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Ami Kaufman

Ami Kaufman

Posted: June 1, 2010 02:22 AM

The Gaza Flotilla Is All the Proof You Need

What's Your Reaction:

So America, Europe and the World - I have a question for you:

What more proof do you need?

What more proof do you need to convince you to finally take action?

What more proof do you need to convince you, that these two children who have the audacity to call themselves "nations", will go on acting foolishly and kill each other until you put a stop to it?

What more proof do you need of Israeli immaturity?

Without going into the biggest crime of all - over 40 years of occupation - what government in their right minds sends an elite commando unit, armed to their teeth, trained to kill, to do policing at sea?

What kind of government doesn't take the time to think of a more clever way to stop a boat? It's really not that hard. And there was so much time to think. To prepare.

Sure, that boat should have been stopped. But are you telling me the great Jewish mind couldn't find a better way to stop a boat other than commandos sliding down ropes, with gloves on their hands and paintball rifles? Really?

And what more proof do you need of Palestinian immaturity?

Without getting into the crimes of Palestinians - terrorism, incitement and the Hamas rule of hatred - what kind of leadership, be it Palestinian or foreign peace activists, in their right minds tries to ram through a blockade of the strongest army in the Middle East?

What the organizers of that flotilla did was irresponsible - on the verge of gross negligence. Trying to get through that blockade was just like taking a truck full of supplies to one of the Gaza crossings and ramming it through the gate, even though the IDF told you to stop. Just because it happened at sea at lower speeds doesn't make a difference.

The whole idea was folly to begin with, almost as if the weakest kid in class would go up to the class bully and kick him in the knee, thinking he'll get away with it. There are smarter ways to deal with class bullies. Especially notoriously trigger-happy ones such as the IDF. Unless, of course, that's the result they were hoping for: blood. Which, if true, is just as sick.

And exactly what kind of peace flotilla carries weapons when they promised not to use violence? I saw those "peace activists" using their knives and metal sticks. Oh yes, it took me straight back to Haight-Ashbury.

So, now the investigations will begin. Who started? Who sounded the first shot? Who hit whom first? No! He hit me first! No I didn't! You hit me and then I just pushed you so you wouldn't hit me again! What??!? I pushed you?!?! You tripped me and then I got up and you pushed me!! Mommy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Children.

And you just sit there and watch. And you demand "full investigations".

Oh yes, let's do that. Let's investigate, shall we? Because nobody knows what the problem is. The root cause. Nope. We must search, we must investigate. In fact, I can't think of a better way to spend our time as 1.5 million Palestinians and Gilad Shalit rot in Gaza.

Your upcoming investigations are useless. Your inevitable finger-pointing is futile.

And so far, America, Europe and the World - you have also been futile.

When will you understand that it's already out of our hands? That we have no control over it any more?

Honestly, what more proof do you need?

 

Follow Ami Kaufman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/amikaufman

So America, Europe and the World - I have a question for you: What more proof do you need? What more proof do you need to convince you to finally take action? What more proof do you need to convinc...
So America, Europe and the World - I have a question for you: What more proof do you need? What more proof do you need to convince you to finally take action? What more proof do you need to convinc...
 
 
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04:29 PM on 06/02/2010
I don't quite understand your objection to the flotilla. You are perfectly aware that Israel's allies and friends have done nothing but pay lip service to Palestinian rights and the peace process for decades. Public criticism of Israel is either silenced or ignored, and has little to none political representation in the US, Canada, Germany and other countries. The UN has been blocked consistently to act on behalf of the Palestinians by the US veto. What happened to the activists who were killed by the IDF is what happens in Gaza and the West Bank on a daily and weekly basis. Is this supposed to go on forever?
07:08 PM on 06/01/2010
At the end of the day, it''s not a popularity contest. People around the world are mad at Israel for being a Jewish country. And they are mad at Jews with or without Israel, with or without reason. The entire debates of Israel are all ridiculous and the only real simple thing to see is that one side has a significant amount of people have nothing but terrorism on their mind, and one side wants to be left alone. If Israel boarded the ship with pies and flowers the world would all be on the news the next day calling them murderers. But I spoke to a few people already who are strongly anti-Israel, and the thing about all of it that stuck out most to them was why a bunch of peace activists are on video swinging bats and knives, and why this ship didn't simply chose to deliver it's goods in the manner offered to it by Israel? That's what Israel needs to repeatedly point out when any questions are asked. Because this is the true character of most pro-Palestinian "peace activists".
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
TheLonelyGod
The oncoming storm
04:33 PM on 06/01/2010
Did you even read the whole story before you wrote this article, Mr. Kaufman? I'm guessing you didn't.
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Ami Kaufman
Co-founder of +972 Magazine
12:48 AM on 06/02/2010
Umm, living in Israel, it was pretty hard to miss it. So, to answer your question: Yes. I "read" the story. I also "saw" it on TV. And "heard" it on the radio. I'm guessing you didn't really "read" my article, actually.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
TheLonelyGod
The oncoming storm
07:21 AM on 06/02/2010
You're right, actually. I only skimmed it. Withdrawn.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Fein
And this too shall pass.
03:28 PM on 06/01/2010
Mr. Kaufman you're conveniently overlooking the fact that the UN, and most recently, Gen. Petreaus have always stated that there needs to be a neutral force separating Israel from it's Palestinian neighbors. But since this would get in the way of Israel's 'Zionist destiny', i.e. ethnically cleansing ALL Palestinian land, Israel has always vehemently refused an international force in the territories.
02:06 PM on 06/01/2010
Turkish Islamic fundamentalists from Insani Yardim Vakfi who owned the ship wanted martyrdom confrontation and they got it.
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Paul Houston
British and a London resident
01:50 PM on 06/01/2010
Some things about this article disturb me. I gain the impression from the author if you are dealing with a superior power then you should not stand up to them. If that was the case, then Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Vietnam should have rolled over and allowed them to be subjugated. It is almost blaming the victim for their misfortune. I recall reading a review of a book called "Human Smoke" Apparently the authors argument was that the Holocaust happened due to Britain fighting the Nazis, leaving Hitler with no option but to exterminate the Jews.
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05:05 PM on 06/02/2010
Agree. And how about people who rescued - individually or collectively - Jews during the Nazi period? Were they just foolishly provoking a superior power/military?

one of many examples in Germany and German occupied countries during WW II:

http://richardbrenneman.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/albanian-muslims-saved-jews-from-nazis/
12:18 PM on 06/01/2010
So...are you saying we should just get out of the way and let them kill each other?
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persianadvocate
12:12 PM on 06/01/2010
"the strongest army in the Middle East"
LOL is it just me, or did the most elite commando unit of the "strongest army in the Middle East" and "most moral army in the world" (Ehud Barak) get their asses handed to them by a bunch of humanitarian activists on a peaceful civilian initiative to feed the starving people of Gaza? The strongest army, need I remind you, also has a recent record of killing over 1000 civilians in Gaza with their awesome planning abilities (they spent 3 months practicing on a scaled down version of Gaza and then pretended like Hamas broke the truce LOL), and another deplorable list of victims in Lebanon.

Israel's self-defense is a bloodbath of all of its neighbors. There is no excuse any more.
01:30 PM on 06/01/2010
Results,-- six ships seized, 9 Turkish militant sent to meet the alla dude, all arrested and many will rot in Israel jails for many years to come. Alll supplies seized
Cost-- A few people wounded.

May all the world's Islamo-terrrists meet with such victories from this point on.... ROFLL....
01:33 PM on 06/01/2010
Results,-- six ships seized, 9 Turkish militant eliminated, the rest arrested and many will rot in Israel jails for many years to come. All supplies seized
Cost-- A few people wounded.
May all the world's Islamo-fundamentalists meet with such “victories” from this point on....
11:46 AM on 06/01/2010
"Peace Activists"?!!!

It is astonishing that anyone, with even barest familiarity with what happens yesterday, would have the temerity to call the people who lynched, shot and thrown Israeli Navy personnel from the upper decks-- "peace activists."
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persianadvocate
12:14 PM on 06/01/2010
Former US Ambassador, former US congressman, former Holocaust survivor (she was not on the ships that went then, but with the convoy otherwise), Nobel Laureate... etc. etc. etc.

Get your facts straight Oleg, we're tired of your excuses.
12:49 PM on 06/01/2010
Facts straight.
A group of Turkish militants attacked Israeli navy personnel clubbing, knifing and shooting them.

The fact that there were some real peace activists on OTHER ships, not the one owned by Turkish radical Islamist group doesn't change the facts I stated above.
11:41 AM on 06/01/2010
The Flotilla was designed to bring a political challenge to the Blockade (started back in 2007) by activists. Granted the blockade has gone on a long time but it has succeeded in limiting the arms and munitions required to conduct a military assault and terrorist acts against Israel.

The 24 hour redirect of supplies going through Egypt was not worth the lives of people. Hamas routinely uses Gaza and its people as Martyrs for their cause and anyone else who is involved. They dont want peace they want the end of Israel.
01:36 PM on 06/01/2010
Yep.
Hamas rather fine-tuned the whole human shield military strategy. Too timid to fight, as proven by Cast Lead, the idea is to hide behind women,children, and now foreign appeasers. All for the glory of modern Caliphate.
12:27 AM on 06/03/2010
The Hamas members are not timid. They are calculating. They do a little damage to Israel with their missiles, then far more damage, in conjunction with their fans abroad, though provocations like this one. They are doing very well for themselves from a militarily weak position. They should not be underestimated. Look at how the publicity around this thing is going? Instead of castigating Turkey for failing to squelch this reckless, willful confrontation with the IDF, most of the world is hammering the Israelis.
09:49 AM on 06/01/2010
I don't get the point of categorizing this as childish, childish compared with what? Is it more childish than dressing like Indians to throw tea in a harbor? Is it more childish than hunger strikes or the nationalism of any other country? Remember when Reagan invaded Grenada and the right took this as a sign that the US is tough as a country?

More than a dozen protesters appear to have died in this assault. But ultimately that is small scale compared to the number of Palestinians who die due to the blockade of Gaza. But that has gained a stage of normalcy which makes it go unremarked on. An event like this which draws attention to the crisis is not really so hard to understand. It was the thinking behind the Exodus incident in which Jews did something similar to shed light on what the British were up to.

And the threat to Israeli policy is real, which is why their reaction is not all that surprising. Attention to the situation of actual Palestinians in Gaza outside of the context of rocket fire is a serious threat to Israel. Although it is hard to see how this assault helps them. But that is stupidity in trying to deal with an indefensible situation rather than anythign that deserves to be called childishness.
07:52 AM on 06/01/2010
This article is an excellent rebuttal to both sides of this conflict. It also points to the unilateral impotence of outside influences. I wholly agree that the flotilla action was poorly devised, as it most surely is akin to trying to run a border crossing with a truck.

It is excellent analogy to portray Israel and the Mafioso Hamas as children being stupid.
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persianadvocate
12:16 PM on 06/01/2010
I think it's just the workings of an Israeli supporter realizing that his side has done something unmistakeably wrong and willing to "concede defeat" if but for the consolation prize of being able to attribute SOME guilt to the Flotilla people. PLEASE!
07:27 AM on 06/02/2010
"unmistakably wrong" does not fit. That is irrational, and does not label this situation.

"SOME guilt" is also obtuse. There is no attribute of "SOME guilt" there is undeniable guilt against the flotilla. They ignored repeated demands to redirect to Israeli port for inspection. The inspection assured that humanitarian aid would be delivered to the Gaza citizens, but that it is required inspection proceed. This intent is well known and undeniable. Therefore, it is wholly plausible to accuse the flotilla of direct violation of Israeli law, as they repeatedly rejected all requests for directions to Israeli port.
07:43 AM on 06/01/2010
I am at a loss for words to express my despair about the latest disaster in this unending tragedy. So I will use Billy Joel's, from his "Goodnight Saigon" masterpiece:

And who was wrong? And who was right?
It didn't matter in the thick of the fight

And we would all go down together
We said we’d all go down together
Yes we would all go down together
08:03 AM on 06/01/2010
Dear, I wont go down for Hamas.

I am appalled at the human suffering Palestinians and others endure because of the ongoing border blockades. This environment is a choice Hamas has desired. They are using Gaza as a martyr nation. It is disgusting.
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persianadvocate
08:19 AM on 06/02/2010
Wrong again. Hamas was democratically elected in a US-monitored election. The US intervened because their puppet party didn't win. Get your facts straight
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05:15 PM on 06/02/2010
The creation of Hamas was a Machiavellan move by the Israeli government to split the Palestinian leadership. Backfired a bit. Sort of like the Taliban for the US.
07:09 AM on 06/01/2010
It's looking like a pretty dumb army - sets fire to the Golan Heights one week then a full blown cock up on board a civillian ship leaving many dead the next.
You left that out.
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05:17 PM on 06/02/2010
Anything to avoid peace talks and Netanyahu having to go to the WH again to talk to Obama. Didn't go so well last time.
RabidRightRebel
A moderate voice who rejects the rabid right
06:15 AM on 06/01/2010
I agree a peace agreement can not be negotiated it needs to be imposed.

Here is what I would do.

I would offer Israel the opportunity to join NATO and have a NATO base installed at the northern Border of Gaza, in return for this security guarantee, Israel would return the occupied territiories and recognize the Palistinainan State, which in return for the the occupied territiories would recognise Israel and sign a peace treaty with them. (Inspection of goods into Palistinian could be taken over by NATO or the U.N. at the NATO base.)

If the Palistinians reject the proposal it would be clear that they have no desire for peace and world should imeadiately stop providing aid and boycott their goods. Same goes for Israel, if Israel rejects the proposal the should stop providing them with aid, military equipment and boycott their goods.

If this was done a deal could be reached in less htan a month. The trouble is no government in the world has the courage to stand up to these international bratts.
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UKVisitor
09:24 AM on 06/01/2010
Can the Palestinians trust us though? Really, when was the last time we kept our word?
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Paul Houston
British and a London resident
01:26 PM on 06/01/2010
Why would the Palestinians trust that? In 1982 the US Marines gave a written undertaking to protect the remaining Palestinian civilians in Sabra and Chatila refugee camps in Lebanon following the pull out of the Palestinian fighters from Lebanon. On September the 11th The US pulled out leaving them at the mercy of the Christian Phalange and their sponsors Israel. A few days later the massacre happened.