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IN SEIZING by force the Irish-owned Rachel Corrieon the high seas, Israel again defied both international law and world public opinion. That it should have done so without compounding the illegality with casualties is a relief. A sign of some restraint and, one hopes, that Israel has learned something from last week’s disastrous self-inflicted wound.

The disingenuous suggestion by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu that all was different on Saturday because the occupants of the Rachel Corriewere peace-loving while last week’s flotilla was al-Qaeda-inspired served only to recall the dubious rationale behind Israel’s contention that it was taken by surprise when met by force on May 31st. It had been telling the world for days it believed the Turkish ship had terrorist links; clearly the Israeli Defence Forces did not believe its own government’s propaganda.