Israel has attacked Gaza Flotilla (dead and wounded)

[Helen Reyes]

http://grapevine.is/News/Archive



Minister of Foreign Affairs Condemns Israeli Attack
31.5.2010
Words by Paul Nikolov
Minister of Foreign Affairs Össur Skarphéðinsson condemned an Israeli attack against a humanitarian convoy of boats bound for Gaza, likening the Gaza Strip itself to "one big prison".

In a statement from the ministry, Össur agrees with the opinion of the European Union and the United Nations that the attack should be investigated exhaustively.

Israeli commandos killed 19 people when they stormed a convoy of ships delivering aid to Gaza this morning. Israel says it responded to attacks against its soldiers, 10 of whom were injured.

"Gaza is actually one big prison, where international laws are broken against residents there," the statement says in part. "This has to stop." The ministry calls for the withdrawal of military action against Gaza.

The ministry also sent a strongly-worded letter to the Israeli embassy in Oslo, and called for a meeting between the two countries in that city. Furthermore, the minister said he was pleased that the UN intends to bring the matter up at UN headquarters in New York.

Protests have erupted around the world over the attacks, the strong reaction to which prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a trip to visit US president Barack Obama.

Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee: Iceland Should "Review" Relationship with Israel
1.6.2010
Words by Paul Nikolov
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee Árni Þór Sigurðsson believes Iceland should review its political relationship with Israel in light of attacks made by Israeli commandos against a convoy of aid workers bound for Gaza that left at least 19 dead. A parliamentary discussion on the matter has been proposed for today's schedule.

Árni Þór was in Madrid at the time of the attacks, and said he witnessed global dialogue on the matter give a resounding tone of condemnation for the attacks, from the United Nations and the European Union especially. In light of this reaction, Árni Þór said he believes it's reasonable for Iceland to review its political relationship with Israel.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Össur Skarphéðinsson has already condemned the attacks, calling Gaza itself "one big prison", and intends to meet with Israeli embassy officials in Oslo over the matter. Many Icelanders gathered in front of the ministry itself to protest the attacks yesterday.



Foreign Affairs Committee Wants to Impose Embargo or Cut Political Contact with Israel
1.6.2010
Words by Paul Nikolov
The majority of the Foreign Affairs committee - The Movement, the Social Democrats, the Leftist-Greens and the Progressives - have stated that they want to either impose an embargo against Israel, or cut off political contact with the nation, in light of yesterday's attack on aid workers bound for Gaza.

Leftist-Green MP Ögmundur Jónasson brought the matter up in parliament today, addressing the Minister of Foreign Affairs Össur Skarphéðinsson. The minister, for his part, has said that he wants to discuss the matter with other nations to see what sort of formal action Iceland will take.

All parties in the Foreign Affairs committee - except for the Independence Party - strongly condemned Israel's attack on aid workers bound for Gaza, leaving anywhere from nine to nineteen aid workers dead, and many more injured.

The committee furthermore decided that they would organize a trip to Gaza soon, and send aid relief to the region.