The French yacht Dignite-Al Karama, a flotilla remnant, entered the Israeli port of Ashdod flanked by three small Israeli naval vessels yesterday, after being intercepted off the Gaza coast. (Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images)
Israeli navy halts French yacht trying to breach Gaza Blockade (click here)
By Isabel Kershner
New York Times / July 20, 2011
JERUSALEM - Israeli naval forces boarded a French yacht off the Gaza coast yesterday as the yacht tried to breach the Israeli maritime blockade of the Palestinian enclave. The forces met no resistance, Israeli military officials
said, and steered the yacht toward the Israeli port of Ashdod….
Activists after commando units took over the ship, July 19, 2011.
Photo by: IDF spokesperson
Sailing on a bucket, surrounded by commandos (click title to entry -thank you)
Haaretz writer returns to Israel after 26 days with Gaza-bound pro-Palestinian activists.
By Amira Hass
Three missile ships and seven commando boats were sent to take over the tub known as the Dignite Al Karame yesterday, about 50 nautical miles from the shore.
At least 150 soldiers were sent to sea early in the morning to prevent the 10 civilian activists, the three crew members and the three journalists on the "freedom flotilla" from reaching Gaza's port….
By Amira Hass
Three missile ships and seven commando boats were sent to take over the tub known as the Dignite Al Karame yesterday, about 50 nautical miles from the shore.
At least 150 soldiers were sent to sea early in the morning to prevent the 10 civilian activists, the three crew members and the three journalists on the "freedom flotilla" from reaching Gaza's port….
The Gaza Blockage activists have achieved their goal. They made the Israeli government pay attention to the humanitarian plight of the people in Gaza. The Israeli government also had to examine their intervention that caused tragedy last year and change their approach to insure a good outcome for everyone. There are still questions of sabotage with a ship from Ireland (Which Ireland's people commonly seek to bring relief to others.) that is in question, but, so far the changes that have come to bear by successfully bringing attention to the people of Gaza by the Flotilla and its organizers are successful.
Israel is always interested in 'doing the right thing.' It is sometimes their methods that have to be refined through its own scrutiny which is a stumbling block to its government.
I congratulate the Gaza Flotilla and the Israeli government for successful events, both have been necessary.
