Report: “Israel” Launches Diplomatic Campaign to Halt Lebanon Flotilla

Local Editor

"Israel" launched a diplomatic effort yesterday to keep the latest planned flotilla from sailing from Lebanon to the Gaza Strip.

The Foreign Ministry instructed "Israeli" ambassadors to ask senior officials in the United States, United Nations, European Union and Egypt to pressure Syria and Lebanon to stop the flotilla, which "Israel" deems a "provocation", Haaretz daily reported.

Officially, the flotilla is being organized by Palestinian businessman Yasser Kashlak, who last month tried and failed to organize another flotilla from Lebanon. The two ships are slated to sail from Tripoli by the end of this week.

"Israel's" message to international diplomats is that it views this flotilla particularly gravely because it is sailing from the port of an enemy country.

Last week, Egypt cooperated with "Israel" in diverting a Libyan aid ship headed to Gaza to the Egyptian port of El-Arish, and so Israeli officials are hopeful it will do the same this time.

"Israel" is still refusing to release three Turkish ships captured in a May 31 raid on an earlier Gaza-bound flotilla, saying it will not do so without a written pledge from the Turkish government that the ships will not be used for such activities again.

The Mavi Marmara raid, which resulted in the death of nine Turks after passengers attacked the "Israeli" boarding party, tore gaping holes in the already tattered "Israeli"-Turkish relations.