13:36
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Jerusalem-Israel on Sunday threatened to prohibit international journalists for up to a decade from the country if they join a flotilla infringe planning the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The warning reflected Israeli jitters about the international flotilla, which is little more than a year after a similar mission ended with the death of nine Turkish activists in clashes with the Israeli naval commando.
Israel is eager to avoid a repeat of last year's raid, which has drawn heavy international condemnations and finally forced Israel to loosen a blockade on Gaza controlled by Hamas. Israel says the blockade is necessary to prevent Hamas weapons smuggled into the territory.
It is not clear when the current is actually Sail flotilla, but organizers have hinted that it might be earlier this week.
In a letter to foreign journalists, Director of the Government Press Office, Oren Helman, called the "a dangerous provocation which is organized by extremist Islamic and Western elements to help Hamas."
"I would like to make it clear to you and to the media that you represent, that the participation of the flotilla is an intentional violation of Israeli law and could lead to the participants is denied entry into Israel for 10 years, for the seizure of their equipment and additional sanctions," said Helman.
The letter, he added, had been reviewed and approved by the Attorney General of Israel.
The flotilla organizers say that the mission is required to draw attention to the situation of the 1.6 million residents of Gaza. The Israeli blockade has caused serious damage to the economy of Gaza: unemployment is estimated at close to 50 percent, and the country still suffers from a shortage of building materials, necessary evil.
Israel has long had a tense relationship with the international media. During his invasion of the Gaza Strip 2 1/2 years ago, based on Israeli journalists were prevented from entering the territory, forcing the Supreme Court to order the army to let reporters in.
Israel has imposed a land and a naval blockade on Gaza after Hamas, an Iranian-backed group that has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings and other attacks, took control of the coastal strip.
The international uproar over deadly raid flotilla last year has forced Israel to facilitate considerably the embargo, but the blockade remains intact.
Israel has already said it will block the flotilla this time. Navy officials say they will use different tactics, although hoping to avoid bloodshed.
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