Taliban. This has occurred many times in history, such as the war between the British Army and the Burmese guerillas or the Kenyan Mau-Mau or between Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers.
It is a sorry fact that after 63 years a large proportion of the population of Gaza is supported by UNRWA handouts, while tens of millions of dollars are given as aid every year to the leaders of the Palestinian people. UNWRA acts as a UN organization that perpetuates the "Palestinian refugee" issue, and is mostly funded by the USA. It should be abolished!
Sir:
There are reports that a flotilla of ships is assembling in Turkey in order to again attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. The ostensible reasons for this action is that the blockade of Gaza by Israel is illegal and there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In fact, the blockade is perfectly legal under international law when there is a state of war existing between Hamas in Gaza and Israel, and there is in fact no humanitarian crisis in Gaza as attested to by the ICRC representative. Israel allows copious amounts of food and medical supplies into Gaza, as well as water, oil and building supplies. Also, the crossing between Gaza and Egypt at Rafah is now open for all deliveries. There is in fact no legal or rational reason for this flotilla except to cause a provocation and receive publicity.
I and many others would be more persuaded that the organizers of this flotilla were really motivated by "humanitarian" considerations if they were planning to sail to Misratah in Libya or Banias in Syria, where there are real and well-documented cases of human rights abuses and the need for food and medical supplies is indeed urgent. Why don't these so-called "international peace activists" actually try to do some good for humans who are really suffering?
Sincerely
Jack Cohen
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Since I did not have space to include all the details, here is the statement by Mathilde Redmatn, the deputy head of the Intl. Comm. of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza: "There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. If you go to the supermarket there are products....the problem is mainly maintenance of infrastructure..." as reported in The Jerusalem Post May 15, 2011.
The question of whether or not there is a de jure "state of war" between Israel and Gaza under Hamas control is irrelevant. In fact a state of war exists de facto, for the following reasons: 1. Hamas is responsible for the firing of ca. 12,000 rockets and other missiles at Israeli territory from Gaza over a period of ca. 10 years. 2. In response to this and other provocations Israel unleashed the Operation Cast Lead in 2008, which amounted to an actual war. 3. Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU and Israel, and refuses to recognize the existence of the State of Israel and in its Covenant and many statements threatens to destroy the State. 4. Strictly speaking a war situation does not have to exist or be declared only between two states, a state such as the US or UK can be at war with a terrorist organization such as al Qaeda or the Taliban. This has occurred many times in history, such as the war between the British Army and the Burmese guerillas or the Kenyan Mau-Mau or between Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers.
It is a sorry fact that after 63 years a large proportion of the population of Gaza is supported by UNRWA handouts, while tens of millions of dollars are given as aid every year to the leaders of the Palestinian people. UNWRA acts as a UN organization that perpetuates the "Palestinian refugee" issue, and is mostly funded by the USA. It should be abolished!
posted by Jack Cohen at 7:23 AM
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