" ... Then the problem was getting the boards into Gaza. The boards were turned away again and again at the Eretz Crossing. The boards were deemed a security risk by the Israelis. Sztalkoper got this message from his friend Matt Olsen:
"I just got off the phone with a former colleague of mine who is one of the main players in the security establishment here and he just had a meeting with Nir Press, the head of the Civil Administration for Gaza, and they discussed the surfboards. According to him, the civil administration does not have a problem with the boards going into Gaza but the Israeli Navy has vetoed the shipment on security grounds. They are apparently concerned that the boards will be used to infiltrate Israel via the sea. The decision has apparently come from very high up in the Israeli Navy and this is not simply an issue of a local commander expressing his personal opinion.
…I am hopeful that they will be able to get something accomplished. I explained to them that there are already numerous surfboards, windsurfers and small sail boats in Gaza that could be used to infiltrate Israel and the import of more surfboards would therefore not raise the threat level above what currently exists. They will convey this message to the Israeli Navy and we’ll see if it has any effect."
1 comment:
The Israelis really just don't want the Palestinians bogarting their tasty waves.
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