The flotilla fiasco

First, let me say, that I object to the blockade on Gaza. I don't think it ever had a chance to achieve its goal (whatever that was), it did not do anything to free Gilad Shalit, to destabilize the Hamas or to prevent smuggling of weapons into the Gaza strip.

Second, it is now clear (to me at least) that the flotilla was highjacked by 50-100 jihadists who between them and the words "humanitarian" and "civil rights" there is no common ground. These are people who set out to clash, as violently as possible with any Israeli intervention, which they did. I don't mourn their death. This is something that honest leftist and peace activist should deal with and consider for future such actions.

Third, my main anger (not disappointment as I never had any expectations) is from the Israeli goverment. There is a saying in Hebrew that a wise person does not enter places that a clever person knows how to get out of. Israel does not have the privilage of being only clever. The neighbourhood is too rough, volatile, nervous and dangerous for the Israeli government not to be smart. Sadly, this one has proved that it is not even clever but darn right stupid.

The blockade, imposed for months by Israel and by Egypt, the breaking of which was the declared goal of the flotilla, has all but ended yesterday when Egype announced and then acted by opening the Rafah crossing for 12 hours and saying that it will remin open for the unforeseeable future.

Israel's situation is significatnly worse off than before the interception on all fronts. Yesterday, in the Knesset Committee for Foreign and Security Affairs, Meir Dagan, the head of the Mossad, said that Israel is becoming an liability for the US, instead of being an asset. Israel is quickly finding itself isolated, ostracised, condemned its allies.

These are all things that a wise government, which had all the time in the world to prepare for the foltilla, should have considered, deliberated and finally reached a decision. If it did consider all the possibilities and decided to act as it did it is a dangerous government that is weakening instead of strengthening Israel. If it did not consider these then it is incompetant and dangerous as well. In both cases it should be replaced. In fact, no one will pay any personal price (except for some soldiers who got injured) and things will continue to get worse.