Israeli Navy Makes Preparations To Stymie Flotilla

By Anshel Pfeffer (Haaretz) June 20, 2011

Israel’s navy is going ahead with preparations to stymie a planned flotilla slated to attempt to break the blockade on Gaza in two weeks, despite the fact that the Turkish group IHH has pulled out of the effort.

Israeli security experts believe that flotilla participants could violently oppose the navy’s effort to stop the ships and plan to bring photographers with them to document any resistance they face.

Last May a similar flotilla was raided by the navy and nine passengers were killed after soldiers said they were attacked. The IDF is hoping to quickly release images of the operation to the press to avoid a situation like last year, in which the only version of events available to world media for hours was that of the flotilla participants.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO