pointless correspondence on the flotilla attacks

Well - our new PM and new foreign secretary are both friends of Israel. They are hardly going to stop being friends because Israel has notched up one more international crime to add to its tally.

“I am proud not just to be a Conservative, but a Conservative Friend of Israel; and I am proud of the key role CFI plays within our Party”

David Cameron

"I'm a natural friend of Israel"

William Hague

Nick Cleggoman might possibly have offered a bit more hope, given his position here and here. But he too is a member of the government now. And that clearly changes things.

Anyway, I sent off some pointless letters to all three.

Dear David Cameron
I am writing to express my utter disgust at your failure to comment on the incident last night, in which up to 20 people may have been killed by the Israeli military. The top story on the Downing Street website, at 2.05, several hours after the event, has just been renewed: it is about government data
being opened up to the public. No statement, as far as I am aware, has been forthcoming from you as Prime Minister.

The UN Chief has called for a full investigation into the matter, so has the EU. France has condemned the attack, and Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Turkey and Greece have summoned the Israeli ambassadors of their respective countries. Your Foreign Minister has at last issued a statement 'deploring the loss of life', and 'asking for more information'.

Why is he not calling for a formal investigation?

Why does the statement make no mention of the fact that the (flagged, foreign) ships were intercepted and boarded in the high seas, and that is in violation of international law?

Why has he not condemned the use of lethal force, clearly disproportionate, since the ships carrying the aid had been thoroughly searched by the Turkish authorities and found to contain no firearms?

Your silence on this matter is shameful. If Iran had killed up to 20 citizens carrying international aid to a community which had been under an illegal siege for almost 3 years, to the almost universal condemnation of the international community - would you have been
silent?

Yours

...

Dear William Hague
I am glad that your statement this morning called on an end to the inhumane and illegal siege of Gaza, and hope sincerely that you will be following this call up with concrete actions. Please could you tell me what the Foreign Office and government intends to do to ensure that the siege is ended without further delay.

I am very disappointed, however, that you could not bring yourself to condemn the actions of the Israeli military last night. It appears that up to 20 civilians have been killed, and given the fact that the ships carrying humanitarian aid had been thoroughly searched - and cleared - by the Turkish authorities for firearms, the violence was clearly disproportionate. You have deplored the deaths, but failed to condemn the action of killing. Why?

You have also failed to mention in your statement that the act of boarding a foreign ship - clearly flagged - in international waters, is itself a violation of international law, irrespective of the consequences which follow. Why have you not condemned the boarding of these ships in the high seas?

Finally, and on a different matter, I note that you are anxious to renew the attempts begun by the Labour Party to change the law on universal jurisdiction in this country, because you fear it may stop members of the Israel government coming here. But surely the purpose of any trial is to test the innocence or otherwise of the individual concerned, in a fair and impartial way? The assault on Gaza - to take just one of the crimes with which Israeli ministers may be charged - was certainly a horrifying one, in which over a thousand individuals were killed. Surely these acts deserve to be heard by the courts, and if appropriate, responsibility needs to be apportioned? Or have you already decided that members of a 'friendly' government should not have to face trial, whether innocent or otherwise?

I am dismayed and ashamed by this last decision. Our country should not be seen as a safe haven for those who may have committed crimes under international law, and we should not be afraid of allowing the courts to pass judgement on such issues. I hope sincerely that you will reconsider this decision.

Yours
...

Dear Nick Clegg

During the Gaza onslaught in 2009, you stood out among party leaders for condemning Israel's actions and calling for a ban on arms exports. You also wrote convincingly and with feeling, in December last year, about the need to end the Gaza siege.

I have looked for a statement from you today on the Israeli actions of last night, in which it appears that up to 20 civilians carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza have been killed - but so far have found nothing. I am sure you are aware that the boarding of a foreign ship in international waters is a violation of international law, and that the Turkish authorities had searched the ships carrying aid for firearms, and found nothing. The violence from the Israeli side was clearly disproportionate, quite apart from the legality of the action.

Why have you not condemned this action, and what will you be doing in your position as member of the British government to ensure that a thorough investigation is carried out, and to ensure that the Israeli government carries the consequences of these terrible actions? What pressure will you be exerting from inside the government to ensure that the siege on Gaza is ended, so that it is no longer necessary for activists to put together basic humanitarian needs for the people of Gaza, and then to be shot at in the high seas while trying to deliver them?

I hope sincerely that your principles have not been silenced by your new role as member of the government.

Thank you for your attention

...