LIBYA’S ON ITS WAY ?
We're on standby for a Libyan sponsored ship making its way to Gaza. Those on board say they're determined to break the Israeli blockade and have their supplies delivered to the Gaza Strip. But the ship's log still reads its final destination as El Arish in Egypt which is where the Israelis are urging the ship to dock. The Israel navy says it's made initial contact with the vessel which is some 160 kilometres off the Gaza coast. Latest word from the captain is that the ship is headed for Gaza.
Jerusalem is desperate to avoid a repeat of what happened several weeks ago when nine Turkish citizens were killed in a similar attempt. Which is why the Israeli foreign ministry has urged its defense establishment to make sure the vessel is in Gazan waters before it makes any attempt to board the vessel. Israel is fighting a tough international battle to try and convince critics it was not in violation of international law when its commandos stormed that vessel while it was in international waters. The country suffered unprecedented diplomatic condemnation following the incident.
Most Israelis - public and government - feel all these naval efforts to get aid into Gaza are deliberate confrontations. Israel insists it will deliver the aid to Gaza, but only through the correct channels. It wants all ships to dock at its port of Ashdod where the cargo can be checked and then taken overland into Gaza. Israel is concerned there are militants and weapons onboard the vessels - and insist the nine people killed were not peaceful activists as the organisers of that Flotilla claim, but outright militants!
The Egyptian foreign ministry has said it's prepared to let the ship dock at one of its port and they'll then transfer the goods - IF they receive a request to do so - but so far no request has been made.
What's interesting is that the ship is being sponsored by the eldest son of Libyan ruler Muammar Qaddafi, Seif al-Islam, who was not chosen by his father to succeed him. Analysts suggest this is a way for al-Islam to remain in the media spotlight. Tripoli has officially disavowed the venture and since Sunday has banned the departure of private and chartered aircraft from Libyan airfields for Egypt, Greece, Crete or Cyprus. There seems to be concern that al-Islam would want to join the ship. An official spokesman in Tripoli made it clear yesterday, Monday, that Seif al-Islam is on his own: "Libya does not wish to intervene and believes the aid ship to Gaza conceals an adventure and a risk," he said.
Israel has no official relationship with Libya. There is a sizeable number of Israelis who come from Libya - some 20000.