Report Upholds Gaza Blockade, Faults Raid

Arutz Sheva ^ | 2/9/11 | Gavriel Queenan

[Eleutheria5]

An advanced copy of the UN Palmer Report - to be released Friday - concludes Israel's naval blockade of Gaza is legal and appropriate, but insists the tactics employed when IDF naval commandoes boarded the infamous Mavi Marmara flagship were "excessive and unreasonable."

The 105-page report, obtained by the New York Times, was completed months ago, but its publication was delayed several times as Turkey and Israel sought to mend relations and avoid making the report public. Reactions from both governments contained in the report objected to its conclusions.

“Israel faces a real threat to its security from militant groups in Gaza,” the report says in its opening paragraphs. “The naval blockade was imposed as a legitimate security measure in order to prevent weapons from entering Gaza by sea and its implementation complied with the requirements of international law.”

The report is also critical of the flotilla organizers, asserting that they “acted recklessly in attempting to breach the naval blockade.”

It argued that while the majority of the hundreds of people aboard the six vessels had no violent intention, the same could not be said of IHH – the Turkish aid group that primarily organized the flotilla. It said, “There exist serious questions about the conduct, true nature and objectives of the flotilla organizers, particularly IHH.”

Turkey is particularly angry over the conclusion Israel’s naval blockade is in keeping with international law and that its forces have the right to stop Gaza-bound ships in international waters, which is what transpired with the Mavi Marmara. Turkey argues such a conclusion oversteps the mandate of the four-member panel and is at odds with other United Nations decisions.

Regarding the boarding action itself, the Palmer committee said Israel should have issued warnings closer to the moment of action.....

[Eleutheria5]

It's legal for Joooz! to defend themselves, but only if they do the hokey-pokey first, and even then only if the UN says "simon sez".

[Flintlock]

I suppose disemboweling the commandos (armed with PAINT GUNS!!) was perfectly OK.

Riiiiight.

[Pan_Yan]

"Neks time the Joos try to stop me I'll slap 'em."

[Eleutheria5]

But the majority of the ship’s company weren’t out to disembowel Jooos! They saw the few troublemakers on board doing it, and it looked like fun so they joined in.