Will this increase or decrease the likelihood of terrorist actions in America, Europe and the rest of the world?

If you were a member of a family murdered in this conflict, would you be seeking revenge?

Should Tzipi Livni and Ehud Olmert, be tried for war crimes if or when this conflict comes to an end?

What will the price of oil be in 4 weeks time?

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has ordered the border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip to be opened.

Haystack

So we'll only boycott things we can readily get elsewhere? Stuff that doesn't inconvenience us?

Meanwhile we'll let the royalties on the israeli designed stuff we really need keep flowing?

I love champagne socialism.

"In a North London Top Floor Flat
All White walls, white carpet, white cat
Rice paper partitions
Modern art and ambition"

Why not boycott Israeli produce. Why would I want to delivberately inconvenience myself? I haven't bought a mobile phone or a PC for several years, but I buy fruit and veg constantly.

Ban those silly little hats they wear on the back of their heads

.

Clubman - do you think your "I'm not a racist" defence is going well? Do you think it's doing wonders for your credibility?

Israel is dependant on exports of fruit and veg to finance the domestic consumption. Without the exports, the farmers could not survive on just sales within the country.

Clubman
It all has nothing to do with Israel being Jewish. It is a rogue state and would still be no matter what its religion or ethnicity. Jews are the pleasantist of peoople. Militant Zionists are not.

They did wrong ausie do you not agree

Now they kill three more in another attack

Clubbie - please address me by my full title - Rabbi Ausie.

The outcome was a disaster - but no, I don't think they did wrong. I think they had a series of bad options to chose from and they picked what was probably the least worst. It is now clear that the violence from the militants on board the ship was inevitable. Had Israel waited until broad daylight on Monday, when the flotilla was in Israeli waters then I believe there would have been more casualties.

Lets see how they handle the next flotilla.

Stick your title where the sun don't shine Robbie

Haystack

It'll be a tough call.

We know they'll start with a dozen or so warnings. But what then?

Personally, I'd have a tough choice between the torpedo and the exocet options.

Clubman

Stick your title where the sun don't shine Robbie

That would be anywhere in your ignorant, misinformed, bigotted, sad and lonely little racist life, would it?

the next flotilla ?

Dhows 'r us ?

lol

It is going to be a tough call. Once again Israel will be stuck with difficult choices. Either they drop the blockade or do something that will be a PR coup for Hamas. More isolation will then follow. Of course now the genie is out of the bottle. Dropping the blockade will not be enough anymore. Hamas now know how to manipulate the media and next it may be stop building settlements and then removing existing ones. Hamas will just keep coming up with more situations where Israel will go over the top.

The next flotilla is planned for six weeks. Israel have not got much time to come up with a new answer.

they already have the answer

its a blockade

next time its a hole thru the bows

of course there may be some delay while hamas try to find another 40 reporters who want to take the trip

lol

There are a few on here that should go given how much they seem to care about Gaza and Hamas. My first vote is for Clubman - MoneyAM's new roving reporter on the scene. We can arrange for a special hat and a satellite bloomberg feed.

Haystack, Camelot - I agree.

Nobody is under any illusions here - this is a military blockade and Israel will use military methods to enforce it. Landing boarding troops armed with paint guns is the soft option. Israel will now have to get tougher. I'm being serious when I mention torpedoes and exocets.

Leaving aside the emotional aspects, the legal side is interesting and will govern how the next engagements take place.

I believe there will now be a rush to clarification as to whether or not the blockade is legal under international law. Haystack, I know your opinion on this, and you know mine. The legal experts, however, are still undecided.

If they decide that the blockade is illegal then Israel did indeed commit an act of piracy, and whilst I don't think anybody really accepts any similarity with the somalian pirates I do accept that the surprise pre-emptive engagement was a few hours too early.

If the blockade is legal then the law is clear; that Israel acted within international law, regardless of the location of the engagement.

I suspect that if the legal question is not resolved in time then Israel will again be compelled to use force, but will use it closer to Israeli/Gaza shores.

G