304 lines
8.5 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
304 lines
8.5 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
news
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worldnews
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middleeast
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israel
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7792726
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-----
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# Gaza aid flotilla attack: David Cameron calls Israel's assault
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'unacceptable'
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## David Cameron described Israel's deadly assault on a Gaza-bound aid
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flotilla as ''unacceptable'' as Britain joined global calls for an inquiry
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into the incident which killed at least nine people.
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![Whitehall HR must tackle staff morale during David Cameron's 6.2bn cuts.][1]
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Whitehall HR must tackle staff morale during David Cameron's 6.2bn cuts.
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Photo: GETTY IMAGES
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1:08AM BST 01 Jun 2010
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In a telephone conversation with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on
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Monday night, Mr Cameron insisted Britain remains committed to Israel's
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security, but called for a ''constructive'' response to ''legitimate
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criticism'' of its actions.
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William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, called for a ''full, impartial and
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independent'' inquiry as Tel Aviv was urged to identify and provide consular
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access to all Britons caught up in the incident.
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The Foreign Office confirmed that one Briton was injured and had received
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medical treatment.
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Anxious relatives and friends across the UK were still awaiting news of those
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who had taken part in the pro-Palestinian mission to defy a block on
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humanitarian assistance.
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Israel insists its forces retaliated against an attack by people on board
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armed with weapons including knives and guns, but activists said the
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commandoes were shooting as they boarded.
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## Related Articles
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* [Five Palestinians killed by Israeli strike][2]
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01 Jun 2010
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* [Gaza aid flotilla: UN calls for impartial inquiry][3]
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01 Jun 2010
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* [Gaza aid flotilla attack: several Britons detained][4]
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01 Jun 2010
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* [Hundreds of protesters demonstrate against flotilla shootings][5]
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01 Jun 2010
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* [Gaza aid flotilla: Israel releases activists][6]
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01 Jun 2010
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* [Egypt opens border with Gaza for humanitarian aid][7]
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01 Jun 2010
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Amid an international storm of protest, Mr Netanyahu voiced regret at the loss
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of life but said his soldiers were attacked and ''had to defend themselves''.
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As the United Nations Security Council met in emergency session to discuss the
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issue, he ditched a planned meeting with US President Barack Obama today to
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fly home to handle the crisis.
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A Downing Street spokesman said: ''The Prime Minister spoke to Israeli PM
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Netanyahu. The Prime Minister deplored the heavy loss of life off the coast of
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Gaza.
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''He reiterated the UK's strong commitment to Israel's security, but urged
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Israel to respond constructively to legitimate criticism of its actions, and
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to do everything possible to avoid a repeat of this unacceptable situation.
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''The PM also stressed the importance of urgently lifting the blockade of
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Gaza, and allowing full access for humanitarian aid.''
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Hundreds of protesters had earlier blocked Whitehall as they chanted outside
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Downing Street before heading to the Israeli embassy to continue their
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demonstration.
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They were among thousands across the world who gathered to voice their anger
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at Israel's treatment of the ship which was carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid
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including building materials.
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It was sent as part of a bid to highlight the humanitarian suffering in Gaza,
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but the effort ended in violence as Israeli commandos boarded the ship
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overnight in international waters.
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Mr Hague said: ''We are in urgent touch with the Israeli government both in
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Israel and in London, seeking more information about UK nationals who have
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been involved.
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''Of course, Israel must provide consular access to those individuals as that
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information becomes available.''
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The Foreign Secretary, who earlier said he ''deplored'' the deaths and called
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on Israel to lift the blockade in line with a UN Security Council resolution,
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went on: ''It is very important that Israel acts with restraint and in line
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with international obligations in any case such as this.
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''We will all want to know more about whether more could have been done to
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minimise the risks or to reduce the number of deaths and injuries.
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''That is why we agree with our EU partners and other international partners
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that there must be a full and impartial and independent investigation or
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inquiry into these events.''
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Israeli officials said the death toll was nine, but some reports put it as
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high as 19.
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A Foreign Office spokesman said that one of the injured was a Briton. He said:
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''We can confirm that one British national was injured in the incident. The
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British national has received medical treatment.
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''We have been providing consular assistance to the British national in Israel
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and to their family in the UK.''
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Many of the protesters blockading Whitehall had been on previous missions to
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Gaza and also knew people who were part of the targeted flotilla and were
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waiting for news along with relatives across the country.
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Irish premier Brian Cowen directly blamed the Gaza blockade for the deaths.
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''I believe that is in violation of international law. People are entitled to
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have humanitarian assistance,'' he said.
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[What are these?][9]
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* Share: [Share][8] [ ][10] [ ][11]
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[Tweet][12]
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/7792726/Gaza-aid-
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flotilla-attack-David-Cameron-calls-Israels-assault-unacceptable.html
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Telegraph
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## [Israel][13]
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* ### [News »][14]
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* ### [World News »][15]
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* ### [Middle East »][16]
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* ### [Palestinian Authority »][17]
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* ### [Politics »][18]
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In news
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[![Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, last night issued a public
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rebuke to Barack Obama's face, telling the US president his proposed border
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for the Jewish state would be indefensible and not based on reality. ][19]
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][20]
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### [Netanyahu rejects Obama's 1967 plan][20]
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[![Nazi leader and war criminal Adolf Eichmann ][21] ][22]
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### [Adolf Eichmann][22]
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[![Gale force winds, snow and sand storms batter Egypt, Lebanon, Israel and
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Greece. A Lebanese man walks on a snow-covered peak at the cedar trees reserve
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of Baruk southeast in the Shouf mountains, southeast of Beirut, following a
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snow storm and cold wave which hit the east Mediteranean country after several
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months of drought][23] ][24]
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### [Middle East storms][24]
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[![Fires in Haifa, Israel][25] ][26]
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### [Israel forest fire][26]
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[![In this image reviewed by the Israeli military and taken aboard an Israeli
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Naval vessel, Israeli Navy soldiers intercept one of several boats headed
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towards the Gaza Strip, in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea][27]
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][28]
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### [Flotilla attack in pictures][28]
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[X][8] Share & bookmark
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Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
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[What are these?][9]
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Share:
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* [ ][8]
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* [ ][10]
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* [ ][11]
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* [Tweet][12]
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* Advertisement
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![][29]
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Advertisement
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[Follow The Telegraph on Social Media »][30]
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