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The Boiling Point

Shalhevet news online: When we know it, you'll know it

The Boiling Point

Shalhevet news online: When we know it, you'll know it

The Boiling Point

Reaction to Israel’s flotilla raid sparks student debate

Israel’s decision to board a Turkish ship trying to reach Gaza through its blockade led to a passionate exchange of views at the year’s last Town Hall June 3, as Israel continued to wrestle with world reaction to the deaths of nine of the ship’s passengers.

The ship refused orders to divert to Ashdod, where Israel had unloaded the humanitarian supplies from five smaller ships traveling with it.   Israeli commandos were then lowered onto the large ship by rope to take it over, and a clash followed. Along with the passengers killed, four Israeli soldiers were injured, including one critically injured when he was thrown to a lower deck by the passengers.

Because of the deaths, Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel and demanded an apology. Many diplomats, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, demanded that Israel allow an outside investigation to determine what happen, though Israel wants an internal investigation.

Last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu appointed his own five-person investigation panel, which would be Israeli led, but includes an Irishman and a Canadian. (http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=178442).

“I don’t disagree with Israel’s decision to baord the ships,” sophomore Justin Brandt-Sarif said in Town Hall. “I do think they should have waited until the ships had gotten into Israeli water and then they should have boarded them.”

“The reason why Israel didn’t wait for the ship to enter Israeli water,” junior Ari Tuchman responded, “is because of this old torque law that states that a country is responsible for any damages that happen to people within their waters. Basically, if you’re in Israeli water, you’re in Israeli territory.”

Earlier in Town Hall, Bat Ami Sara Borenstein and Aviya Cohen told students that they need to understand what’s really happening in Israel and set the facts straight.

“This year it was the first time I heard news about Israel from outside of Israel,” Sara told The Boiling Point. “It’s scary how bad they make Israel look and that this is where people get their information about Israel.”

The crisis began early Monday morning May 31, when a six-ship flotilla, filled with pro-Palestinian activists bound for Gaza, was stopped by Israeli defense forces.Each boat was said to be carrying humanitarian aid to residents of Gaza which Israel has blockaded since 2006.

According to an IDF  video viewable on Youtube, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6jDIQr59Sk)  Israeli forces contacted the largest of the ships, the Mavi Marmara, warning it of the blockade and offering it a chance to dock in the port of Ashdod. The Mavi Marmara refused to comply. The other five ships were given the same warning and docked in Ashdod.

The Mavi Marmara was soon boarded by Israel soldiers, lowered by helicopter, who were surprised to be met with violence.  As seen on an IDF video, the soldiers were attacked with metal poles, firebombs, as well as with fists and shoving.

Israel has refused to end the blockade but last Sunday, June 20, said it would publish a list of what can’t be sent to Gaza, instead of what can. In a statement, it announced that only “weapons and war materiel, including problematic dual-use items” would be forbidden. Israel also said it would streamline the policy of allowing people to enter and exit Gaza for medical and humanitarian reasons and expand operations at land crossings to enable more goods, including construction materials for approved projects, to pass through.

The White House praised Israel for its plan and President Obama rescheduled a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu which was canceled after the IDF boarded the Mavi Marmara,for July 6.

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