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Iran ready to escort flotilla to Gaza

This Reuters article reports that Iran is now ready to use their Revolutionary Guards to escort flotillas of aid to Gaza, prepared to take on Israeli forces. While I don't agree with what has happened with regards to Israel's deadly use of force on the previous flotilla, this sounds like fuel being dumped on an already hot fire.

We already know the international community is furious with and unaccepting of the actions taken, but now what?

Is Israel within it's rights to setup this blockade in an effort to stop weapons from reaching Gaza?

Tags: flotilla, gaza, iran, israel

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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Nagao on June 7, 2010 at 10:15am

Nicole,

I was initially outraged and am still quite upset at what Israel did with regards to the use of force on the flotilla, but I'm starting to question some things. First I'm hearing that there were indeed small arms on the aid boat, and this seems to be a relatively accepted piece of information by everyone now. Second, I can't decide whether Israel's actions since the incident is that of a nation which has committed a crime or that which has been setup.

To me, it all seems fishy...I'm not saying I think what Israel did was right, but at the same time, it does seem like there are some important pieces being hidden from us.

As far as the blockade, I'm wondering if the blockade isn't a valid attempt at peace? If you stop the blockade all together and weapons do flow in, what have we accomplished? I think the terms of the blockade are those of promised peace, but perhaps I need to do more reading about that.

If the terms of the blockade are peaceful, I would suggest maybe having the UN setup the blockade? Letting everything except weapons in? Again, I agree something needs to change, but I would also like to see steps taken toward the goal of peace. If there are other elements working against that goal, and Israel really is interested in peace, then we might be inadvertently hurting the goal of peace and health to everyone in the region.

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Permalink Reply by Michele Baron on June 13, 2010 at 4:58pm

Rather than a blockade, couldn't Israel utilize half of the resources, and set up a 'safe conduct system' so that all who are merely pursuing health, business, employment/other travel could pass through more efficiently, and others would then be re-screened by the remaining half of the security assets?
Or, Israel could undertake a partnership with vetted forces from neighboring nations, i.e. teams of 1 member per nation could work on each screening "desk" (which would obviously require a bit of diplomacy and tolerance), and the inspection group, together, would screen and 'pass/safe conduct' to citizens.
Weaponry must be stopped, violence from all parties stopped. Perhaps a blockade is not the most effective means of mitigating the violence.

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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Nagao on March 25, 2011 at 1:45pm

It's interesting to look back at this discussion and ask many of the same questions about what's going on in Libya, Yemen, and other countries in the region.