Links, Articles, Transcripts and Resources

July 15 - Libyan Flotilla Docks in Egypt

• JTA article
  
  

July 14 - Libyan Flotilla - Gaddaffi International Charity & Development Foundation

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  
• Intelligence & Terrorism Information Center
  

July 6 - New Resources on Gaza

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  Report on IHH Flotilla
  Behind the Headlines: A New Policy for Gaza & the West Bank
  Report of the Governemnt of israel on the Develooment in the West Bank
• Ministry of Defense
  
  • The Civilian Policy towards the Gaza Strip - PDF
  • Lists of Controlled Entry Items
    
• IDF YouTube Page
  
• Embassy of Israel Website
  
• The Quartet - Tony Blair - Statement in support of New Policy
  

June 17

• Ahmet Faruk Unsal, the IHH Activist and Former Turkish MP, was denied a visa when he attempted to enter the US for a speaking engagement on Thursday, June 17th. It is clear that throught our Petition our voices were heard.
  
  

The JCRC-NY On-line Petition
Urge the US State Dept. to investigate Visa applications by Flotilla activiists and passengers

Key Resources

• Key Talking Points (updated June 9)
  
• Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  
• Israel's Ministry of Defense (media)
  
• Jewish Federations of North America - Gaza Flotilla Incident: Resource Page
• Statements from VP Biden and Members of Congress - American-Israel PAC

Official Israel Government Materials

• Read PM Netanyahu's Remarks on the "Rachel Corrie" (June 6)
• Gaza Flotilla & the Gaza Maritime Blockade - Legal Background - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Photos of bullet proof vests, sawn-off rods, night vision goggles and rifle scope found on Mavi Marmara
  

June 14-18

• JCRC-NY Press Conference with NY Officials - Presenting Petition to State Department with over 24,000 signatures
  
  

June 9

• Recording of JCRC-NY Conference Call with Senator Charles E. Schumer
  

June 6 & 7

• Watch Amb. Oren on Fox News -  June 6
  
• Watch ABC Interviews -  Senators Kerry and Cornyn 
  
• Watch ABC Roundtable: Arab-Israel Conflict 
• The 'Activists' Wanted Violence, NY Daily News, Elie Wisel
• Why No Outrage for Anti-Israel, Phony Flotilla?, US News, Mortimer B. Zuckerman
• Two Iranian Ships to Sail to Gaza, Haaaretz
• IDF: Five Gaza Flotilla Activists Linked to Hamas, Al-Qaida, Haaretz, Anshel Pfeffer
• Turkey's ErdoganBbears Responsibility in Flotilla Fiasco, Washington Post Editorial
  

June 4

• An Assault, Cloaked in Peace, New York Times, Ambassador Michael Oren
• DC’s Turkish Denial, New York Post, Ralph Peters
• After the Gaza Flotilla: Policy Challenges & Options, Washington Institute, Michael Singh
• Another Rush to Judgment, Jerusalem Post, Prof. Alan Dershowitz

June 3

• Sign American Jewish Committee's Petition to Congress -
  "Hold the pro-Hamas 'Free Gaza' Movement Accountable"
• Watch Prime Minister Netanyahu's latest statement
  
• Find out more in the ADL Background Piece
  
• Recommended media:
  • The Gaza Flotilla Is Not What It Seemed, Sderot Media Center - Jacob Shrybman
  • Israel had no choice over Gaza flotilla, The Guardian - Seth Freedman
  • Gaza Flotilla: Why the blockade makes sense for Israel, Christian Science Monitor - David Makovsky,
  • Ambassador Michael Oren, Fox News

June 2

• Recording of JCRC-NY Conference Call with Ambassador Daniel Ayalon
  
• Detailed analyses of the flotilla incident, including the legal aspects, by:
  • Marty Peretz, Editor in Chief, New Republic
  • Leslie H. Gelb, President Emeritus, Council on Foreign Relations
  • David Makovsky, Ziegler Distinguished Fellow and Director, Project on the Middle East Peace Process, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
  • Yossi Alpher, Americans for Peace Now
    

May 31 & June 1

• Listen to JCRC-NY Conference Call with Minister Yuli Edelstein
  
• Video Interview: Ambassador Michael Oren, PBS
• Video: " mce_href="/" target="_blank">Flotilla Passengers Fire Live Ammunition at IDF Soldiers
  
• Facebook Meets the Flotilla, Daniel Gordis
• Turkish (blood) Bath, New York Post - Ralph Peters
• Flotillas and Falsehoods, National Reveiw Online - Mona Charen
• Statement by Ameinu
  
• Ambassador Michael Oren’s Statement on the FlotillaFlotilla Leaders Stated Sunday that Violence was Premeditated, Livestream
• Remarks by Deputy Foreign Minister Danny AyalonGaza flotilla participants created war atmosphere before confronting Israel, Palistine Media Watch
• IHH, a central organizer of the flotilla, is a Turkish humanitarian relief fund with a radical Islamic anti-Western orientation. More Information
  

Ministry of Defense Media

         Non-Violent Second Flotilla - June 5

• &feature=digest" mce_href="/&feature=digest" target="_blank">Passengers from 7th Flotilla Ship Disembark at Ashdod Port
  
• &feature=digest" mce_href="/&feature=digest" target="_blank">Radio Exchange Between Israeli Navy and 7th Flotilla Ship onTransfer of Aid to Gaza
  
• &feature=digest" mce_href="/&feature=digest" target="_blank">Aerial Footage of Israeli Navy Soldiers Boarding 7th Flotilla Ship
  
• &feature=digest" mce_href="/&feature=digest" target="_blank">Israeli Navy Soldiers Board 7th Flotilla Ship (Shot From an Adjacent Ship)
  
• &feature=digest" mce_href="/&feature=digest" target="_blank">Aerial Footage of IDF Soldiers Boarding the 7th Flotilla Ship without Incident
  
• &feature=digest" mce_href="/&feature=digest" target="_blank">Israeli Navy Contacts 7th Flotilla Ship Attempting to Break Gaza Maritime Closure
  
• &feature=digest" mce_href="/&feature=digest" target="_blank">Audio of Radio Transmission Between Israeli Navy and Seventh Flotilla Ship
  
  Violent First Flotilla - May 31
  
  
• &feature=digest" mce_href="/&feature=digest" target="_blank">Unedited Radio Transmission Between Gaza Flotilla and Israeli Navy
  
• " mce_href="/" target="_blank">Flotilla Passengers Fire Live Ammunition at IDF Soldiers
  
• &feature=digest" mce_href="/&feature=digest" target="_blank">Flotilla Ship to Israeli Navy: "We're Helping Arabs Go Against the US, Don't Forget 9/11 Guys"
  
• &feature=digest" mce_href="/&feature=digest" target="_blank">Weaponry Overview & Footage of Mavi Marmara Passengers Preparing Weaponry
  
• &feature=player_embedded" mce_href="/&feature=player_embedded">Uncensored Footage from the Gaza Flotilla - How Violence Breaks Out
  
• " mce_href="/">Flotilla Rioters Prepare Rods, Slingshots, Broken Bottles & Metal Objects to Attack IDF Soldiers
  
• " mce_href="/" target="_blank">Navy Warns Flotilla
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Key Talking Points

• We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and grievous injuries that resulted from the flotilla interdiction.

• What is particularly disconcerting is that this outcome could have been easily avoided. Those leading the flotilla should have agreed to dock at the Port of Ashdod to allow Israeli officials to examine the cargo onboard. All legitimate humanitarian items would have been forwarded into Gaza without incident.

• However, it is clear that the purpose of the flotilla, organized by groups associated with Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, was not essentially humanitarian, but rather it was to undermine Israel's blockade.

• The purpose of the Israeli blockade, which is legal under international law, is to prevent rearmament of Hamas, an internationally recognized terrorist organization backed by Iran, which openly seeks Israel's destruction and over the years has launched thousands of rockets into Israeli cities.

• In addition to its terrorist activity, Hamas has been holding Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit hostage for almost four years and, contrary to the Geneva Conventions, denies all access to him.

• While Israel's fundamental right of self-defense must be respected, questions have been raised about the execution of the interdiction. The highly respected Maj. Gen. (Res.) Giora Eiland has been appointed to head a team of experts, including foreign observers, jurists and former diplomats, to explore the flotilla operation and to derive lessons from it.

• Conditions in the Gaza Strip are difficult, no doubt, and this is due to the fact it is controlled by a terrorist organization with which much of the world does not want to engage. But there is no humanitarian crisis or starvation as some suggest.

• Israel, along with Egypt, which also controls Gaza's borders, and the international community are looking for ways to improve the humanitarian conditions without strengthening Hamas' ability to wage terror against Israeli civilians.

• Ultimately, only an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, which leads to a broader Middle East peace, is the long term solution to this sad situation. Unlike the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, which accepts the two state formula and has brought about a dramatic improvement in the economy and security there, Hamas rejects such an outcome and works tirelessly to undermine peace efforts.

• We support the efforts of the United States to advance the peace process and to encourage the parties to engage in direct negotiations over the issues that divide them.

• We also support the efforts of the international community to deprive Iran of nuclear weapons capability, a development that would make peacemaking in the Middle East much more complicated.

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