GEO 436 WASHINGTON: The United States said Friday it was trying to help avert another violent clash at sea involving Israel as an Irish aid ship headed for the Gaza Strip. “Everybody wants to avoid another confrontation and avoid a repeat of Monday’’s… tragic events,” State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters. “We are working with the Israelis. We”re working with the Palestinian Authority, other international partners. We”re looking to see how we can best accomplish this,” Crowley said. “We have been in touch with the Irish government,” he said. At the White House, National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said the MV Rachel Corrie should dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod. “It remains a US priority to provide assistance to the people of Gaza,” Hammer said. “In the interest of the safety of all involved, and the safe transmission of assistance to the people of Gaza, we strongly encourage those on board the Rachel Corrie and other vessels to sail to Ashdod to deliver their materials to Gaza.” The Irish government urged Israel Friday to show restraint over an Irish aid boat preparing to defy an Israeli blockade and deliver supplies to Gaza. Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said the Rachel Corrie was steaming ahead towards Gaza after a proposed compromise deal under which it would have delivered its cargo via Israel was rejected by those on board the vessel. Crowley said Jack Lew, a senior State Department official, had “an extensive conversation” with Martin on Thursday. “We would hope to see the Rachel Corrie and other vessels… work with Israeli authorities to deliver these materials to Gaza. That’’s part of the conversation that we”re having,” Crowley said. “And we hope in the meantime that everybody here will make responsible decisions and avoid unnecessary confrontations,” he added. A senior State Department official told reporters on condition of anonymity meanwhile that Washington would like to “see a change in approach” allowing for an increase in the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. “And we”re discussing a range of options,” the official said, adding that Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou “called in today and had some ideas on how this might happen.” “There’’s a deep international interest in improving the humanitarian situation of Gaza,” he said, citing interest in the United States, Europe and in the Middle East.
Related posts:
0 comments :
Post a Comment