| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Israel-Palestine | |
| Israel's Sea Defense Puts Squeeze on Fishermen | |
| 2004-05-29 | |
| Israel may be shutting down smugglers' tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, but Palestinian militants still have options for getting weapons into the occupied territories, including the sea. "As long as it will be hard for them to do it via the tunnels, it might be that they will go back and do it via the [sea]," said Israeli Rear Adm. David Laurie, head of naval operations. Laurie has reason to be concerned. In the last few years Israel has intercepted a number of ships carrying arms, including the Karine A, which was carrying 80 tons of weapons —enough to alter the balance of military power in the occupied territories. Because of this threat, Israeli patrol boats keep constant vigil on the Mediterranean. But Palestinian fishermen are caught in the middle. "We are scared of the Israeli Navy Patrol boats. If we get 10 kilometers away, we get worried that they might open fire on us," said Muhammed Abu Hassira. The fishermen are restricted to a five-by-eight mile section of water that keeps them away from Egypt, Israel and Jewish settlements on the coastline of the Gaza Strip. Abu Hassira said the income for his crew has dwindled to about $15 a week. The fishermen are trapped between their economic needs and Israel's security needs.
| |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #14 Here's something that "rips America's heart out". CENSORED URL below, remove space. http://AD LUSA.com/bush_at_aipac_short.htm |
| Posted by: Outraged 2004-05-29 1:00:39 AM |
| #13 Test for censorship of URL below, sorry. Here's something that "rips America's heart out". http://ADLUSA.com/bush_at_aipac_short.htm |
| Posted by: Outraged 2004-05-29 1:02:57 AM |
| #12 Test for censorship of URL below, sorry. Here's something that "rips America's heart out". http://ADLUSA.com/bush_at_aipac_short.htm |
| Posted by: Outraged 2004-05-29 1:02:57 AM |
| #11 The obvious solution is for the UN to redeploy the "combat-experienced" Uraguayans and their speedboats from Africa to the coast of the Gaza Strip. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-05-29 4:34:06 PM |
| #10 Exploding life boats---why do they hate us? |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-05-29 1:10:37 PM |
| #9 The fishermen are trapped between their economic needs and Israel's security needs. Hold on a minute! This is pure-dee banana oil. Always make to sure to follow the money. "Israel's security needs" have nothing to do with this. Those fishermen are trapped between "their economic needs" and one (and only one) particular @sshole's ethical and moral bankruptcy, namely, Yasser Arafat's. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-05-29 1:08:47 PM |
| #8 Mebbe Britain will be kind enough to send those poor impoverished fishermen Hamza's hooks. Goodness knows he won't be needing them anytime soon. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-05-29 1:03:39 PM |
| #7 boy! Those Paleo fisherman are lucky that life boat didn't blow up near them! Sounds like the Israeli navy is looking out for their safety. It's too dangerous to be out fishing if random lifeboats are blowing up! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-29 12:31:19 PM |
| #6 " Who knows what they're up to?" I saw a short bit on cable news ( fox? ) about this. The piece consisted of interviews with Paleo fishermen talking about how their life sucked intercut with clips of small boats, in one case a life boat, blowing up in the vicinity of Israeli patrol boats. A life boat! Gosh, do you suppose there is some link between fishing restrictions and exploding boats? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2004-05-29 11:25:27 AM |
| #5 Those fisherman are lucky they get to fish at all! Who knows what they're up to? Let them fish off the coasts of their own countries. |
| Posted by: Deb 2004-05-29 9:07:00 AM |
| #4 and the IDF keeps honest Paleo miners from finding gold - they keep shutting down their extensive digging projects. Oh! The humanity.... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-29 8:56:24 AM |
| #3 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: Outraged TROLL 2004-05-29 1:00:39 AM |
| #2 you're. (D'oh!) |
| Posted by: PBMcL 2004-05-29 12:42:54 AM |
| #1 Please stop, Steve. Your ripping my heart out... |
| Posted by: PBMcL 2004-05-29 12:32:18 AM |