BRUSSELS (EJP)---Israel’s ambassador to the European Union said that a new attempt to breach Israel's maritime blockade of Gaza is a "clear political provocation".
At least 2 MEPs to take part in flotilla
He made the statement earlier this week in a meeting with reporters at the European Parliament in Strasbourg where several MEPs pledged to take part in the new flotilla.
“In our view, the flotilla is clearly a political provocation since there's no need for a flotilla to aid Gaza,” the ambassador said. “You can pass whatever you want to Gaza through normal channels.”
He mentioned that in March Israel had intercepted a German-owned cargo ship carrying weapons for Palestinians in March.
Activists organizing the new flotilla said at a news conference in Strasbourg that the status of the MEPs would "protect" the other activists aboard the vessels from the Israeli army which might try to redirect or otherwise stop the ships from reaching Gaza.
Curiel warned the activists that Israel would not allow the flotilla to threaten the Jewish State. "I cannot refer hypothetically to what the response of Israel will be but what I can say is that Israel will do everything in order to protect its own citizens and it will do it within international law."
He said that Israel has to control access to Gaza because Hamas continues to shoot rockets from the strip into the Israeli territory.
Curiel added that one of the NGOs behind the project, the Turkish group IHH, is listed as a terrorist group in Germany, the Netherlands and the US. He added that Britain and Spain are against the operation, as well as all "the major political groups" in the EU Parliament.
Flotilla organizers said two left-wing MEPs, Willy Meyer from Spain and Paul Murphy from Ireland will be on two of the around 15 boats that plan to sail from various European locations in June.
A British Conservative MEP, Charles Tannock, endorsed Israel’s position. "People taking part in this exercise are playing with fire and endangering civilian lives in doing so," he noted.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has criticized the flotilla initiative. She said living conditions in Gaza are "awful" due to the Israeli blockade, but added: "I don't consider a flotilla to be the right response."
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