Israel approves plan to repel new Gaza flotilla

[King_David]

JERUSALEM - Israel's security cabinet on Monday ordered the navy to stop an international aid flotilla from breaching a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip, but also to avoid clashes with activists on board.


"Members of the (security) cabinet decided today following a debate on the flotilla that the state of Israel will be determined in stopping the flotilla's arrival in Gaza," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.


But forces would be ordered to do so "with minimal confrontation, as far as possible, with those on board the ships," it said without giving further details.


Also on Monday, Netanyahu said a threat to punish foreign journalists in the convoy by barring them from entering Israel for up to 10 years would not be carried out.


The premier's office said he had been unaware of the original warning.


"When this was brought to the prime minister's attention, he ordered that normal procedures taken against infiltrators and those entering illegally not be applied to journalists," the statement said.


Netanyahu also said he would allow reporters to accompany the naval vessels sent to intercept the flotilla "in order to allow transparent and trustworthy coverage of the events."


Organizers said that between 30 and 50 journalists were expected to sail with the flotilla.


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