""The area those ships declared they were going to was under declared blockade- the Israeli actions were as legal as Kennedy's in the Cuban Missile Crisis.""

Not True! Kennedy knew those ships were carrying missiles, because the reds had made no secret of the fact. That constituted a "clear and present danger".

Where the Fotilla was going is immaterial, as it was attacked in international waters. If it had been within the territorial waters of Palestine, there might (and I only say might) be some merit in the action.

""You can't claim they were inspected for weapons, and then had those weapons when attacked- so, were they inspected before leaving port, or not?""

Iron bars would not be unusual aboard ship, with a number of possible functions other than hitting anybody. A galley without kitchen knives would be strange indeed. Would you, if planning resistance to an armed boarding party, rely on those "weapons", to repel men with rifles and sidearms? I don't think so.

""And seven IDF were wounded, one of whom is probably permanantly brain damaged. Tehy were trained military, enforcing a blockade- THAT should say something abotu the violence by the people on the ship.""

OH PUHLEASE! Seven injured, and one "possibly" brain damaged, according to the Israeli government, which is desperately trying to cover up the mess. So that'll be gospel then....DUH!

Wouldn't it be tragic if one or two managed to break a fingernail in the course of executing nine vastly outgunned civilians.

""a- so as long as someone does not kill, it is ok?""

No! Since they were defending themselves against men with lethal weapons, it would have been OK even if they HAD killed. BUT THEY DID NOT!

After all you are trying to make the case that using guns to execute civilians armed with iron bars and kitchen knives constitutes reasonable force. You can't have it both ways.

""b- Prove that- I can claim with as much prof ( ie, none) that those captured pistols were used by IHH thugs to execute their own wounded to make Israel look bad. Try to prove THAT wrong.""

Bruce, even you can't be stupid enough to advance that as a credible theory. For a start, if the IDF had not used the guns on them how do you reckon the "IHH thugs" having any wounded to kill.

Had it been so the Israelis would have spread that abroad in complete justification of their actions within an hour of the incident. It would have been the second time that Manna from heaven saved them.

Don T.