Irish ship sails into the eye of the storm

[sabrina 1]

Irish ship sails into the eye of the storm

No guarantee vessel won't be attacked

ISRAEL was last night giving no guarantee about the safety of the Irish crew on board the ship sailing to deliver its aid cargo amid an international crisis.

The 'MV Rachel Corrie' is now heading for a showdown with the Israeli navy within days as it attempts to breach a blockade of Gaza.

It had been due to join an international aid flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli commandos on Monday, leading to at least 10 deaths -- and triggering international outrage.

The five Irish crew members said last night they were "more determined than ever" to reach Gaza with their aid cargo of 550kg of bagged cement, 150kg of medical equipment (including a CT scanner) and a further 57kg of printing paper, schoolbooks and toys.

But Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin confirmed to the Dail last night that he had received no guarantee from Israeli authorities that the 'Rachel Corrie' would be given safe passage.

Ireland's Parliament (The Dail) is supportive of the humanitarian mission. Should the Israelis attack the ship or refuse to release the Irish citizens they are holding, they have the option, as Prime Minister, Brian Cowen alluded to, of expelling the Israeli Ambassador and recalling the Irish Ambassador from Israel.

The Dail last night passed an all-party motion calling for an independent international inquiry to be carried out into the killings by Israeli commandos at least 10 peace activists on board the aid flotilla.

The motion also called on Israel to release the seven Irish citizens seized from a convoy of ships carrying aid to Gaza.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen backed up the message by saying Israel "did not have a leg to stand on" when it came to detaining the Irish citizens and warned there would be "serious consequences" if the Irish crew members of the 'Rachel Corrie' were harmed.

Meanwhile, Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister, Micheal Martin, gave a statement to the newspaper, The Irish Independent regarding the tragedy:


Israeli soldiers guarding one of the Gaza-bound ships held at the port of Ashdod, Israel, yesterday


Micheal Martin: Pressure must be stepped up against Israel

IN line with the vast majority of Irish people, I was appalled by Monday's events involving the storming of the Turkish vessel, the Mavi Marmara, by the Israeli military, which resulted in at least 10 people killed and the detention of vessels containing humanitarian goods bound for Gaza.

The deployment of the Israeli military was completely disproportionate to the situation and its actions utterly unacceptable.

I fully understand the real public anger which exists. I share the general frustration at the needless loss of life and at the continuing humanitarian suffering and collective punishment of the people of Gaza.

What I find particularly disturbing is that the Israeli government has again chosen to regard its security concerns as overriding all other considerations, to the extent of allowing its military to violently board a civilian ship on a humanitarian mission. Respect for international law has been completely disregarded and undermined and the international community needs to leave Israel in no doubt about what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behaviour by any government or state.

Monday's events can be directly attributed to the illegal and unjust blockade of Gaza which Israel has maintained for some three years now. I very much welcome the clear statement which has now been made by the EU that it can no longer accept the continued policy of closure, as well as the presidential statement adopted by the UN Security Council describing the situation in Gaza as unsustainable. International pressure needs to be increased on Israel to end its disastrous policy towards Gaza. I intend pursuing with my EU colleagues in the coming weeks exactly what further steps the EU can take to bring this about.

The Government has not hesitated to express its deep concerns to the Israeli government about what has occurred. I called in the Israeli Ambassador on Monday evening precisely for this purpose and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the seven Irish citizens who we so far know to be detained. I also made clear that Israel's initial refusal to facilitate full consular access to those detained was unacceptable and in breach of the Vienna Conventions.
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Ireland was always a good friend to Israel and still is. But good friends do not remain silent when they see their friends doing harm to themselves and others. Hopefully Israel will listen to its friends now.