"There has been a overwhelming criticism, both nationally and internationally, against the alleged “attack” on the so-called Freedom Flotilla by the Israeli Defense Force. Mainstream media outlets originally reported that boats filled with “peace activists” were attacked by violent armed Israelis. In fact, words like “slaughter” and “genocide” were used in reference to the event. Of course, as it turns out, the “peace activists” were in fact terrorists, a minor detail that has been conveniently left out in most reports on the incident. 

The Israelis who rappelled onto the Mavi Marmara were confronted by men with knives, clubs, and other potentially fatal implements. One member of the IDF was thrown overboard and is now suffering from severe brain damage. Reports about weapons carried by the Israeli Defense Force troops have been conflcting. It is known that some of the victims were shot with 9 mm rounds, but no evidence has been presented as to who fired them. A Voice of America account of the raid embedded a video that VOA writers captioned: "Video image released by Turkish Aid group IHH … purports to show Israeli soldiers aiming a gun on the deck of a Turkish ship, part of an aid convoy heading to Gaza." (Emphasis added.)

Another report in the British Guardian newspaper suggested a less lethal Israeli response: "Alex Harrison, a Free Gaza activist who was on the smaller Challenger yacht, which was crewed mainly by women, said the Israelis used rubber bullets, sound bombs and tasers against them."

Even if Israeli forces were armed (which is a normal condition for members of any military or police force) it is more than likely that being surrounded and outnumbered by hostile attackers, an armed response in self defense may have been necessary — or at least perceived to have been necessary.

Most suspicious about the supposed “peaceful” Flotilla was the fact that the ships were offered the opportunity to “send the supplies they were carrying to Gaza overland, joining the tons of supplies that flow to Gaza daily,” but rejected that offer, according to the Editorialist at the Washington Times. 

The event sparked the traditional reaction to any act committed by Israel, one of derision and to be frank, anti-Semitism. Initially, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, asserted that the Israeli operation was illegal, despite the truth that maritime law allows for the routine stop of suspicious vessels and that Israel has had to intercept various “blockade runners” headed to Gaza. 

What the Commissioner failed to address was the presence of IHH, an Istanbul-based Islamic “charity group” whose Turkish acronym stands for the “Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief” and Free Gaza members. Both groups are notorious for their connections to terrorism, specifically to Hamas. 

Back in 1997, Turkish security forces were prompted to investigate the IHH and discovered that the so-called “human rights group” had purchased weapons and engaged in plots to embark on jihadist activities. In 2006, the Danish Institute for International Studies indicated that Turkey was aware of IHH’s connections to terrorism for at least a decade. 

For this very reason, Cyprus refused to allow IHH ships to dock in its port because, as the Ministry of Communications in Cyprus explained, Cyprus did not wish to “engage in IHH’s operations.” 

In 2001, French counterterrorism magistrate Jean-Louis Bruguiere testified that the IHH was involved in the plot to bomb the Los Angeles airport on New Year's Day in 2000. 

Free Gaza also purports to be “a human rights group that in August 2008 sent the first international boats to land in the port of Gaza in 41 years.” The Israeli Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center asserts, however, that Free Gaza has “associated themselves with the Hamas administration.” Proud members of Free Gaza include Weather Underground terrorist founders William Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn, as well as Jodie Evans, radical leader of Code Pink. (You may recall that Ayers and President Obama are very close associates; Ayers even held a fundraiser for Obama in his own home.)

Steve Emerson of The Investigative Project on Terrorism indicated that on board the flotilla were more than 100 members of various Muslim Brotherhood chapters, of whom 20 taped al Qaeda style “martyr” videos. 

Arab media reports stated that Flotilla participants were preparing wills on ship in the event that they would face martyrdom. They were allegedly determined to break the blockade or face death. The Middle East Media Research Institute reported that the head of the Turkish ship declared to a Gaza-based Hamas leader: “We will not allow the Zionists to come near us, and we will wage resistance against them.” 

Despite the facts surrounding the incident, Israel continues to face harsh criticism from nations across the world. French President Nicolas Sarkozy stated that he was “deeply shocked at the tragic consequences of the Israeli military operation” and condemned Israel for it’s “disproportionate use of force,” as if the IDF were the ones with the clubs and knives beating men while they lay defenseless on the ground of the ship, as can be seen in this video below. The Turkish Prime Minister accused Israel of a “bloody massacre” and alleged that Israel violated International Law. 

American communists and socialists have engaged in anti-Israel rallies since the Flotilla incident and have planned several more for the remainder of the week. The “peaceful” marchers in these rallies have been seen with signs that bear swastikas. 

Americans should ponder the potential impact of the Flotilla incident. Even Americans who affirm the non-interventionist U.S. foreign policy advocated by America's founders must recognize Israel's right, as a sovereign state, to defend its borders. Now, however, this pro-Western nation is being demonized by the international community, including many sources within the Untied States.

This article has been modified from the original to reflect the fact that there are conflicting accounts regarding the actions that took place abroad the flotilla ships.

Photo: Israelis demonstrate in support of Israel, following the “Freedom Flotilla” deaths off Gaza, in the southern city of Ashkelon, Israel, on June 1, 2010: AP Images

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Flu-Bird said:

The terrorists floatilla So much for the so called peace floatilla it was a ship full of vultures rather then doves

June 04, 2010

Freedom2.0 said:

... "The Israelis were armed with nothing more than paintball guns, tasers, tear gas, and other such non-lethal weapons," Obviously the Israelis had guns since they shot and killed at least 10 people by their own admission. While I have zero sympathy for the (democratically elected) regime of fanatics in Gaza, the people there should not be collectively punished through a blockade on building materials and other essentials. That said, the actions of the government of Israel should not be respected blindly either. Attempting to label anyone who disagrees with the regime there an "anti-semite" is ridiculous and severely weakens the argument. The government of Israel is not representative of all Jews in the world (many Jews oppose the existence of the Israeli government). Plus there was an Israeli minister of Parliament aboard the ship. Israel fell right into the PR trap by attacking the ships. But their every move shouldn't be defended just because they are Israel. As far as this concerns Americans, I would say we should stay out of their business entirely. STOP BORROWING MONEY AND SENDING TAX DOLLARS TO ISRAEL AND HER ENEMIES! This whole situation is absurd.

June 04, 2010

darian Pike said:

Floating Ambush This was a floating ambush. Many instances throughout history have been marked by one side goading the other into a hasty conflict. The real crime has been the response of the "world" press towards Israel. If I told my neighbor to stop feeding the raccoons in my back yard and he/she came back into my yard well I think we all know how that problem would be solved here in the states. Many years ago there was a small fort outside a town. The men in the town told the men in the fort to go away; the guy in charge of the fort said I gonna bring in more supplies so stop me if you can. The men in town shot at the fort. The war of northern aggression was born. To forget who we are is surely the fastest way to make the same mistakes.

June 05, 2010

WillBan said:

Oh dear, oh dear In the zeal of the JBS to avoid being tarred as anti-Semitic it seems that the done thing is to swallow the Israeli propaganda hook, line and sinker. Besides repeated references to the flotilla activists as "terrorists", you helpfully include the juicy little excerpt from the IDF's footage of this so-called ambush. Nice. So much for balance. No questions about whether the entire video will tell a different story, and one notes that the section with the pirates, sorry, the IDF commandos killing the "terrorists" is yet to be shown. But the JBS, being friend of Big Brother, aren't bothered by that it seems.

June 05, 2010

st even said:

Judenstaat Israel has enjoyed the support of American evangelicals for way too long in my opinion. This heresy is based on the "apple of God's eye" myth, and is routinely touted on Christian talk radio shows. In fact, Arab Christians have been ethnically cleansed systematically since Isreal first occupied the West Bank in 1967. The IDF will bulldoze the houses of Christian families under the flimsiest of pretexts. Ancient churches in Jerusalem and Bethlehem are virtually empty on Sundays since security measures insure that what used to be a 10 minute drive will now take 2 hours of endless checkpoints for the sole purpose of harrasing the faithful. I'm sorry, I've met too many Arab Christians to consider Israel an ally any longer. Besides that, the satanic Israelis spy on us through organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center, and other front groups. Couple that with financial scammers like Goldman Sachs, and Bernie Madoff and I wish they'd all leave America at once. They really do want us destroyed. The hasidic Jews agree with me. The modern zionist state is not ordained of God, but is more accurately a criminal enterprise founded by the terrorists of the Stern Gang, Haganah, and Irgun.

June 07, 2010

Dandy Dale said:

Say Again American communists and socialists have engaged in anti-Israel rallies since the Flotilla. If you believe this could have been handled differently your a communist? Wasn't the book of communism written by an Israelite? Didn't six of our allies document the planes flying into the twin towers?

June 07, 2010

Lawman said:

... Wilban....I've known about the JBS for over 30 years.....I've known about Big Brother for just as long.Reading your comments for about 30 seconds allowed me to recognize the sheer ignorance therein.You read 1984 about 2 years ago, now you're an expert.Go back to sleep.

June 07, 2010

Pathenry said:

... I appreciate your telling the truth about real terrorism and incitement, whether it goes for or against one or another party line. Truth will out. Light beats blinders.

June 08, 2010

Chaya said:

Paintball Guns Believe it or not, but our soldiers were armed with paintball guns!! The first five ships didn't respond violently when our soldiers went on board; it was only in the last of the ships that our 'boys' were met with an attack. In the process of defending themselves, there were deaths among the terrorists.

June 08, 2010

Chaya said:

Paintball Guns Believe it or not, but our soldiers were armed with paintball guns!! The first five ships didn't respond violently when our soldiers went on board; it was only in the last of the ships that our 'boys' were met with an attack. In the process of defending themselves, there were deaths among the terrorists.

June 08, 2010

Chad said:

Not terrorists I don't believe terrorists would be carrying clubs etc. The people aboard the Flotilla were not terrorists as the author states. Hell I must be a terrorist because I carry a knife with me. Come on lets get this straight. Here is a video of a passenger from the Flotilla. http://www.infowars.com/passen...e-killing/

June 08, 2010

zman said:

Remember The USS Liberty! More divide and conquer tactics likely orchestrated by one or more international "intelligence" agencies. Not to defend the relief boat, but, "remember the Liberty!" and remember that international Communism created the modern day state of "Israel."

June 08, 2010

sdc said:

Total pro-Israeli propaganda "The event sparked the traditional reaction to any act committed by Israel, one of derision and to be frank, anti-Semitism." It never fails that to criticize or disagree with Israel on any issue is considered "anti-Semitic." Let's face it, the above piece is straight pro-Israeli propaganda. I'm disappointed in the JBS for buying into this attempt to regurgitate the establishment media position. AIPAC already runs the American government, including the media. I hope the JBS isn't buying into it as well.

June 08, 2010

MikePeino said:

Israel is a Socialist Country Zionism is a socialist movement. The whole enterprise has been red from the beginning. As usual with socialism it ends in gulags, concentration camps and barbed wire. Lets no display any undue sympathy for this socialist country. Franky I am surprised to see Neocon/Zionist propaganda like this on this site.

June 09, 2010

Dean Jackson said:

Where's The Outrage For Turkey's 1974 Invasion of Cyprus? One doesn't have to support every Israeli behavior in order to support Israel. When Israel lobs a missile into an apartment building in order to assassinate just one person, I find that disgusting, just as I find disgusting American military forces in Afghanistan lobbing a Predator missile into a wedding party in order to kill one or two Taliban leaders. These actions are contrary to proper military behavior. That being said, however, where is the international outrage for the continued occupation of Northern Cyprus by Turkey? Where is the international outrage for Turkey evicting 180,000 Greek Cypriots from northern Cyprus and settling 50,000 Turks in their place. Talk about hypocrisy! The New American should update us on Turkey’s outrageous invasion of Turkey 36 years ago. I’m sure there are many readers of The New American who didn’t know this.

June 20, 2010

Dean Jackson said:

Where's The Outrage For Turkey's 1974 Invasion of Cyprus? correction for my comment above [last paragraph, first sentence]: The New American should update us on Turkey’s outrageous invasion of Cyprus 36 years ago.

June 20, 2010