Israel U-turn over warning to aid flotilla journalists

The 10-ship convoy will depart from Greece later this week Israel on Monday backtracked on its warning to foreign journalists covering the Gaza-bound flotilla, saying they would not face the same punishment as other participants in the convoy. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the authorities to draw up a special procedure for dealing with foreign journalists sailing on the flotilla that will enter Israel illegally," said a statement from Netanyahu's office.
On Sunday, Israel's Government Press Office warned that journalists sailing on the flotilla could be barred from the country for up to a decade and have their equipment confiscated.
The move was condemned by rights groups and the Tel Aviv-based Foreign Press Association as a severe violation of the freedom of the press.
Netanyahu's office said he had been unaware of the original warning.
"When this was brought to the prime minister's attention, he ordered that normal procedures taken against infiltrators and those entering illegally not be applied to journalists," the statement said.
Netanyahu also said he would allow reporters to accompany the naval vessels sent to intercept the flotilla "in order to allow transparent and trustworthy coverage of the events."
Israel's security cabinet was to convene on Monday for a second day of discussions on how to stave off an international flotilla intending to breach the naval blockade of Gaza, local media said.
On Sunday, ministers in the forum were told of the military's preparations for the 10-ship convoy which is expected to set sail from Greece later this week.
"Yesterday, the ministers decided not to allow the ships to anchor in the Gaza Strip, although they will be allowed to unload their cargo at (the Israeli port) of Ashdod or the Egyptian port of El-Arish," Israeli army radio said.
"If no weapons or ammunition are found, the cargo will be transferred in its entirety to Gaza."
Public radio said Cairo had already agreed to allow the ships to dock at El-Arish, a Mediterranean port which lies some 30 miles (50 kilometres) west of Egypt's border with Gaza.
So far, there has been no official Israeli statement on the closed-door ministerial deliberations.
The free-distribution daily Israel Hayom, considered close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, quoted navy chief Eliezer Marom as telling ministers that his men were better prepared than they were last May, when marine commandos stormed the lead ship of a previous flotilla, killing nine Turks.
"Our forces are ready to stop the flotilla and not to allow the ships to reach Gaza," an unnamed political source told the paper.
About 350 pro-Palestinian activists from 22 countries are set to join the "Freedom Flotilla II" which is expected to comprise some 10 vessels.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and several international leaders have urged the flotilla not to set sail, and Washington has warned US nationals not to join the attempt to break the embargo.
Bestselling Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell and a number of journalists are among those taking part in the fresh bid to break Israel's five-year naval blockade on the coastal territory which is home to some 1.5 million Palestinians.
Israel first imposed a blockade on Gaza in 2006 after militants there snatched Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in a deadly cross-border raid. He is still being held.
A ban on civilian goods and foodstuffs was eased last year but many restrictions remain in place.
Israel on Sunday warned foreign journalists not join the convoy in breaking the blockade, saying such a move would be considered illegal and participants could be barred from the country for up to 10 years.
Boats from Greece, France, Italy and Spain are among those joining the flotilla, although the Mavi Marmara, the Turkish-owned ferry which was the centre of the bloodshed last year, will not be part of it.
Organisers said the boats would set sail from various Greek ports this week and were to give further details at a press conference in Athens later on Monday.
Two cargo vessels will carry medicines, a fully-equipped ambulance car and cement.
Last week, Washington slammed the flotilla's plans as "irresponsible and provocative" saying all aid to Gaza could be delivered through the Israeli port of Ashdod.