Israel urges Lebanon to prevent 2 blockade-busting ships from sailing to Gaza
By APThursday, July 22, 2010
Israel urges Lebanon to block ships for Gaza
UNITED NATIONS — Israel is urging Lebanon and the international community to prevent a ship from sailing to Gaza from the Lebanese port of Tripoli to break Israel’s blockade of the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gabriela Shalev said in letters Friday to the secretary-general and Security Council that her country reserves the right under international law “to use all necessary means” to prevent the ship from violating the naval blockade.
Shalev said a group of individuals “with suspected ties to the Hezbollah terrorist organization” announced that the vessel Miriam would depart from Tripoli on Sunday en route to Gaza via Cyprus.
A deadly Israeli commando raid on a Turkish ship trying to bring aid to Gaza on May 31 killed nine activists.
