Michael Mansfield is a renowned British criminal lawyer and in an open letter to Nick Clegg, Britain’s new Deputy Prime Minister, in today’s Guardian he writes,
As I write, a flotilla of ships convened by a collective of courageous individuals is heading towards the coast of Gaza laden with cement for the long overdue reconstruction […] the Royal Navy (recently employed to rescue stranded airline passengers) should be on hand to prevent the Israeli navy from violating the lawful activities of European citizens.
Poor Mansfield, he mixes yearning for an imperial past when the Royal Navy, simply by appearing on the scene and inspiring fear, could be used to impose Britain’s will on rebellious colonial subjects, with a notable ignorance of the state of the Senior Service today. Pity the people whose interests Mansfield and those like him seek to defend.
I thought they got cement via the Egyptian tunnels!
1. “Israel has refused to allow construction materials into Gaza, arguing that Hamas could divert iron rods and concrete to build rockets and bunkers.
The transfer of materials is part of the implementation of a United Nations plan devised by UN envoy to the Middle East, Robert Serry, who has submitted to Israel a list of 10 UN-sponsored construction projects in Gaza.
Amos Gilad, the coordinator of Israeli activity in the Gaza Strip, authorized the UN construction plan several weeks ago. The cement will be transferred for use solely in the approved projects and will not be handed over to Hamas, the rulers of the Gaza Strip.”
http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel-to-allow-cement-metal-pipes-into-gaza-1.280960
2. Israeli navy will be deployed to prevent cement which, if reaching Gaza shores, will be grabbed by Hamas for building more tunnels and bunkers all the better to arm itself and attack Israeli towns in the south.
3. Last time the British navy interfered in Israel’s affairs was to prevent ships laden with Jewish refugees from the Holocaust from reaching Palestine. The refugees were either returned to Germany on British vessels or, most commonly, were detained in detention camps on Cyprus.
Compare, contrast and explain how come Michael Mansfield has the chutzpa to speak of helping “courageous individuals” heading towards the coast of Gaza…
The hypocrisy is simply mind boggling.