Press Release – JINSA Commends Greece for Halting Anti-Israel Flotilla

JINSA Commends Greece for Halting Anti-Israel Flotilla

July 5, 2011

JINSA Commends Greece for Halting Anti-Israel Flotilla

July 5, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC – The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) applauded the recent decision by the Government of Greece to block the departure of a flotilla of ships intending to sail to Gaza. Executive Director Tom Neumann said, “On behalf of our thousands of members throughout the United States, JINSA extends great appreciation to the Greek government for its swift and decisive action to stop the flotilla of ships from departing Greek ports with the intent to violate Israel’s legal blockade of the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.”

Hundreds of thousands of tons of aid is transported to Gaza every year after inspection by Israeli authorities to ensure that the shipments do not contain weapons and other materials that can be used by Hamas in its continuing terror campaign aimed at Israeli civilians. In rejecting a compromise offered by the Greek government over the weekend, leaders of the flotilla-organizing Free Gaza movement openly declared that provoking Israeli authorities was the flotilla’s true purpose.

“JINSA commends the courage demonstrated by Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou and Minister for Citizen Protection Christos Papoutsis who announced the halt to the flotilla. Their decisive action prevented what could have become a violent confrontation at sea,” Neumann said. “There can be no doubt that Greece has demonstrated wise judgment and fulfilled its obligations under international law and is worthy of the greatest respect by the United States.”