国际英语新闻：Optimism after Gaza flotilla episode

JERUSALEM, June 3 (Xinhua) -- This week's maritime battle between Israeli commandos and those aboard a flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip reads to a large extent like a tragedy. The loss of life and injuries could have easily been avoided if the parties involved would have behaved differently.

Yet some do see some potential good emanating from Monday's events and not necessarily to the detriment of either the Palestinians or the Israelis.

Thursday morning's news headlines on Israel Radio, for example, included the suggestion that Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is considering a proposal that would allow for greater freedom of movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza.

SHALIT FOR FOOD

The idea is that Israel would ease the restrictions at its Gaza crossings in exchange for monthly visits from the Red Cross to captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Since he was first taken to Gaza four years ago, no independent body has been allowed to see Shalit. He is being held by members of the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement, the organization that controls Gaza.

"We need to stress to the media with as much noise as possible that the element missing from this episode is the fact that Gilad Shalit is being held against basic human rights, in total isolation, without being visited by the Red Cross," Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told Xinhua on Thursday.

However, an official in the ministry said the suggestion of visitations in exchange for food was simply "spin" bandied about by the minister to take some political pressure off him.

Whether the Shalit angle is true or not, some analysts are of the opinion that in the wake of the flotilla saga, Israel will relax its stranglehold on Gaza.

Israeli political science professor Galia Golan sees at least three potential positives coming out of this week's activities in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea.

Should the Shalit for aid deal go ahead that would clearly be a positive sign.

Some in the government are supportive of an international inquiry into the events surrounding the flotilla. Such an inquiry would be headed by an American official, with its other members being drawn from countries around the world. However, both Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Lieberman are said not to be in favor of that idea.

The third of Golan's indicators is that Israel decided to release all of the foreign nationals in the flotilla rather than jailing them in Israel.

"Israel is obviously grappling with the way to calm down international opinion," said Golan.

That opinion was exemplified on Thursday with the news that South Africa has recalled its ambassador to Israel.

"Israel expresses its regret and disappointment at the measure announced by the government of South Africa," read a statement from Israel's Foreign Ministry.

"Those who criticize Israel would be better advised to turn their criticism against the terror-supporting rioters from the flotilla, who have nothing to do with humaneness," the statement concluded.