Saturday, June 5, 2010

'Rachel Corrie not to compromise with Israel'


An Interview with Former UN Assistant Secretary General Denis Halliday

Press TV

"Irish aid ship Rachel Corrie is some 55 km (35 miles) from the besieged Gaza Strip but the Israeli foreign minister has said that the humanitarian convoy will not be allowed to dock at the coastal sliver.

The activists on board the ship say they will not resist Israeli soldiers if they come under attack. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin says those on board the Rachel Corrie have made clear that their intentions are peaceful and should be allowed to proceed to Gaza. He, therfore, argues that any use of violence against the ship cannot be justified. Martin has also mentioned an agreement reached with Israeli officials to allow the vessel to dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod.

The offer, however, has been rejected by activists on the ship that is carrying 19 people and 1000 tons of aid for the Gazans.

Former UN assistant Secretary General Denis Halliday, who is aboard the Irish ship travelling in the Mediterranean Sea toward Gaza, joined Press TV in an interview to explain the goal of the humanitarian mission.....

Press TV: You have called on the UN to inspect the cargo and to escort the boat into Gaza and to send a UN representative to get onboard before they enter the exclusion zone. Have you received any word about whether the UN is open to your offer or not?

Halliday: No, we have received no response to our offer that the UN inspects the goods. We are sure that the Israelis have no security issue here. So we are waiting for response to that. "

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