Fact: International Law Supports Israel Against Gaza Flotilla (Updated)

Palestinian apologists are fond of--and adept at--claiming that Israel is contravening international law whenever it defends itself.

Not surprisingly--those apologists are twisting the law again.

Accroding to The San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, 12 June 1994

SECTION V : NEUTRAL MERCHANT VESSELS AND CIVIL AIRCRAFT

Neutral merchant vessels

67. Merchant vessels flying the flag of neutral States may not be attacked unless they:

(a) are believed on reasonable grounds to be carrying contraband or breaching a blockade, and after prior warning they intentionally and clearly refuse to stop, or intentionally and clearly resist visit, search or capture;

We can only hope that the people who habitually take everything the pro-Palestinian apologists say as true will take the opportunity to check the facts.

Yes, and it would be nice if the media did too.

Update: See: More On The Legality Of Israel's Blockade Of Gaza
See also: Still Another Source On Israel's Right To Stop The #Flotilla

Technorati Tag: Gaza Flotilla and International Law.