The Turkish group at the center of this week's deadly high-seas clash with Israel has been a member of a hard-to-access U.N. organization since 2004, which has given the group special access to the U.N. system.

The Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) branch of U.N.'s Department of Economic and Social Affairs invites in NGOs from around the globe, including the Turkish-based Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH).

Earlier this week Fox News reported that the IHH has links to terrorist groups including Hamas and Al Qaeda. Indeed, the IHH was described in federal court documents as playing a role in the Millennium terrorist plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport...

A pro-family organization is calling on President Obama to stand squarely with Israel in the controversy over Israel's conflict with a flotilla of "humanitarian" ships from Turkey.

The Jewish state has come under almost universal world condemnation for using deadly force in dealing with the crew of a Turkish ship trying to run a blockade to Gaza. Nine crew members were killed in the commando raid after they attacked and beat Israelis trying to inspect the ship. One Israeli soldier was thrown off an upper deck and fell 30 feet to the deck below, sustaining significant head injuries.

During an interview on PBS on Wednesday, Vice President Joe Biden said "it's legitimate" for Israel to question what is on ships destined for Hamas-controlled Gaza. "Israel has an absolute right to deal with its security interest," Biden stated on the Charlie Rose show.

Israeli defense officials now say dozens of passengers who were aboard the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, the scene of a bloody showdown with Israeli commandos Monday, are suspected of having connections to terrorist organizations. The Israeli Army says it's identified 50 passengers on the ship with terrorist links.

It's known the flotilla of 6 ships was in part organized by the IHH group in Turkey, which reportedly has links to Al Qaeda. And three members of Yemen's Parliament, from the Islah Party, were also among the more than 600 activists detained by Israel after ships refused to stop for Israeli patrol boats and were boarded by Israeli Navy SEALs who eventually opened fire, killing 9 people. The Islah party is also said to have shadowy links to Al Qaeda. Both groups certainly support the Hamas organization in Gaza...

(CNSNews.com) – Facing the world’s wrath over the deadly clash at sea between its troops and pro-Palestinian activists, the Israeli Defense Forces released video footage Monday showing groups of activists using what appear to be clubs or bars to attack Israeli soldiers the moment they landed on deck.

The footage, along with an array of weapons found onboard the Turkish-flagged ship Mavi Marmara – now docked in the Israeli port of Ashdod – presents a picture at odds with accounts given by pro-Palestinian groups of a massive, disproportionate assault on peaceful civilians.

International condemnation is widespread and ongoing, with protestors taking to the streets in many, mostly Islamic countries, and Israel’s erstwhile ally, Turkey, warning of “irreparable consequences” to bilateral ties. Iran demanded action by the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and even European countries generally friendly towards Israel were strongly critical...