I haven't seen it, but my understanding is the Israeli forces shot video of the entire operation. This hasn't been shown my the media and probably won't be. Supposedly it shows the Israelis being attacked by the "peaceful" protesters.

Just another shot at Israel.

Just watched the video on Fox. Clearly the "peace" protesters were the aggressors. Even throwing one of the soldiers over the rail. Only after being severely beaten did the Israeli soldiers open fire. Obviously in self-defense.

I agree, in general, with the the arguments and analysis of the risks and benefits of sanctions and blockades. The Israeli population faces strain and tension from the threat of terrorism unlike any other people.

However, because of the realities of international politics, Israel's actions to defend itself or, as in this case, to defend its blockade, must be carefully calibrated. Netanyahu does not have the temperament to be Prime Minister and his statements and behaviors are increasing the threats to Israel.

maddirishman, your first mistake is believing that self-serving edited video provided by the Israelis would provide any insight into the chronology of events (I can imagine what Israeli video of the hours long air and naval assault on the undefended USS Liberty in 1967 might have looked like).
Of course, your second mistake is tuning your tv to Fox.
As the Israelis succumb to world pressure and begin to release their kidnapped hostages, evidence is beginning to mount that the initial assault left several passengers dead and wounded prior to the commandos boarding the Turkish flagged ship in international waters, a violation of maritime law tantamount to an act of war (if, as it appears, it was sanctioned by the Israeli government) or piracy (if initiated by rogue elements in the Israeli military, as opposed to the rogue nation itself, and leaving the perpetrators subject to face justice in a Turkish court).
An interesting thought experiment for hypocrites like yourself is to envision the same scenario but substituting 'US' for "Turkish" and 'Iranian' or 'Cuban' for "Israeli".
It will be equally interesting watching this play out in NATO, where Turkey is a member who has fought side by side with the US (unlike the Israelis, whose only battlefield experience with the US was the Liberty incident, a tragically ignored part of American military history). There's already suspicion among the members that the organization is heavily tilted toward American interests. The US downplaying Turkish concerns in favor of a non-treaty 'ally' like Israel would send a message to other member countries that America is not to be trusted in matters of mutual defense.

It's nice to see a nuanced discussion of sanctions. The "sanctions don't work" crowd, usually economists with little understanding or appreciation of politics, like to point out that the sanctions often don't cause states to change their behavior.

That school of thought misses the point of sanctions. While obviously you hope the other state changes its policies, sometimes the intent of sanctions is to impose a cost on that other state without resorting to war. The message being, it may not be worth a military conflict, but we don't like what you are doing.

Whether you are willing to back up sanctions with force, of course, depends on how strongly your national interests are threatened in the first place. In the case of Israel, as in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the national interests were high - you want to block lethal weapons that could be used against you. In other cases, such as your South African apartheid example, you are probably not going to back it up with force. Yes, apartheid is terrible, but it does not affect any strong national interest, such as security.

As for enforcement, in some cases it's enough just to monitor the companies in your own country to prevent them from supplying the offending state. In cases like Israel or the missile crisis, the stakes are much higher, and blockades are required. But there is no doubt, if you go the blockade route, don't be surprised if you actually have to fire on someone.

Bob, just the typical frat boy "thank you sir may I have another" response I would expect from a liberal on a subject concerning Israel. You may not have been paying attention, but NATO, including the US and Turkey, have been boarding ships in the Persian Gulf, international waters, for several years. The scenerio has been much the same as the Israeli situation, supporting a blockade to keep unauthorized materials fro reaching port. Israel is defending itself against an enemy that has vowed to wipe it off the face of the earth.

You also seem to have lost sight of the purpose of the blockade and the fact that Israel's Arab neighbor Egypt is also participating. The blockade is not to starve out the residents of Gaza. There are ports available in in Israel and Egypt for ships to land at and unload. The problem for Hamas and their supporters is that in these ports shipments are searched for weapons. That doesn't work for them because it does not allow them to continue to making rockets to shoot into Israel.

As for your reference to Fox News and my viewing habits, I generally go to sources that I can count on to provide accuarate and timely news. While the other networks were bashing Israel for having the nerve to defend itself, Fox was showing the video. Sure video can be edited, but how do you edit video to include troops being beaten with lead pipes?

Bob, to need to take a step into the real world...quickly, before you get run over in your little dream world.

Good point, maddirishman. We sometimes forget the dictatorship which runs Egypt also supports the Gaza blockade. Thanks for the reminder.
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BTW, which foreign networks do you watch? Because the mainstream media here in the old US of A are the biggest group of Israel apologists in the world (including Israel).

There are ports available in in Israel and Egypt for ships to land at and unload.

Lefties never deal with this fact. Just another example of their dishonesty.

Believe the videos or don't. Claim the media loves Israel (even though most of them didn't screen the videos for viewers.) But if you want to be taken seriously and avoid being accused of stupidity, dishonesty or anti-Semitism, you need to explain why this "humanitarian mission" just couldn't find a way to actually deliver the aid like everybody else does.

Ah, the typical chicken little, Hamas as existential threat to the virtually defenseless little Israel response I'd expect from a keyboard commando on a subject pertaining to the Middle East. I'm aware of NATO exercises in the gulf, as well as American led attempts to isolate Iran, but please elaborate on the blockade you maintain has been in effect for "several years".
You also seem to have lost sight of the fact that the stated intent of the blockade was to "put the Palestinians on a diet". However you do deserve credit for recognizing that the corrupt Egyptian dictator Mubarek is participating.
Odd, isn't it, that the video begins with the commandos already on board the ship. Certainly cameras were running as the flotilla was approached. I believe there are provisions in maritime law for self defense against acts of piracy.
maddirishman, you need to pull yourself out of the bottle and recognize yourself for the 'useful idiot' you're being played for.
And speaking of useful idiots, with the number of them like maddirishman and spongeworthy who comment here, I'm surprised it took as long as it did for the anti-Semitism card to get played. If criticism of Israel equals anti-Semitism, does criticism of Obama equal racism?

If criticism of Israel policies = anti-Semitism, criticism of Obama's policies = anti-Americanism.
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BTW, the new tripe is that Israel has every right to defend themselves, but those on the flotilla don't.

And, spongeworthy, cut the crap with the "lefties dishonsty" bullshit.
Certainly you remember George W. Bush. lying the nation into war with "Saddam threw the weapons inspectors out of Iraq" crap. Are you saying W is a lefty, because I don't recall you making that case between 2001-2009.

Bob and Berto, if this really was a humanitarian mission, why not just step aside, allow inspection and proceed to port? Easy answer, it wasn't a humanitarian mission. Oh and by the way, Israel has been allowing food and medical supples to pass from the start.

maddirishman, I believe the pirates have had ample time to search their booty. If it wasn't a humanitarian mission, why haven't we seen the bombs and rockets? Easy answer, it was a humanitarian mission.
Oh, and by the way, those who actually know something about the situation in Gaza, like UNICEF and the WHO, seem to feel that the Israelis have been a little stingy with the food and medical supplies they allow to pass.
I guess you just plan on dropping the NATO Persian Gulf 'blockade' thing, eh?

To borrow a line from my favorite lefty leaning tv show, "Bob you ignorant slut". I guess they haven't shown footage of the Persian Gulf efforts on those other networks you watch. I am not aware if it ongoing or not and really don't care. You also might have missed the fact that there was more than one ship in the flotilla that launched from Turkey. Only one ship approached at that time and it was boarded. You lefties really aren't worth the effort. You spent to much time in our public school system and it really shows.

maddirishman, a little early in the day to be that shitfaced, isn't it? To borrow a line from a movie with a simple enough plot for even you to understand, "drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son".
Among other things I learned in our public school system was the appropriate use of to and too. You apparently spent TOO much time in the parking lot with your Bushmills and it really shows.

Come on Bob...son? If your are not going to respect your elders at least respect your betters.

"If your are not going to respect your elders at least respect your betters."

Which would your be? And are your speech slurred again?

The left/right divide on Israel in the US is getting wider, and that is unfortunate because it shouldn't be necessary. Israel is a US ally in the region, but I don't see why that mandates a US rubber-stamp on all Israeli foreign policy choices, especially regarding Palestine. I had no problem, for example, of Obama criticizing Israel for condemning more Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory as being antithetical to the peace process.

This blockade incident is a little more complicated because as Crank mentioned, the details are very murky. I wish the Israelis had been a little better prepared to deal with this type of incident, but you really have to question the motives (and the intelligence) of these alleged humanitarians in trying to run the blockade. In any event, it is a small symptom of a much larger problem.

Make that: I had no problem, for example, with Obama condemning Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory as being antithetical to the peace process.

One of these days, I'll start proofreading my posts.

Off topic, but I just wanted to mention that even George W. Bush is now "channeling his inner Berto" (i.e. admitting torture).
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Between Bush's torture regime and Israel's raid of a ship in international waters, we should never again have to hear the hollow anti-immigrant mantra of "what don't you understand about illegal?"