Piracy :

Maritime piracy, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982, consists of any criminal acts of violence, detention, rape, or depredation committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or aircraft that is directed on the high seas against another ship, aircraft, or against persons or property on board a ship or aircraft.

Take the definition above and then, with the exception of the words in bold, consider the following article :

Israeli commandos have intercepted an Egypt-bound ship Israel says was carrying arms for militant groups in the Gaza Strip.

The German-owned vessel – the Victoria – was on its way from Turkey to the Egyptian port of Alexandria, it said.

It was seized some 200 miles (320km) from the shore in international waters.

Israeli forces did not meet resistance from the crew and the vessel was being taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod, security sources told the BBC

I find it interesting that they take action whilst the foreign owned boat is still in international waters rather than within their own jurisdiction.

Aside from the means being that of a government rather than “for private ends”, how exactly does that differ from the actions of Somali pirates off the coast of Africa?

Interesting times we live in when sovereign countries are at risk of invasion by others wanting to intervene in internal conflicts (Libya) and nations engage in high seas piracy justified by their own internal security problems.