JERUSALEM—After weeks of political posturing in the wake of the Gaza flotilla disaster, relations between the two sides are no less tense. On the Israeli side, Jerusalem has been promising to ease restrictions on Gaza, while reiterating its right to self-defense. On the side of the blockade-busters, a variety of international groups have been promising to send more humanitarian ships to Gaza.
One of the groups, American Jews for Justice and Peace (AJJP) is the American coordinator for a ship that will leave for Gaza from an undisclosed location sometime in July. They are joining “Jüdische Stimme” (‘Jewish Voice’ for a Just Peace in the Near East) and Jews for Justice for Palestinians (UK).
According to AJJP, the boat will carry medicines and small medical equipment, and “absolutely no weapons will be on board.” Organizers say they are requesting that the Israeli, British, German, and American governments guarantee safe passage for the boat, passengers, and all of the cargo.
Among the other groups and countries promising to send flotillas to Gaza in the past few weeks, are Lebanon and Iran.
Rumors over ships from Iran have sparked the greatest amount of tension. It has been almost impossible to either confirm or deny whether Iranian ships are truly bound for Gaza or planning to come.
Israel has been trying to diffuse the situation by making some concessions. Last week, the Israeli government announced it would ease certain restrictions on Gaza. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the country’s security concerns vis-à-vis the ruling party inside Gaza, Hamas.
“Our government’s policy toward Gaza is clear,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday following a meeting with Quartet Envoy Tony Blair. His comments were later broadcast in a press release. “Israel seeks to keep out of Gaza weapons and war-supporting material that Hamas uses to prepare and carry out terror and rocket attacks against Israel and its civilians.”
Some of Israel’s eased Gaza restrictions include allowing more movement of equipment, expanding land crossings, providing more housing development material, and streamlining the permit process for people trying to enter and exit Gaza for humanitarian and medical reasons, including staff of international aid organizations. Israel says it will continue to handle goods bound for Gaza through the Port of Ashdod.
Later in the week, during a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann on Wednesday, Netanyahu seized the chance to state his position about rumors over more flotillas.
“I have learned of Iran and Hezbollah’s plans to dispatch additional flotillas to Gaza,” said Netanyahu in his comments later published on his official website. “If anyone had any doubts before, it is now clear that there is no reason or justification in organizing these flotillas.”
Netanyahu added that he thinks the stated intentions are not the real motivations.
“Their real goal is to instigate a provocation against Israel in order to disrupt the security blockade, not the civilian blockade, but the blockade against importing missiles, rockets, and other weapons,” he said.
The Free Gaza Movement, one of the main organizers of the last flotilla of six ships that was commandeered by Israeli forces on May 31 resulting in the deaths of nine passengers, has also been sending out regular statements. Many of their statements relate to statement of international condemnation, and calling for future flotillas, and wanting confiscated property returned, such as camcorders, cameras, and cell phones.
One of the groups, American Jews for Justice and Peace (AJJP) is the American coordinator for a ship that will leave for Gaza from an undisclosed location sometime in July. They are joining “Jüdische Stimme” (‘Jewish Voice’ for a Just Peace in the Near East) and Jews for Justice for Palestinians (UK).
According to AJJP, the boat will carry medicines and small medical equipment, and “absolutely no weapons will be on board.” Organizers say they are requesting that the Israeli, British, German, and American governments guarantee safe passage for the boat, passengers, and all of the cargo.
Among the other groups and countries promising to send flotillas to Gaza in the past few weeks, are Lebanon and Iran.
Rumors over ships from Iran have sparked the greatest amount of tension. It has been almost impossible to either confirm or deny whether Iranian ships are truly bound for Gaza or planning to come.
Israel has been trying to diffuse the situation by making some concessions. Last week, the Israeli government announced it would ease certain restrictions on Gaza. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the country’s security concerns vis-à-vis the ruling party inside Gaza, Hamas.
“Our government’s policy toward Gaza is clear,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday following a meeting with Quartet Envoy Tony Blair. His comments were later broadcast in a press release. “Israel seeks to keep out of Gaza weapons and war-supporting material that Hamas uses to prepare and carry out terror and rocket attacks against Israel and its civilians.”
Some of Israel’s eased Gaza restrictions include allowing more movement of equipment, expanding land crossings, providing more housing development material, and streamlining the permit process for people trying to enter and exit Gaza for humanitarian and medical reasons, including staff of international aid organizations. Israel says it will continue to handle goods bound for Gaza through the Port of Ashdod.
Later in the week, during a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann on Wednesday, Netanyahu seized the chance to state his position about rumors over more flotillas.
“I have learned of Iran and Hezbollah’s plans to dispatch additional flotillas to Gaza,” said Netanyahu in his comments later published on his official website. “If anyone had any doubts before, it is now clear that there is no reason or justification in organizing these flotillas.”
Netanyahu added that he thinks the stated intentions are not the real motivations.
“Their real goal is to instigate a provocation against Israel in order to disrupt the security blockade, not the civilian blockade, but the blockade against importing missiles, rockets, and other weapons,” he said.
The Free Gaza Movement, one of the main organizers of the last flotilla of six ships that was commandeered by Israeli forces on May 31 resulting in the deaths of nine passengers, has also been sending out regular statements. Many of their statements relate to statement of international condemnation, and calling for future flotillas, and wanting confiscated property returned, such as camcorders, cameras, and cell phones.
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