UNITED NATIONS -- After hours of negotiations, the United Nations Security Council early on Tuesday condemned "acts" resulting in the deaths of nine civilians in Israel's attack on an aid flotilla trying to breach the Gaza blockade. In a formal statement that seemed less forceful than what had been demanded by the Palestinians, Arab nations and Turkey, the council also demanded an impartial investigation into the confrontation. The statement urged that aid ships seized in the raid on Monday be released along with civilians held by Israel. "The Security Council deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza," the statement said, adding that the 15-member body "in this context, condemns those acts which resulted in the loss" of lives.
In a formal statement that seemed less forceful than what had been demanded by the Palestinians, Arab nations and Turkey, the council also demanded an impartial investigation into the confrontation.
The statement urged that aid ships seized in the raid on Monday be released along with civilians held by Israel.
"The Security Council deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza," the statement said, adding that the 15-member body "in this context, condemns those acts which resulted in the loss" of lives.
Perhaps not all that Turkey and the Arab states would have liked but surely more than the US or Israel would have liked. The US did not veto this resolution.
"The Security Council requests the immediate release of the ships as well as the civilians held by Israel," the United Nations statement said, calling for "a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards." It also said the situation in Gaza, under blockade by Israel, was "not sustainable" and called for a "sustained and regular flow of goods and people to Gaza, as well as unimpeded provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza."
It also said the situation in Gaza, under blockade by Israel, was "not sustainable" and called for a "sustained and regular flow of goods and people to Gaza, as well as unimpeded provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza."
We will see what agreements are reached on investigations. A possible compromise on humanitarian aid would be for it to flow to Gaza through Egypt under a UN monitor with an Israeli observer.
While condemnation of Israel in the Security Council is not uncommon, the criticism at the emergency session called by Turkey and Lebanon was notable for both its vehemence and for the broad array of countries demanding an independent investigation into the decision to fire on civilians in what they described as a humanitarian mission. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey, whose country's once close relations with Israel have deteriorated markedly since Israel's invasion of Gaza in 2009, called the attack "tantamount to banditry and piracy; it is murder conducted by a state." Noting that the ships were carrying items such as a playground equipment, cancer medicine and milk powder, he said that given the history of the Jews the Israelis should be more conscious than others of "the dangers and inhumanity of ghettoes as the one we currently witness in occupied Gaza." Gerard Araud, the French ambassador, said the death toll indicated "there was disproportionate use of force and a level of violence which nothing justifies and which we condemn." Nawaf Salam, the Lebanese ambassador, said even the laws of war require the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey, whose country's once close relations with Israel have deteriorated markedly since Israel's invasion of Gaza in 2009, called the attack "tantamount to banditry and piracy; it is murder conducted by a state."
Noting that the ships were carrying items such as a playground equipment, cancer medicine and milk powder, he said that given the history of the Jews the Israelis should be more conscious than others of "the dangers and inhumanity of ghettoes as the one we currently witness in occupied Gaza."
Gerard Araud, the French ambassador, said the death toll indicated "there was disproportionate use of force and a level of violence which nothing justifies and which we condemn."
Nawaf Salam, the Lebanese ambassador, said even the laws of war require the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The Resolution doesn't require any action so the US wasn't forced into a bind?
The suggestion is that US condemnation of Israel would further isolate that country, and make further peace negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians even more difficult.
eh? Diplomacy fanboys, how come TURKEY isn't a named party to de parlez?
The senior administration official says that President Obama spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu three times on Monday. Mr. Obama pushed the notion that last night - as the United Nations Security Council met to issue a statement about the incident - was the moment when the US had maximum leverage, that the longer the statement was being debated the worse it would ultimately be for Israel. Ultimately, as the statement was negotiated over night, the US succeeded in making it more neutral where other nations wanted it to criticize and condemn Israel. Read more...
Ultimately, as the statement was negotiated over night, the US succeeded in making it more neutral where other nations wanted it to criticize and condemn Israel. Read more...
that plus "...in this context, condemns those acts which resulted in the loss" of lives doesn't mean what we think it means.
From the viewpoint of the Israelis and US, "those acts" that are being condemned are the acts of the Turks forcing this issue. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
TAPPER: And there were Americans on the flotilla. Has there been any -- do you have any information about whether any of them were hurt? There was an unconfirmed report that an American student lost an eye in the incident. Do you know anything? GIBBS: I -- I think we're in contact with the Israelis in order to get an accounting as to whether any Americans citizens -- well obviously American citizens were -- acting as private citizens -- were -- were on some of these ships. We're working with the Israelis to determine if any of those individuals were injured, and, as the resolution says, would call on the Israelis to release both the ships and any of those people.
GIBBS: I -- I think we're in contact with the Israelis in order to get an accounting as to whether any Americans citizens -- well obviously American citizens were -- acting as private citizens -- were -- were on some of these ships. We're working with the Israelis to determine if any of those individuals were injured, and, as the resolution says, would call on the Israelis to release both the ships and any of those people.
uhhhh baduh baduh uhhh
TAPPER: Is the president concerned at all that after all his work to repair relations between the U.S. and the Muslim world that a situation like this destroys overnight? GIBBS: The U.S. relationship with the Muslim... TAPPER: U.S. Relationship with the Muslim world, by standing so steadfastly with Israel? GIBBS: No. Again, I -- again, I would point you to I think it was a pretty clear statement by the international community that the United States... TAPPER: I wouldn't call it that. I mean, it condemns acts that were taken that led to the loss of life, but it doesn't say whose acts. It could have been the flotilla's acts or it could have been the IDF's acts. It's not clear from that statement. GIBBS: Well, I think our opinion is this is a pretty clear statement and obviously... (CROSSTALK) TAPPER: ... whose acts are you talking about in that statement? Is it the IDF or is it... GIBBS: Again, we're talking about a series of facts that will be determined by an appropriate investigation, as I just said. TAPPER: OK. So there's no specificity as to whose acts it's condemning? GIBBS: Well, it may be of information as to exactly how this went down that the rest of the international community may not be completely clear on, Jake. But, again, I'm saying -- and let me... Read more...
GIBBS: The U.S. relationship with the Muslim...
TAPPER: U.S. Relationship with the Muslim world, by standing so steadfastly with Israel?
GIBBS: No. Again, I -- again, I would point you to I think it was a pretty clear statement by the international community that the United States...
TAPPER: I wouldn't call it that. I mean, it condemns acts that were taken that led to the loss of life, but it doesn't say whose acts. It could have been the flotilla's acts or it could have been the IDF's acts. It's not clear from that statement.
GIBBS: Well, I think our opinion is this is a pretty clear statement and obviously...
(CROSSTALK)
TAPPER: ... whose acts are you talking about in that statement? Is it the IDF or is it...
GIBBS: Again, we're talking about a series of facts that will be determined by an appropriate investigation, as I just said.
TAPPER: OK. So there's no specificity as to whose acts it's condemning?
GIBBS: Well, it may be of information as to exactly how this went down that the rest of the international community may not be completely clear on, Jake. But, again, I'm saying -- and let me...
Read more...
So, a cloud of dither and no veto is the gift. On suspects that Bush would have vetoed. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
...a power block of people who will cut Obama off at the ankles...
After being Twank prompted, I listened to some Democracy Now...Hilary was dancing so amazingly well, worse than I could have believed possible in the face of reporters actually asking the right questions.
''...actions leading up to the attacks" is their operative phrase. They condemn nothing else.
I am being moved from Hope. Sad. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Turkey is gonna be isolated on this unless they suddenly wanna go rabble-rousing the middle East; which will get them precisely nowhere. I think they'll stfu in a couple of weeks frankly as reality collides.
I see this disappearing from the Western media in 3-2-1... in the next couple of days. I wouldn't suggest any 20 something blond girls visit Aruba for a bit.
As for the rest of the world, cheney's epithet applies keep to the Fen Causeway
Joe Biden: Well, an investigation run by the Israelis, but we're open to international participation, just like the investigation run on the sunken sub in -- off the coast of Korea. That was run by South Korea, but the international community joined in that investigation.
It is consistent with his Likud-like that the ships, which were in international waters, were the aggressor party, entitling Israel to claim self-defence. By that logic though, South korea would have had to havesunk the N Korean submarine.
Or, if you look at who attacked whom,Turkey, as the injured party, should be running the investigation.
Or his statement is just complete insulting bollocks from a US Govt desperate to find a fig leaf to hide Israel behind. I suspect this more than anything else. keep to the Fen Causeway
