| Submit your comments on this article |
| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Israeli leftists denounce deadly flotilla raid |
| 2010-06-02 |
| [Ma'an] Some 2,000 demonstrators gathered outside Israel's Ministry of Defense late Monday to protest the military's violent raid on an aid flotilla that attempted to break the country's years-long siege on the Gaza Strip. Approximately 100 Tel Aviv and border police officers were present and one left-wing activist, Matan Cohen, was arrested. A few dozen right-wing Israelis staged a counter-protest, but police generally kept them from interfering with the leftists' demonstration. Haggai Matar, a left-wing activist and member of the Coalition Against the Siege, told Ma'an that the protests were an expression of anger and shock about an Israeli navy raid that left at least 10 activists dead and dozens hurt a day earlier. Israel's military has conceded that the raid took place in international waters, but continues to accuse activists of instigating the violence, which also left soldiers injured. "[The flotilla] has been demonized from the get-go," Matar told Ma'an. "It was portrayed as illegitimate Turkish involvement in our politics or as provocation or, we've heard today more than ever before, that the flotilla was organized by Hezbollah and Hamas and Al-Qaeda and Islamic Jihad ... But we never thought we'd end up with such a terrible act of the boarding and shooting and killing so many civilians." The flotilla, organized by the Free Gaza Movement, an international initiative that has sent several boats to Gaza in the past, consisted of six ships, 700 activists, and 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid. Uri Avnery, the founder of the Gush Shalom peace movement and a former Knesset member, explained that "Many Israeli citizens are shocked by this crime. It was a massacre committed in international waters, and we demand a full and independent investigation." Avnery told Ma'an that the raid damaged "Israel's credibility as a peace partner" as well as called into question Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's commitment to resolving his country's ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. Knesset Member Dov Khenin (Hadash), who was the only government official present at the Tel Aviv protest, remarked, "It's important to be here today to demonstrate that there is a different voice in Israel. The activities of the government don't reflect all of us." Khenin alleged that Israel's current administration is extremely right wing and is intent on making war. That image could complicate US-mediated Israeli-Palestinian proximity talks. Already, in light of Monday's events, Netanyahu cancelled a visit to the White House scheduled for Wednesday, following a telephone call with US President Barack Obama. |
| Posted by:Fred |