The aftershocks of the Israeli boarding of the Gaza-bound flotilla are being felt in Israel and abroad:
In Canada, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who there for a state visit, is receiving updates on the incident despite the fact that it is late night time there. He is in consultation with the heads of Israel's security establishment and is expected to deliver a response to the situation in the coming hours. He spoke with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who held an emergency meeting with IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. Barak also spoke with the head of the Shin Bet, Yuval Diskin, and the Turkish Secretary of Defense, Foreign Minister, and Ambassador in Israel.
In Istanbul, Turkey, hundreds of people are protesting Israel's Gaza flotilla operation outside Israel's consulate. Israel's ambassador to Turkey has been summoned for a rebuke by Turkey's foreign ministry, which blames Israel for the incident, calling it, "an unprecedented criminal act which has sent Israel-Turkey relations into a tailspin." Turkey has also called off three scheduled upcoming joint military exercises with Israel.In Israel, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon will hold a press conference at 10:30 AM in Jerusalem on the flotilla operation. Opposition leader Tzippi Livni has offered to assist the government in its PR efforts.
Security forces and Magen David Adom, on highest alert, are preparing for possible violence across Israel due to the IDF flotilla operation. In Gaza, Hamas terrorists are calling on Arabs to take to the streets and "take revenge on Israel." Arab MK Taleb A-Sanaa issued a press release in which he called IDF soldiers “Nazis” for stopping the pro-Gaza flotilla. PA Chairman Machmoud Abbas announced three days of mourning for the flotilla "victims".
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is convening an emergency meeting in Jerusalem on the flotilla operation. The Foreign Ministry may call for Israelis in Turkey to leave the country, and for other Israelis to cancel their travel plans to Turkey, due to the risk of violence. Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Gal will hold a briefing for Israel's foreign ambassadors at noon today. Israel plans to demand that Turkey take responsibility for its citizens in Israeli territory.