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[bacasper]

Note how the TV report just gives the Israeli comment. Also, on headlines page was that Netanyahu canceled his meeting with Obama, but nothing about the ten killed.

Israeli commandos storm aid flotilla; 9 killed

By AMY TEIBEL and TIA GOLDENBERG, Associated Press Writers

JERUSALEM � Israeli naval commandos stormed a flotilla of ships carrying aid and hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists to the blockaded Gaza Strip on Monday, killing nine passengers in a botched raid that provoked international outrage and a diplomatic crisis.

Dozens of activists and six Israeli soldiers were wounded in the bloody predawn confrontation in international waters. The violent takeover dealt yet another blow to Israel's international image, already tarnished by war crimes accusations in Gaza and its 3-year-old blockade of the impoverished Palestinian territory.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhayu canceled a much-anticipated meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday in a sign of just how gravely Israel viewed the international uproar. In Canada, Netanyahu announced he was rushing home.

Israel said it opened fire after its commandos were attacked by knives, clubs and live fire from two pistols wrested from soldiers after they rappelled from a helicopter to board one of the vessels. Late Monday, it released a grainy black-and-white video that it said supported its version of events.

Reaction was swift and harsh, with a massive protest in Turkey, Israel's longtime Muslim ally, which unofficially supported the mission. Ankara announced it would recall its ambassador and call off military exercises with the Jewish state.

The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting later Monday to hear a briefing on the incident, said Lebanon's Deputy Ambassador Caroline Ziade, whose country holds the council presidency. The Arab League called for a meeting to discuss the issue Tuesday in Cairo.

The showdown came at a sensitive time for Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. Netanyahu, who expressed his "full backing" for the military raid, had hoped to receive a high-profile expression of support from Obama after months of strained relations over Israeli settlement construction.

The White House said in a written statement that the United States "deeply regrets" the loss of life and injuries and was working to understand the circumstances surrounding this "tragedy."

The activists were headed to Gaza to draw attention to the blockade, which Israel and Egypt imposed after the militant Hamas group seized the territory of 1.5 million Palestinians in 2007.

There were conflicting accounts of what happened early Monday, with activists claiming the Israelis fired first and Israel insisting its forces fired in self defense. Communications to the ships were cut shortly after the raid began, and activists were kept away from reporters after their boats were towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

video and more at link

[Ron64]

Here is a video that shows how when the Israeli soldiers boarded the ship they ware attacked with sticks, grenade and bombs. The knifes can not be seen used in the video as the camera is too far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2duPV9MQIc&feature=channel
here is one with more of close up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYjkLUcbJWo&feature=channel

[Koveras]

Poor Israeli commandos, they just wanted to say hi.

[Butterfly]

[rollo]

Massive is the correct word. this demands a severe policy shift by the U.s. The Obama administration needs to make clear that everything has changed. so far they have let the Israelis behave the way they want to. Younger jews in the U.S. are apalled by this. Support for Israel has eroded considerably. Special force soldiers attacking civilians who in self defense used sticks and the troops gunned them down. I read the letters page in various newspapers and have yet to see a letter in support of Israel. This was murder!!!

[Ron64]

The entire event was prepared for one purpose: to create provocation. If for example the U.S.gov. knows about a ship that may have weapon and drugs, would it let it come to the shore at night and unload?

Why did the ships waited for the morning before approaching? Only because they wanted their cameras to make the pictures they advertised. Who would take children for such an operation?
Yes there are people on the ship that are innocent and naive, but it doesn't change the real purpose behind it.

[Mr. Pink]

I wonder if the US realizes how hypocritical politics is, especially their politics.

NK is accused of downing the SK ship = we got to get tough and do sanctions.

Israeli blatantly does things like break international maritime law = ahh its Israel, they can do what they want.

I sort of agree with what a lot of people say: the US is controlled by Israeli and Jewish lobby groups. Otherwise, they would take some sort of action.

[Koveras]

[Koveras]

[mises]

Read Greenwald:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/05/31/israel/index.html

This time, they have gone to far.

Mr. Pink wrote:

[ropebreezy]

When blacks do it, it's called piracy.

When a nation does it, it's called anti-terrorism.

[bacasper]

[mises]

[Fox]

Civilian deaths are totally unacceptable, even if a few of the civilians attacked first. This wasn't a case of Israel defending it's soil, so such measures are totally unjustifiable. If Israel is going to insist on blockading Gaza, it's incumbent upon Israel to do so in a casualty-free manner.

[thomas pars]