From: Terje Rod-Larsen To: "[email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Fw: UNSCO DAILY PRESS BRIEF 28th June 2011 Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:38:32 +0000 From: Richard Miron To: Hayat Abu Saleh Sent: Tue Jun 28 03:43:11 2011 Subject: UNSCO DAILY PRESS BRIEF 28th June 2011 UNSCO Press Brief 28th June, 2011 Flotilla: Israeli intelligence officials have expressed deep concern of what they have described as preparations for violence by members of the flotilla. Officials say that the ships will be loaded with chemical substances, including sulfuric acid, with the goal of badly injuring the IDF soldiers. They also claim that there will also be at least two top Hamas members and activists from the IHH organization, which was responsible for the fatal outcome of the previous flotilla. Military officials said that the activists are planning to kill as many soldiers as possible. (Maariv) Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman described the flotilla participants as "terror activists, seeking to create provocation and looking for blood". He also added that Israel plans to "deal with the flotilla properly. Following our diplomatic activity, the number of boats, their size, and the number of participants has become less relevant." The government has declared that the flotilla, scheduled to arrive at Gaza later this week, will not be allowed to enter the territory by sea. If necessary the ships will be towed into Ashdod Port and the equipment on board impounded. (Israel Radio) Organizers and participants of the second 'Freedom Flotilla' announced in Athens yesterday said that they plan to set sail for Gaza in the next few days. Several hundred people will take part in the flotilla, which consists of 10 passenger boats and two cargo ships. A majority of the passengers are women. Many are middle-aged or elderly. Approximately 30 percent of the activists are Jewish. Among those taking part are Alice Walker, the Pulitzer Prize winning author, Me