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Irish ship on collision course with Israeli navy near Gaza

PATRICK COOPER,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 7:15 AM

Updated Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 7:33 AM

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Irish boat headed to Gazan waters

The 'Rachel Corrie,' the Irish-owned ship with Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire on board, continued to sail towards Gaza waters despite Israel making it clear they were giving no guarantees about its safety.

Maguire said the deaths of ten flotilla members at the hands of Israeli commandos had not deterred her of her fellow Irish blockade-runners. "We’re not frightened, no," she said in an interview.

Meanwhile, Ireland's leader warned that the Irish government was watching the fate of the 'Rachel Corrie' very closely.

"If any harm comes to any of our citizens, it will have the most serious consequences," Prime Minister Brian Cowen said.

The Rachel Corrie, called after an American activist who died protesting Israeli actions, had been left behind the main flotilla in Cyprus for repairs and is only now approaching Gaza.

On board the boat is an aid cargo of cement, medical equipment (including a CT scanner) printing paper, schoolbooks and toys.
The ship, which was bought by the Irish Free Gaza Movement and refitted after it was abandoned in port at Dundalk, County Louth, is now heading for a showdown with the Israeli navy.

But Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin confirmed to the Irish parliament that he had received no undertaking from Israel that the 'Rachel Corrie' would be given safe passage.

"In terms of the 'Rachel Corrie', we have received no assurances other than that the ambassador has conveyed to us that the Israeli government does not want conflict or confrontation with the 'Rachel Corrie'. So one would hope that a different mindset will prevail," he said.

Martin warned the Israeli government he would take "appropriate diplomatic action" if the ship was not allowed through.

"We will be watching this situation very closely and it is imperative that Israel avoid any action which leads to further bloodshed," he said.

Prime Minister Brian Cowen reinforced the message by saying Israel "did not have a leg to stand on" and warned there would be "serious consequences" if the Irish crewmembers of the 'Rachel Corrie' were harmed.

Nster.com

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217 Comments

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moygannon | Jun 18, 2010, 12:30 AM EDT

P.S. I left out Israel in my remarks.(Should have followed "way".)

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moygannon | Jun 18, 2010, 12:27 AM EDT

In view of the way has already behaved I think any one attempting to take another ship to the area is sheer madness. It is a war zone.

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seanomelbourne | Jun 14, 2010, 07:55 PM EDT

Patricklee Zionism(1879) was to establish a Jewish homeland no one is disputing that fact,but now that they have a homeland they are not happy with it and want to expand territory by theft and murder. Again I will clarify my position with you bleeding heart Zionist apologist's. I am an atheist I do not condone violence in the name of any religion. Justice and human kindness is all that matters. Murdering/starving Palestinian children is a crime against humanity which you are happy to condone.

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shuvonn | Jun 14, 2010, 09:35 AM EDT

Turkey is an ALLY of Israel do YOU understand what THAT means? Calling the passengers of the flotilla *terrorists* is only an attempt to not take responsibility for the operation Israel SCREWED up. They are denying an independent inquiry, stole the cameras, the lap tops, over 3.5 million in cash and equipment, cell phones, and memory sticks, used footage they doctored to back up their lies. Some members of the IDF have USED credit cards from some of the passengers of that flotilla, they killed ten people, six are still missing and one was an American citizen. Helen Thomas was forced out of her job for those remarks, yet the Arab Israeli member of the Knesset was heckled and had her life threatened when she had her turn to speak in the Israeli Parliament. A Facebook group calling for her murder was set up, I do not see anything about YOU thinking that's an issue? The Palestinian HATERS are here in force too, get a label maker it would save ya when posting responses. Maybe YOU can grasp THIS, Israel is a ROGUE state, and while is has the right to protect itself and its citizens, that does NOT extend to UAE to murder someone with STOLEN passports, or International waters in full combat gear, masks, and armed to the teeth. Having a problem with Israels handling of the ILLEGAL BLOCKADE does NOT Make one antisemitic, some of you are just too biased to see that.

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PatrickLee | Jun 13, 2010, 02:41 PM EDT

Shuvon: I know there is peace in Ireland... I posted that "these Irish do-gooders on the "RACHEL CORRIE" would concentrate in their own back yard in sustaining peace in Ireland" sustaining for you I should have said keeping the peace. Each time there is a possibility of peace between Israel and Palestine, the palestinians (and in this case the Turkish backed "peacful" flotilla) breach that peace. They (Hamas and others) won't be satisfied until the Jews are chased out of the middle east. Even the old news reporter (Helen Thomas) said that the Jews should get the hell out of Palestine go back to Germany or Poland. It is blatant anti-semetic B.S. That term isn't good enough for seanomelbourne, even though the term was coined back in 1879. So maybe you can grasp this... The Jew haters are showing their true faces.

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shuvonn | Jun 12, 2010, 03:16 AM EDT

PatrickLee: Yes, we are aware of the *statistics* and they are that only 25% of the PRE-ILLEGAL blockade aid is being allowed through. And the list of banned goods is long and extensive including things such as paper, crayons, juice and many other items Israel deems to be luxuries. Amnesty International, Red Cross as well as the UN have condemned this illegal blockade. And no it was not to stir the pot of hatred, it was to draw world attention to the blockade. Egypt has opened the Rafah Crossing since this incident in international waters occurred. Please explain WHY only the rockets INTO Israel count to people like you who throw that anti semitic label around to anyone in the least bit critical of Israel and why the rockets into Gaza or Lebanon or anywhere else Israel choose to send rockets never count? FYI: We have peace in Ireland and you might have KNOWN that if YOU did the research :-)

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seanomelbourne | Jun 09, 2010, 07:09 PM EDT

Islam is a semite religion. I am not against any religion. Maybe the difference between an anti-semite and an anti-zionist is to difficult for you to grasp.

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PatrickLee | Jun 09, 2010, 04:46 PM EDT

No the comparisons are too close to home for you to say that. Hamas is a danger to not only Israel but to Egypt. It is more like the anti semites are showing thier true face.

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seanomelbourne | Jun 09, 2010, 10:38 AM EDT

What a load of of horse manure, your comparisons are structurally unsound and there's not a shred of historical fact in what you say, hysterical would be the operative word. The bleeding heart zionist apologists are at it again.

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PatrickLee | Jun 09, 2010, 10:30 AM EDT

The Irish have a background of violence. Someone throws a bomb and all hell breaks loose. On the other hand, the Palestine rockets and bombs landing in Israel should be ignored and nothing should be done. The only thing Israel has left is the blocade. ...and by the way; the blocade is an Israel(Jew)and Egypt(Arab) partnership to fight HAMAS. Israel request all "humanitarian" ships make a port call or be boarded for inspection. The ship in question did not. If the "RACHEL CORRIE" attempts the same stunt, may she find solace, as she is sinking, that she did it to stir the pot of hatred. There are statistics (if anyone actually does research) as to why the blocade is there and how long and what they have allowed to pass through. Maybe these Irish do-gooders on the "RACHEL CORRIE" would concentrate in their own back yard in sustaining peace in Ireland, then Israel would be better off. If this were happening during the Cuban blocade, these boats would be a welcome addition to the coral reefs.

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PatrickLee | Jun 09, 2010, 10:10 AM EDT

Well since I asked to be removed from this liberal website but am still getting junk mail, here's my 2 cents wrth: The blocade is an Israel and Egypt partnership. Israel request all "humanitarian" ships make a port call for inspection. The ship in question did not. If the "RACHEL CORRIE" attempts the same stunt, may she find solace, as she is sinking, that she did it to stir the pot of hatred. There are statistics (if anyone actually does research) as to why the blocade is there and how long and what they have passed through. Maybe these Irish do-gooders on the "RACHEL CORRIE" would concentrate on their own back yard and sustaining peace in Ireland, then Israel would be better off. If this were happening during the Cuban blocade, these boats would be a welcome addition to the coral reefs.

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seanomelbourne | Jun 07, 2010, 11:22 PM EDT

wxman life is so simple for you, your analogy is weak,your retort is argumentatively sad. Leave Fox on off for a week, to recharge your batteries with common sense

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shuvonn | Jun 06, 2010, 10:33 PM EDT

Yes WX we have gathered that you do not care about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. You have made that explicitly clear.

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irishwxman | Jun 06, 2010, 08:55 PM EDT

So if Krauthammer were to write an article about WWII, since he is a Fox analyst, that makes WWII a false event? You think he made up the Land-for-peace deal? Are you that simple and naive? And you call me a lump of marshmallow. You are just thick.

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seanomelbourne | Jun 06, 2010, 07:03 PM EDT

I doubt wxman that you have ever read history. Krauthammer Fox PAID panelist. They were all aid vessels out to break the blockade. Are you for real or a simpleton. I suggest that---no wait it's pointless talking to a lump of marshmallow I'm done here.

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