His Excellency Mr. Mark Sofer,
Ambassador of Israel,
Carisbrook House
122 Pembroke Rd,
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4,
Céadaoin 19 Samhain 2008
Dear Mr Sofer,
I wish to protest in the strongest terms at the arrest by your country’s navy of three fishing boats operating out of Gaza along with their crews and three international observers onboard.
I would ask that you, convey this protest to your government and ask when will the confiscated boats be returned to their rightful owners; when will the 3 international observers, Victor Arrigoni from Italy, Andrew Muncie from Scotland and Darlene Wallach from the USA, be released back to Gaza; when will all three have access to legal representation?
I would remind you that the Israeli Navy have no business operating in Palestinian waters, least of all arresting boats and their crews, since the Oslo Agreement of 1994 established a 20-mile limit. The boats in question were fishing seven miles off the coast of Deir Al Balah, clearly in Gaza fishing waters, when they were intercepted by the Israeli Navy.
Hopefully, your government will react positively to this letter of protest and release the three observers and return the boats intact to their owners.
Is mise
Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
