No wind in their sails
The second flotilla to Gaza has not hit ground. Rather, it's never left ground. It seems that from the outset, the organizers were stuck in the sand, far from port and yet deep in the water.
Well, almost. It has become a farce because of an invisible hand that is succeeding to ram the ships boards wherever they dock. God forbid that they have an accident.
But this invisible hand is not the only reason for the repeated postponements and changes in the sail date. They have lost the wind in their sails because even those who might wish evil upon Israel know that there is little basis for the claims that life in Gaza is intolerable.
It has always been difficult there, but not to the level of humanitarian destruction or ecological breakdown. In simple words, there is no shortage of food or medical supplies. In terms of other issues, it remains uninteresting so long as there is no Tahrir Square in the Gaza Strip to oust Hamas dark rule.
Since the last flotilla, routes to Gaza have been opened. Not only Israel, but also at the Rafah border crossing from Gaza to Egypt. In light of this, what do the organizers of the flotilla have to offer participants? It is mainly extremists waiting on the pier and they seek clashes with IDF soldiers. Countries in Europe and the Middle East are already fed up and flotilla organizers recoil at this possibility.
At this point the flotilla appears to be a complete farce and even a bit entertaining. But still, vigilance is still necessary because the organizers cannot allow themselves to send home their dwindling ranks of activists without setting out to the open seas. They hope to find bit of wind for their sails.
One should assume that if they could go back in time, they would likely announce that their first mission in May 2010 did its job. But they have already purchased or rented vessels, have food and supplies and even showers on deck. The growing disappointment is likely to force them down the path of desperate actions.
Their prestige has been damaged and they can never return to their former glory. Despite the successes of the invisible hand, Israeli diplomats and even public relations, caution is necessary. They will arrive and find a Samson-strength force awaiting them, to take up arms and save them the trouble of next years flotilla.
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