Robert Fisk: Western leaders are too cowardly to help save lives

The fall-out from the unwarranted attack by the Israelis on the flotilla of humanitarian carrying aid for Gaza is going to continue for some time. There has been universal condemnation of Israel's actions.

Robert Fisk, writing on his latest column on The Independent:

"Has Israel lost it? Can the Gaza War of 2008-09 (1,300 dead) and the Lebanon War of 2006 (1,006 dead) and all the other wars and now yesterday's killings mean that the world will no longer accept Israel's rule?

Don't hold your breath.

You only have to read the gutless White House statement – that the Obama administration was "working to understand the circumstances surrounding the tragedy". Not a single word of condemnation. And that's it. Nine dead. Just another statistic to add to the Middle East's toll."

Continue reading here.

Meanwhile, it is to be remembered that the attack took place in international waters. Israel claims it was entitled to do so. So, what is the position of vessels in international waters?

The ever-valuable and worth reading Mondoweiss provides the answer:

"A comment on the legal aspects of Israeli attack from Craig Murray, ex UK Ambassador and one time Foreign Office specialist on maritime law."

The piece has a link to the ambassador's web site.

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