In what N. Irish Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness described as a “raid,” the Israeli Navy again commandeered an unarmed, peaceful ship in international waters, the Rachel Corrie, in a bid to prevent wheel chairs from reaching the blockaded people of Gaza, an Occupied Territory of which Israel controls the borders, air and sea.
The Irish government (the ship took off from Ireland) is furious. And for once it is agreed with by Northern Ireland in the UK, with the deputy first minister condemning the raid as a “completely unacceptable and unjustified use of force”.
McGuinness insisted, “The Rachel Corrie should have been allowed to proceed to Gaza without Israeli aggression,” adding, “This is an attack on an Irish flagged vessel and it demands a strong response by the Irish government.”
Note: an earlier version of this posting omitted the “Northern” in Northern Ireland. Regrets for the confusion.