Israel's Harsh Threats to Journalists and Activists

You may remember an incident last year in which a confrontation occurred between Israeli naval commandos and activists aboard a Gaza aid flotilla from Turkey, in which nine activists were killed and dozens more wounded after the commandos stormed the main boat in the flotilla. The flotilla, which was attempting to transport aid to Palestinians in Gaza, was stopped by Israeli forces. The flotilla was stopped because it was trying to run a blockade on the Gaza Strip that has been enforced by the Israelis since 2007, the year in which the terrorist group Hamas seized control of the Palestinian government. The Israelis also claimed that the flotilla was carrying armor and weaponry into Gaza in an attempt to strengthen Hamas. According to an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) spokesperson, knives, night vision goggles, bulletproof vests, and slingshots were found aboard the boat. However, this claim was disputed by United Nations Human Rights Council, along with Turkish government officials. The incident gained a lot of media attention, which led to harsh criticism of Israel's tactics during the raid, as well as their strict enforcement of the Gaza blockade, even towards a humanitarian mission.

Now, a similar flotilla mission is set to begin this week. This time, hundreds of activists from Greece will attempt to break the Israeli blockade in order to deliver aid and supplies to Gaza. The Israeli government has reasserted its commitment to enforcing the blockade, and says that it is determined to prevent this flotilla from reaching its destination. This time, however, the Israelis plan to take their enforcement a step further. According to a letter written by the Government Press Office, foreign journalists will be punished if they ride in the flotilla in order to cover the story. The letter states that the flotilla is “a dangerous provocation that is being organized by Western and Islamic extremist elements to aid Hamas.", and that the presence of foreign journalists, no matter what country they are from, will be considered provocative. Journalists who are found on the flotilla may be banned from entering Israel for up to ten years, and could have their equipment confiscated. However, journalists from many prominent media outlets such as the New York Times and CNN still seem prepared to ride with the flotilla, behavior that YNet news columnist Simon Plosker says indicates "a symbiotic relationship between the media and anti-Israel agitators". He also says that the only reason the media is riding on the flotilla is for the "prospect of capturing a repeat performance" of last year's incident.

Mr. Plosker and the Israeli government are wrong on so many levels here. Trying to paint the press as being in cahoots with Hamas is a bad move that will only raise suspicions against Israel. The reporters will be there because it is an intriguing foreign affairs story, and they do not have any control over whether or not a violent confrontation occurs. The only two factions that will determine whether or not unwarranted violence occurs are the activists and the IDF soldiers. The IDF still insists that it acted appropriately in last year's raid, even though their factual evidence that suggests otherwise.  Many of Israel's accusations against the flotilla, such as saying that Al Qaeda militants were aboard some of the boats, never panned out, and the force used by the IDF in the raid was considered excessive by many observers. If the IDF believes that their actions will be justifiable, then there is no reason to bar the press from covering any confrontation that might occur. In the United States, such threats against the media would be considered appalling and dictatorial.

Secondly, I believe that Israel's blockade against Gaza goes too far. I understand the need to inspect vessels to make sure weaponry is not being delivered to Hamas, but placing an outright ban on travel to Gaza is very strict, it paints an oppressive picture to the rest of the world. Gaza is a relatively poor region that undergoes a good deal of suffering. Yes, it is a region that is governed by ruthless terrorist organization, that is undeniable. But there are also many innocent people who really need the aid aboard those boats. If Israel wants to correct its image problem with the rest of the world, they should stop villianizing aid workers and allow for aid transportation to Gaza on the grounds that the vessels submit to  proper (and fair) inspection.

By writing this, I am not choosing sides in what is the biggest and most volatile political dispute in the world. In reality, I don't favor either side, because I believe that they are both led by religious zealots who have put civility and diplomacy on the back burner in favor of fundamentalism and religious crusading. On this particular issue, I am on the side of common sense. In order to keep everybody honest, the press should be allowed to ride on the flotilla without the threat of getting reprimanded by the Israelis, and the aid boat should be allowed to travel directly to Gaza after it has undergone a thorough inspection by both the Israelis and a neutral faction. I know this probably won't happen, however, and that is a shame. By behaving so secretly and aggressively, Israel can only serve to lose points in the court of public opinion. I really hope that they re-evaluate what they are doing here.