This weekend’s big story was how a flotilla of “peace activists” was headed towards Gaza to bring relief supplies to the Palestinians. The relief mission was in defiance of Israel’s blockade of the Gaza. The Israeli Defense Force, in an attempt to stop the flotilla boarded a Turkish vessel and that is when all hell broke loose.
On board the Turkish vessel IDF clashed with the “peace activists” and IDF ended up killing 10 of the “activists”. The operation put Israel in a very bad light, until the videos started to roll in.
These so-called “peace activists” were armed and ready. It is almost like a trap was set for Israel. We learn today that the flotilla was finance by a terrorist organization.
The Weekly Standard:The Turkish organizers of the Gaza Strip-bound flotilla that was boarded this morning by Israeli commandos knew well in advance that their vessels would never reach Israeli waters. That's because the organizers belong to a nonprofit that was banned by the Israeli government in July 2008 for its ties to terrorism finance.
The Turkish IHH (Islan Haklary Ve Hurriyetleri Vakfi in Turkish) was founded in 1992, and reportedly popped up on the CIA's radar in 1996 for its radical Islamist leanings. Like many other Islamist charities, the IHH has a record of providing relief to areas where disaster has struck in the Muslim world.
However, the organization is not a force for good. The Turkish nonprofit belongs to a Saudi-based umbrella organization known to finance terrorism called the Union of Good (Ittilaf al-Kheir in Arabic). Notably, the Union is chaired by Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi, who is known best for his religious ruling that encourages suicide attacks against Israeli civilians. According to one report, Qardawi personally transferred millions of dollars to the Union in an effort to provide financial support to Hamas.
The situation is rapidly escalating. The UN Security Council is already condemning Israel’s actions (where is the Security Council’s swift actions when it comes to Iran?). Turkey is threatening military reprisals and will send another flotilla this time escorted by the Turkish Navy.
US Officials are saying the US will stand with Israel. There was a time when few would have wondered what America’s response would have been, today given the administration’s shabby treatment of Israel, we all have to wonder.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: The New York Times
Via: The Weekly Standard
Video h/t: Hot Air
Via: The New York Times
Via: Ian Welsh
Via: IBN Live
Via: ABC News