Flotilla Fallout

New round of headlines from around the world this morning continue to drive home the point that Israel's decision to intercept and raid the flotilla was a dumb, dangerous, detrimental decision:

• Israel accused of "kidnapping" seven Irish citizens‎ (Irish Times)
• In Asia Protests, Condemnation Follow Israeli Raid on Gaza Flotilla‎ (Voice of America)
• Erdogan Calls Israeli Raid On Flotilla A 'Bloody Massacre' (Radio Free Europe)
• '40 Britons' Detained By Israel (Sky News)
• The IDF Soldiers Were Sent on a Mission That Defies Logic (Huffington Post)
• Turkey demands Israel be 'punished' over Gaza raid (Times Online: UK)
• Israelis opened fire before boarding Gaza flotilla, say released activists (Guardian)
• Israeli Raid Hands Hamas a Victory (Time Magazine)
• Israel loses more than it wins in attack on flotilla (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
  

Most damaging is this:

• Egypt lifts Gaza blockade following flotilla raid (J-Post)

And then we have this frightening bit of news

Two Turkish activists were reported to be among those killed in the flotilla. Ankara warned that further supply vessels will be sent to Gaza, escorted by the Turkish Navy, a development with unpredictable consequences

So along with possibly irreparably damaging ties with Turkey to the extent of inviting a confrontation with the Turkish navy, and deeply offending Europe, Israel's raid seems to have also sacrificed its relationship with Egypt. Previously, the two countries cooperated on the Gaza blockade. Now that seems to be off. So instead of making it harder for activists to make deliveries to Gaza, what Israel's boneheaded raid has actually done is make it EASIER for blockade runners to reach Gaza while also encouraging more attempts.

Let this go down as the dumbest thing Israel has ever done. As a supporter of Israel, I'm outraged at how the country has shot itself in the foot.

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Search for more information about the flotilla at 4torah.com.