Israel Responds To Flying Flotilla

In Flying Flotilla To Gaza Will Flout US Law To Aid Hamas, I wrote about Paul Larudee, an organizer with the California-based Free Palestine Movement, who is planning on flying into Gaza to avoid the Israeli blockade.

Apparently, the Israeli government is aware of his plans. Here is something I saw on a mail list:

Shalom

I just heard on the 5:00pm TV Israeli news (I have the Israeli Dish network at home) that Israel has resorted to diplomatic intervention in the US to stop Paul Larudee's plans to assist in getting planes to defy the blockade and penetrate Gaza.

It was the first time his name and picture were mentioned/seen on the screen and that the government is seriously working to intercept his plans.

The blog The Camel's Nose has a post about the options open to Israel for preventing the flying flotilla, including the diplomatic one that Israel is apparently undertaking.

Here is the option he considers best for How to Stop a Plane From Landing in Gaza:

Given the current situation, the ideal option would be:

Option 5: Invite the activists, on international satellite networks, to be part of a "special humanitarian observer" delegation to Gaza, in which Israel delivers the aid via Israeli aircraft. Stress that the flights are part of a routine humanitarian program to the Gaza strip and cast Israel as caring more about humanitarianism than the petty enforcement of a blockade. Israel should seek to "own" the human rights turf as much as possible by using the language of human rights in its PR rhetoric. Activists should be cast as radicals who care more about political turf than helping actual Palestinian people. This option won't win over the far left activist base, but it will mitigate damage done to Israel's image in the minds of centrists. Oh and also it serves the needs of the Palestinian people, who I hear need a little help.

We will have to see if Israel has any success with the diplomatic option--and whether the government considers The Camel Nose's option #5.

What apparently is not on the table is attacking the illegality of Larudee's plan.

Technorati Tag: Flying Flotilla and Gaza Flotilla and Paul Larudee.