The second mistake, in a clear demonstration of of and cited some of its activists as tied to ’s inability to understand its Palestinian, Arab and International jihad. How can it then be possible that Turkish opponents, was the decision to stop the ships not one Israeli intelligence agency (neither military whatever the cost. When the organisers of the flotilla intelligence nor Mossad) drew army planners’ atten- rejected the Israeli proposal to unload their cargo in the tion to the fact that some of the passengers were not port of , it was obvious that they were looking peace activists but rather looking for a violent con- for a provocation and hoping for a violent confrontation frontation that would be relayed around the world and in front of TV cameras. And indeed, there were those in ignite international public opinion? The first comman- Israel who suggested at that point that the ships should dos to board the Marmara, armed with paint-guns, be allowed to continue, thus keeping Hamas, the Turks were surprised to find IHH activists waiting for them and the Israeli Arabs’ Islamic movement from achiev- with knives and iron bars. From that point on the situa- ing their strategic goal. Prime Minister Netanyahu and tion could only deteriorate quickly, and it did. A group Defence Minister Barak thought differently, arguing of 40-50 well-organised activists easily captured three that other ships would soon follow. Allowing the ships soldiers armed with paint-guns, and took them pris- to sail to Gaza would mean an end of the maritime oner. Those who boarded minutes later had no op- blockade and thus an end of the siege of Gaza. There tions left. They drew their hand guns and fired at the was a definite will to draw a clear red line todem- violently-resisting activists. Considering the extremely onstrate to Hamas and the Turkish government that complicated situation, it is remarkable that the number Israel would not be bullied and this determination was of dead was limited to nine. in all likelihood not unconnected to the decision finally taken: that of stopping the ships and setting an exam- The big winner of this event is undoubtedly Turkish ple that would serve as a warning to those who plan Prime Minister Erdogan. Before the incident his do- the next flotillas. Apparently, the idea that by stopping mestic popularity was in decline, a major concern for the flotilla they were playing into Hamas’ hands did not a political leader facing general elections in July next cross their minds. year. In these circumstances, not only did he fail to stop the flotilla but, fully aware of the Marmara’s pas- The third mistake was the modus operandi cho- sengers’ real objectives, he quietly waited his hour. As sen. The Israeli army, following Navy chief Admiral soon as news of the incident’s death toll was made Marom’s advice, decided to take control of all the known, he launched a diplomatic campaign of unprec- ships at the same time, using a small number of men. edented harshness against the Israeli government. It was supposed to be a noisy, aggressive operation Credited for his heroic struggle on behalf of Gazans, aimed at deterring the passengers from any resist- he became the new hero of the Muslim world over- ance. The commandos were to board the ships simul- night. Some newspapers went as far as to declare him taneously from the sea, using small boats, and from the Muslim leader the faithful had long been waiting the air, descending from helicopters onto the bridge. for and a newborn baby in Gaza was named after him. Other methods, such as immobilising the vessels or His popularity skyrocketed not only abroad but also slowing them down, were excluded by navy planners. at home, in . It is thus more than probable that The Israeli army went for the heroic commando opera- he will continue to seek media-covered confrontations tion option without seriously considering the possibility with Israel in order to maintain his current poll rating, at of something going wrong. least until the next elections.

The fourth mistake was the lack of intelligence. Days Nevertheless, in spite of the numerous mistakes before the ships took to sea some passengers boast- committed by Netanyahu’s government, the one- ed of their desire to become martyrs while breaking sided position taken by most countries and media the blockade on Gaza. Al-Jazeera aired images of in the world immediately after the event raises seri- central activists from IHH, the Turkish ONG and one ous questions. World leaders condemned the ‘Israeli of the flotilla’s organisers, shouting slogans calling for massacre’ and the ‘barbarian’ behaviour of the Israeli the slaughter of Jews. The same channel showed a soldiers, completely overlooking the violence of some member of the Yemenite parliament waving a big knife IHH activists. Yet this is not how peace activists be- in front of the camera while announcing his intention have, nor those who genuinely wish to relieve the to fight the Israelis if they tried to take over the ship. suffering of Gaza’s inhabitants (for the record, the Furthermore, French, Turkish and Palestinian intelli- flotilla’s cargo was rejected by Hamas and blocked gence reports had already mentioned IHH’s support at the entry to Gaza). Because of the settlements

2 Institute for Security Studies ­question, the international community regards the As for the Israelis, a recent poll published by motives of Netanyahu and his coalition with suspi- shows that there is a feeling that they are being cion which in turn makes it easier to ‘put the blame’ lynched by the international community and, conse- on Israel. Yet those who were at the heart of organ- quently, they tend to close ranks behind Netanyahu. ising the provocation of the flotilla must also bear a The time has come for decision-makers around the large part of the responsibility for the bloodshed, a world – and particularly in Europe – to understand that responsibility which the international community their automatic ‘Bibi bashing’, rather than marking him has apparently chosen to ignore. as a blundering politician, only serves to make him a martyr in the eyes of the Israeli public.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the EUISS

3 European Union Institute for Security Studies