'Greece, Moldova to stop Libyan ship'

JPOST.COM STAFF, AP AND REBECCA ANNA STOIL
07/10/2010 12:30

Israel reportedly reaches understanding with the two countries.

Israeli officials on Saturday said they believed a Libyan ship planning to break the naval blockade on the Gaza Strip would not sail for Gaza after all, following understandings between Israel, Greece and Moldova The ship, which was docked at a Greek port and flying a Moldovan flag, had intended to set sail Friday. It was carrying humanitarian aid as well as activists intending to reach Gaza, and was funded by an organization headed by the son of Lybian leader Muammar Gaddafi.

According to reports, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman held talks with his Greek and Moldovan counterparts in recent days and agreed with them that the ship would not sail to Gaza, but would be diverted to the Egyptian port of El-Arish.

On Friday requested that the UN step up efforts to prevent the Gaza-bound ship from setting sail.

In an in an official letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gabriela Shalev requested the international community use its power to halt the ship.

"Israel calls upon the international community to exert its influence on the government of Libya to demonstrate responsibility and prevent the ship from departing to the Gaza Strip," the envoy said.

"Israel reserves the right under international law to prevent this ship from violating the existing naval blockade on the Gaza Strip," Shalev told Ban Ki Moon.

On Friday officials from the Libyan organization told The Associated Press that the Amalthea would leave no later than Saturday from the port of Lavrio, south of Athens, carrying 2,000 tons of food and medical supplies, and 27 people on board.

"The declared intentions of this mission are even more questionable and provocative given the recent measures taken by Israel to ensure the increase of humanitarian aid flowing into the Gaza Strip," Shalev stated in the letter.

Amalthea's journey to Gaza was expected to take up to 80 hours. Aid on the Amalthea included sacks of rice and sugar, and corn oil and olive paste mostly donated from Greek companies and charities, organizers said.

The Israeli ambassador asked the UN and international community "to discourage their nationals from taking part in such action" and "expects the international community to ensure that this ship does not sail."