Statements from Israel's Prime Minister and Ambassadors to the UN

STATEMENT from the Israeli PM

"Last night a regrettable incident occurred, during which people were killed and others were injured. IDF soldiers who were compelled to defend their lives were also injured. This incident was the result of an intentional provocation of forces which support Iran and its terrorist enclave, Hamas, in the Gaza Strip. This enclave, Hamas, has fired thousands of missiles at the State of Israel, and it is amassing thousands more.

This is a clear case of self-defense. Israel cannot allow the free flow of weapons, of and rockets and missiles to the terrorist base of Hamas in Gaza. It's a terrorist base supported by Iran; it's already fired thousands of rockets at Israeli cities; it seeks to smuggle in thousands of more, and this is why Israel must inspect the goods that come into Gaza. It's also a clear cut of self-defense because as our soldiers were inspecting these ships, they were attacked - they were almost lynched. They were attacked with clubs, with knives, perhaps with live gunfire, and they had to defend themselves - they were going to be killed. Israel would not allow its soldiers to be lynched and neither would any other self-respecting country.

Our policy is simple. We say: any goods, any humanitarian aid to Gaza, can enter. What we want to prevent is their ability to bring in war materiel - missiles, rockets, the means for constructing casing for missiles and rockets. This has been our policy and yesterday we told the flotilla - which was not a simple, innocent flotilla - to bring their goods into Ashdod. We told them that we would examine their cargo and allow those goods that could not be used as weapons or shielding materials for Hamas into Gaza.

Five of the six ships accepted these terms without violence. Apparently, the sixth ship, the largest, which had on board hundreds of people, had a premeditated plan to harm IDF soldiers. When the first soldiers dropped down onto the deck of the ship, they were attacked by a violent mob and were compelled to defend their lives. That is when the unfortunate events took place.

We have a simple policy, which will continue. That policy is: we have no argument or fight with the population of Gaza. We are interested in allowing them to continue their regular routines. We want to prevent any humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but we are fighting the Hamas organization, which threatens the citizens of Israel and fires missiles at Israeli cities. It is our duty to defend the citizens of Israel, protect Israel’s cities and ensure the security of the State of Israel - and we will continue to do so."

Statement by Israel's ambassador to the UN in New Yorl on 31 May 2010 to the UN Security Council

"Mr. President.

The Security Council is convened this afternoon following the serious event that took place today early morning local time, when a convoy of six ships attempted to break the maritime blockage off the cost of Gaza. Although portrayed in the media as a humanitarian mission delivering aid to Gaza, this flotilla was nothing but a humanitarian mission. If indeed it were a humanitarian mission it would have accepted, weeks ago, during the planning stages, the offer by the Israeli authorities to transfer the aid, through to the port of Ashdod, to Gaza through the existing overland crossing, in accordance with established procedures. Many states and organizations, including the UN, are using those mechanisms on a daily basis.

The Flotilla organizers not only rejected this offer, but stated clearly that (and I quote) “this mission is not about delivering Humanitarian supply, but rather about breaking the Israeli siege “ as Greta Berlin, a flotilla spokesperson told the media last week.

Mr. President.

What kind of Humanitarian activists demand to bypass the United Nations, the Red Cross, and other internationally recognized agencies?

What kind of peace activists use knives, clubs and other weapons to attack soldiers who board a ship in accordance with international law?

What kind of Humanitarian activists, some with known terrorist history, embrace Hamas, a terrorist organization that openly shuns a two state solution and calls for Israel destruction, defying conditions set by the international community and the Quartet. The answer is clear: they are not peace activists; they are not messengers of good will. They cynically use a humanitarian platform to send a message of hate and to implement violence.

Mr. President.

Let me remind the Council that a state of armed conflict exists between Israel and the Hamas terrorist regime controlling Gaza. Let me remind the Council that rockets and mortars are still being launched by Hamas and others toward southern Israel.

Let me remind the council that Gaza is occupied by terrorists that ousted the PA in a violent coup, and that arms are continuously being smuggled, including by sea.

Let me stress that a maritime blockade is a legitimate and recognized measure under international law that may be implemented as part of an armed conflict at sea. A blockage may be imposed in sea including in international waters. Let me also stress that Israel provided, in due time, not only information about the existence of the blockage, but also appropriate notification to the relevant governments and to the organizers of the Gaza Flotilla. The organizers turned down the repeated offers by Israel to transfer the aid to Gaza, because they had other plans.

Listen to one of the statements made prior to the events by one of the main organizer: “They [the Israelis] are going to have to forcefully stop us." Bulent Yildirim, the leader of the IHH, one of the primary organizers of the flotilla, announced just prior to boarding: “we are going to resist and resistance will win.”

Moreover, it should be noted that the organizing group, the IHH has a radical anti-Western orientation. Alongside its legitimate humanitarian activities, it supports radical Islamic networks such as Hamas, and at least in the past has even supported global jihad elements, such as Al-Qaeda.

Mr. President.

Being a so-called humanitarian mission, these champions of human rights also rejected in the initial planning stage an Israeli request to ask Hamas to allow the Red Cross to visit captured soldier Gilad Shalit.

When it became clear that the protest flotilla intended to violate the blockage, despite the repeated warnings, Israeli Naval personnel boarded the vessels and redirected them to Ashdod. Unfortunately, the soldiers boarding one of the ships, were violently attacked with life threatening means; live ammunition, knives, clubs, deck furniture and others types of weaponry were used against IDF soldiers, with a clear intentions to perform, what I would describe, as no less than a lynch. The soldiers undoubtedly acted in self-defense, prompted by the uncontrolled violence attempted at their lives. According to reports, the unfortunate event, resulted in the death and injuries to the protesters as well as grave injuries to our soldiers. The injured were evacuated and are currently treated at Israeli hospitals. The IDF, as part of its standard operating procedures will conduct debriefing on the matter that would shed more light on the occurrences we have witnessed today.

Mr. President.

Let me be very clear, this was not a peaceful protest. The IHH people on board one of the ships were not humanitarian aid activists. The IDF operation began as a preventive measure to counter illegal breakage of the blockage.

Any responsible government would act accordingly in similar circumstances to protect its civilians. It is the responsibility of the organizers, the provocateurs, some linked to terrorist organizations.

The results of last night’s events are tragic and unfortunate, and Israel regrets any lose of innocent lives. But it cannot jeopardize its security.

The full picture of the circumstances that lead to these consequences will continue to unfold in the next few days. However It is important, members of the council, colleagues, that while assessing this particular event, we cannot lose grip of the bigger picture. We cannot ignore the threat to peace and security posed by Hamas. We cannot ignore the most basic necessity and obligation of Israel to safeguard it security by appropriate measures when threatened.

On the other hand, let us not get diverted from the need to continue advancing on the political track. While the complicated situation in and around Gaza persists, and today’s incident is only an example of it, we should continue to embrace the positive developments from the past few weeks, so that we and the Palestinian Authority can sit together for direct talks for the benefit of our people and the region as a whole."

Statement by H.E. Aharon Leshno Yaar, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Geneva

Mr. President,

The results of yesterday's events are tragic and unfortunate, and Israel regrets any loss of life. I would like to emphasize that despite the desire of many for a swift condemnation of Israel that it would be appropriate to focus on the important, central issue - the bigger picture.

Before anything else, we should ask ourselves if today's meeting and outcome will contribute in any way to advance those goals that most of you that sit here still surely support.

We must support the efforts of moderate parties, to build upon the recently renewed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The important thing is to bring about reconciliation between Jews, Arabs, and Palestinians, and a fair and durable peace solution, that results in stability and prosperity.

We must support Palestinian and Arab moderates, and steadfastly refuse to support the radicals and Hamas.

It is important to remember that the Gaza Strip is still controlled by a terrorist organization that ousted the Palestinian Authority in a violent coup - an organization that refuses to accept international demands to recognize Israel and stop terrorist acts against Israeli civilians.

And it is also important to remind you that an Israeli abducted soldier is still in captivity in Gaza for four years this month without any contact with the external world, and that the indiscriminate shooting of missiles and rockets at Israeli civilians continues.

Mr. President,

Yesterday I told members of this Council that I would brief them on more specifics as they become available to us. I also urged the Council not to rush to conclusions before that information is known to all of us. I believe today, we know a little more.

Mr. President,

In the early hours of 31 May, Israeli naval personnel boarded a flotilla of six vessels attempting to violate the maritime blockade on Gaza. Unbeknownst to us then, the assault against Israeli forces was a premeditated act by IHH members, a Turkish organizing group which is known to have a radical anti-Western orientation. Alongside its legitimate humanitarian activities, IHH also supports radical Islamic networks. The IHH has publicly professed connections to Egypt's Islamic Brotherhood and the Hamas, and has been a central actor of fund raising and financing terror for Hamas around the world.

The attack on the Israeli soldiers was beyond all doubt premeditated. The weapons used had been prepared in advance. Bulent Yildirim, the leader of the IHH, announced just prior to boarding: "We are going to resist and resistance will win." They were not on a humanitarian mission but one of provocation and incitement. They used knives and clubs and shot two Israeli soldiers. Israeli forces had no choice but to defend themselves.

It is important to remember that all other vessels in the flotilla reacted peacefully to the operation and were escorted unharmed to Israel, the same practice as with previous vessels that tried to violate the maritime blockade.

Mr. President,

Israel was justified under international law in acting against the flotilla. A state of armed conflict exists between Israel and the Hamas regime that controls Gaza. Hamas has launched 10,000 rockets against Israeli civilians. At present, it is engaged in smuggling arms and military supplies into Gaza, by land and sea, in order to fortify its positions and continue its attacks.

Under international law, Israel has the right to protect the lives of its civilians from Hamas attacks. Consequently, it has undertaken measures to defend itself, including the imposition of a maritime blockade to curb Hamas rearmament.

International law provides that a blockade may be imposed at sea, including in international waters, so long as it does not bar access to the ports and coasts of neutral States.

Further, the naval manuals of several western countries recognize the maritime blockade as an effective naval measure and set forth the various criteria that make a blockade valid, including the requirement to give due notice of the existence of the blockade. Israel repeatedly warned the ships participating in the flotilla, in line with its obligations under international law, that a maritime blockade is indeed in effect off the coast of Gaza and the ships were given due notice of its exact coordinates, all within the accepted international maritime channels.

Moreover, Israel provided appropriate notification to the affected governments and to the organizers of the Gaza protest flotilla. The ships participating in the protest flotilla were also warned repeatedly, in real time, from the point of departure to the point of interception that the maritime blockade is in effect.

It should be noted that under customary law, knowledge of the blockade may be presumed once a blockade has been declared and appropriate notification has been granted, as above.

A State may take action to enforce a blockade. Any vessel that violates or attempts to violate a maritime blockade may be captured or even attacked under international law. The US Commander's Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations sets forth that a vessel is considered to be in attempt to breach a blockade from the time the vessel leaves its port with the intention of evading the blockade.

Under applicable international law, capture of a vessel attempting to breach a Naval Blockade can be done in international waters, before entrance to the blockaded area.
As I stated just a few moments ago, the intentions of IHH members aboard the flotilla to breach the blockade was clear from well-before departure, and the protesters indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade by means of written and oral statements.

Prior to undertaking enforcement measures, explicit warnings were relayed directly to the captains of the vessels, expressing Israel's intent to exercise its right to enforce the blockade.

International law further allows Israel to prescribe the technical arrangement, including search, under which passage is permitted, in order to make sure that no means are transferred to the benefit of the enemy, rather than the civilian population. The ships participating in the flotilla were repeatedly offered to land the vessels in the Israeli port of Ashdod, and to transfer their aid through the existing land crossings, in accordance with established security procedures. But all our overtures were outright rejected.

For those of you who are interested, you can find an Israeli legal paper in the back of the room briefly describing the law applicable to the events in the East Mediterranean.

Mr. President,

The manner in which Israel has been portrayed runs counter to what actually occurred on the ground.

The flotilla organizers had made it clear that their primary goal was to target the maritime blockade. The flotilla spokesperson, Ms. Berlin, told the Press on 27 May that “this mission is not about delivering humanitarian supplies, it's about breaking Israel's siege." Similar statements were also expressed in interviews given by the head of the IHH, Bulent Yildirim.

Israel had attempted to take control of the vessels participating in the flotilla by peaceful means and in an orderly fashion in order to enforce the blockade. Israeli forces took the necessary steps in order to capture the vessels in an operation that clearly indicates vigilance and proportionality.

Many of you saw the pictures. The videos are easily accessible. The people on the sixth and largest ship were not peaceful demonstrators. Their reaction was premeditated, well organized and violent. Very violent. Metal bars and hunting knives were used. A "lynch" is the word used by reporters who covered the incident.

It was also clear from the pictures that I saw, that the soldiers made every effort to avoid using live ammunition, and they did so only when they had no choice, when their lives were threatened. The people who surrounded them were not peace activists, they were a lynch mob. And that is what caused the tragic events.

Mr. President,

As I stated yesterday, the flotilla's cargo is in the process of being off-loaded in the Port of Ashdod, and the humanitarian items will be transferred overland to Gaza in accordance with standard operating procedures.

The State of Israel is fully implementing its obligations under international law with regard to the people onboard the ships which have been captured.

Foreign nationals are being treated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in order to provide for their repatriation, and the wounded were evacuated to hospitals in Israel.

Activists suspected of attacking Israeli forces will be investigated and the necessary legal measures will be taken against them.

Mr. President,

The loss of life is tragic. But I would like to ask this Council whether what we are doing here today contributes to the empowering of the moderates or to achieving peace. You know better than I, what the answer is to that question. This Council by its actions empowers Hamas and weakens the Palestinian Authority. It may give some of you satisfaction today, but it offers no hope, no promise for tomorrow or the future.

Thank you very much.

END OF STATEMENT

Below is a web page containing information infomation on IHH which played a central role in organizing the flotilla to the Gaza Strip.

http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/ham...

Amongst the other organizations involved in the flotilla is the International Solidarity Movement. The ISM has a shameful record of placing foreign nationals in danger through encouraging 'direct action', which resulted in the death of American citizen Rachel Corrie. In 2003, ISM's extreme ideology was underscored when terrorists, originating from the UK, used ISM as a cover to attack Mike's Place bar in Tel Aviv, murdering three people. More recently, ISM has been a leading force in the violent protests against the security barrier at Ni'lin, while an ISM activist has been jailed in the US, charged with "giving about $20,000 to a group he knew supported Hamas."

An Al-Jazeera report from May 28, translated by MEMRI, shows activists on board before departing for Gaza, chanting Intifada songs aimed at Jews and praising martyrdom. Chants include "Intifada, intifada, intifada! Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews! The army of Mohammed will return!" relating to a seventh century massacre of Jews in Khaybar by early Muslims.