The draconian use of force to stop a “humanitarian” aid flotilla from reaching gaza, that included a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, two German MPs and many Brittons on board attracted vocal criticism of Israel’s conduct. Much of the world’s media covered the situation extensively and many powerful allys of Israel condemned the way in which excessive force was used against those who were predorminantly unarmed. However, united states Israel’s long standing ally stood in solidarity although it too was forced to play with it’s words!

The “free ga za” activists present in the batteered flottila were of varying political persuations and nationalities, and this makes it rather more damaging in the international stage. But Isreal is used to ignoring critisism from the human rights council of the UN thus the apparent support by Israel for an independant inquiry into the end of

war in sri lanka showers irony on Israel’s stance on human rights. I find it resonable to be suspicious about the very motives why Israel pushed for the type inquiry on feeble Sri Lanka, which it is now desperately trying to repell. Was it simply to divert attention from accusations on itself regurding the use of white phosphorous explosives on civillian areas of ga za

When you consider the figures, 10 000 tonns of aid that were headed toward the Ga za region was less than what Isreal would normally allow in through other channels. In all fairness to israel I fully understand why they feel that they need to stop items such as construction materials, fuel etc from reaching gaza.

After all an economic blockade of the regions of Sri Lanka occupied by LTTE was a key part of the successful stratergy adapted by the Government of Sri Lanka in order to win the long running civil war. But Sri Lanka’s streatergy always included the provission of health care in terms of trained doctors and medicines (even though it was widely known that some of the healthcare provission had to be used to treat injured rebels if the doctors wanted to have the slightest chance of treating civillians) as well as the transfer of patients out to more specialised units. Sri Lanka’s stratergy also included the provission of free education and I am certain that kids from occupied areas entered universities in the south- paid for by southern taxpayers (with a surprising lack of bitterness I must add).

An Economic blockade can never stop a terrorist group from launching attacks on their enemys. Like Hamas the LTTE too found ingenious ways to smuggle in what they require, but with much difficulty.

The blockade in sri lanka didn’t stop the LTTE from building lavish underground bunkers for its elite, however it DID severely restrict the speed and eventual number of such fortification being built due to the obvious scarcity of building materials, construction equipment and fuel. And that is a Stratergic advantage GoSL may have not had without an economic blockade. GoSL also gained a certain amount of good will from the people of the north and east for the healthcare and education it provided unsipricsingly Israel seems to be failing on the hearts and minds opperation! But I do understand that people of palastine are not technically israel’s responsibility.. But it certainly could be more generous in the amount of healthcare supplies it allows into gaza.

Still Israel did score an own goal by blindly walking into a PR dissaster trap, and that is a bit foolish on their part. I imagine delivering the humanitarian aid was never the biggest priority for the organisers but the careless way Israel handled this situation more than helped their aim to raise awareness

It’s hard to believe pro LTTE diASSpora didn’t pull this trick off successfully. I guess it’s too late