They are lucky to be alive. Israel controls the waters off Gaza. They have to, otherwise it would raise the risk to other cities.

They don't get my sympathy. It is one thing to attempt a mission that will actually help the people of Gaza by finding 'escort' to their shores with 'permission' from the Isreali Navy and it is another thing to try to DEFY the Security Forces of Israel at a time of conflict.

What were they thinking? They thought cameras and popular faces were going to get them a 'pass' through troubled waters? Not a chance. They should have known that the Israeli Navy would consider them a threat.

Darn shame. They 'risked everything' to what end?


A crowd on a dock in Tyre, Lebanon, welcomed the vessel SS Dignity as it arrived yesterday. The boat carried peace activists and medical supplies. (Mohammed Zaatari/Associated Press)

By Zeina Karam
Associated Press
December 31, 2008
...The vessel, called SS Dignity, was greeted by a small, cheering crowd as it pulled into the southern Lebanese port of Tyre with damage near the prow. Its aid trip was foiled as Israel wages a major bombardment of Gaza that has killed more than 360 people since Saturday....
...The boat's British captain, Denis Healey, said the Israeli action occurred "without any warning or any provocation." Organizers said the boat was in international waters - 90 miles off the coast of Gaza - when it was intercepted....

The Israeli Navy doesn't need to communicate to any boat (ie: "USS Cole") they preceive as a threat. There was 'provocation' by the simple fact the boat was 'on course' to the Gaza coast. The Israeli Navy does not need any reason, other than 'defense' to justify their actions.

The government of Israel needs to 'change their approach' to communicating with the media. They are 'used to developing' a propaganda strategy when in fact they simply need to state the facts.

Their actions in this move to 'stop missiles from Gaza' is justified and the response is not too strong. There are dead in Gaza. There are demands for hospital care in Gaza, but, the measures used by Israel to date have not stopped the rockets over the Gaza border. There could be far more devastation than already exists. Israeli intelligence is very good. They know where the targets are and seek 'precision strikes.' Israel is attempting to limit casualities while defending their own people and cities.

I think the criticism of these measures by Israel is wrong and needs to stop. Egypt and Jordan are at work with all the authorities involved and there is no inappropriate aggression anywhere else in Palestinian territories. This is an isolated circumstance with Gaza and Hamas and it is very unfortunate, but, it must continue to end. The 'end' can be defined as the ceasation of rockets over the Gaza border and disarmament of Hamas.

There is no doubt this issue resulted from failed policy between Hamas and Israel.