The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations praised the government of Greece for preventing the ships involved in a "provocative" anti-Israel flotilla bound for Gaza from "using Greek ports as a launching point."
On Friday, Greece issued a government order denying the ships’ departure.
Greece has since offered to ship the humanitarian aid aboard the ships to the Palestinian territory by way of a U.N. convoy – an offer the flotilla’s organizers have flatly refused.
"We express our deep support and appreciation to the government of Greece for taking decisive and appropriate action consistent with international law to prevent the confrontational flotilla of ships from leaving Greek ports,” said Richard B. Stone, chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
“We are writing to express our sincere appreciation for the action taken by Greece to prevent the ships involved in the Gaza flotilla from leaving Greek ports. Your willingness to act in such a responsible manner serves as an example for the entire international community,” Abraham H.Foxman, ADL’s national director, wrote in a letter to Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.
“ As you well know, the Gaza flotilla was not intended to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. It is a provocative effort by anti-Israel activists to bring their skewed view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to international attention by publicly challenging Israeli forces who are defending Israeli territorial waters,” Foxman added.
“Greece’s actions to stop these ships from using Greek ports as a launching point will help prevent the public confrontation with Israeli naval authorities these activists are seeking. “
The Gaza flotilla was originally planned for late June, but technical issues delayed the ships’ departure. The flotilla organizers have pledged they will set sail in the coming weeks.