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June 28, 2011

Israel Continues To Threaten Gaza Flotilla Activists 
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Israel is continuing to threaten a group of international activists who
are planning to sail to Gaza this week with humanitarian aid. Israeli
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said participants in the 10-boat
flotilla were seeking "confrontation and blood." Last year, Israeli
forces killed nine activists aboard the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara. Ehud
Baraka is Israel's Defense Minister.

Ehud Barak, Israeli Defense Minister: "The instruction that I gave to
the Israeli Defense Forces, backed by the cabinet, is to stop the
maritime vessels in case they try to reach (Gaza). We will warn them,
explain and try to avoid confrontation. But at the end of the day the
flotilla can not get to Gaza and therefore we call upon all involved to
cancel it and determine that in such a case of any kind of confrontation
or damage, the responsibility lies with with the participants and
organizers of the flotilla."

Meanwhile, activists say one of the 10 boats scheduled to sail to Gaza
has been sabotaged in a Greek port. Saboteurs reportedly cut off the
propeller shaft of a ship shared by Swedish, Norwegian and Greek
activist. Organizers say the boat will be repaired in time to sail to
Gaza.



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