URU, Alm.del - 2009-10 - Bilag 208: Reaktioner på den israelske bording af fartøjerne i Gaza Freedom Flotilla"

Flotilla Attack the Deadly Symptom of aFailed PolicyBrussels/Washington/Jerusalem, 31 May 2010:The International Crisis Group condemns Israel’sassault on a flotilla of humanitarian aid bound for Gaza, which resulted in a tragic loss of life.At the same time, the incident is an indictment of a much broader policy toward Gaza for whichIsrael does not bear sole responsibility.For years, many in the international community have been complicit in a policy that aimed atisolating Gaza in the hope of weakening Hamas. This policy is morally appalling and politicallyself-defeating. It has harmed the people of Gaza without loosening Hamas's control. Yet it haspersisted regardless of evident failure.“The flotilla assault is but a symptom of an approach that has been implicitly endorsed by many”,says Robert Malley, Director of Crisis Group’s Middle East Program. “It is yet another starkillustration of the belated need for a comprehensive change in policy toward Gaza.”International condemnation and calls for an inquiry will come easily, but many who will issue themmust acknowledge their own role in the deplorable treatment of Gaza that formed the backdrop totoday’s events. The policy of isolating Gaza, seeking to turn its population against Hamas, andendorsing a "West Bank first" approach was not an exclusively Israeli one. To focus on this recenttragedy alone is to miss the much wider and more important political lessons.The policy toward Gaza is in need of thorough re-examination. The US, EU and Quartet as a wholehave been calling for relaxing the siege on Gaza. That is welcome, but opening the humanitarian tapis not an appropriate answer to a policy whose fundamental premise is morally callous andpolitically counter-productive. Instead, Gaza should be open to normal commercial traffic withadequate international end-use monitoring.“Today, we have witnessed the sad outgrowth of a failed and dangerous policy”, says LouiseArbour, Crisis Group President. “One hopes it can provide an opportunity for a long-overdue coursecorrection.”