A flotilla attempting to bring aid (food, etc.) to Gaza was intercepted by Israeli military forces and nine pro-Palestinian activists (mostly Turks) were killed. (Read the New York Times article here.) Apparently, Israel warned the flotilla that they would be intercepted if they continued - the harbor has been closed since a 2007 blockade enacted by Israel. But for those interested in keeping the Palestinian side of this struggle alive on the world stage, doesn't it make sense that the flotilla would push ahead, hoping to force Israel's hand one way or another?
In my mind, there seem to have been three options for the flotilla: (1) keep going, hoping that Israel would resist taking military action and that the flotilla would safely dock, thereby ending the blockade; (2) keep going, knowing that if Israel DID take military action, they would face international scrutiny; or (3) attempt to get aid to Palestinians through Israel-approved channels but without any international media attention for the Palestinian cause. And you know that saying, "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime"? Well, I understand that option 3 is, quite literally, like giving the fish, right? But options 1 and 2 could lead to something more sustainable from a Palestinian perspective - renewed support for the Palestinian cause and a possible (if very unlikely) end to the blockade.
And then you have Israel's options in this scenario: (1) allow the flotilla to dock, thereby rendering their laws and restrictions moot; or (2) take military action to intercept the flotilla, knowing that such an interception - even if initially intended to be peaceful - probably won't be and, in any case, will lead to negative international attention and an escalated conflict. Sounds like a classic case of having to choose between two evils.
Add to this complicated scenario the fact that none of us know what really happened when Israeli soldiers boarded the flotilla, and we're left mostly where we started. (Where's the cell phone video footage, huh?) Those who already sided with Israel will continue to do so, and those who already sided with Palestinians will also - both sides probably with more zeal than before this incident.
As ever, nobody wins.
I think the real problem is the blockade. It's not a sustainable solution, but as long as Hamas is the duly elected government, Isreal is pretty much stuck with it as their strategy for keeping peace, relatively, in the area.
ReplyDeleteI'm only surprised this sort of incident didn't happen sooner.
Have you been reading the Times? Shit is getting REAL. This flotilla thing has been tried in the past, but never has it been so large. . . I think nine boats total this time around? And on NPR today they actually said something like, "Could this be the event that changes the tide of support against Israel?" It's a lot more momentous than I originally thought it would be! Doesn't help that representatives of Israel have called themselves "the real victims" in this tragedy. I'm no professional, but even I know that's bad PR strategy.
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