(Washington Post) Scott Wilson - Once viewed only as a political nuisance by Israel's government, the group behind the Gaza aid flotilla now includes Islamist organizations that Israeli intelligence agencies say pose a security threat to the Jewish state. The ship that Israeli forces stormed Monday was operated by a Turkish charity that Israeli intelligence agencies and others contend has connections to radical Islamist groups. Itamar Rabinovich, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington, said there was a "qualitative change" to this Gaza aid mission compared with earlier ones that Israel's navy had let pass. He said the group on the Mavi Marmara vessel was "a front for a radical Islamist organization, probably with links to the ruling party in Turkey."
2010-06-01 08:35:25Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive