Egypt's FEC, TRAIN partner to support food exporters    Spot Gold, futures slips on Thursday, July 17th    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt expresses condolences to Iraq over fire tragedy    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's Environment Minister attends AMCEN conference in Nairobi    At London 'Egypt Day', Finance Minister outlines pro-investment policies    Sukari Gold Mine showcases successful public–private partnership: Minister of Petroleum    Egypt's FRA chief vows to reform business environment to boost investor confidence    Egyptian, Belarusian officials discuss drug registration, market access    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Sri Lanka's expat remittances up in June '25    EU–US trade talks enter 'decisive phase', German politician says    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Israel deports flotilla activists after world outcry
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 02 - 06 - 2010

Jerusalem--Israel began expelling all activists seized during a raid on an aid convoy sailing to Gaza that has drawn international outrage and officials on Wednesday vowed to prevent any other ships from reaching the coastal territory.
Israel had said it would deport 682 activists from more than 35 countries taken into custody after the maritime assault in which nine activists were killed on a Turkish vessel.
About 200 activists have been transferred from a holding center to Israel's airport near Tel Aviv, a Prisons Service spokesman said, and 123 activists already passed through a border crossing into neighboring Jordan.
The remaining activists would be released throughout the day, the spokesman said.
Amid widespread anger at the Israeli action, the UN Security Council called for an impartial investigation of the deaths, and the Turkish prime minister demanded the immediate lifting of Israel's "inhumane" blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The 700 activists detained when Israeli marines halted the six-ship convoy heading for the blockaded Palestinian enclave included Turks, Arabs, Americans, Asians and Europeans, among them two politicians and Swedish author Henning Mankell.
In Turkey, a visibly angry Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told parliamentary deputies on Tuesday: "Israel's behavior should definitely, definitely be punished."
Erdogan's Islamist views and overtures to Iran and Israeli enemies are blamed by many in Israel for souring ties between the Jewish state and Turkey, once its closest Muslim ally.
Israeli media reported that families of Israeli diplomats stationed in Turkey were being flown home due to security concerns. A foreign ministry spokesman would not comment on the report.
The bloodshed also put Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's tense ties with US President Barack Obama under further strain. Netanyahu canceled talks with Obama to fly home from Canada to handle the crisis.
Obama, who has revived Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations through US-mediated indirect talks, said he wanted the full facts soon.
Netanyahu will convene his security cabinet to further debate what Israeli critics called a botched raid. Ministers have said the naval blockade of 1.5 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip would continue.
Israel says the policy is meant to prevent arms and supplies that could be used to build military infrastructure from reaching Hamas Islamists who rule the territory. It says any humanitarian aid can be transferred into Gaza, but only after passing Israeli inspection.
Asked how Israel plans to handle any other ships hoping to defy its naval blockade, Tzachi Hanegbi, head of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, said there will be no change in policy.
"We cannot let them to blur in any way the red line Israel has set," Hanegbi told Israel Radio. "There is no option to let them in and help Hamas."
The United Nations called for an impartial investigation of the deaths of the nine people, four of them Turks.
The Israeli military said the deaths occurred when commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara, the cruise ship on which most of the violence occurred, from helicopters and dinghies and opened fire in what Netanyahu said was self-defense.
The UN Security Council statement drew a sharp response from Israel, which said its foreign minister complained in a telephone call with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that it was condemned unfairly for "defensive actions."
Cairo announced the opening of its Rafah border crossing with Gaza, which is ruled by the Islamist group Hamas, an offshoot of Egypt's main opposition.
Hamas requested the opening. Cairo, coordinating with Israel, has rarely opened the border since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007.


Clic here to read the story from its source.