
At the 2010 ISNA conference held in July, Peck described his experience on board the Mavi Marmara, the Turkish ship that was the site of a violent clash with Israeli commandos as it tried to break the blockade on Gaza
in May. He also cast
Israel as holding power over American policy
in the region, saying the U.S. would open communications with Hamas "when Israel gives us permission."
Other speakers went far further. Abolfazl Nahidian, identified as imam of a mosque in Manassas, Va.