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ISRAELI GOV'T OFFICIALS CONVINCE ACTIVISTS TO CANCEL CYPRUS FLOTILLA
Today's Zaman
June 17 2010
Turkey
A group of Israeli left-wing activists who were upset over the Turkish
clash with Israeli soldiers aboard the Mavi Marmara two weeks ago
decided on Monday to cancel the flotilla that they were planning for
Cyprus to protest, what they call, the Turkish "occupation" of the
island's northern half.
The Jerusalem Post reported on June 5 about the planned flotilla, which
was to be led by Alex Goldfarb, former member of Knesset, and Modi'in
Meretz activist Pinhas Har-Zahav. According to spiked-online.com,
as many as 400 Israeli yacht owners volunteered their yachts for the
reverse flotilla. As the story made headlines in Turkey, Cyprus and
Greece, as well as other countries in Europe and some 800 supporters
of the flotilla joined its Facebook group.
The Cyprus Mail reported on June 16 that the Israeli flotilla could
play into Turkey's hands.
"As Egemen BagıÅ~_, Turkey's chief negotiator to the EU, pointed out,
the flotilla would effectively break what Turkey deems an embargo of
the Republic of Cyprus. He said, 'They will pay the fees, they use
their ports and on the other hand they will lift the embargo imposed
by the Greek Cypriot sector'," it stated.
Meanwhile, Israeli government officials persuaded the activists to
cancel the voyage because they were worried that the attention would
remind the international media of the Gaza flotilla when most of the
world's attention has shifted to other issues, such as the BP oil
spill and the World Cup, wrote The Jerusalem Post on June 16.
The flotilla was to include 23 yachts of six people each. The yachts
were donated to the cause by their owners.
The Mavi Marmara, carrying 500 supporters and $20 million in
humanitarian aid, began its journey from Ä°stanbul to Gaza on May
22 in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people and in a bid
to break Israel's years-long blockade of the Gaza Strip. However,
the ship was stormed by Israeli forces in the early morning of May
31, 2010, with marines boarding from dinghies and rappelling from
helicopters. At least nine peace activists were killed and dozens
were injured during the attack.
There is another group of Israeli students who were planning to go to
Turkey to remind the world about the Armenian "genocide" and what they
labeled the ongoing Turkish oppression of the Kurdish minority. They
may also cancel their plans.
From: A. Papazian
Today's Zaman
June 17 2010
Turkey
A group of Israeli left-wing activists who were upset over the Turkish
clash with Israeli soldiers aboard the Mavi Marmara two weeks ago
decided on Monday to cancel the flotilla that they were planning for
Cyprus to protest, what they call, the Turkish "occupation" of the
island's northern half.
The Jerusalem Post reported on June 5 about the planned flotilla, which
was to be led by Alex Goldfarb, former member of Knesset, and Modi'in
Meretz activist Pinhas Har-Zahav. According to spiked-online.com,
as many as 400 Israeli yacht owners volunteered their yachts for the
reverse flotilla. As the story made headlines in Turkey, Cyprus and
Greece, as well as other countries in Europe and some 800 supporters
of the flotilla joined its Facebook group.
The Cyprus Mail reported on June 16 that the Israeli flotilla could
play into Turkey's hands.
"As Egemen BagıÅ~_, Turkey's chief negotiator to the EU, pointed out,
the flotilla would effectively break what Turkey deems an embargo of
the Republic of Cyprus. He said, 'They will pay the fees, they use
their ports and on the other hand they will lift the embargo imposed
by the Greek Cypriot sector'," it stated.
Meanwhile, Israeli government officials persuaded the activists to
cancel the voyage because they were worried that the attention would
remind the international media of the Gaza flotilla when most of the
world's attention has shifted to other issues, such as the BP oil
spill and the World Cup, wrote The Jerusalem Post on June 16.
The flotilla was to include 23 yachts of six people each. The yachts
were donated to the cause by their owners.
The Mavi Marmara, carrying 500 supporters and $20 million in
humanitarian aid, began its journey from Ä°stanbul to Gaza on May
22 in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people and in a bid
to break Israel's years-long blockade of the Gaza Strip. However,
the ship was stormed by Israeli forces in the early morning of May
31, 2010, with marines boarding from dinghies and rappelling from
helicopters. At least nine peace activists were killed and dozens
were injured during the attack.
There is another group of Israeli students who were planning to go to
Turkey to remind the world about the Armenian "genocide" and what they
labeled the ongoing Turkish oppression of the Kurdish minority. They
may also cancel their plans.
From: A. Papazian