Israel intercepts ship with weapons headed to Gaza

[sabbat hunter]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/05/world/meast/israel-intercepted-weapons/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday it intercepted an Iranian shipment of "advanced" weapons bound for "terrorist organizations" operating in Gaza.

The Israeli navy stopped a Panamanian-flagged civilian cargo ship and boarded the vessel, the IDF said.

The weapons found were identified as Syrian-manufactured surface-to-surface rockets, IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said.

[Jefferson23]

1. Hamas denies Israel claims of Iran weapons shipment

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israel claimed that it intercepted a ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday carrying Iranian "advanced weaponry" bound for Palestinian militants in Gaza, the military said.

Hamas leaders denied the accusations, pointing out that Gaza is under a complete naval blockade by Israel that would make any shipment of arms into the besieged coastal enclave impossible.

Gaza Ministry of Interior spokesman Islam Shahwan said in a statement that Israeli claims were a "dangerous move" to justify Israel's seven-year long blockade.

Shahwan urged journalists to avoid "being tricked by the Israeli narrative about capturing a ship carrying weapons to Gaza," adding that "the sea is completely besieged and closed by the Israeli navy, and any ship which sails will be obstructed."

Israel, which has long accused Iran and Syria of providing military aid to Lebanon's Hezbollah and Palestinian militant groups, said the ship was carrying "advanced weaponry," including rockets "capable of striking anywhere in Israel."

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=678910

[sabbat hunter]

2. of course they are going to deny it

But blockade running is nothing new with blockades. If they admitted to trying to run the blockade, they would only bring danger to themselves.

Did you expect them to say "yup, you caught us, we tried to run the blockade and bring weapons in which we were going to use against Israeli civilians"?

[Jefferson23]

3. Odd question, I did not expect anything...I posted their response.

Their response is plausible, at least at this point on what has been reported...there is no certainty.

Rockets on Iran weapons ship weren't meant for Hamas

Once-powerful Hamas has alienated Tehran and Damascus by backing the Syrian rebels, and has fallen from grace in Egypt.

Elior Levy
Published: 03.05.14,

Shortly after the IDF confirmed that it had seized a weapons-laden ship bound from Iran to Gaza on Tuesday night, a Hamas spokesman called it a "stupid joke," accusing Israel of lying in order to justify and expand its blockade on Gaza.
Such a claim makes sense from Hamas' perspective, given that it was not the group for whom the weapons were destined, nor did it know about them.

Not one of the multitudes of press briefings the IDF has given to the Israeli and international media since the ship was seized has specifically mentioned who in Gaza was expecting the missiles. (Then again, the IDF has not said that they were going to Hamas, either.)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4495748,00.html

[Fozzledick]

16. FWIW I've seen analysis that they were for Islamic Jihad in Gaza, not Hamas

It's still Iran supplying weapons to terrorists in Gaza for use against Israeli civilians.

[Jefferson23]

17. I don't believe that has been confirmed...I posted in this thread the daily press briefing

from yesterday by the WH on the subject..you might be interested to read it.

[azurnoir]

4. a fishing boat can not get beyond Israel's sea blockade of Gaza yet we're supposed to believe

that a cargo ship would-please

[sabbat hunter]

5. well obviously it didn't

because the ship got caught. It doesn't mean that they won't try to run it anyhow. The blockade did its job and stopped weapons from reaching Gaza.

[azurnoir]

8. The Israeli blockade extends into East African waters? Thanks I did not know that

one can only wonder what else does Israel stop from reaching East African countries

[shira]

6. Are you against Israel stopping Iranian arms shipments to Gaza? n/t

[azurnoir]

7. IMO the Gaza destination is what is in question not the arms shipment itself

Syria or Lebanon is a more likely destination

[shira]

9. Yes or No? n/t

[azurnoir]

10. I just answered you sorry it was not not what you needed

did not realize it was a yes no question and in this case I feel no need to reply further

[shira]

11. You evaded the question. No surprise there. n/t

[azurnoir]

12. I did not evade anything I gave a straight answer that applied to the situation at hand

[shira]

13. And now, the denial. Sigh. Good talk. n/t

[aranthus]

15. And we're surprised by this?

Didn't think so.

[azurnoir]

18. excuse me but the subject was this particular ship when the question was not answered in the manner

the person asking was hoping for, she changed the goal posts and then responded with the usual type of accusations that we have been accustomed too

[King_David]

19. Question wasn't answered at all,

And like aranthus I too wasn't surprised .

[azurnoir]

20. I do not believe these weapons on this ship were headed for Gaza

what is now claimed to be the question really has no relationship to the OP

but on the same thought do you believe weapons should be delivered to Syria?

[sabbat hunter]

21. regardless of this ship

do you think arms should be delivered to Gaza for groups like Hamas, Islamic Jihad, et al?

[azurnoir]

22. I don't believe in supplying weapons period to anyone

IMO the arms trade should be shut down

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

24. Incidentally, Israel gets 3+ billion in aid from the USA each year:

how much of which goes to arms purchases?

[hack89]

25. The destination is irrelevant. Iran is banned by the UN from exporting any arms to anybody

per UN Resolution 1747. The UN also calls upon all countries to inspect Iranian ships and cargo in accordance with international law.

Israel or the US are well within their rights to stop, inspect and seize this vessel. The US has done the same several time with NK ships. The UN is clear that they want this trafficking to stop.

[Jefferson23]

14. snip*QUESTION: The Palestinian-Israeli conflict? ( Daily Press Briefing, March 5 )

MS. PSAKI: Sure.

QUESTION: Okay. Before I ask about the negotiation, do you have any comment on what the Israelis are claiming that they caught this boat laden with arms going to Gaza?

MS. PSAKI: Sure. I can confirm the reports that the Israeli Government interdicted a shipment of illicit Iranian arms. The United States and Israel have had routine communications about this issue through intelligence and military channels, as well as through our national security advisors.

QUESTION: So you have independently confirmed that there was a ship and it was loaded with arms going to Gaza?

MS. PSAKI: We have --

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

MS. PSAKI: -- I’m not going to outline all the details. I would refer you to the Israeli Government for that, but we have confirmed that there was, of course, a ship. I’m not going to outline the details, but the Israeli – we have confirmed the details that the Israelis have put out there.

QUESTION: And the Israeli press is also saying that Prime Minister Netanyahu requested that the talks be extended until the end of 2014. Could you comment on that?

MS. PSAKI: I don’t have any comment for you on that. I would point you to them. Obviously, as we’ve said many times, the next step is a framework for negotiations. If there is – if both sides can agree on that, then we can look ahead to the path forward. Both sides will have more of a clear road that they would need to travel to get to a final status agreement.

QUESTION: Okay. So once the framework is presented, when and if it is presented, you do expect that the talks will go on until they completely run out or resolve the issue?

MS. PSAKI: We can talk about that when there’s a framework, Said.

QUESTION: Back on the ship.

MS. PSAKI: Sure.

QUESTION: You don’t have any broader comment on what this means, what it – the fact that there was this seizure clearly should raise --

MS. PSAKI: Sure.

QUESTION: -- I mean, the fact that there were – was a boatload of weapons headed there must --

MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: -- raise some concern.

MS. PSAKI: Well, let me give you a few more details. Soon after becoming aware of the imminent movement of the suspected vessel, the White House directed the Department of Defense to monitor the vessel and to develop concepts of operation for a range of options in order to be prepared to take unilateral steps if necessary. This is part of, of course, a robust effort on the part of the Administration. We were closely coordinated, our intelligence and military activities, with the – with our Israeli counterparts, who ultimately chose to take the lead with this case. And even as we continue our efforts to resolve our concerns over Iran’s nuclear program through diplomacy, we will continue to stand up to Iran’s support for destabilizing activities in the region in coordination with our partners and allies. There are still details that are – have not yet been confirmed about this specific case, which we’re watching, of course, and monitoring closely.

QUESTION: Right, but I – it was my impression when Said was asking before that you didn’t want to say that it was definitely Iranian weapons --

MS. PSAKI: Well, they’re illicit Iranian arms. I don’t have a confirmation of that.

QUESTION: Okay.

MS. PSAKI: So that is – yes.

QUESTION: So – but does this incident raise your concerns, or were they already pretty much as high as they could be?

MS. PSAKI: Well, I think this a case where we have long been watching closely, and that is – the fact that the White House directed the Department of Defense and other resources to take steps to monitor is an indication of that. Obviously, details are being confirmed over the course of time, so we’ll see what the outcome of that is.

QUESTION: So it – this doesn’t come as a surprise to you that weapons were being sent to --

MS. PSAKI: Well, we’ve expressed concerns about the movement of weapons in the past. As you know, broadly speaking, obviously, the transfer of Iranian arms would be a violation of the UN Security Council resolution (inaudible).

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2014/03/222962.htm#ISRAEL3

[Jefferson23]

23. Israel: 40 Rockets in Alleged Iranian Shipment

Israel's military said Sunday that a cargo ship it intercepted in the Red Sea last week carried 40 rockets with a range of up to 160 kilometers (100 miles).

Israel has alleged the shipment was orchestrated by Iran and was intended for Islamic militants in Gaza, a claim denied by Iran and the rockets' purported recipients.

An Egyptian security official said Sunday the rockets also might have been intended for militants in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, which borders Gaza. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to brief reporters.

Neither Israel nor Egypt provided evidence for their claims. Questions remain, including how the rockets would have been smuggled into Gaza, largely cut off from the world by a border blockade enforced by Israel and Egypt.

Israel's government has used the interception to bolster claims that Iran remains dangerous and that the world powers should break off negotiations with Tehran over the country's nuclear program.

Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon alleged Sunday that the weapons shipment "uncovered the true intentions of the regime in Tehran, a regime that is sly, dangerous and without restraint, that continues to train, finance and arm terror groups in the Middle East and beyond and whose aim is destabilize the area and the whole world."

In a further attempt to highlight Iran's alleged role in arming militants, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to hold a news conference Monday in Israel's Red Sea port of Eilat, where the Panama-flagged KLOS C docked under Israeli navy escort Saturday.

Israel's military said Sunday that 40 rockets of the type M-302, with ranges of up to 160 kilometers (100 miles) — or enough to reach Israel's main cities — were unloaded from the vessel. In addition, the military said it counted 181 mortar shells on the ship, along with some 400,000 rounds of ammunition.

It remains unclear to what extent the intercepted rockets would have raised the threat level against Israel.

in full: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/israel-40-rockets-alleged-iranian-shipment-22839531