Israeli police say 16 activists jailed after deadly confrontation

Posted: 05.31.2010 at 10:44 AM

Read more: National, International, Breaking, Military, Israel, Palestinians, Floatilla

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israeli police say 16 pro-Palestinian activists have been sent to jail after a deadly confrontation on board an aid flotilla headed to the blockaded Gaza Strip.
      Israeli naval commandos stopped the flotilla of six vessels early today, setting off a fierce clash. Officials now say nine activists were killed.
      Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says the activists were taken ashore and were jailed in the southern desert town of Beersheba after refusing to identify themselves.
      Israel has said it will deport the roughly 700 activists in the flotilla. But those who refuse to cooperate will be jailed. About 80 activists have been brought to shore so far.

Israeli prime minister cancels White House meeting

- Israel's prime minister has called off a planned visit to the White House to deal with a crisis over today's naval raid on a convoy carrying pro-Palestinian activists.
Netanyahu, who is in Canada, was set to travel to Washington to meet with President Barack Obama on Tuesday. But his office says he decided to return home early after Monday's commando raid.
The commandos intercepted a flotilla of activists trying to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. The deadly crackdown has drawn widespread international condemnations.

Obama administration concerned about Gaza incident

The White House says it's "working to understand the circumstances" surrounding today's deadly Israeli commando attack on a ship carrying pro-Palestinian activists on an aid mission to the Gaza Strip.
A White House spokesman says the United States "deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries."
The United States, among others, has been trying to restart direct peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, but progress toward this achievement has lagged severely in recent months.

Turkety denounces 'state terrorism'

Turkey's prime minister has described a fatal Israeli commando raid on an aid ship as "state terrorism."
      Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Chile on Monday that Israel has shown that it does not want peace in the region and has violated international law.
      He says Turkey will call on NATO to convene in an emergency session to discuss the incident. It has made a similar plea to the U.N. Security Council.
      Erdogan was cutting short his Latin America tour over the development.