Matthew Xuereb
Malta supports call for Israel to lift Gaza Strip blockade
Demonstrators called by several Basque unions and social collectives holding a banner that reads "Israel kills, Spanish government collaborates", yesterday in the northern Spanish Basque city of Bilbao, to condemn Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. Photo: Rafa/AFP
Malta supports the call on Israel to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip and will intensify its efforts in this direction within the EU following the attack on an aid flotilla destined for the Palestinian region earlier this week, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said yesterday.
He said Malta's stand was the European position as expressed in December by EU foreign ministers. "We support the call for the lifting of the blockade on the Gaza Strip. We want peace in the area and we therefore cannot support Hamas... We want to support Fatah, not Hamas," he said, arguing that the blockade would only help to undermine the mainstream Palestinian party Fatah.
There was widespread negative reaction from the international community to Monday's raid by Israeli commandoes on a flotilla of six ships heading to Gaza with 10,000 tonnes of aid. The aid convoy was seeking to penetrate the blockade, which has been imposed almost continuously since the militant group Hamas took control of the strip in June 2007.
The operation turned violent when the commandoes clashed with those on board the vessels and nine people died.
Many countries condemned the storming in international waters but, more significantly, the incident served to spark fresh calls for the blockade to end, including a statement by UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon.
Dr Borg said the EU was committed towards the security of Israel and its full integration into the region, which was best guaranteed through peace between the country and its neighbours.
A Maltese peace activist in Gaza, Bianca Zammit, who was shot in the leg by Israeli soldiers last month, said from the port of Gaza that Palestinians were overcome by shock rather than anger because they never expected Israeli forces to kill foreigners. Eight of the victims were Turks and one a US national of Turkish origin.
Asked whether Israel had explained the incident which led to Ms Zammit's shooting, Dr Borg said the government was still waiting.
"We are still waiting for an explanation. We understand this will involve an investigation and might take time but we have not forgotten about it and we are following it up regularly, both through Malta's Ambassador in Tel Aviv and through the EU Spanish presidency," he said.
Ms Zammit was shot and injured when she attended a Palestinian protest in Gaza against Israel's decision to impose a no-entry zone all along the Israel-Gaza border.
The bullet luckily went right through her leg and did not break any bone.
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Alfred Grech
Jun 5th 2010, 02:48
As long as Hamas and the people that elected Hamas have as a stated objective the "destruction of Israel" I don't see why Israel should not enforce a blockade of Gaza. Israel is entitled to seek the destruction of Hamas if you ask me and not just make sure that no shiploads of rockets get to them.
Michael Neville Cassar
Jun 4th 2010, 14:58
(My comment is directed to Israel) Referencing to the right of existence and to your sufferings this blockade cannot continue while innocent people suffer, the eye for an eye philosophy generate only hate .So would it not be much easer if ships dock under your security forces so that life and hardship will ease .
Alex Ellul
Jun 4th 2010, 14:42
Turkey has dirty hands in the past and present suppression (even armed raids on Kurdish towns and villages) that are carried out on the Kurds. But since Kurds do not blow up planes, trains and automobiles and do not blow themselves up on buses and public places, then nobody notices. Hamas, on the other hand profess their ideological and political wish of the destruction of Israel while trying to be seen as a martyr. Its a dirty game all the way.
T Camilleri
Jun 4th 2010, 18:27
Alex Ellul U sadattant in-NATO, l-Amerika u l-pajjizi l-ohra ma jitkellmux ghax gmielhom moqdijin tajjeb bil-bazijiet militari fit-Turkija.
Alex Ellul
Jun 4th 2010, 14:36
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/7802401/Turkeys-role-in-the-Gaza-flotilla-affair-should-worry-us-all-in-the-West.html
The organisers of the Gaza bound flotilla are nothing but an extremist Turkish organisation. It’s offices in Ankara were once raided by Turkish police who found arms caches. Now Turkey is led by an ever radicalising Prime Minister who has even done deals with Iran's extremist ruler Ahmedinejad and abetting radical islamists in crooked shenanigans such as the Gaza flotilla. The Turks are back in their old driver imperialistic seat. Watch out.
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Jun 4th 2010, 11:17
Niccassa naqra kif uhud jaccettaw li vapuri jigu piratati f'ibhra internazzjonali mill-Izrajel u jaqilghu plejtu meta jaghmlu hekk is-Somali. Is-Somali ma hadu l-art u l-ilma ta' hadd. L-Ewropej sfruttawhom u hallulhom pajjiz imharbat, irvinawlhom is-sajd li jiddependu fuqu u ma hallewlhomx l-ghixien li hu dritt taghhom. L-Izrajel seraq u ghadu jisraq l-art tal-Palestinjani, jiehu l-ilma mill-art Palestinjana ghall-agrikoltura Lhudija, jghodd lill-Palestinjani bhala poplu skjav biex jahdem bl-irhis fl-intrapirzi Lhud u sa wasal li, wkoll mal-Lhud stess, igieghel f'xi skejjel tfal Lhud minn etniji differenti jilbsu uniformijiet ta' kulur differenti u jaqsmuhom biex ma jithalltux. L-anqas l-Iran ma jinsisti li l-ftit Lhud fl-Iran jilbsu uniformijiet differenti. Ma nistghagibx ghalhekk li l-Izrajel holqu kamp tal-koncentrament ukoll u semmewh Gaza flok Belsen. Nisthi nghid li jien ta' l-istess nazzjon ta' dawk li bloggjaw b'daqstant injoranza tal-fatti.
Mansweto Calascrapolo
Jun 4th 2010, 10:51
Ja Gvern miskin u kretin tindahalx. Allura minn mijiet ta' pajjizi ahna irridu nsemmu lehinna bicca tikka fil-Mediterran? U fuq kollox il-poplu huwa maqsum fuq dil il-kwistjoni ta' min ghandu ragun.
wally vella-zarb
Jun 4th 2010, 11:19
Miskin u kretin min idawwar wiċċu jew jagħlaq għajnejh u jinjora it-tbatija ta’ ħaddiehor.
Ramon Casha
Jun 4th 2010, 13:35
Bil-kontra - kieku l-gvern Malti ma jgħid xejn inkunu l-uniku pajjiż li ma kkundannax l-aġir ta' dawn il-kriminali.
M.Bezzina
Jun 4th 2010, 10:22
Asked whether Israel had explained the incident which led to Ms Zammit's shooting, Dr Borg said the government was still waiting.
Israel jimxi ghajn ghal ghajn u sinna ghal sinna!!Ma tarax li se jihu it tort jghidlek ma jmisshomx kienu prezenti hemmek!!U by the way apparti li nemmen li il poplu palestinjan qijed ibati imma hadd ma jirrealizza li Israel mhux jithalla fil paci ghax kulhadd irid jeqirdu!!