Response from Senator Hagan

Dear Friend,

Thank you for contacting my office regarding the recent incident involving a Turkish flotilla near the Gaza Strip. I appreciate your thoughts on this important issue and I apologize for my delayed response.

As you know, on May 31, 2010, Israeli naval commandos raided the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara for violating Israel's blockade of Gaza. It is deeply regrettable that this incident resulted in the loss of several lives. There are a lot of unknowns surrounding this particular incident, and I am glad that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently approved an Israeli government-appointed commission, with foreign participation, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the raid on the flotilla that was bound for Gaza. We need to have a comprehensive understanding of the events that took place. That being said, it is critical that Israel has the right to defense itself.

The Israeli government has developed a list banning weapons and sensitive dual-use items, while allowing all other items to be transferred to Gaza via Israel's port of Ashdod. As you know, Isareli authorities are trying to prevent Hamas and its allies from acquiring weapons to be used against Israel. I look forward to working with Israel to increase humanitarian access to Gaza.

The violence in the Middle East has continued for far too long, and I am committed to doing everything we can to encourage the end of violence in the region. Although this particular issue has yet to be fully resolved, I will take your opinions into account while I closely follow its progress.

Again, thank you for contacting my office. It is truly an honor to represent North Carolina in the United States Senate, and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me in the future should you have any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Kay R. Hagan

Please do not reply to this email. Instead, if you have further questions, please visit www.hagan.senate.gov and fill out my web form for your inquiry. Thank you.

[Sometimes I wonder why I write to them.  Does she not realize that an investigation from/by the Israelis will be a white-wash?  Does she not realize that NO WEAPONS were found on the flotilla ships that were attacked?  Does she not realize that this incident is NOT "deeply regrettable" it is a CRIME!   Does she not realize that Israel is not engaging in self-defense here - they are using violence and the blockade to ethnically cleanse the Palestinians off their land?  It is clear that she really does not care that innocent people were killed.]