Israel Proposes 'Lifting' Gaza Blockade

While there will be an emergency meeting of the Stormont Assembly today to discuss Israel's storming of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza - in which nine people died - tensions have today been lessened.

The Irish ship, the Rachel Corrie that is also on its way to Gaza, may not now face any confrontation, as Israel has apparently capitulated to international pressure and reversed their Gaza blockade policy.

After days of continued international pressure from the Turkish and Irish governments and even the US, senior Israeli ministers are expected to approve a proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ease the naval blockade on Gaza.

Meanwhile, activists on board the Irish-owned aid ship MV Rachel Corrie - named after an American activist killed in Gaza several years ago - rubbished reports the vessel was returning to dock and vowed to continue towards Gaza in defiance of the blockade.

They expect to arrive at the disputed Israeli exclusion zone over the weekend.

However, under Mr Netanyahu's proposal, international inspectors would examine boats destined for Gaza to ensure no weapons were on board.

Former Assistant UN Secretary-General Denis Halliday from aboard the vessel told American journalists: "We have not stopped and have no intention of stopping. We will only stop when Israelis force us to do so."

In Dublin, the Irish government has launched a petition to the Israeli Ambassador - who has refused to cooperate with a Daíl committee - saying pressure must continue to be placed on the Israeli Government.

A Fianna Fail spokesman said so far over 2,000 people have already signed the petition, but said they really want to increase that number further.

"Please help us show the Israeli Government just how strongly the Irish people feel about their actions on Monday when they raided the Gaza bound, humanitarian aid flotilla, using lethal force and their subsequent detention of Irish citizen," the spokesman added.

The 11 strong crew aboard the Rachel Corrie, which is carrying 550 tons of cement to help in the effort to rebuild schools, homes and other building destroyed in Gaza, said they had no plans for confronting Israelis who may stop the vessel.

On Sunday, Israeli forces shot and killed nine people on board a Turkish vessel also bringing aid to the blockaded region, after they boarded the ship in international waters.

Israel claimed the crew had attacked their soldiers during the boarding, but this has since been dismissed by the volunteers caught up in the siege.

(DW/GK)