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Maan News
Israel to UN: Block 'provocative' Libya ship Israel has approached the UN in a bid to enlist the international community to help prevent a Libyan aid ship from sailing to Gaza, citing the move as "provocative," Israeli media reported Friday. Outgoing Israeli ambassador to the UN Gabriela Shalev wrote in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that "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 Israeli daily Haaretz reported. The demand follows reports that a charity headed by Muammar Gaddafi's son had organized a Gaza-bound aid boat to set sail from Greece as early as Friday. Shalev added that "Israel reserves the right under international law to prevent this ship from violating the existing naval blockade on the Gaza Strip." Israel approached the UN in June when reports surfaced that two Lebanese aid boats would set sail for Gaza, with Israel telling the world body it would hold the Lebanese government solely responsible for use of force against the fleet. On 31 May, Israeli commandos raided a six-fleet aid convoy due for Gaza in international waters, killing nine passengers on board. The move sparked international condemnation, but further prompted other groups to organize similar flotillas. In the letter, Shalev further urged the international community "to discourage their nationals from taking part in such action," adding that Israel "expects the international community to ensure that this ship does not sail," the daily reported. "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," the letter continued. Copies of the letter were also submitted to the current president of the UN Security Council as well as the president of the General Assembly, a Libyan national who previously served as Libya's foreign minister, Haaretz wrote.
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