Posted by
Moshe Phillips on Sunday, June 06, 2010 6:54:55 PM
MUST READ OF THE DAY
Israel's Right to Self Defense by Herbert Zweibon
A Message from the Chairman of Americans for a Safe Israel (AFSI)
It must be acknowledged that Israel was fully within
its legal and national rights in stopping the flotilla of six ships
with 800 men, women, and children that set off from Turkey and Cyprus on
a much-touted "Free Gaza" mission. Turkey was supposed to inspect the
ships and confirm that there were no weapons aboard. Apparently the
Israelis trusted their all-clear and were unprepared for the group of
hardened Hamas fighters, many of them yearning to be "shihads"
(martyrs), who attacked the Israeli commandos when they arrived on the
ship.
The leaders on the Marmara had clearly pre-meditated their attack on the
Israeli soldiers. Knives and metal clubs were brutally used to attack
the soldiers as they boarded the ship, and as soldiers were tossed
overboard, their guns were taken and used to shoot at them.
The importance of preventing the ships from entering Gaza is very clear.
Allowing a sea channel for the importing of weapons into
Hamas-controlled Gaza, would be suicidal for Israel. Hamas, a surrogate
of Iran, is in total control of Gaza. It has been responsible for 40% of
the suicide attacks, 8,000 rockets aimed at Israel since 2005,
thousands of smuggling tunnels, the torture and murder of over 1000
"Palestinians," the execution of alleged Israeli "collaborators," the
terrorization and oppression of Gaza's residents, and the holding of
Gilad Shalit for the past three years without contact with the outside
world.
The whole pretense of bringing humanitarian supplies to Gaza was simply a
publicity stunt to attract world attention. It is a well-documented
fact that tons of medical supplies, food, and water are transported from
Israel into Gaza every day. Israel's enemies have become emboldened by
the attacks hurled at Israel by the EU, UN, and the Arab world, as well
as the criticism of Israel by the Obama administration. Israel's
supporters must remain strong and vocal as they participate in
demonstrations throughout the world, affirming Israel's right to exist
and its right to self-defense.