rachel corrie
Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen has warned Israel it faced serious consequences if any Irish citizens were injured in a bloody assault on aid ships which left at least 10 activists dead.
Mr Cowen called for one of the last boats in the Gaza mission, the MV Rachel Corrie, to be given safe passage through the military blockade of the territory.
The Taoiseach’s veiled threat came as two deported Irish aid activists – Shane Dillon and a naturalised Libyan – were expected back in Dublin.
The Israeli aim was a preventive measure, not an aggressive one.”
Under international law, Israel had the right to protect its citizens from Hamas attacks, he said.
“Consequently it has taken measures to defend itself, including the imposition of a maritime blockade to curb Hamas rearmament.”
Nevertheless, protests were held against Israel in a number of countries including several Arab nations, Pakistan, Britain and Malaysia.
Labour leader Phil Goff said he wanted to see a strong stance by the Government.
“They have made a start. I don’t think it is yet strong enough.”
Green MP Keith Locke said the raid on the boat and subsequent deaths amounted to a war crime and that the Government should condemn that action as a “murderous assault”.
They see it every day in the teenage soldiers of the occupation chewing gum as they dish out humiliations, in the settlers shooting young Palestinians with impunity, in the soldiers firing gas canisters at the heads of demonstrators.
The world saw that face in January last year when Israel unleashed the might of its air force on Gaza – the only time in modern warfare that a civilian population was sealed in as it was being bombed and shelled.
Now Israel is out on the high seas killing internationals.
So never mind the multi million-dollar public relations campaign – actions speak louder than words, and the murder of these peace activists is Israel’s message to the world.
