(Ynet News) Aviad Glickman - Israel's Supreme Court Thursday rejected suits filed this week against the flotilla raid and defended the IDF action. Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish ruled that during the takeover of the Marmara, "the soldiers encountered a harsh and violent response on the part of the flotilla participants on the ship. The soldiers were attacked with knives, clubs, and metal rods. Attempts were made to snatch their personal weapons and to violently injure them. One of the soldiers was even dropped over the side of the ship....The soldiers were forced to respond in order to defend their lives." Beinish also defended Israel's decision to block the ship's entry to Gaza: "In light of Hamas' control of Gaza, Israel has taken various steps meant to prevent direct access to Gaza, including the imposition of a naval blockade on Gaza, which, according to the State's declaration, is meant to block the infiltration of weapons and ammunition into Hamas ranks which have carried out shooting and terrorist attacks in Israeli territory for years with the goal of harming civilians."
2010-06-03 09:37:59Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive