Israel Struggles to Stop Weapons Smuggling at Sea
- Posted on May 27, 2011 at 6:28am by
Scott Baker
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HAIFA, Israel (AP) — Israel’s navy is casting its net wider and deeper in an effort to stop Gaza militants from receiving weapons by sea, a difficult mission made harder, Israel says, by political turmoil in Egypt and the Egyptian decision to fully reopen its border crossing with Gaza.
In recent weeks, Palestinian militants in Hamas-ruled Gaza have aimed rockets at Israeli cities, far enough away that Israel is convinced the projectiles came from abroad, probably Iran.
The first leg of a journey for weapons ending up in Gaza is a sea journey, ending with a trek across Egypt’s barren Sinai desert, and then through a network of smuggling tunnels under the 9-mile (15-kilometer) Gaza-Egypt border.
The Israeli navy is trying to stop the shipments at their first stage — on the high seas.
Like other branches of Israel’s military, the navy works mostly behind the scenes, and many of its operations are classified. They come to light when the navy carries out a major interception.
Its most recent success was March 15, when it seized the Victoria cargo ship. That weapons shipment departed from the Syrian port of Latakia and stopped in Mercin, Turkey. It was headed for the port of Alexandria in Egypt when it was intercepted, some 200 miles (320 kilometers) off Israel’s Mediterranean coast. From there, Israel charges, the weapons were headed for Gaza.
The Israeli naval officer who commanded the raid said the main success was capturing Chinese-made C-704 missiles onboard that could have been “game changing” by allowing land-based forces to attack ships. As evidence of Iran’s involvement, Israel produced Farsi instruction manuals, a booklet that identified the system by its Farsi name, Nasr, along with serial numbers and dates of issue in the Persian calendar.
Israeli defense officials believe Iran has since shifted its tactics, and now hides crates of weapons on civilian ships. In some cases, the crew isn’t even aware.
The Israeli officials say Iran has a well-oiled mechanism of naval arms smuggling, with the primary route departing from the Iranian port of Bandar-Abbas and traveling through the port of Jebel Ali in Dubai and then via the Gulf of Aden to countries in east Africa. They are then believed to be shipped overland to Egypt, across the largely lawless Sinai peninsula and into Gaza through a vast network of tunnels under the short border.
Iranian Foreign Ministry officials refused to comment on the Israeli charges.
Israel has long accused Iran and Syria of using the seas to smuggle weapons to Hamas and to Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. For this reason, Israel has maintained a strict naval blockade around Gaza since Hamas militants took control of the territory in 2007. Critics charge the blockade is illegal.
Israeli security officials believe that as Egypt prepares for elections, a power vacuum in the security establishment has led to “complete chaos” in Sinai that has hurt Israeli intelligence collection and left the Gaza border far more porous.
The problem becomes especially acute this Saturday as Egypt officially and fully reopens its passenger crossing with Gaza at the town of Rafah, after a long period of restrictions aimed at isolating the Hamas militant group that rules the Palestinian coastal strip.
So now, more than ever, Israel says it is trying to stop the weapons flow before they reach Sinai — by intercepting shipments on Mediterranean, Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
Experts also point to another problem: the sheer size of the seas. At any given moment, literally millions of containers are floating on the world’s waterways.
“Without precise intelligence, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack,” said Avraham Yassour, an Israeli expert in international maritime trade. He said it was impossible to say how many shipments have sneaked through, but it was fair to say that the ships Israel has seized are only a tiny fraction.
Israeli naval officials acknowledge that for each arms shipment they catch, others are likely getting through.
“The sea is very difficult,” said a top Israeli navy officer. “Protecting a land border is relatively easy and you can protect the air with radars, but a maritime border is very soft.”
He called the smuggling efforts “relentless” and said Israel is constantly scouring the seas in search of smugglers, declining to say whether any other arms busts have taken place. He spoke on condition of anonymity under standard military procedures.
Israel’s naval activities have raised some legal questions about taking action beyond its territorial waters.
David Benjamin, a former high-ranking officer in the military’s legal department, said maritime law entitles Israel to search any merchant vessel it believes is carrying contraband to support its enemies.
“The basis is that Israel is in an armed conflict with Hamas. Once you are in an armed conflict, it creates a legal framework in which you can operate,” he said.
Scott L. Silliman, a military law expert at Duke University, agreed, though the situation is complicated because Hamas is an armed group, and not a sovereign state.
“That issue is quite similar to the state of armed conflict which the United States claims exists between itself and al-Qaida,” he said. “I believe the consensus now is that an armed conflict can exist under these conditions.”
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Comments (61)
madhornet
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 3:02pmya know with all the terror activity Israel faces you would think Bush, and well, the incompetent in chief obama would send our own Navy to help Israel with this. I don’t remember much when Reagan was president but did he ever send military help to Israel? Not that Israel needs the help but as symbolic to the enemies of israel, don’t mess around. I think if the US would get involved, militarily, and act as a bulldog sort of way that it could remind the rest of the world that Israel has a friend and we mean business. But u never see it. we send our fighter jets and launch missles in other countries. It‘s too bad the US doesn’t get involved ever once in a while as a way to send a message. we should have as many war ships in that region.as military brass thinks they can afford
Report Post »Elena2010
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 2:45pmHave you noticed that the Somali pirates leave these vessels alone?
Report Post »jessieH
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 1:48pmWhat are we, as a Nation, going to do, if the U.N. tries to stop Israel from protecting themselves? Will we stand by & watch, while our American missles try to take out Netanyahu? Because, that’s what is happening, in Lybia.
Report Post »dakealo
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:43pm“The stake in the heart for America comes from sycophants like Glenn Beck”
http://batr.org/reactionary/052211.html
Report Post »vincijoey49
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:12pm) The day-night cycle must be stopped (Jeremiah 31:35-36). God is saying, “If you want the nation of Israel to stop being a nation then you must find a way to stop the day from coming after the night and stop the night from coming after the day.”
2) The heavens must be measured (Jeremiah 31:37). God is saying, “If you want the nation of Israel to stop being a nation then you must be able to tell Me how many stars there are in My Universe.” Even if men build bigger and better telescopes, do you think they will ever be able to see all the stars in the universe? ______
3) The foundations of the earth must be searched out (Jeremiah 31:37). God is saying, “If you want the nation of Israel to stop being a nation then you must be able to dig a hole to the center of the earth.” Will man ever be able to do this? _______
Report Post »vincijoey49
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:11pmGod says these things must happen if Israel is destroyed:) The day-night cycle must be stopped (Jeremiah 31:35-36). God is saying, “If you want the nation of Israel to stop being a nation then you must find a way to stop the day from coming after the night and stop the night from coming after the day.”
2) The heavens must be measured (Jeremiah 31:37). God is saying, “If you want the nation of Israel to stop being a nation then you must be able to tell Me how many stars there are in My Universe.” Even if men build bigger and better telescopes, do you think they will ever be able to see all the stars in the universe? ______
3) The foundations of the earth must be searched out (Jeremiah 31:37). God is saying, “If you want the nation of Israel to stop being a nation then you must be able to dig a hole to the center of the earth.” Will man ever be able to do this? _______
Report Post »Bill Wallace
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:07pmI have the solution.
Roll out the dozers and push them all into the sea. Then they have a choice….hold onto the gun/rocket launcher and drown, or drop it and swim.
Report Post »headbanger
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:04amIronic? Odumbo and the rest of the worlds brilliant leaders give billions to the arab uprisings(islamic militants) and Israel is trying stop them from shipping weapons in that will be used against them. geeesssh
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:01amSink them.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:19amOnly because we have propped up dictators and invaded them [and killed and tortured and inprisoned any resistors to our invasions] and because we give a green light to israeli occupation and racist expansion.We started with them not they with us.
Report Post »caprica
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:35amis obama backing Israel ? no he is the problem……
Report Post »Amerian People are backing Israel ….not Amerian Government ……they created the chaos – it was planed to distory Israel…..obmaa and his mulim gang .
vote the traitor out in 2012 ……..before we see dead bodies everywhre ! his brown shirts are everywhere…….this is another Hitler in the making.- this is not a joke…if we don’t vote this mulim out of the office …we be looking at millions killed in Israel and America
rose-ellen
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:43amThe brown shirts are the racist israeli’s and their brainwahed genocidal gullible american lackeys who are indoctrinated by the Fox zionist propaganda campaign to start genocide against arabs.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:46amWho has been trying to kill who lately????The followers of MoHAMhead!
Report Post »@ Coyote2
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:24pm“Every time we do something you tell me America will do this and will do that…I want to tell you something very clear: Don’t worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it.”
Report Post »Ariel Sharon to Shimon Peres, October 3, 2001
Here, old fat A — Sharon admitted the jews control America. It’s also very obvious they do.
flsnipe
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:25amJust sink them and then deny it. Its what the libs would do! Got to start playing by their rules.
Report Post »piper60
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:14amI pray for all Israelis. Especially with their military. They are in for a long summer.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:39amHow dare those arabs in“palestine” not disappear into other arab lands.The reality on the ground is they continue to exist there [it's not easy to commit genocide or even ethnic cleansing is it racist israel?]The reality will be that a palestinian state will be created side by side with israel [they're not going anywhere] and justly so!.The israeli state is exposed as an apartheid racist state.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:36amRoseEllen:
I understand why Israel is often accused of an apartheid policy: just look at how the areas under Palestinian control are sliced and diced and separated from one another by settlement blocs, roads and security checkpoints. It looks on the map like one of the “Bantustans” set up in South Africa. But white South Africans were attempting to control various peoples with a “divide and rule” policy and under an ideology of white supremacy. The Israelis confront a single Palestinian people, and for obvious historical reasons most of them resist overtly racist justifications for what they do.
I think last week’s controversy has been more about Obama than about Israel or Palestine. It does indeed seem most likely that there will be a two-state solution. But for another take, try “Why Palestinians Have Time on Their Side,” by Jeffrey Goldberg, in this month’s Atlantic.
Report Post »hempstead1944
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:05amBlow up the damn ship!
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 8:54amIsrael is all we have! Contact the Washington DC Embassy and show support, if Israel falls there will be nothing to stop them, nothing at all !
Report Post »@ Coyote2
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:36pmIsrahell is a parasite that is killing it’s host. I used to run cattle and know for a fact lice will kill a cow!!
Report Post »There is no difference. A parasite is a parasite!!!
rienheart
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 8:30amOur government including all of them are just going to let it happen and on top of that, they will fund the destruction of Israel and the United States (40 Billion Dollars to Egypt and other Muslim Countries, to destroy us). It is time to get rid of all the Bozo’s, including the Supreme court. Start over, and ADHERE to the CONSTITUTION. Calling All Constitutionalists to Muster.
Report Post »@ Coyote2
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:01pmThat’s not true. Israhell is the biggest recirpient of aid with three to fourteen BILLION every year. Three BIL in January and the rest in guaranteed loans that they have never paid one cent principle or interest on. The other countries get their aid in four installments and all together don’t get as much as Israhell.
Report Post »CHECK IT OUT!!!
Rickfromillinois
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 8:24amIt’s ludicrous to believe that money given to these Muslim countries will go towards infrastructure, job creation, and help the establishment of Democratic institutions. When has this ever happened in a Muslim country? The culture is much different and as usual most of the money will go into a few government officials pockets or be used for weapons.
Report Post »Kilzone58
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 8:19amIf the United States does not show a force and stand with Israel I believe we will see in our life time a real nuclear weapon being used rather than seeing one go off 50 yrs ago on film. Israel will not let another act like Germany pulled on them back in the 30‘s and 40’s. I can’t say I blame them. You back a person into a corner he will use everything at his disposal to get out.The one smart thing about Israel is nobody knows how many nukes they really have and if the slaugthering start grab your a** and hold on. Hey Obama are you proud of yourself for starting and backing all this crap in the middle east now. Get are troops the hell out of there before they are caught with no way out!!!!!
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:55amYou’ve been indoctrinated to want genocide of arabs because they did not accept ethnic cleansing when the europeans gave the european zionists a jewish state where they had lived for a thousand or more years.They have been at war but would now accept 67 borders[even hamas].israel wants to be free to expand where palestinians now are and to control water, arable land, and the arabs are fighting for a just settlement.The israeli’s want genocide,not the arabs who have all said they would accept 67 borders.That the creation of israel was illigitimate[as arabs believe] would be a moot point but israel’s pride prevents them from allowing arabs to even think it was illigitimate and hence wants to kill all arabs [it's not about borders it's about controling the narrative]israel wants people to believe their state was a noble and just creation and won’t tolerate any one believing otherwise-hence their hatred of arabsand refusal to negotiate with hamas[a pretext to want war and genocide].To rid the world of an alternate view of the genesis of israel [that it was ignoble and unjust ].
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:21amrose ellen
you have no idea what your talking about
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 8:07amChinese made C-704 missiles. Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Muslin brotherhood are arming up big time. The G 8 is going to fund them too. The world is closing in. President Obama is a paper tiger, and the world leaders know this, but our media is blind to what’s really going on.
Report Post »thecrow
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 7:35amUS struggles to stop weapons smuggling in NYC:
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/as-the-crow-flies/
Report Post »quicker
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 7:28amThe thing is that most of the Iranian people are pro-western.When Obama had a choice to support the demastrators he didn`t .Just moral support would have made some differance.But like Carter he is an Idiot.Imean look at what side he took in Egypt.How can you be more wrong.
Report Post »@ Coyote2
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:44am“Every time we do something you tell me America will do this and will do that…I want to tell you something very clear: Don’t worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it.”
Report Post »Ariel Sharon to Shimon Peres, October 3, 2001
thecrow
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 7:26amhttp://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2010/06/09/some-stunt/
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 7:23amNothing to see here folks.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:52amSame ole blaaaa,blaaa,blaaaaaaaaa! Aint got a clue!
Report Post »earlsmith1952
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 7:04amG*d, these muslims will not stop at anything! Islam isn’t a religion. It’s a terrorist organization. It’s only been around for 40 years, but they made up some crackpot story about “Mohammed” and “Alla” to justify their crimes and seem like a legitimate religion. I can see through the lies….
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 7:06amIran is backing all of this..Trying to use violence to get their 12 Imam to come out of the well.
Report Post »teahugger
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 7:30amI think attacking local mosques is a sucky idea, Earl. Kinda evil, don’t you think?
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:34amThey are defending themselves from our intrusions in their homelands.Their culture and religion is their business.We messed with them first[propping up brutal regimes for cheap oil ,military bases and unjust support of racist israeli expansion].They defend their land and are now rising up[arab spring] against dictatorships.Good for them.As oppressive and fascistic as the iranian regime is ,the fact that they can defend themselves against israel’s threats is good.Anyone who poses a threat to israeli racist expansion and agression is a good thing.The propaganda machine is now [like before the iraq war] on full force, concocting lies that iran was behind the 9-11 attacks.The Zionists now want war with iran to start ww3 and genocide of arabs/Muslims.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:19am40 years? Try 1400. The early history of Islam is more obscure than Muslims make out, but not that obscure!
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:44pm@ Rose – Ellen
Report Post »If as you say the Israelis wanted WWIII to start – they would have already done it as they are completely capable of leveling the Arab world. Good grief….
ginpa
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 7:03amIt is time to go after Iran, We don’t have time for fooling aroud.
Report Post »Imemy do you understand?
BOMUSTGO
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 6:42amThe Storm Cloud is gathering!
Report Post »quicker
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 7:00amI se a dark moon raising.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 7:29amObama is praying to Allah at this moment
Report Post »He can only elevate the fools by destroying the middle class ………. He needs a disaster
americansfightingforcommonsense
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 7:49amWe need to back Israel. They are our future as well as our past. If we don’t stand with them, we shall suffer in the end.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 8:06amI don’t hear us offering any help…. I understand they SAID they didn’t want help, but things change, and perhaps Christians (and with Obama I use that word tongue in cheek) countries should step up to the plate, instead of aiding in the ‘Arab Spring’.
Report Post »burned at edges
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 8:44amTime to boycott trade not only with Iran but also with Syria and China? Is it not obvious that China is doing business with Iran? In ARMEMENTS no less!
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:07amIran wants nukes send them to them….“here catch”!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:12am@BoMustGo:
The storm is already here, it now is just a matter of time until it strikes with fury.
Report Post »GIDEON612
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:51amThe storm of God’s wrath is what is coming. Just as it is in the Book of Exodus we need to be prepared for this. God instructed the Israelites to use the blood of the Lamb without spot or blemish. That lamb is Jesus Christ. If you are not covered by the blood of the lamb it will be like all of the scenes shot by people in cars of the recent tornadoes. But instead of keeping away from them you will be gong into them without the covering provided by God.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:17amGrandmaof5:
Report Post »I wouldn’t worry so much! It’s very likely that we are assisting the Israelis in tracking and intercepting these shipments.. We assist Israel in lots of ways you never hear about. It makes a lot of sense to keep weapons out of the hands of Hamas. It wouldn’t surprise me if Fatah secretly is glad the Israelis are doing this too!
ChildOfTheKing
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:42amI find it interesting that many contemporary Christians just do not believe that leaders can determine the level of misery a society suffers. And by doing the Lord’s will, we can change that. Somehow they see it in terms of “God being in control” or “this is the way it has to be” if the prophecies of Revelation are to play out. They use these as excuses to stand by and watch the world around us literally and figuratively go to hell. And, believe me, I know that God is in control. But I also know that while we cannot stop the march of prophecy, we can determine our place in it. To me, there is too much emphasis in the church these days on self improvement and self indulgence. The Lord wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. It really has nothing to do with trying to be all that you can be, or establishing the kingdom of heaven here on earth. Its not about you, or me. Its about our Lord. THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR SCRIPTURE understand that we are to hear and obey God, and in that there is peace and fulfillment. As James wrote in 2:17,18, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man say, Thou has faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” The point can be made that because of what the Lord did for us, and does for us, then we desire in our heart to do his will. Code Pink and Obama DO NOT KNOW THEIR SCRIPTURE AND THEREFORE, DO NOT DO GOD’S WILL. ARE THESE PEOPLE YOU WANT TO FOLL
Report Post »BJColter Country Music Iconoclast
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 3:49pmHere’s the song about it all. Editor, check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqdufoUASMc
Report Post »