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?

Haystack, I think you've really lost the plot with this one. It is quite clear International law experts are divided on the legality of the Israeli course of action, whether that be the boarding itself or the self-defence measures taken. The IDF will have their own Rules of Engagement and although I have no idea as to the content, armed resposne against a mob where your own life is at risk will undoubtedly be permitted.

I really can't understand why you continue to post copies of articles contributed to by the very activists who have some connection with the activists. You don't have to have more than one grey cell to understand the propaganda and lies they contain. Video footage of the first stages of the boarding is freely available on the internet and there is no evidence whatsoever of the Israelis using small arms fire; although there is plenty of evidence to support the line that the so called passengers attacked the IDF soldiers. Although nor reported, there is a possibilty the Israeli Navy fired warning shots against ships of the Flotilla in an attempt to force them to stop. When that course of action obviously failed, the boarding was initiated.

It is also blindingly obvious that everything HamaS, activist groups do is to goad Israel into retalitory action and then reap the propaganda benefit. I doubt all of the 500 passangers onboard realised what they were getting themselves into and the way they are being used. I guess some are the 'Freds' and 'Haystacks' of this world - gullible idiots.

one thing is for sure
while hamas continue, you will never get a united 'palestine'

in the end it will be up to fatah to sort them out and bring them to heel

NEW YORK, (PIC)-- John Holmes, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, has denounced the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla that was heading to break the Israeli siege on Gaza.

Holmes in a press statement on Tuesday said that regardless of the circumstances that led to the incident, in which dozens of solidarity activists on board that Flotilla were killed or injured, such a situation should not have occurred.

He said that the siege imposed on Gaza since 2007 was not acceptable or necessary ever since its imposition, adding that it led to the worsening of the living conditions of one and a half million Palestinians.

The UN official noted that the siege led to the spread of poverty, lack of food security, blocked reconstruction, increased the people's reliance on humanitarian aid, and wiped out the Strip's economy.

Holmes called for seizing the opportunity of that crisis to end the collective punishment on the Gaza people once and for all.

Here comes the next flotilla!

BRUSSELS, (PIC)-- The European campaign to end the Gaza siege announced Wednesday that it obtained the funding of the first three ships of the new aid convoy to the besieged Gaza Strip, which will be named "Freedom Flotilla 2.

There are extensive calls to launch a new convoy to Gaza involving many ships and carrying on board more aid and more peace activists than the current Freedom Flotilla, which was carrying 10, 000 tons of aid and hundreds of passengers from more than 40 countries around the world.

It started to receive hundreds of requests from different people and parties around the world asking for participating in and providing support for Freedom Flotilla 2, which will sail for Gaza in the next few weeks.

The committee added that Israels assault on the current convoy augmented the enthusiasm of the worlds free people to help in sending more convoys to Gaza.

There are preparations for organizing an aid convoy by land from Algeria to Gaza.

Reports on RT that the next flotilla will be accompanied by Turkish navy gunboats.

Turkey is, of course, part of NATO. If the Turkish Navy do accompany the next flotilla and a conflict ensues, Turkey are then entitled to invoke the NATO charter and things then get very ugly for all of Europe and the USA - NATO would have to chose between going to war against Israel or breaking up.

Boy are those diplomatic hotlines going to be burning right now.

I think ugly for Israel would be the case.

Haystack - Maybe. Personally, I think it's more likely that Turkey will not send the naval escort. I think we have a war of words right now that will calm down when the legalities and facts have been properly reviewed.

In London, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said Israel's raid was "completely unacceptable" and called for the blockade of Gaza to be lifted.

The blockade "just strengthens Hamas's grip on Gaza", he told the British Parliament.

I wonder what the international community could do to provide the guarantees that Israel would need before they could lift the blockade? It's quite clear why Israel have to blockade - but if the same ends can be reliably achieved in another way I'm sure Israel would be delighted to pass the headache to someone else.

Hmm. NATO didn't rush to assist France and Britain during Suez in 1956. Equally, NATO hasn't helped Turkey in its incursions into Northern Iraq to bomb the Kurds.

They are blockading to stop arms arriving in Gaza, at least that is what they are pretending to do. Mind you that shouldn't permit Israel to stop food, medical supplies and construction materials from entering Gaza, which is what they are doing.

However nothing is done to stop Israel from receiving arms.

There are problems with Turkey these days. For one they are getting ever closer to Iran and Syria. I believe that at the end of last year at around November time, Turkey agreed to share intelligence on Israel with Iran. They have agreed to pass intelligence data to Iran on potential Israeli preparations for a strike and on US military movements in the Middle East for providing backup. A bit naughty as they are members of NATO!

Of course just the other day Turkey agreed to encrich 1,200 kg of its stockpile of low-enriched uranium in exchange for 120 kg of uranium enriched to a higher level. The deal fell though due to the level requested, but looks like going ahead now.

I have heard that two more ships could be leaving for Gaza within the next 48 hours.

When was NATO formed ? don't remember it at the time of Suez.

What time was Prime Ministers question time on today ?

Nato agreement signed April 1949.

Suez created a split in NATO largely because Britain didn't tell the US what they were about to do. Some coutries suggested ejecting Britain and France from NATO. The US threatened to sell sterling bonds and cause a devaluation of the pound. The US persuaded Saudi to start an oil embargo against Britain and France. Other NATO allies also refused to sell oil to Britain or France. The results is that we caved in. Public opinion was for Egypt and we were seen as the bullies.

Prime Ministers Question was on at 3pm today later than usual. Cameron did quite well, although he is getting a free ride as Harman is a bit soft.

Hays,

Don't worry, when Cameron fails, the cons. can fall back on Clegg as PM.

8---)

A British expert analysis - Channel 4's Jon Snow with former royal marine and marine security expert Peter Cook.

Soon you will hear that a big bomb explosion somewhere in Israel killed lot of civilian inside Israel. (The Israeli CIA always used this way to cover other issues), this is for sure going to be in the coming few days and as always done by a Palestinian terrorist.

Thanks for that comedy moment fahel. You really are a cartoon of yourself.

The rocket attacks into Israel have been running at a dozen a week for the last 12 months. Down 90% (from 120 a week) since the blockade began. There's quite enough explosions in Israel already.