The Unity Coalition for Israel (UCI) has re-issued a video that was uploaded days after the May 31, 2010 Turkish Flotilla incident just off the coast of Gaza. The video (linked below) is relevant to the March 22, 2013 apology given to Turkey by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
As it is made abundantly clear in our video, the Israelis did everything they could to avoid an incident and the well-prepared terrorists aboard the Mavi Marmara did all they could to provoke a fight. This leads UCI to ask the question, "who should be apologizing to whom?"
Amidst an atrocious distortion of facts in which Turkey is demanding $9 million in reparations for the deaths of terrorists aboard the Mavi Marmara, UCI reminds us of the vicious attacks on board the IHH-sponsored vessel (The IHH, Insani Yardim Vakfi, is a Turkish Government-subsidized NGO).
The revealing video report was first released by UCI 4 days after the Mavi Marmara incident. Today's re-release provides a sober reminder of the chilling events. After being attacked at sea and with no other recourse, the Israelis were clearly defending their very lives. At least 50 trained, military-style terrorists were intent on either killing or being killed as martyrs. The stage was set by the terrorists for the Mavi Marmara to become a "ship of horrors."
The Mavi Marmara, the lead ship of 6, ambushed the Israeli Navy that was seeking to peacefully re-route the May 31, 2010 flotilla from its destination to Gaza. The fact that the IHH hid many weapons on board amidst relief supplies and used unarmed civilian passengers as human shields should be considered war crimes.
The video speaks for itself. It clearly shows, as Israeli commandos landed on the ship's deck, they were beaten by men wielding pipes, knives and other weapons. Israeli officials say the initial plan was to use paintball guns to gain control of the ship and handguns for use only if their lives were threatened.
On May 28, 2010, just before the flotilla entered Israeli waters, an Al-Aqsa TV broadcast featured Dr. Abd Al-Fatah Nu'man, a Gaza-based Yemeni professor of Islamic law who stated, "The commander of the (flotilla) fleet said: 'We will not allow the Zionists to come near us, and we will wage resistance against them.' With what will they wage resistance? With their fingernails. These are people who wish to be martyred for the sake of Allah. As much as they want to reach Gaza, the other option (martyrdom) is more desirable to them."
In fact the Mavi Marmara passengers were recorded chanting, "Khaibar, Khaibar ya Yahud Jaysh Muhammed Safayood" ("...Oh Jews! The army of Muhammad will return!"), a taunt threatening a massacre of Jews. The message was clear. The "other option," martyrdom, was the goal of the flotilla.
UCI hopes Israeli leadership will use the abundant video evidence proving their innocence and heed Winston Churchill's words: "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last."
