The Marmara Flotilla
We call upon the Israeli government to enable the flotilla to arrive in Gaza after having been checked by Israeli security forces for weapons and explosives. We call upon the organizers of the flotilla to enable their ships to be checked without violence.The Jewish tradition demands peace but also recognizes the right for self-defense. Israel has the right and the obligation to defend itself and its residents from those who are trying to reject and destroy her existence. In the light of the fact that Hamas has previously received ammunitions and missiles from abroad that were then aimed at Israel, Israel has the right to attempt to prevent more missiles from being delivered to the Gaza strip.
At the same time, we highlight again the merciful nature of the Jewish tradition. We turn to our God and say: Merciful God, the Jewish tradition teaches us to care for the weak and the poor of our people and for these who are not of our people. We cannot prevent those who sincerely want to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza residents, who have suffered and continue to suffer from poor living conditions, the possibility of delivering aid. We will continue to pray for peace, for the release of Gilad Shalit and for peace for all the residents of the area, regardless their religion or nationality.
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I am pleased that you are committed to the ships whose passengers want to help the inhabitants of Gaza who are living in a big prison without freedom,.but I ask , why it is necessary to investigate more than once, if there are weapons on the ship, for according to my knowledge it has been already investigated. It is good to demand freedom for Gilad Shalit, but besides also for the many Palestinian prisoners, especially those who are in administative custody. and for the children. And of course the blockade of the Gaza Strip must be finished!
I agree that checks are needed, on every side of the conflict. There is no harm in it, just more certainty and trust.
As for the Gaza Strip, it is a bad place to live and Palestinians have their rights to ask for more freedom, but Hamas has to show any will to talk.
It is great to know that also pro-flotilleans agree that Israel has a right to defend itself and its citizens. It is important, that Israel ITSELF checks the ships, as only then can Israel be sure that none of the weapons will cross the border right into terrorists hands. After all, if some weapons will cross the border, they will be used against Israels residents, and not the residents of some other country. So I assume, that flotilla goes straight to Ashdod to be checked as Israel suggested, in a peaceful way and will not try to provoke excrescent mess? Thumbs up to that!
Were not the vessels checked the last time in Turkey? That wasn’t good enough so Israel attacked the flotilla in international water claiming self-defense! No weapons found apparently but nine people were killed. If they want to check the vessels, fine, but I’d worry about planted time bombs.
Didn’t anyone notice that Hamas in Gaza is at war with Israel? They have rained thousands of rockets on Israel’s civilian population. A country has the right to defend its people including to blockade the beligerent party.
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While not agreeing with the statement above challenging specific aspects of the Israeli government’s policy toward the Flotilla, I nonetheless see quite clearly in the statement RHR’s commitment to Israel’s security needs, and our right to defend ourselves when attacked. I have come to expect this of RHR, which I have always considered to be part of the “loyal opposition” capable of both criticizing Israeli policies while articulating clearly RHR’s love for Israel and support for our right to national self-determination in this land.
Unfortunately, the organizers of the Flotilla do not recognize our right to self-defense, and it is fair to say that they do not even recognize our right to exist. That is why I have no sympathy with their efforts.
I am baffled, however, not by RHR’s above statement, reasonable people can disagree reasonably, civilly and respectfully and still walk away from the encounter as friends. I do, nonetheless, take issue with RHR’s signing onto a statement that appears to have been written by Flotilla organizers. This statement, also signed by other Israeli peace groups, including the now anti-Zionist ICAHD, is being circulated by the Flotilla organizers in their own propaganda efforts.
I say “appears” to be written by Flotilla organizers because I cannot find the actual text of the statement anywhere in the internet, nor on the web sites of any of the purported signatories. All I can find are references to the statement such as the one above and this one.
In my most recent posting in my blog Engaging Zion, (Flotilla, “Flytilla” are not about peace; but challenging Israel’s right to exist) I first examine the pro-Hamas leanings of the Free Gaza Movement, their clear connections with Hamas, and also their statements opposing Israel’s right to exist and their effort (in the words of Adam Shapiro) to transform “this conflict from one between Israel and the Palestinians, or Israel and the Arab world…to one between the rest of the world and Israel.” Such rhetoric is toxic as it is not aimed at defusing the conflict, but rather intensifying it.
If RHR did indeed sign the statement in question, I think an explanation is owed the rest of us in the Israeli public, and to American Jewish rabbis who support RHR with their names and reputations. If it should turn out that the statement in question doesn’t exist, or is being deliberately distorted by the Flotilla organizers, or if RHR would retract its name from the statement in question, then I will gladly retract my criticism.
B’shalom בשלום
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Dear Yitzhak,
RHR did not signed the letter you’re referring to in this post (the letter signed by coalition of organizations). The only statement RHR did signed regarding the flotilla is the one on our official website [http://rhr.org.il/eng/index.php/2011/07/enable-the-flotilla-to-arrive-in-gaza/]. This statement alone reflects where RHR stand regarding the flotilla.
We’re obviously checking as to why our name was added to all those publications on the web connecting us with the coalition letter. Please make our respond public in the post and we thank you for the dialogue which we surly approve.
Yariv Mohar, Spokesman
RABBIS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS Israel
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