Defense Minister Ehud Barak signed an order closing off the zone 20 nautical miles from the Gaza shoreline. The defense establishment said the navy would prevent the fleet from arriving at the Gaza port, but added that for operational reasons they would not say where the ships would be intercepted. Naval sources said they were concerned that people on board would initiate a provocation that would lead to a shooting incident or violence for the sake of media attention. The Israel Navy crews have been briefed on preventing a decline into violence. There is also concern that Gazans will try to take dozens of their boats out to sea to meet the “aid” ships. The navy is expected to act to keep the two groups separate. We all here hope this will pass peaceably.

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