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  • Maariv Jun29-11 (Security Cabinet Ministers Rage at IDF Media Spin On Flotilla)

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    Maariv Jun29-11 [Security Cabinet Ministers Rage at IDF Media Spin on Flotilla]

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    Maariv Jun29-11 (Security Cabinet Ministers Rage at IDF Media Spin On Flotilla)

    Uploaded by

    Didi Remez
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    Security Cabinet Ministers: PR hysteria surrounding flotilla Eli Bardenstein, Maariv, June 29 2011 Ministers who serve on the

    security cabinet were highly critical of the fact that they were not apprised of the sensitive intelligence that was disseminated on Monday night to journalists about the plans by the organizers of the flotilla to use sulfuric acid against IDF troops, their intention to injure and kill as many soldiers as possible and the presence of terrorists on board the ships taking part in the flotilla. Some of the ministers went so far as to accuse the spokespersons who provided that information of trying to create a media spin, which they said was part of what they described as the public relations hysteria surrounding the flotilla in an attempt to have it perceived as violent in nature. It is inconceivable that we should hear information in the security cabinet meeting to the effect that there are no threats posed by the participants in the flotilla to take violent action or about the presence of terrorists on board the ships, and that senior state organizations, including the army, should produce for the media information that is the complete opposite of what we were told, said one security cabinet minister angrily. Another high-ranking political official said last night that there is increasing reason to fear that this is a spin. Nothing of the information that was disseminated to the media was presented to us. One security cabinet minister said that the media briefings were geared to pressure the international community. Prime Minister Netanyahu decided to change the version about the nature of the flotilla for two reasons that are connected to the international community. The first is for reasons of covering himself -- if, suddenly, in the course of the military operation something goes awry and there are casualties, Israel will be able to say that it warned of that in advance. The second reason is to apply pressure on the international community so that governments will prevent the ships from leaving for the flotilla from the outset. IDF officials rejected the allegations as if the information was merely a media spin or, at the very least, a deliberate attempt to create hysteria surrounding the flotilla. The military officials insisted that the intelligence they had received attested to plans to kill soldiers and to use chemical agents: At issue are substances with dual use that are banned from entering Gaza. Those substances can be utilized in a number of ways, including so as to injure IDF soldiers. According to the intelligence we have, some of the participants in the flotilla intend to injure and kill soldiers. Either way, as opposed to the previous flotilla, after which the Mavi Marmara was returned to Turkey after being towed to the Israeli coast, this time a decision has been made to confiscate any ship with the goal of deterring the ship-owners. A decision has also been made this time that any activist who uses violence against IDF troops will not be swiftly released, as occurred following the flotilla last year. The participants in the flotilla, incidentally, denied the veracity of the information about chemical agents having been loaded on board the ships with the goal of using them as weapons to main and/or kill Israeli soldiers.

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