The flotilla to Gaza is being launched with a whimper: initial reports said that a number of ships were set to sail on Saturday from several European ports and gather in Cyprus before heading to the Gaza Strip. In reality, only two French ships sailed. One, the Dignity, set off from Corsica carrying only a few lone activists. Although conflicting reports about the scheduled departure time abounded last week, the flotilla is now officially scheduled to set out this Tuesday. The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported that the decision to postpone the flotilla was based mainly on the organizers' interest in keeping the exact date vague to thwart different groups from sabotaging the mission. For entirely obvious reasons we have to protect the flotilla as much as possible, one organizer, Dimitris Plionis, said. According to reports, the flotilla will include 10 ships, among them two cargo ships. They are expected to set sail from ports in Italy, Greece and France. This time, unlike the previous flotilla, hundreds of participants are expected, including parliamentary members, religious leaders, writers and artists. One of the organizers from a Swiss human rights organization noted that this time the activists are determined to break the blockade and actually get to the Gaza Strip. If we don't succeed this time, we will just try again, the activist said. The U.S. harshly criticized the planned flotilla and said that setting sail was irresponsible and provocative, actions that risk the safety of their passengers. Clinton: It's a provocation The U.S. State Department called on the activists to cancel the flotilla and deliver all the supplies in containers intended for the Gaza Strip to the port of Ashdod for inspection before transfer. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the flotilla an unnecessary provocation. We do not believe that the flotilla is a necessary or useful effort to assist the people of Gaza by entering Israeli territorial waters and creating a situation in which Israel has to implement its right to protect itself, Clinton said. The Jordanian relief organization Lifeline Committee announced on Saturday night that it would join the flotilla after obtaining a ship capable of carrying 200 passengers from the Noor Jordan-Kuwait Transport Company. Lifeline Committee head Wael Sakka said shareholders of the Noor company bought the ship for 500,000 euros. It is the first and only Arab-owned ship to participate in the flotilla. In last year's flotilla, efforts to have ships leave from Syria and Lebanon failed due to international pressure. According to the announcement, the organizers have succeeded in recruiting 70 activists from five Arab countries. Meanwhile, the U.S. has expressed optimism about bridging the gap between Jerusalem and Ankara. We have seen some warming in relations between Turkey and Israel, and we want to see that effort continue, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Friday.
