Israeli Pirates strike again.

[Gromit]

// Israeli naval commandos on Tuesday seized control of a French ship attempting to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, reporting no resistance during the takeover in international waters.

The military had warned it would stop any attempt to break the sea blockade of Gaza, which Israel imposed four years ago in what it says is a measure to prevent arms smuggling to Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group.

Sixteen people, including pro-Palestinian activists from France, Canada and Sweden, journalists and three crew members, are aboard the French-based ship. They have said they had no aid on board and that their mission was meant to make a "political statement" against the Israeli blockade. //

http://www.forbes.com...blockade_8572159.html

Any other nation storming boats with commandoes in international waters would be described as Pirates, yet the Israelis always get away with it. (the BBC seem to be ignoring the story).

How do they get away with it

[anotheoldgit]

I believe this is just another of your highly emotive anti-Israeli posts.

Are other protective naval operations that are carried out by all nations, also classed as piracy?

I refer of course to Drug Trafficking, Gun Running, Smuggling, and People Trafficking.

/// their mission was meant to make a "political statement" against the Israeli blockade. ///

Exactly so they deserved to be stopped.

[Safiya]

I was going to join in this thread but i do believe it will end with me using foul language and being extremely rude and insulting to some people .... i only come online to have a bit of a chat, laugh and be sarky so im not going to bother.

I don't think they are pirates gromit, i think they are ****** ****** ****** ***** ***** ******* .....see what i mean

[R1Geezer]

what part of "sea blockade of gaza" are you finding difficult to understand Gromit? What do you expect them to have "sea blockade of of Gaza unless the boat look like it's full nosy weird beards"?? Perlease!

They said they had no "aid" on board and there mission was to make a politcal statement! Oh right oh! that's fine then.

You make me PMSL gromit with your pro terrorism bowlocks you really do

[sandyRoe]

As the border with Egypt is now open, the Palestinians could get anything they need from there.
The fact that these Israeli thugs still feel a need to demonstrate their 'authority' in the area speaks volumes.

[keyplus90]

Be careful Gromit. You are supposed to ignore few things and pretend it never happened and learn from the media which way to keep their attention and energies. You may get yourself in trouble with UNO too.

[R1Geezer]

every nation is allowed to defend itself except Irsrael, right oh!

[Zeuhl]

<<every nation is allowed to defend itself except Irsrael, right oh! >>

How many nations are illegally occupying and annexing other people's land?

Let's see ... Israel. China in Tibet. Argentina in The Falklands. No correction, that bunch of opportunistic pirates 'defending Argentinian sovereignty' were quite rightly kicked out.

It's a pity no one can do the same to the collection of bully boy religious fanatics from America, Russia etc who are currently leading the Israeli theft of Palestinian lands in the Occupied Territories.

[R1Geezer]

Irrelevant Zeuhl, are you saying that if you have any land ownership under dispute you are not allowed to defend yourself??? that's pretty much every nation!

[craft1948]

Does this mean our navy were pirates when they tried to stop arms trafficking into Ireland?

[Gromit]

craft1948

The navy never stopped or boared any ships in international waters. The IRA imported arms on the QEII. The Irish Navy intercepted 3 ships in Irish waters in 1984. In 1973 the Irish Navy intercepted the Claudia carrying arms from Libya, again in its waters. The French Navy intercepted the Eskund again in its territorial waters in 1987.

All ships were intercepted outside of international waters in the territorial waters of those protecting Navys. That is legal. Boarding ships on the high seas is piracy.

[craft1948]

Thank you.

[Craftypig]

I cant understand why you decided to omit the paragraph explaining that the Israelis only boarded the ship after the the "Pro-Palestinians" ignored calls to change course?

[sandyRoe]

On the open sea what authority do the Israelis have to order any ship to change course?

[Gromit]

Craftypig

I omitted two thirds of the article. The line you objected to that I omitted was rather irrelevant. The french boat was in international water and the Israeli navy have no juristiction over it. They do not have to answer anyone, and anyone intercepting them are acting illegally.

[keyplus90]

Geezer - I can put same argument with a little tweak.

“every nation is allowed to defend itself except PALESTINE, right oh!

Only difference is that Palestinians are fighting for their existence or to avoid extinction as question of defending has long gone because whenever they throw a stone towards an invading tank as defence they are branded as terrorists.

[Zeuhl]

<<if you have any land ownership under dispute you are not allowed to defend yourself??? >>

Geezer - that is a Thieves' and Squatters' Charter.

'Yes I am occupying Geezer's house - when he came round to protest me and my heavily armed mates 'defended ourselves'; oh dear he appears to be dead - don't worry me and my mates will hold an enquiry ok?'
.

[pa___ul3]

Zeuhl, you missed out the initial forcing Geezer from his home and claiming you have more right to live there because of the religion you follow.. we have to keep it in perspective now!

[R1Geezer]

Zeuhl, I was merely responding to your implication that having a land dispute is in some way relevant to a sea blockade.

keyplus, if you throw a stone over the fence and in response your house gets flattened, do you...
a) consider that a bad option and try another way
b) do it again and again and when your house gets flattened again and again you blame next door

All I'm saying is that I think It's worth giving a) a go.

[pa___ul3]

R1, if you think the Palestinians should give up I suggest you change your avatar, by going back for more they're showing that they clearly have a lot more balls than you have!

[R1Geezer]

where did I say they should give up?