Flotilla takes media centre-stage

Outrage in Arabic, Turkish press and mixed reaction in Israel, where some question strategy.

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Israel’s attack sparked global commentary, particularly in the Israeli and Arabic press [AFP]

Israel’s attack on the flotilla bound for Gazahas attracted tremendous media attention. In addition to the news coverage, there’s also a lot of commentary appearing, particularly in the Israeli and Arabic press.

We’ll round up some of the most interesting reactions throughout the day and post excerpts here.

Gil Hoffman, Jerusalem Post

Instead, the questions need to be turned toward the top military-political level. One question that needs to be asked is why the government approved the IDF’s plan to put troops on the ship via helicopter instead of perhaps sabotaging or diverting them. Flotilla 13, the naval commando unit that raided the ships, is expert in sabotage.

According to one former top navy officer, one option was to use tugboats to push the ships off course. Another option was to damage the ships’ propellers, prevent them from sailing into Gaza and forcing them to be towed to Ashdod. full article »

Bradley Burston, Ha’aretz

Hamas, and no less, Iran and Hezbollah, learned early on that Israel’s own embargo against Hamas-ruled Gaza was the most sophisticated and powerful weapon they could have deployed against the Jewish state.

Here in Israel, we have still yet to learn the lesson: We are no longer defending Israel. We are now defending the siege. The siege itself is becoming Israel’s Vietnam. full article »

Yossi Melman, military affairs correspondent, Ha’aretz

No matter how one looks at the conduct of the Israeli government and the IDF, it is hard to understand how stupid and tragic it was. Time and again, Israel tries to prove that what can’t be solved by force can be solved by more force. Over and over, the policies of force fail. The problem is that with each failure, the part of the world in which we would like to belong is losing patience with us. full article »

Emile Hokayem, political editor of The National

The Turks are now busy burying their dead who have already joined the long list of Palestinian martyrs in Arab and Turkish minds. That symbolic link with Palestine will not be broken soon, constituting valuable political mileage for Turkish politicians wanting to break ties with Israel. full article »

Editorial, Hurriyet

No serious observer can argue that Israel lacked better alternatives at its disposal. But the trigger-happy Likud-led government responded with an all-too-familiar reflex of maximum and brutal force. This time, it pulled down the temple.

It is a tragedy for those activists who have lost their lives. It is a tragedy for the Palestinians of Gaza. Above all it is a tragedy for the people of Israel, victims too of a vain and foolish government. full article »

Source: Al Jazeera