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Greek and Israeli helicopters participating in air force drill (photo: Israel Air Force)
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz – 4 July 2011
www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-greece-mark-growing-ties-with-joint-air-force-drill-1.371420
Greek and Israeli air forces hold two-week-long drill as the two countries’ ties tighten following Greek government’s attempt to halt the Gaza-bound flotilla from departing
Israel’s Air Force on Monday concluded a two-week drill with the Hellenic Air Force as the two nations cemented growing ties between their militaries, recently reflected in Greece’s recent move to halt a Gaza-bound flotilla set to depart from its shores.
The joint drill was held at Greece’s Larisa Air Base, and several elite Israeli squadrons, along with the IDF’s elite rescue unit 669 took part in the exercise along with the Greek military.
Over the past few days Greece has been working to stop the pro-Palestinian flotilla from departing to Gaza. On Sunday, the Greek government offered to transport the flotilla’s aid to Gaza as a compromise in order to end the affair.
According to the Greek initiative, the humanitarian aid aboard flotilla ships will be loaded onto watercraft of the Greek government and transferred to Gaza via the organized channels, as was requested by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon two weeks ago. This means the aid would go through either the Ashdod port or Arish, and from there be taken to the Gaza Strip under the supervision of Greek and UN authorities.
The Greek government has already approached the United Nations and Israel to assess the possibility of transferring the humanitarian aid via Israel or Egypt to the Gaza Strip using Greek governmental ships, under UN supervision.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Indeed, it would be very interesting to read the record of internal discussions leading to these decisions by all those involved.
“Interest” is a funny word when discussing nations. What is the ‘national interest’ of the US? Is every citizen’s interest the same as that of the others? Do the CEO and the janitor cleaning the executive suite share the same interest? Hardly.
Perhaps it’s better to explain Israel (and US) policy decisions based on specific goals (e.g., crushing Palestinian resistance, deflecting criticism of the Occupation) rather than ‘childish pleasure,’ although there’s plenty of hubris – maybe the adult version of ‘getting away.’
I think it was Ann Wright who said: “Let’s wait for the WikiLeaks on this one.” The least one can say is that the US/Israel are very determined to go a long way to stop the Palestinians from becoming human. If that is in their interest in the long run remains to be seen. But maybe there is no plan, just the childish pleasure of getting away with it every time.
This military drill appears to be very real. As to the ‘master plan,’ it depends largely on one’s views of such concept. For example, is it a global or EU-based plan? And, who’s behind it? Does it actually require a ‘master plan,’ or maybe shared common interests, and following the US lead, suffice? Last but not least, is there any evidence for the development or existence of such ‘master plan?’
Last Saturday the EU has agreed to another 12 billion euros for Greece (part 5 of a total of 110 euros). This fake drill, Turkey’s withdrawal of their ship and their police report which casts doubt on the sabotage of the MV Saoirse. The Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs who declared last week that Holland should not interfere with crimes against human rights if committed by ‘friendly’ nations (and the Dutch journalists left). A drunkard’s walk or a master plan?