{"id":284,"date":"2011-06-02T12:46:47","date_gmt":"2011-06-02T16:46:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/faithandjustice\/?p=284"},"modified":"2011-06-02T13:08:13","modified_gmt":"2011-06-02T17:08:13","slug":"a-flotilla-filled-with-danger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/2011\/06\/a-flotilla-filled-with-danger.html","title":{"rendered":"A Flotilla Filled With Danger"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s an act of provocation – an act that is denounced by those who truly want peace in the Middle East.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Turkish government is moving forward with plans to send a flotilla destined for Gaza. Here’s the problem: this is not a genuine move to bring humanitarian aid to the region, as organizers claim.\u00a0 In fact, Israel has produced evidence to show that last year’s flotilla included armed activists. Israel’s Navy has obtained photos<\/a> of men armed with weapons on that “humanitarian” ship.<\/p>\n

With Israel poised to take appropriate action to blockade this year’s flotilla and take whatever action is necessary against those who intend to break the blockade, there are last-minute warnings being issued to Turkey.\u00a0 One from the U.S. State Department that correctly notes<\/a> that there is already an effective protocol to transfer humanitarian aid into Gaza and has labeled Turkey’s planned flotilla an act of provocation.<\/p>\n

The U.K. has condemned the move<\/a>as well.\u00a0A spokesman for the British Embassy in Tel Aviv<\/span><\/span> told the Jewish News: “It is reckless and irresponsible to try and approach Gaza by sea. Anyone wanting to deliver humanitarian goods to Gaza should do so through the established channels.”<\/p>\n

This comes as Israel faces new and dangerous threats.\u00a0 This week, Iranian officials fueled the anti-Israel hate when a senior Iranian cleric, who is known as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s<\/span><\/span> spiritual mentor, urged followers to continue suicide attacks against Israelis, including children.<\/a>
\nThis from the Iranian cleric:\u00a0 “When protecting Islam, the Muslim people depend on martyrdom operations. It not only is allowed, but even is an obligation.”<\/p>\n

That brings us to the so-called “unity government” – the Palestinian answer to leadership. One party is Hamas<\/span><\/span>, a terrorist organization that has vowed to destroy the Jews and eliminate Israel.\u00a0 The other piece of the partnership – Fatah, which has\u00a0been described as the more “moderate” element in all of this.\u00a0 But,\u00a0consider\u00a0what one senior Fatah official told reporters:<\/a>\u00a0 “Fatah has not recognized Israel. I challenge anyone who says that the case is otherwise, whether it\u2019s Hamas<\/span><\/span> or others. Neither Fatah nor Hamas<\/span><\/span> is required to recognize Israel.”<\/p>\n

Everyone is talking about a road to peace in the Middle East.\u00a0 But, take a close look at the players.\u00a0 Can there be a real peace – successful negotiations – with organizations that don’t recognize Israel and vow to wipe the nation off the face of the earth?<\/p>\n

Absolutely not.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That does not mean that Israel, however, does not want peace or will not continue to pursue peace. In remarks<\/a>\u00a0celebrating Jerusalem Day, President Shimon<\/span><\/span> Peres said: “I believe in the eternity of Jerusalem. I believe that Jerusalem will know true peace soon.”<\/p>\n

But, as Israel correctly continues to assert, that must not come at the cost of bargaining with terrorists – or dividing Jerusalem.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s an act of provocation – an act that is denounced by those who truly want peace in the Middle East. The Turkish government is moving forward with plans to send a flotilla destined for Gaza. Here’s the problem: this is not a genuine move to bring humanitarian aid to the region, as organizers claim.\u00a0…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":401,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59,4,64],"tags":[743,94,95,96,760,759],"class_list":["post-284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-israel","category-justice","category-middle-east","tag-aclj","tag-fatah","tag-flotilla","tag-gaza","tag-hamas","tag-israel"],"yoast_head":"\nA Flotilla Filled With Danger - Faith & Justice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/2011\/06\/a-flotilla-filled-with-danger.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Flotilla Filled With Danger - Faith & Justice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It’s an act of provocation – an act that is denounced by those who truly want peace in the Middle East. The Turkish government is moving forward with plans to send a flotilla destined for Gaza. Here’s the problem: this is not a genuine move to bring humanitarian aid to the region, as organizers claim.\u00a0…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/2011\/06\/a-flotilla-filled-with-danger.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Faith & Justice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-06-02T16:46:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2011-06-02T17:08:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/faithandjustice\/files\/2011\/06\/Mideast-Map-166x300.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jay Sekulow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A Flotilla Filled With Danger - Faith & Justice","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/2011\/06\/a-flotilla-filled-with-danger.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A Flotilla Filled With Danger - Faith & Justice","og_description":"It’s an act of provocation – an act that is denounced by those who truly want peace in the Middle East. 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He is also Chief Counsel of the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ). Jay Sekulow is one of the leading defenders of constitutional rights and religious liberties in the United States. Over the past 25 years, Jay Sekulow has amassed an unparalleled record of accomplishment, arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court on 12 occasions. His aggressive litigation strategy before the Supreme Court has led to many landmark First Amendment victories. In his first case before the Supreme Court, Jews for Jesus, Jay Sekulow secured the right of religious groups to pass out tracks in airports. In Mergens, Jay Sekulow successfully protected the right of students to form Bible clubs and prayer groups on public school campuses. In Lamb\u2019s Chapel, Jay Sekulow cleared the way for churches to have equal access to public facilities in the same way that other groups are permitted to utilize those facilities. In the Bray and Operation Rescue cases, Jay Sekulow protected the free speech rights of pro-life advocates to be free from criminal prosecution for conveying their pro-life message. In McConnell v. FEC, Jay Sekulow protected the right of young people to engage in the political process by donating to the campaign of their choice. In Pleasant Grove, Jay Sekulow paved the way for governments to be able to display Ten Commandments monuments, and other monuments of their choosing, in public parks. Through the ACLJ, Jay Sekulow engages the political, legal, and cultural battles facing America today. He routinely works with Members of Congress, advising them on proposed legislation and representing them in critical legal matters. Jay Sekulow has also testified before Congress on the constitutionality of proposed legislation. Also, in addition to being a successful Supreme Court advocate, Jay Sekulow is a highly respected broadcaster. Jay Sekulow is the host of Jay Sekulow Live! which airs each weekday on over 850 radio stations nationwide, in addition Sirius and XM satellite radio. He brings insight and education to listeners daily through this national call-in radio program. He is also the host of the ACLJ This Week, the ACLJ\u2019s weekly television program. Jay Sekulow regularly appears on major media outlets, including FOX News, CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC, where he is sought out for his vast experience in constitutional law and his unique insight into many of the pressing legal and political issues facing America today. He is frequently quoted in the nation's leading newspapers and often contributes opinion editorials to national publications. Jay Sekulow has also published numerous law review and other scholarly articles. Jay Sekulow has received numerous honors for his groundbreaking legal work in the area of free speech and religious liberties. The Legal Times has named Sekulow one of \u201cThe 90 Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Last 30 Years\u201d and the National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \u201c100 Most Influential Lawyers\u201d in the United States. In addition, TIME Magazine listed Jay Sekulow as one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America. Jay Sekulow\u2019s legal work in defense of religious liberties and human rights extends beyond the United States, having founded the ECLJ in Strasbourg, France, which maintains consultative status with the United Nations. He has also opened offices in Pakistan, Africa, and Jerusalem, Israel. Jay Sekulow is a staunch defender of Israel, presenting arguments before the International Criminal Court at the Hague. His efforts in support of Israel\u2019s right to defend itself from terrorist attacks have been commended by Israeli government officials, one official stating, \"Jay was instrumentally-involved in projects that the President of Israel and the Prime Minister put on our national agenda.\" Jay Sekulow also has a passion for educating the next generation of religious liberty advocates. He is a member of the Regent University Law School Faculty as a Distinguished Professor of Law and routinely teaches courses on constitutional law and presents guest lectures. Jay Sekulow has also started educational programs in international human rights law in Strasbourg, France and at Handong University in South Korea. Jay Sekulow is a graduate of Mercer University, earning both a bachelor\u2019s degree and doctor of jurisprudence. Sekulow served on the editorial staff of the Mercer Law Review and graduated cum laude. He later earned a Ph.D. from Regent University, writing his dissertation on American Legal History. Jay Sekulow also serves on the Board of Trustees for The Supreme Court Historical Society in Washington, D.C. Jay Sekulow, ACLJ Chief Counsels full biography and video. Jay Sekulow on Facebook. Jay Sekulow on Twitter. Jay Sekulow on YouTube.","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/author\/jay_sekulow"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/401"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=284"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":306,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284\/revisions\/306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}