Both links have interesting points of view and analysis of the event earlier this week. One is suggesting this is all about Israel being in control of its own destiny without limitations by the US and the other explains the PR campaign in historical context. It's a complicated story no matter how you look at it and is likely to lead us into a new phase in the region.
And finally, another perspective from a former Mossad agent, Victor Ostrovsky. He believes this is more of the same "shoot from the hip" that has been seen in the past from Netanyahu.
The commandos could have easily sneaked up to the ships and boats from behind in “wet submarines” (which look like open torpedoes) and disabled their propellers, he said.
“Eventually they’d run out of food and water and they could be towed to shore,” said Ostrovsky, now chief executive of TheBookPatch.com, a Web site for writers.
Ostrovsky said it was also inexplicable that the commandos were sent to land on the top decks in the middle of the ships, where they were vulnerable to resistance from terrified and angry passengers and crew. A better tactic would have been to have the commandos board from the stern and bow and work inward.
In any event, the episode has become a public relations debacle for Israel, Ostrovsky said.
“We look like the British stopping the Exodus,” he said.
