State of alert throughout Israel. "Brink of war or new Intifada"

Asia News ^ | 5/31/2010

[markomalley]

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - Israeli police and security forces have raised a state of alert across the country after the attack on a group of ships off the coast of Gaza, leading to at least 19 dead and dozens injured (see Israel attacks ships carrying aid to Gaza. At least 10 dead). An Israeli policeman tells AsiaNews that "We are on the brink of war or a new Intifada."

Here and there in Israel, particularly in Nazareth, there are demonstrations against the attack on the ships carrying humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, forcing the Israeli blockade on the Strip. Arab organizations have declared a general strike.  Security forces have decided to close the Gaza crossings, some roads that communicate with the West Bank and the Temple Mount mosques.

The seized vessels (all six) were conducted in the port of Ashdod. There are fears about the fate of a Palestinian leaders from northern Israel, Raed Salah, who was on the attacked ships. At first the news spread that he had been killed in the raid. Palestinian sources now say that he is seriously hurt.

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority has declared three days of mourning throughout the West Bank and called the Israeli operation a "massacre".

Israel is also battling the media. MPs and ministers continue to assert that the activists were not at all "peaceful" but waited for the arrival of soldiers carrying weapons (long knives, bats, other instruments of offense). At least six soldiers were wounded, one of whom seriously.

For Israel, ships and humanitarian aid were "a provocation". The deputy foreign minister, Daniel Ayalon said that before attacking, the Israeli military command ordered the ships to stop several times and agree to land the aid under Israeli control. He also said that the activists on the ship are linked to Hamas and other terrorist organizations.

According to some Israeli analysts, the incident of the Gaza flotilla is likely to further exacerbate the relationship between Palestinians and Israelis, on the brink of a new, third intifada. An Israeli policeman, speaking to AsiaNews, confirmed the risk of a third intifada, but also added: "We are on the brink of war. There is a fear that Hezbollah front in Lebanon could be sparked again and that anti-Israel demonstrations spread throughout the world. "

Currently there are demonstrations in Turkey, especially Istanbul. The Foreign Ministry urged all Israelis leaving for Turkey to cancel their departure and said he will hold the Ankara government responsible for anything that could happen to Israelis on soil Turkish.

Today Ankara has recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv.  

[Travis McGee]

The mini torpedos are tiny, like 8’ long and 8” diameter, and can be programmed to make the final approach at very slow speed, with zero chance of breaching the hull. Just enough mass to damage the props, period. “Torpedo” is a scary word to many (like you) but you must keep in mind we are comparing a hummingbird to an eagle here.

[DuncanWaring]

What are you doing here?

Looks like some variant on a LAW, but why is it fastened to the top of fence-posts?

[Travis McGee]

Showing how to set them up for command detonation as an IED for a vehicle ambush etc.

This was in the early 1980s.

"Back to my video games" now.

[gogogodzilla]

That’s why you torpedo the ships and pick up the survivors. With a torpedo, there are no faces, so the press can’t portray them as victims. Plus, you garner some slight positive publicity for ‘rescuing’ the survivors.

[reagan_fanatic]

No bias in this article.

/sarc

[WVKayaker]

Duct tape makes a wonderful vise...

[DuncanWaring]

Gotta say that’s the most lifelike video game I’ve ever seen.

How’s the soundtrack?

[Joya]

Thanks.

At this point, it’s God’s mercy which is keeping this whole planet from self - annihilation.

[Scythian]

And Obama does nothing, say’s nothing, is nothing ...