HMMM: GAZA FLOTILLA PROVOCATIONS SUSPENDED

From the Astute Bloggers:

IT SEEMS THINGS HAVE CALMED DOWN:

HAARETZ:

One of the organizers of an Iranian aid flotilla that was to said to Gaza in efforts to break Israel's naval blockade on the territory, announced Thursday that the event has been cancelled due to "Israeli threats."

Army Radio reported that a separate Iranian ship, carrying 60 Iranian activists, was being prepared to sail to Gaza via the Caspian Sea. This after the Lebanese media reported several days ago that Egypt has denied Israel's request to prevent Iranian ships from passing through the Suez Canal toward Egypt.

Meanwhile Thursday, the U.S. State Department issued a statement calling the aid flotillas to Gaza irresponsible.

"Mechanisms exist for the transfer of humanitarian assistance to Gaza by member states and groups that want to do so," the U.S. State Department said regarding Lebanese plans to ship aid to Gaza. "Direct delivery by sea is neither appropriate nor responsible, and certainly not effective, under the circumstances."

INN:

After years in which Israel has limited entrance to Gaza in order to isolate Hamas, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman invited his European Union counterparts to visit the region. Lieberman was quoted Thursday by Channel 2 news.

The invitation was reportedly extended during a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.

Lieberman told Frattini that he could lead a delegation to Gaza and visit all parts of the region. Delegates may meet with whomever they wish, the foreign minister reportedly said.

He also suggested that the EU invest in improving Gaza's infrastructure.

Previously, Israel has allowed United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton to visit Gaza. Egypt has largely sealed its border to visitors as well, although it recently allowed a handful of aid delegates to enter Gaza via the Rafiah crossing.

(KADIMA CRITICIZED THE MOVE ON THE BASIS THAT IT LEGITIMIZES HAMAS.

THIS IS RUBBISH: IT WILL HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.)

THE COMBINATION OF RESOLUTE ISRAELI POSITION ON THE FLOTILLAS, AND (FINALLY!!!) A CLEAR STATEMENT FROM THE US STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE INVITATION FROM FM LIEBERMAN HAS DEFUSED THE DELIBERATELY FOMENTED ANTI-ISRAEL CRISIS.

IF OBAMA AND HILARY HAD BEEN THIS CLEAR FROM THE START, THEN THIS WHOLE CRISIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

OBAMA AND HILARY SHOULD HAVE WARNED-OFF ERDOGAN BEFORE HE SENT THE IHH IN ON THE MARMARA.

BUT OBAMA AND HILLARY ARE INCOMPETENTS.

UPDATE:

SPECULATION/QUESTION:

DID ISRAEL THREATEN IRAN WITH AN IMMEDIATE ATTACK IF THEY WENT THROUGH WITH THE FLOTILLA?

AFTER ALL, IRAN LIKES SERIOUS CONFLICT BETWEEN HAMAS AND HIZBALLAH AND ISRAEL TO DISTRACT THE WEST FROM THEIR NUKE PROGRAM.

SO WHY ELSE WOULD THEY COOL IT SO PRECIPITOUSLY!?

UPDATE #2:

IRAN NEWS AGENCIES REPORTED THE IDF WAS IN SAUDI ARABIA.

WERE THEY SETTING UP ANTI-MISSILE SHIELDS - TO PROTECT SAUDI ARABIA AND THEIR OIL FIELDS FROM A CONVENTIONAL RETALIATORY ATTACK FROM IRAN AFTER AN IDF PREEMPTIVE ATTACK?

I THINK THESE SPECULATIVE SCENARIOS EXPLAIN EVERYTHING WE KNOW.

I DON'T ANYTHING ELSE DOES.