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Argument: Israel has right to know what enters Gaza during conflict

Issue Report: Israeli raid on Gaza flotilla

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In an interview with Charlie Rose after the flotilla raid, Vice President Joe Biden said: “You can argue whether Israel should have dropped people onto that ship or not … but the truth of the matter is, Israel has a right to know — they’re at war with Hamas — has a right to know whether or not arms are being smuggled in.”[1]

Benjamin Netanyahu: “Our duty is to inspect every boat that goes to Gaza. If we don’t do this we would have an Iranian port in Gaza.”[2]

The Shalem Center’s Daniel Gordis argues: “Like every other country, Israel has as its foremost obligation the protection of its citizens. Given that, why should it have allowed the flotilla to enter without inspecting its goods?[3]