Israel foils Libya's aid ship plans

July 11, 2010 3:36am

INTENSE diplomatic efforts by Israel, Greece, Egypt and Moldova prevent Libyan aid ship from breaching Gaza blockade.
The agent of the Amalthea cargo ship told AFP in Athens that the Moldova-flagged boat set sail from Greece, where it was anchored, and was heading for the Egyptian port of El-Arish.
Israel, which came under fire from the international community after its forces killed nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists in a raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on May 31, said it was sure the ship would not reach Gaza.
"Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman spoke several times in recent days with the foreign ministers of Greece and Moldova and reached understandings with them about dealing with the Libyan ship," Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"The Foreign Ministry believes that due to these talks, the ship will not reach Gaza.".
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak spoke with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman and asked "if Egypt would agree to accept the boat at the port of El-Arish".
The Greek foreign ministry confirmed it was in contact with Israel over the boat but would not elaborate. It was not immediately clear if Egypt had acceded to Barak's request.
But Israeli officials said Moldovan authorities had made contact with the captain of the ship who agreed to divert the cargo to El-Arish.
Later on Saturday, the ship's agent said the vessel had set sail from Lavrio, 37 miles (60 kilometers) southeast of Athens.
"All the ship's documents are in order, they indicate as its destination the Egyptian port of El-Arish," Petros Arvanitis told AFP.
He also confirmed talks were held between the various parties on the boat's final destination.
A charity headed by Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi, had announced plans on Friday to send a boat load of humanitarian aid from Greece to Gaza.