THE JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA

NEWS ALERT: BACKGROUND ON FLOTILLA INCIDENT

As many of you may be aware, a major confrontation took place off Israel's coast earlier
today. We wanted to bring you the most up-to-date information from JFNA's Israel
office, for your background. We have summarized the major points below. This is
followed by additional facts and links to other important materials on this incident.

Early this morning (May 31), Israel Defense Forces naval forces intercepted six ships
attempting to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The intercept took place after numerous warnings from Israel and the Israel Navy that
were issued prior to the action. The Israel Navy requested the ships to redirect toward
Ashdod, where they would be able to unload their cargo which would then be
transferred to Gaza over land after undergoing security inspections. The IDF stressed
that the passengers could then return to their point of departure on the same vessels.
During the interception of the ships, the demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF
naval personnel with live gunfire as well as light weaponry including knives,
crowbars and clubs. The demonstrators had clearly prepared weapons in
advance for this specific purpose.
According to reports from sea, on board the flotilla that was seeking to break the
maritime closure on the Gaza Strip, IDF forces apprehended two violent activists
holding pistols. These militants apparently grabbed the pistols from IDF forces
and opened fire on the soldiers.
The activists were carrying 10,000 tons of reported aid to Gaza. Israel provides
15,000 tons of aid weekly to Gaza.
As a result of this life-threatening activity, naval forces employed riot dispersal means,
including, when they determined that their lives were in immediate danger, live
fire. According to initial reports, these events resulted in over 10 deaths among
the demonstrators and numerous injured.
A number of Israeli naval personnel were injured, some from gunfire and others from
knives and crowbars. Two of the soldiers are moderately wounded and the
remainder sustained light injuries.
All of the injured, Israelis and foreigners, are currently being evacuated by a fleet of
IDF helicopters to hospitals in Israel.
Reports from IDF forces on the scene are that some of the participants onboard the
ships had planned a lynch-mob attack, using lethal force on the boarding forces.
The events are still unfolding. Israeli Naval commander, Vice Admiral Eliezer Marom
is overseeing the activities.
In the coming hours, the ships will be directed to the Ashdod port, while IDF naval
forces will perform security checks in order to identify the people on board the
ships and their equipment.
The IDF naval operation was carried out under orders from the political leadership to
halt the flotilla from reaching the Gaza Strip and breaching the naval blockade.
Other important facts:
The provocateurs were organized by an Islamist organization that has links to
fundamentalist jihadi groups.

The extremists brought small children on board knowing that they intended to violate
international maritime law.
The activists were carrying 10,000 tons of what they said was aid. Israel transfers
about 15,000 tons of supplies and humanitarian aid every week to the people of
Gaza.
"We fully intend to go to Gaza regardless of any intimidation or threats of violence
against us, they are going to have to forcefully stop us," said one of the flotilla’s
organizers.
Using the Arabic term ‘intifada,’ Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said "We call on
all Arabs and Muslims to rise up in front of Zionist embassies across the whole
world.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said this week: "If the ships reach Gaza it is a victory; if
they are intercepted, it will be a victory too.
Israel left Gaza in hopes of peace in 2005 and in return received more than 10,000
rockets and terrorist attacks.
Israel has said that it will deliver any humanitarian aid to Gaza, as it does daily.
No country would allow illegal entry of any vessel into their waters without a security
check.
Earlier this week, Noam Shalit, father of Hamas-held Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit,
approached the flotilla's organizers asking them to take supplies to Gilad. He was
refused.
Here are additional resources for further background on this issue:

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Danny Ayalon's press conference on the flotilla
incident:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137785

Israel Goes on High Alert in the Wake of Flotilla Incident:

http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=28979

IDF Met with Pre-Planned Violence When Boarding Ship:

http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/05/3101.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU12KW-
XyZE&playnext_from=TL&videos=KoyKrtEKHmY&feature=sub

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon’s Statement: Activists Had Weapons:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3896588,00.html

Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement about the humanitarian situation in Gaza:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wlWcNXzstI

MFA legal expert Sarah Weiss Maudi explains why the flotilla was not allowed to dock
at Gaza:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2W457Ot6qw&feature=channel

Legal Backgrounder on maritime law and other related issues, from MFA:

http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=221580

A fascinating Al-Jazeera report on the flotilla before they left that offers insight into who
was on board. One says: "We are now waiting for one of two good things -- either to
achieve martyrdom or to reach Gaza:"

http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2489.htm

Video of a "peace activist" stabbing an Israeli soldier as he boards the boat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buzOWKxN2co

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Expresses Full Backing for the IDF

Prime Minister Netanyahu today spoke by telephone with the relevant security ministers
and officials, and was updated on the action and subsequent developments. In his
discussions with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman,
Minister Moshe Yaalon, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, IDF Chief-of-
Staff Lt.-Gen. Gaby Ashkenazi and ISA Director Yuval Diskin, the Prime Minister issued
security, diplomatic and information directives, reiterated his full backing for the IDF and
inquired about the well-being of the wounded.

The National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Bureau (NSCCTB) has released the
following statement:

"In response to the events surrounding the protest flotilla, there are growing protests by
the government and public in Turkey. At this stage, relatively quiet demonstrations are
taking place around the Israeli Consulate General in Istanbul and the Israeli Embassy in
Ankara. This delicate state of affairs is liable to deteriorate into violent outbreaks
against Israelis in Turkey.

The NSCCTB's recommendations are as follows:

Israelis due to leave for Turkey should – at this stage – refrain from travelling until the
situation becomes clear.

Israelis currently in Turkey should remain in their places of residence, avoid city centers
and sites in which demonstrations are being held, and monitor developments out of
concern that the situation could worsen.