[Nuclear1]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2010/may/31/israel-troops-gaza-ships

More than 10 people have been killed after Israeli naval commandos boarded six aid ships in a convoy heading towards the Gaza Strip.

The fleet was carrying aid to the area, which is under a naval blockade. Israeli troops were attacked with guns, knives and clubs when they boarded the ships after having given repeated warnings, the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs said.

"During the interception of the ships, the demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs," the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs said.

"Additionally one of the weapons used was grabbed from an IDF soldier. The demonstrators had clearly prepared their weapons in advance for this specific purpose."

The Free Gaza movement, which is behind the flotilla, is reporting a very different version of events.

"Under darkness of night, Israeli commandoes dropped from a helicopter onto the Turkish passenger ship, Mavi Marmara, and began to shoot the moment their feet hit the deck," the movement said on its website.

Well, let's see how this works...Israel boards a Turkish-flagged vessel in international waters...Turkey is a member of NATO...NATO is a military organization which considers an attack on one member an attack against all...

So when is Israel going to get its ass kicked?

[iamzack]

Never. US conservatives will never side against Israel, no matter what they do, but especially if it's against nonJewish Arabs.

[StarSlayer]

That assumes folks are gung ho to eat the losses required to kick Israel's ass.


Maybe Bundeswehr?
That was a joke.
Ha Ha. Fat Chance.

[achtung]

That assumes folks are gung ho to eat the losses required to kick Israel's ass.


Maybe Bundeswehr?
That was a joke.
Ha Ha. Fat Chance.

I want to play portal now.

[Turambar]

As usual, the real rogue nation in the middle east gets a free pass.

[Kosh]

Well, let's see how this works...Israel boards a Turkish-flagged vessel in international waters...Turkey is a member of NATO...NATO is a military organization which considers an attack on one member an attack against all...

So when is Israel going to get its ass kicked?

But Israel is "special" and so we need to be "understanding" of its actions.

[iamzack]

Israel is like our own baby. It's gonna be just like us when it grows up!

[karajorma]

Have you got to the bit where they claim the IDF were using guns but they were paintball guns yet?

[Kosh]

Israel seriously said that?


EDIT: And where's Sandwitch when you need him?

[iamzack]

Have you got to the bit where they claim the IDF were using guns but they were paintball guns yet?

Those activists had dangerous weapons! Like crutches! And paper.

[karajorma]

Israel seriously said that?

Captain Arye Shalicar of the Israel Defense Forces, who was part of Monday's operation, says the commandos began the raids armed with paintball guns.

"I was, myself, on one of the boats, the Israeli boats, approaching the flotilla," he told the BBC's World Today programme.

"It is true that the Israeli commander unit... came on board with paintball weapons... in order to disperse [people] if there was violence. They were ready for a violent... demonstration on board the flotilla, especially on the big boat, the Marmara.

"No-one really expected that there would be such a violent outcome of what happened.

"First, you know, the soldiers tried to disperse, but in the end when they were shot at, you know when there was shooting... from the other side, there's no other way than turning from paint ball to live ammunition."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10208027.stm

You know what? Even if they did attack the Israelis, so what? The ship was in international waters. What Israel did is technically piracy and in that case the response from those on the boat was actually a legal response.

[SpardaSon21]

Er, no, Israel's boarding was perfectly legal, if stupid.

http://www.google.com/search?q=legality+of+israeli+boarding&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
http://www.informationdissemination.net/2010/06/israeli-actions-are-stupid-but-legal.html

[karajorma]

Nope, they weren't. Turkey or the UN has to carry out an investigation before Israel's actions can be declared legal.

So if Israel continues to block attempts to do that, then they will be illegal.

Oh and BTW the first link on the page you linked to.

Legal experts say proportional force does not mean that guns cannot be used by forces when being attacked with knives.

[SpardaSon21]

So why do two Israeli soldiers have gunshot wounds?  Check out Big D's comments in the second link I posted, especially his link.  At 0:52 its pretty obvious they're using paintball guns.

[Nuclear1]

I love how the Freeptards and Lieberman jump to the aid of poor, defenseless Israel after they boarded a humanitarian relief ship bound for a starving strip of land and murdered ten people.

Israel's a fan of delivering aid to Gaza...except all the times they're not.

[SpardaSon21]

Looks like Joe Biden agrees Israel needs to defend itself.

[Nuclear1]

Golly, the Federal government's executive branch defends Israel.  What a shock.

[SpardaSon21]

Oh come on, I thought you liked Obama and his administration.

[Turambar]

Unfortunately, we can't elect politicians here who would be as tough on Israel as they deserve.  Their lobbyists are too powerful.

[Nuclear1]

I don't like that for some reason we continue to support those assholes.  Israel drops white phosphorous on Palestinian kids, bombs schools, starves the Strip, and bulldozes Arab homes in Jerusalem, and we keep selling them the weapons to do it.

Meanwhile, Saddam kills 138 people and we topple his regime.  Why haven't we overthrown Tel Aviv yet?