Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of the parliament from his ruling AK Party during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara June 1, 2010. Erdogan urged Israel on Tuesday to lift its “inhumane embargo” on Gaza as soon as possible, in a speech to parliament in which he criticised an Israeli raid on a Turkey-backed aid convoy.? Read more » REUTERS/Umit Bektas
EU statement on Gaza flotilla
Yesterday, 31 May 2010, the EU high representative Catherine Ashton issued a statement on behalf of the EU on the Israeli military operation against the flotilla heading for Gaza, but seized by the Israeli Defense Forces:
Palestine: ?Gaza wanted to greet you as victors?
By Mays Dagher
People throughout the Middle East – and around the world – have been shocked and outraged at the news of the deaths on board the Freedom Flotilla early on Monday.
Palestinian bloggers reacted immediately to the news of Israel’s raid on the Gaza-bound aid ships.
Israel’s deadly fiasco at sea condemned but what next for the U.S. and its “external ally”?
Even with overnight arm twisting by the U.S. the U.N. Security Council “Presidential Statement” leaves no doubt that Israel is being condemned for its seizure–in international waters–of the Gaza-bound flotilla.
Middle East Report Online provides by far the most valuable brief on the flotilla and Israel’s response.
MAIN FOCUS: Israel isolates itself | 01/06/2010
Israeli soldiers boarded on Monday a flotilla of aid-carrying ships bound for the Gaza Strip. In the course of the operation at least nine passengers were killed, sparking a wave of international protest. The press writes that Israel has isolated itself with this military operation in the Mediterranean and calls on the international community to hold the country to account.
Morning Brief: UN Security Council condemns “acts” in Israeli raid
Top story: The United Nations Security Council, after much diplomatic wrangling over the resolution’s language, condemned on Tuesday morning the “acts” that led to the deaths of nine civilians aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla. The deaths occurred when Israel Defense Forces soldiers, attempting to redirect the convoy, clashed with pro-Palestinian activists aboard the ships on Monday. Under pressure from the Obama administration, the statement did not exclusively condemn Israel, which contends that its soldiers were acting in self defense after being attacked by the civilians aboard the ship. The United Nations statement also called for an impartial investigation into the events that led to the clashes, and referred to Israel’s blockade of Gaza as “not sustainable.”
Turkey PM: Israel Raid a “Bloody Massacre”
Mubarak orders opening of Rafah border with Gaza
Activists send more boats to challenge Gaza blockade
Raid Jeopardizes Turkey Relations
Turkey: 4 Turks dead on aid ship
Turkey Alliance With Israel May Rupture on Gaza Raid (Update3)
Fallout from the Gaza Flotilla
Just collecting some of the different perspectives on the aftermath of the IDF action against the flotilla attempting to create a direct sea link between Gaza and the outside world.
Over at World Politics Review, Judah Grunsteinmakes the following point:
Turkey launches long-term diplomatic war against Israel
A diplomatic war between former allies Turkey and Israel seems unavoidable after Monday’s deadly raid on a Turkish civilian ship carrying aid to Palestinians.
Debate: Gaza Flotilla Debacle and Online Video
There are always two sides to every story.
Monday morning, the Israel Defense Force raided a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, where nine activists were fatally shot. Everyone seems to agree with the lineup of events up until that point. The interesting thing about this whole situation is how both sides used online video to plead their cases, possibly giving insight into how communications and PR spin fixates itself into international relations in the future.
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