Israel denies the fiscal pressure on Greece to blockade flotilla boats

In May 2010, the Flotilla and five other aid ships were on their way to Gaza when Israeli soldiers.

• Organizers accused Israel and the United States of economic pressure on Greece
• An official of the Israeli Foreign Ministry called the allegation "ludicrous"
• The Israeli Government warned foreign journalists against being part of the flotilla

Jerusalem (CNN) -The Israeli Foreign Ministry on Sunday dismissed as "ridiculous" suggestions that Israel and the United States were using economic pressure to force fiscally strapped Greece in boats stop participating in an international flotilla to Gaza.

"These people have no evidence any claims?" asked the Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor Israeli. "Their entire activity turns to demonize Israel. What they say, we used all the Jewish bankers in the world to undo the bonds of Greece? What kind of fantasy world they live in? "

The organizers of a boatload of planning to join the fleet, U.S.-registered Audacity of hope, issued a statement on Sunday, asking the Greek Government to explain why the ship was prevented from running being rented out leaving a port in Greek.

Passengers and crew members say that they are told that the boat did not start because of concerns about its seaworthiness and the need for more inspections.

Participants travel rejected the explanation, arguing that the boat was in safe. They suggested the economic pressure was being exerted upon the Greece.

"Israel has said openly that it is pressuring Governments to try to stop the flotilla and clearly Greece is a key Government since many of the boats leave from Greece" passenger Medea Benjamin said in a press release from organizers of the boat. "It is inconceivable that Israel would take advantage of the Greek people are living to try to stop our boat or flotilla the economic hardship."

In the news release, the organizers of the boat-boat to Gaza-United States suggested without offering evidence that policy leverage has been used with the International Monetary Fund in an attempt to force Greece to block the flotilla of ships from the start.

Palmor acknowledged that Israel was using diplomatic channels to prevent what he calls "a flotilla illegal" arriving in Gaza.

"These are the diplomatic contacts with friendly countries," said Palmor. "With regard to their demands, are consciously and proudly to commit an illegal act and still have complaints? The charges are simply ridiculous. "

Meanwhile, Director of the Press Office of the Government of Israel, Oren Helman, sent a letter Sunday to foreign journalists based in Israel, warning that "the participation of the flotilla is a violation of Israeli law intentional and may cause participants is denied entry into Israel for 10 years, the seizure of their equipment and additional sanctions".

"I implore you to avoid taking part in this dangerous and provocative event, whose purpose is to undermine the right of Israel to defend itself and knowingly violating Israeli law," Helman wrote.

Foreign Press Association, representing journalists worldwide who work in the area, responded that the Government's letter, threatening punishment for coverage of flotilla "send a chilling message to the international media and raises serious doubts about Israel's commitment to press freedom".

"Journalists covering legitimate news event should be allowed to do their job without threats and intimidation," the Foreign Press Association said in a statement. "We ask the Government to revoke its decision immediately".

The flotilla, planned to sail soon, intends to challenge the Israel maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip.

According to the organisers, the flotilla is meant to commemorate the anniversary of a year of a similar flotilla which resulted in a clash in international waters with the Israeli Navy commandos which killed nine people including an American citizen.

In May 2010, the Flotilla-owned by the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation or HHI and five other ships were on their way to Gaza with humanitarian aid and about 700 activists from different countries when the Israeli soldiers boarded.

An independent Commission, headed by a retired judge Yaakov Turkel, then discovered that the Israeli commandos "acted professionally and independently measured in front of the unexpected violence" when they seized the ship associated with aid to Gaza.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters Friday that she didn't think the flotilla plan for this year "is useful or productive or useful to the people of Gaza".

"We have certainly encouraged that u.s. citizens not participating in the flotilla," said, "and we are urging that all precautions be taken to avoid any type of confrontation."

Clinton's comments followed a statement even harsher by State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland, in which she criticized what she called "irresponsible and provocative actions that risk the safety of their passengers."

Azrael CNN Guy has contributed to this report.

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Israel customer alert journalists to Gaza flotilla (Reuters)

JERUSALEM (Reuters)-Israel said Monday it was rethinking its threat to bar foreign journalists from entering the country for 10 years, if they are on board a new aid flotilla that plans to defy the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.

"(Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) heard on the news and asked to re-examine this issue because it is problematic," Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon said, referring to Israel's warning Sunday Government Press Office (GPO).

"I know that the Prime Minister was surprised when I hear this," he said, without revealing that he had taken the decision to hand over the threat.

"There is no way to stop the media in this day and age if (are) anyway. It is better not to clash with them. "

The Foreign Press Association in Jerusalem described the warning, that GPO Director Oren Helman sent to international media organisations, such as a "chilling message" that raised questions about Israel's commitment to press freedom.

Pro-Palestinian activists have said about a dozen ships carrying aid to Gaza Strip, territory controlled by the Islamists of Hamas, could depart from ports in Europe in the coming days.

Israel has made clear that he will apply the block that it says is aimed at stopping arms to Hamas, which is shunned by the West because of his refusal to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept the existing peace deals.

The Palestinians say the blockade is illegal and is helping to strangle the economy underdeveloped in Gaza. Israeli officials have said the convoy could dock in Egypt or in Israel and have his load of aid transferred by road to the Gaza Strip.

In an email, Helman said participation of the flotilla would be "an intentional violation of Israeli law and could result in a ban on the entry of 10 years in Israel and the kidnapping of the journalists ' equipment.

A year ago, nine Turkish activists, including one with dual citizenship U.S.-Turkish, were killed by Israeli soldiers who raided an aid convoy to Gaza and were confronted passengers brandishing Clubs and knives.

Netanyahu's security cabinet discussed the new flotilla on Monday. A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister reiterated that "Israel is determined to prevent the flotilla to reach Gaza with as little friction as possible with his passengers."

(Writing by Jeffrey Heller; edited by Crispian Balmer)

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Israel warns media against boarding Gaza flotilla (AP)

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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