Israel marks anniversary of humanitarian attack on IDF commandos

One year ago today...

Found on board the Mavi Marmara

(TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras) - From the point of view of the rational world, today is the one-year anniversary of the IDF commando massacre of 9 Turkish humanitarian activists on board the Mavi Marmara, part of the aid flotilla endeavoring to peacefully break the siege of Gaza.

From the point of view of the Israeli regime, by contrast, today is the one-year anniversary of the violent attack by humanitarian activists on board the Mavi Marmara against IDF commandos endeavoring to peacefully descend upon the aid ship while firing bullets. The activists died because they wanted to accrue headlines for their cause, not because the commandos killed them.

In support of the latter version of events, the Israeli Foreign Ministry dutifully uploaded a photo series entitled “Weapons found on Mavi Marmara” to its Flickr account in the aftermath of the attack, featuring snapshots of marbles, keffiyehs, binoculars, and a metal pail. An image of slingshots colorfully decorated with stars and the label “Hizbullah” is specified as having been taken on February 7, 2006—i.e. over four years prior to being discovered on the Mavi Marmara.

Other Flickr contributions by the Israeli Foreign Ministry include “Illegal weapons found aboard the Victoria cargo ship,” which was seized by the Israeli Navy in March and said to be composed of Iranian weaponry destined for Gaza. Hint to the Iranians: the next time you want to engage in surreptitious arms transfers, do not include a “Packing list of the weapons cache” in English.

As for IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz’ request today for a defense budget increase, his announcement that threats to Israel now “range from knife to nuclear” may creatively inspire the Foreign Ministry’s Flickr personnel during the Mavi Marmara’s second excursion to Gaza next month.

Belén is a feature writer at Pulse Media. Her articles also have appeared in CounterPunch, Narco News, Palestine Chronicle, Palestine Think Tank, Rebelión, Tlaxcala, The Electronic Intifada, Upside Down World, and Venezuelanalysis.com. Her book “Coffee with Hezbollah,” a humorous political travelogue chronicling her hitchhiking trip through Lebanon in the aftermath of the 2006 Israeli assault, is available at Amazon, Amazon UK, and Barnes and Noble.

>Born in Washington, DC, in 1982, Belén earned her bachelor's degree with a concentration in political science from Columbia University in New York City. Her diverse background of worldwide experiences, created a fantastic writer; one whose work we are extremely happy to share with Salem-News.com viewers. You can contact Belén at: belengarciabernal@gmail.com

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