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and weren't the usual suspects crowing about how evil the Israelis were for searching Palestinian fishing vessels???
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spag...078203.html
Gaza boat explodes near Israel Navy vessel
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
A booby-trapped fishing boat exploded on Monday near an Israel Navy vessel off the coast of the northern Gaza Strip.
No one was wounded in the blast, which occurred about 300 meters from the Gaza coast, near the border with Israel.
The Palestinian vessel was laden with explosives, but was unmanned.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi later Monday called the incident an attempted attack.
"We believe this was an attempted attack that, to my joy, did not succeed due to the fact that the crews on the [Israel Navy] ships were stringent in observing procedures," said Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi.
The blast was heard further along the coast in Gaza City. Local Palestinian media, however, did not immediately report on the incident.
Speaking in the Defense Ministry compound in Tel Aviv, Ashkenazi also said the threat of explosive-laden boats was not new
"We are examining all of our preparations and will continue to contend," he said. "It is not an accident that there is no [Gaza rocket] fire. We know that hostile operations or attacks along the fence or sea are still on the agenda. As such, we are preparing and using all means."
Gaza's Hamas rulers have threatened in the past to use various means to lift the Israeli-led blockade on the coastal territory.
The Israel Defense Forces occasionally receives intelligence warnings of planned attacks involving explosives-laden boats.
In 2002, two Palestinian militants on an explosive-packed boat blew themselves up next to an Israeli patrol vessel, killing themselves and wounding four naval crewmen. Islamic Jihad, a violent group backed by Syria and Iran, claimed responsibility at the time.
The Israel Navy closely monitors the coastal strip as part of a general blockade, tightened since the Islamist Hamas group took control of Gaza in June 2007. Patrol boats are particularly on the lookout for attempts to smuggle in arms and explosives.
Israel and Hamas have largely observed a fragile cease-fire in Gaza since the IDF ceased its offensive against the Palestinian Islamist group in mid-January.
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spag...078203.html
Gaza boat explodes near Israel Navy vessel
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
A booby-trapped fishing boat exploded on Monday near an Israel Navy vessel off the coast of the northern Gaza Strip.
No one was wounded in the blast, which occurred about 300 meters from the Gaza coast, near the border with Israel.
The Palestinian vessel was laden with explosives, but was unmanned.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi later Monday called the incident an attempted attack.
"We believe this was an attempted attack that, to my joy, did not succeed due to the fact that the crews on the [Israel Navy] ships were stringent in observing procedures," said Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi.
The blast was heard further along the coast in Gaza City. Local Palestinian media, however, did not immediately report on the incident.
Speaking in the Defense Ministry compound in Tel Aviv, Ashkenazi also said the threat of explosive-laden boats was not new
"We are examining all of our preparations and will continue to contend," he said. "It is not an accident that there is no [Gaza rocket] fire. We know that hostile operations or attacks along the fence or sea are still on the agenda. As such, we are preparing and using all means."
Gaza's Hamas rulers have threatened in the past to use various means to lift the Israeli-led blockade on the coastal territory.
The Israel Defense Forces occasionally receives intelligence warnings of planned attacks involving explosives-laden boats.
In 2002, two Palestinian militants on an explosive-packed boat blew themselves up next to an Israeli patrol vessel, killing themselves and wounding four naval crewmen. Islamic Jihad, a violent group backed by Syria and Iran, claimed responsibility at the time.
The Israel Navy closely monitors the coastal strip as part of a general blockade, tightened since the Islamist Hamas group took control of Gaza in June 2007. Patrol boats are particularly on the lookout for attempts to smuggle in arms and explosives.
Israel and Hamas have largely observed a fragile cease-fire in Gaza since the IDF ceased its offensive against the Palestinian Islamist group in mid-January.
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Re: Booby trapped Gaza boat explodes near Israeli Navy
Mon, April 13, 2009 - 1:02 PMAt least, in this case, it appears that Hamas wasn't directly targeting civilians. This was not a war crime, but merely an act of war. Unlike the other 10,000.
Of course, IAW the rules of war, Israel can respond to this aggression. And, once again, if civilians are accidentally killed, no war crime has been committed.
Hamas is at war with the State of Israel. I'd prefer the Israelis to win this conflict, for multiple reasons.
Hamas should be crushed.
