Today NPR had wonderful coverage of what is going on in Gaza - from Israeli and Palestinian viewpoints.
Listen to the Israeli ambassador to Washington, Sallai Meridor: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98861171
And to Mustafa Barghouti, an independent lawmaker in the West Bank city of Ramallah: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98861148
These two views illustrate much of the difficulty preventing peace in the region.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Israeli Gunboats Attack Dignity, Bringing Medical Supplies to Gaza
An update on yesterday's post - a press release from the Free Gaza Movement -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Israeli Gunboats Came out of the Darkness and Rammed us Three Times
For more information, please contact:
(Gaza) Ewa Jasiewicz, +972 598 700 497 / freelance@mailworks.org
(Cyprus) Lubna Masarwa +357 99 081 767 / lubnna@gmail.com
(Lebanon) Caoimhe Butterly +961 70 875 727 / sahara78@hotmail.co.uk http://www.freegaza.org/
(Lebanon, Tuesday 30 December) - Today the Free Gaza ship "Dignity"
carefully made its way to safe harbor in Tyre, Lebanon's southern-most port city, after receiving serious structural damage when Israeli warships rammed its bow and the port side. Waiting to greet the passengers and crew were thousands of Lebanese who came out to show their solidarity with this attempt to deliver volunteer doctors and desperately needed medical supplies to war-ravaged Gaza. The Lebanese government has pledged to provide a forensic analysis of what happened in the dark morning, when Israel rammed the civilian ship in international waters, and put the people on board in danger of losing their lives.
The Dignity, on a mission of mercy to besieged Gaza, was attacked by the Israeli Navy at approximately 6am (UST) in international waters, roughly 90 miles off the coast of Gaza. Several Israeli warships surrounded the small, human rights boat, firing live ammunition around it, then intentionally ramming it three times. According to ship's captain Denis Healy, the Israeli attack came, ""without any warning, or any provocation."
Caoimhe Butterly, an organizer with the Free Gaza Movement, stated that, "The gunboats gave us no warning. They came up out of the darkness firing flares and flashing huge flood lights into our faces. We were so shocked that at first we didn't react. We knew we were well within international waters and supposedly safe from attack. They rammed us three times, hitting the side of the boat hard. We began taking on water and, for a few minutes, we all feared for our lives. After they rammed us, they started screaming at us as we were frantically getting the life boats ready and putting on our life jackets. They kept yelling that if we didn't turn back they would shoot us."
Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate, was traveling to Gaza aboard the Dignity in order to assess the impact of Israel's military onslaught against the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. According to McKinney, "Israeli patrol boats...tracked us for about 30 minutes...and then all of a sudden they rammed us approximately three times, twice in the front and once in the side...the Israelis indicated that [they felt] we were involved in terrorist activities."
The Dignity departed from Larnaca Port in Cyprus at 7pm (UST) on Monday 29 December with a cargo of over 3 tons of desperately needed medical supplies donated to Gaza by the people of Cyprus. Three surgeons were also aboard, traveling to Gaza to volunteer in overwhelmed hospitals and clinics. The ship was searched by Cypriot Port authorities prior to departure, and its passenger list was made public.
Israel's deplorable attack on the unarmed Dignity is a violation of both international maritime law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which states that "the high seas should be reserved for peaceful purposes."
Delivering doctors and urgently needed medical supplies to civilians is a just such a "peaceful purpose." Deliberately ramming a mercy ship and endangering its passengers is an act of terrorism.
CALL the Israeli Government and demand that it immediately STOP attacking the civilian population of Gaza and STOP using violence to prevent human rights and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.
Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office at:
+972 2670 5354 or +972 5 0620 3264
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il
Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence at:
+972 3697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
mediasar@mod.gov.il
Major Liebovitz from the Israeli Navy at:
+ 972 5 781 86248
###
The Free Gaza Movement, a human rights group, sent two boats to Gaza in August 2008. These were the first international boats to land in the port in 41 years. Since August, four more voyages were successful, taking Parliamentarians, human rights workers, and other dignitaries to witness the effects of Israel's draconian policies on the civilians of Gaza.
http://www.freegaza.org/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Israeli Gunboats Came out of the Darkness and Rammed us Three Times
For more information, please contact:
(Gaza) Ewa Jasiewicz, +972 598 700 497 / freelance@mailworks.org
(Cyprus) Lubna Masarwa +357 99 081 767 / lubnna@gmail.com
(Lebanon) Caoimhe Butterly +961 70 875 727 / sahara78@hotmail.co.uk http://www.freegaza.org/
(Lebanon, Tuesday 30 December) - Today the Free Gaza ship "Dignity"
carefully made its way to safe harbor in Tyre, Lebanon's southern-most port city, after receiving serious structural damage when Israeli warships rammed its bow and the port side. Waiting to greet the passengers and crew were thousands of Lebanese who came out to show their solidarity with this attempt to deliver volunteer doctors and desperately needed medical supplies to war-ravaged Gaza. The Lebanese government has pledged to provide a forensic analysis of what happened in the dark morning, when Israel rammed the civilian ship in international waters, and put the people on board in danger of losing their lives.
The Dignity, on a mission of mercy to besieged Gaza, was attacked by the Israeli Navy at approximately 6am (UST) in international waters, roughly 90 miles off the coast of Gaza. Several Israeli warships surrounded the small, human rights boat, firing live ammunition around it, then intentionally ramming it three times. According to ship's captain Denis Healy, the Israeli attack came, ""without any warning, or any provocation."
Caoimhe Butterly, an organizer with the Free Gaza Movement, stated that, "The gunboats gave us no warning. They came up out of the darkness firing flares and flashing huge flood lights into our faces. We were so shocked that at first we didn't react. We knew we were well within international waters and supposedly safe from attack. They rammed us three times, hitting the side of the boat hard. We began taking on water and, for a few minutes, we all feared for our lives. After they rammed us, they started screaming at us as we were frantically getting the life boats ready and putting on our life jackets. They kept yelling that if we didn't turn back they would shoot us."
Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate, was traveling to Gaza aboard the Dignity in order to assess the impact of Israel's military onslaught against the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. According to McKinney, "Israeli patrol boats...tracked us for about 30 minutes...and then all of a sudden they rammed us approximately three times, twice in the front and once in the side...the Israelis indicated that [they felt] we were involved in terrorist activities."
The Dignity departed from Larnaca Port in Cyprus at 7pm (UST) on Monday 29 December with a cargo of over 3 tons of desperately needed medical supplies donated to Gaza by the people of Cyprus. Three surgeons were also aboard, traveling to Gaza to volunteer in overwhelmed hospitals and clinics. The ship was searched by Cypriot Port authorities prior to departure, and its passenger list was made public.
Israel's deplorable attack on the unarmed Dignity is a violation of both international maritime law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which states that "the high seas should be reserved for peaceful purposes."
Delivering doctors and urgently needed medical supplies to civilians is a just such a "peaceful purpose." Deliberately ramming a mercy ship and endangering its passengers is an act of terrorism.
CALL the Israeli Government and demand that it immediately STOP attacking the civilian population of Gaza and STOP using violence to prevent human rights and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.
Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office at:
+972 2670 5354 or +972 5 0620 3264
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il
Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence at:
+972 3697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
mediasar@mod.gov.il
Major Liebovitz from the Israeli Navy at:
+ 972 5 781 86248
###
The Free Gaza Movement, a human rights group, sent two boats to Gaza in August 2008. These were the first international boats to land in the port in 41 years. Since August, four more voyages were successful, taking Parliamentarians, human rights workers, and other dignitaries to witness the effects of Israel's draconian policies on the civilians of Gaza.
http://www.freegaza.org/
Monday, December 29, 2008
URGENT! Israeli Navy Attacking Civilian Mercy Ship!
TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY!
The Dignity, a Free Gaza boat on a mission of mercy to besieged Gaza, is being attacked by the Israeli Navy in international waters. The Dignity has been surrounded by at least half-a-dozen Israeli warships. They are firing live ammunition around the Dignity, and one of the warships has rammed the civilian craft causing an unknown amount of damage. Contrary to international maritime law, the Israelis are actively preventing the Dignity from approaching Gaza or finding safe haven in either Egypt or Lebanon. Instead, the Israeli navy is demanding that the Dignity return to Cyprus - despite the fact that the ship does not carry enough fuel to do so. Fortunately, no one aboard the ship has yet been seriously injured.
There are 15 civilian passengers representing 11 different countries (see below for a complete list). At approximately 5am (UST), well out in international waters, Israeli warships began surrounding the Dignity, threatening the ship. At 6:45am (UST) we were able to establish brief contact with the crew and were told that the ship had been rammed by the Israeli Navy in international waters, and that the Israelis were preventing the ship from finding safe harbor. We heard heavy gunfire in the background before all contact was lost with the Dignity.
It is urgent that you TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION!
CALL the Israeli Government and demand that it immediately STOP attacking the Dignity and endangering the lives of its passengers!
CALL Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office at:
+972 2670 5354 or +972 5062 3264
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il
CALL Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence at:
+972 33697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
mediasar@mod.gov.il
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Dignity departed from Larnaca Port in Cyprus at 7pm (UST) on Monday 29 December, bound for war-devastated Gaza with a cargo of over 3 tons of desperately needed medical supplies donated by the people of Cyprus. At our request, the ship was searched by Cypriot Port authorities prior to departure, to certify that there was nothing "threatening" aboard - only emergency medical supplies.
TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY TO STOP THE ISRAELI NAVY FROM ENDANGERING THE DIGNITY AND ITS PASSENGERS!
Civilians aboard the Dignity being threatened by the Israeli military:
(UK) Denis Healey, Captain
Captain of the Dignity, Denis has been involved with boats for 45 years, beginning with small fishing boats in Portsmouth. He learned to sail while atschool and has been part of the sea ever since. He's a certified yachtmaster and has also worked on heavy marine equipment from yachts to large dredgers. This is his fourth trip to Gaza.
(Greece) Nikolas Bolos, First Mate
Nikolas is a chemical engineer and human rights activist. He has served as a crewmember on several Free Gaza voyages, including the first one in August.
(Jordan) Othman Abu Falah
Othman is a senior producer with Al-Jazeera Television. He will remain in Gaza to report on the ongoing military onslaught.
(Australia) Renee Bowyer
Renee is a schoolteacher and human rights activist. She will remain in Gaza to do human rights monitoring and reporting.
(Ireland) Caoimhe Butterly
Caoimhe is a reknowned human rights activist and Gaza Coordinator for the Free Gaza Movement. She will be remaining in Gaza to do human rights monitoring, assist with relief efforts, and work on project development with Free Gaza.
(Cyprus) Ekaterini Christodulou
Ekaterini is a well-known and respected freelance journalist in Cyprus.
She is traveling to Gaza to report on the conflict.
(Sudan) Sami El-Haj
Sami is a former detainee at Guantanamo Bay, and head of the human rights section at Al-Jazeera Television. He will remain in Gaza to report on the ongoing military onslaught.
(UK) Dr. David Halpin
Dr. Halpin is an experienced orthopaedic surgeon, medical professor, and ship's captain. He has organized humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza on several occasions with the Dove and Dolphin. He is traveling to Gaza to volunteer in hospitals and clinics.
(Germany) Dr. Mohamed Issa
Dr. Issa is a pediatric surgeon from Germany. He is traveling to Gaza to volunteer in hospitals and clinics.
(UK/Tunisia) Fathi Jaouadi
Fathi is a television producer and human rights activist. He will remain in Gaza to do human rights monitoring and reporting.
(USA) Cynthia McKinney
Cynthia is a former U.S. Congresswoman from Georgia, and the 2008 Green Party presidential candidate. She is traveling to Gaza to assess the ongoing conflict.
(Cyprus) Martha Paisi
Martha is a senior research fellow and experienced human rights activist.
She is traveling to Gaza to do human rights work and to assist with humanitarian relief efforts.
(UK) Karl Penhaul
Karl Penhaul is a video correspondent for CNN, based out of Bogotá, Colombia. Appointed to this position in February 2004, he covers breaking news around the world utilizing CNN's new laptop-based 'Digital Newsgathering' system. He is traveling to Gaza to report on the ongoing conflict.
(Iraq) Thaer Shaker
Thaer is a cameraman with Al-Jazeera television. He will remain in Gaza to report on the ongoing military onslaught.
(Cyprus) Dr. Elena Theoharous, MP
Dr. Theoharous is a surgeon and a Member of the Cypriot Parliament. She is traveling to Gaza to assess the ongoing conflict, assist with humanitarian relief efforts, and volunteer in hospitals.
The Dignity, a Free Gaza boat on a mission of mercy to besieged Gaza, is being attacked by the Israeli Navy in international waters. The Dignity has been surrounded by at least half-a-dozen Israeli warships. They are firing live ammunition around the Dignity, and one of the warships has rammed the civilian craft causing an unknown amount of damage. Contrary to international maritime law, the Israelis are actively preventing the Dignity from approaching Gaza or finding safe haven in either Egypt or Lebanon. Instead, the Israeli navy is demanding that the Dignity return to Cyprus - despite the fact that the ship does not carry enough fuel to do so. Fortunately, no one aboard the ship has yet been seriously injured.
There are 15 civilian passengers representing 11 different countries (see below for a complete list). At approximately 5am (UST), well out in international waters, Israeli warships began surrounding the Dignity, threatening the ship. At 6:45am (UST) we were able to establish brief contact with the crew and were told that the ship had been rammed by the Israeli Navy in international waters, and that the Israelis were preventing the ship from finding safe harbor. We heard heavy gunfire in the background before all contact was lost with the Dignity.
It is urgent that you TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION!
CALL the Israeli Government and demand that it immediately STOP attacking the Dignity and endangering the lives of its passengers!
CALL Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office at:
+972 2670 5354 or +972 5062 3264
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il
CALL Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence at:
+972 33697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
mediasar@mod.gov.il
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Dignity departed from Larnaca Port in Cyprus at 7pm (UST) on Monday 29 December, bound for war-devastated Gaza with a cargo of over 3 tons of desperately needed medical supplies donated by the people of Cyprus. At our request, the ship was searched by Cypriot Port authorities prior to departure, to certify that there was nothing "threatening" aboard - only emergency medical supplies.
TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY TO STOP THE ISRAELI NAVY FROM ENDANGERING THE DIGNITY AND ITS PASSENGERS!
Civilians aboard the Dignity being threatened by the Israeli military:
(UK) Denis Healey, Captain
Captain of the Dignity, Denis has been involved with boats for 45 years, beginning with small fishing boats in Portsmouth. He learned to sail while atschool and has been part of the sea ever since. He's a certified yachtmaster and has also worked on heavy marine equipment from yachts to large dredgers. This is his fourth trip to Gaza.
(Greece) Nikolas Bolos, First Mate
Nikolas is a chemical engineer and human rights activist. He has served as a crewmember on several Free Gaza voyages, including the first one in August.
(Jordan) Othman Abu Falah
Othman is a senior producer with Al-Jazeera Television. He will remain in Gaza to report on the ongoing military onslaught.
(Australia) Renee Bowyer
Renee is a schoolteacher and human rights activist. She will remain in Gaza to do human rights monitoring and reporting.
(Ireland) Caoimhe Butterly
Caoimhe is a reknowned human rights activist and Gaza Coordinator for the Free Gaza Movement. She will be remaining in Gaza to do human rights monitoring, assist with relief efforts, and work on project development with Free Gaza.
(Cyprus) Ekaterini Christodulou
Ekaterini is a well-known and respected freelance journalist in Cyprus.
She is traveling to Gaza to report on the conflict.
(Sudan) Sami El-Haj
Sami is a former detainee at Guantanamo Bay, and head of the human rights section at Al-Jazeera Television. He will remain in Gaza to report on the ongoing military onslaught.
(UK) Dr. David Halpin
Dr. Halpin is an experienced orthopaedic surgeon, medical professor, and ship's captain. He has organized humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza on several occasions with the Dove and Dolphin. He is traveling to Gaza to volunteer in hospitals and clinics.
(Germany) Dr. Mohamed Issa
Dr. Issa is a pediatric surgeon from Germany. He is traveling to Gaza to volunteer in hospitals and clinics.
(UK/Tunisia) Fathi Jaouadi
Fathi is a television producer and human rights activist. He will remain in Gaza to do human rights monitoring and reporting.
(USA) Cynthia McKinney
Cynthia is a former U.S. Congresswoman from Georgia, and the 2008 Green Party presidential candidate. She is traveling to Gaza to assess the ongoing conflict.
(Cyprus) Martha Paisi
Martha is a senior research fellow and experienced human rights activist.
She is traveling to Gaza to do human rights work and to assist with humanitarian relief efforts.
(UK) Karl Penhaul
Karl Penhaul is a video correspondent for CNN, based out of Bogotá, Colombia. Appointed to this position in February 2004, he covers breaking news around the world utilizing CNN's new laptop-based 'Digital Newsgathering' system. He is traveling to Gaza to report on the ongoing conflict.
(Iraq) Thaer Shaker
Thaer is a cameraman with Al-Jazeera television. He will remain in Gaza to report on the ongoing military onslaught.
(Cyprus) Dr. Elena Theoharous, MP
Dr. Theoharous is a surgeon and a Member of the Cypriot Parliament. She is traveling to Gaza to assess the ongoing conflict, assist with humanitarian relief efforts, and volunteer in hospitals.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
News from Gaza - inside the open air prison
First - A short video showing life in Gaza today (actually, before the Israeli attacks), the reality of a Gaza cut off from the world, from food, fuel and even the humanitarian supplies necessitated by the failure of diplomatic efforts: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DSzn7XLLM7c&eurl=&feature=player_embedded
"Slouching Toward a Palestinian Holocaust", an article by American Jewish writer and diplomat, Richard Falk - an insightful (although long and involved) reflection, written in 2007, which sheds light on events in Gaza these past two days: http://www.transnational.org/Area_MiddleEast/2007/Falk_PalestineGenocide.html
Another article by Sara Roy, to be published January 1 in the London Review of Books - summarizes the recent history of the blockade of Gaza and the roles of the U.S., Israel, the U.N. and others in the failure of the peace process: http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n01/print/roy_01_.html
All three of these resources provided by Sam Bahour in Ramallah, who publishes eNews about what is going on inside the Palestinian areas. To subscribe to his list, go to: http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/epalestine To subscribe to his listserve, send mail to:epalestine-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
"Slouching Toward a Palestinian Holocaust", an article by American Jewish writer and diplomat, Richard Falk - an insightful (although long and involved) reflection, written in 2007, which sheds light on events in Gaza these past two days: http://www.transnational.org/Area_MiddleEast/2007/Falk_PalestineGenocide.html
Another article by Sara Roy, to be published January 1 in the London Review of Books - summarizes the recent history of the blockade of Gaza and the roles of the U.S., Israel, the U.N. and others in the failure of the peace process: http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n01/print/roy_01_.html
All three of these resources provided by Sam Bahour in Ramallah, who publishes eNews about what is going on inside the Palestinian areas. To subscribe to his list, go to: http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/epalestine To subscribe to his listserve, send mail to:epalestine-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sign the Ecumenical Christian Letter to President-elect Obama
American Christian leaders and congregants of the Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant traditions are joining together to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and urge President-elect Obama to make Israeli-Palestinian peace an immediate priority of his Administration.
Please add your name to the Christian Call for Holy Land Peace today and join your fellow American Christians in supporting vigorous diplomatic efforts to secure a just and lasting two-state solution: http://action.cmep.org/t/4030/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=173
Please add your name to the Christian Call for Holy Land Peace today and join your fellow American Christians in supporting vigorous diplomatic efforts to secure a just and lasting two-state solution: http://action.cmep.org/t/4030/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=173
FREE THE SHMINISTIM – Israel's Young Conscientious Objectors
FREE THE SHMINISTIM – ISRAEL'S YOUNG CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. The Shministim are Israeli high school students who have been imprisoned for refusing to serve in an army that occupies the Palestinian Territories. Join Howard Zinn, Rela Mazali, Ed Asner and Aurora Levins-Morales and show your support by contacting the Israeli Minister of Defense using the form below. Israeli peace activists will hand-deliver your message on December 18th, the Shministim Day of Action. 14,000 LETTERS AND COUNTING!
This is Tamar Katz, Age 19 
Location: Tel-Aviv
Why I am one of the Shministim:“I refuse to enlist in the Israeli military on conscientious grounds. I am not willing to become part of an occupying army, that has been an invader of foreign lands for decades, which perpetuates a racist regime of robbery in these lands, tyrannizes civilians and makes life difficult for millions under a false pretext of security.”
First Sentence: 28th Sept. - 10th Oct. 2008 (12 days)
Second Sentence: 12th - 30th Oct. 2008 (18 days)
Third Sentence: 1st - 22nd Dec. 2008 (21 days)
Learn more: http://december18th.org/
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Press TV coverage of 4th Blockade-Busting Boat Arrival into Gaza
Watch the video of the fourth "Free Gaza" boat arriving in Gaza with academics, doctors and medical supplies for Gaza - breaking Israel's blockade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYqPnrkHZXA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYqPnrkHZXA
Monday, December 8, 2008
'Free Gaza" Ship to Break Blockade Again!
‘Free Gaza’ Ship to Break Through Israeli Blockade for the Fourth Time
For More Information, please contact:
(Gaza) Caoimhe Butterly, +972 598 273 960
(Cyprus/Gaza) Lubna Masarwa, +972 505 633 044
(Cyprus) Ramzi Kysia , +357 99 081 767
(LARNACA, 8 December 2008) - The Free Gaza Movement announced today that it would send a delegation from Cyprus to Gaza aboard their blockade-busting ship, the Dignity, at 11pm, Monday, 8 December. The Free Gaza Movement has successfully challenged the siege on three previous occasions this year, landing missions in Gaza in August, October, and November. Free Gaza ships are the first to dock in Gaza Port in over 41 years.
Israel maintains absolute control over Gaza’s borders and airspace, and has imposed an increasingly brutal blockade on its 1.5 million civilians for over two years, drastically increasing poverty and malnutrition rates.
Over 700 students are currently trapped in Gaza, while Israel denies their right to attend universities abroad.
In a statement released by Drs. Jonathan Rosenhead Mike Cushman, of the London School of Economics, the academics stated that they were pleased to be traveling to Gaza aboard the Dignity, and that, "This siege is an affront to any idea of academic freedom or human rights. We, working for a British university, have the freedom to teach and study, this must be a universal right, not at the discretion of an occupying power. How can anyone justify preventing young people from fulfilling their potential and learning how to serve their community more fully?"
In addition to the British academics, this fourth voyage will include a British surgeon traveling to Gaza to volunteer in local hospitals for the next several weeks, as well as international human rights workers and journalists. The ship will also be carrying in one ton of medical supplies and high-protein baby formula. In recent days, Israel has forcibly intervened to prevent other such missions from reaching Gaza.
Lubna Masarwa, one of the Free Gaza organizers, stated that, "Gaza doesn’t need charity. What Gaza needs is sustained political action aimed at overcoming this vicious siege. We have no intention of turning around, and so we’re confident that we will reach Gaza. We are unarmed civilians carrying desperately needed supplies to other unarmed civilians. It would be obscene for Israel to use violence to stop us."
The passengers on board the Dignity this Saturday will include:
• British academics on a fact-finding mission to document the devastating affects Israel’s siege has had on the educational sector in Gaza • A British surgeon traveling to Gaza to volunteer in local hospitals for the next several weeks • A Palestinian man who has been denied the right to return to his family in Gaza • International human rights workers • International journalists from Al-Jazeera TV and McClatchy Newspapers
For More Information, please contact:
(Gaza) Caoimhe Butterly, +972 598 273 960
(Cyprus/Gaza) Lubna Masarwa, +972 505 633 044
(Cyprus) Ramzi Kysia , +357 99 081 767
(LARNACA, 8 December 2008) - The Free Gaza Movement announced today that it would send a delegation from Cyprus to Gaza aboard their blockade-busting ship, the Dignity, at 11pm, Monday, 8 December. The Free Gaza Movement has successfully challenged the siege on three previous occasions this year, landing missions in Gaza in August, October, and November. Free Gaza ships are the first to dock in Gaza Port in over 41 years.
Israel maintains absolute control over Gaza’s borders and airspace, and has imposed an increasingly brutal blockade on its 1.5 million civilians for over two years, drastically increasing poverty and malnutrition rates.
Over 700 students are currently trapped in Gaza, while Israel denies their right to attend universities abroad.
In a statement released by Drs. Jonathan Rosenhead Mike Cushman, of the London School of Economics, the academics stated that they were pleased to be traveling to Gaza aboard the Dignity, and that, "This siege is an affront to any idea of academic freedom or human rights. We, working for a British university, have the freedom to teach and study, this must be a universal right, not at the discretion of an occupying power. How can anyone justify preventing young people from fulfilling their potential and learning how to serve their community more fully?"
In addition to the British academics, this fourth voyage will include a British surgeon traveling to Gaza to volunteer in local hospitals for the next several weeks, as well as international human rights workers and journalists. The ship will also be carrying in one ton of medical supplies and high-protein baby formula. In recent days, Israel has forcibly intervened to prevent other such missions from reaching Gaza.
Lubna Masarwa, one of the Free Gaza organizers, stated that, "Gaza doesn’t need charity. What Gaza needs is sustained political action aimed at overcoming this vicious siege. We have no intention of turning around, and so we’re confident that we will reach Gaza. We are unarmed civilians carrying desperately needed supplies to other unarmed civilians. It would be obscene for Israel to use violence to stop us."
The passengers on board the Dignity this Saturday will include:
• British academics on a fact-finding mission to document the devastating affects Israel’s siege has had on the educational sector in Gaza • A British surgeon traveling to Gaza to volunteer in local hospitals for the next several weeks • A Palestinian man who has been denied the right to return to his family in Gaza • International human rights workers • International journalists from Al-Jazeera TV and McClatchy Newspapers
Sunday, December 7, 2008
American peace activist Darlene Wallach's story of her arrest
a news story by Eileen Fleming about the arrest of an American peace advocate of non-violence n the Middle East (more of her story on the previous posting below)---
December 6, 2008
On November 18, 2008, Darlene Wallach of California was kidnapped atgunpoint by Israeli forces and deported to New York City onThanksgiving Day. She arrived without money, passport, cell phone,warm winter clothes and had no way of contacting her family andfriends in California, London, or Cyprus.
Darlene spoke to me on the phone from the home of the parents of an International Solidarity Movement/ISM activist who met her at JFKAirport.
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led NONVIOLENT movement that resists the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land in creative and always nonviolent ways. ISM wasfounded by a few committed thoughtful people in August, 2001. ISMsupports and strengthens the NONVIOLENT Palestinian popularresistance front by providing international presence and a voice thatwill not be silenced.
Darlene began and ended our conversation talking about why she "willreturn to Gaza. It is because of the people of Gaza. It is theirspirit, courage, resilience, kindness, warmth, hospitality, love andresistance to the occupation that pulls me back."
Twice, Darlene has been to Gaza and arrested and deported by IsraeliForces.
Her first visit was in 2002. While in the Balata Refugee camp she wasarrested along with seven other nonviolent internationals who werethere bearing witness to the collective punishment of Palestinians.All eight were arrested and deported, but that did not stop Darlenefrom returning for more.
Darlene arrived in Gaza for her second time, aboard the SS Liberty onAugust 23, 2008. She was arrested this time along with Andrew Munciefrom Scotland and Victor Arrigoni from Italy who had arrived at thesame time and had remained in Gaza until they were kidnapped byIsraeli Forces on November 18, 2008.Darlene said, "
I told the American Embassy I wanted to be deported toLondon or Cypress where I have many friends as I had no money did notknow anyone in New York and had no means of contacting anyone. Their response was to issue me passport valid for one month which becomeinvalid once I entered the USA. The two Embassy employees kindly gaveme fifty five dollars out of their own pockets, but the AmericanEmbassy, whose job it is to take care of American citizens and myCongressional Representative, whose job it is to represent me, failedme…
"It began around ten in the morning on the 18th. I was with 15 fishermen and Andrew and Vittorio; all on three typical woodenPalestinian fishing boats. The usual response from the Israeli Naval Forces who illegally invade Gaza water zones, is to shoot machineguns, canons, grenades. They do a lot of damage to the boats withtargeted high pressure water canons. Those water canons have crackedpeoples ribs and one of the nonviolent activists was nearly washedover board from the force. The Palestinian fishing boats havesustained a lot of damage from the high pressured water fired fromthe water canon. The Israeli navy has also used some kind of "dirtywater". We still don't know what the Israeli Forces are mixing inthat water, but it smells like putrid sewage and they wear protectiveclothing - masks, gloves and what ever else, to keep themselvesprotected from the liquid they shoot at the fishing boats, the catchin the nets and at the Palestinian fishermen and internationals whoare in Gaza territorial waters."
On that Tuesday morning, the Israeli Forces had three gunboats thatwere joined by five Zodiacs. Zodiacs are inflatable, high-speedmaneuverable water craft. The Zodiacs came right up to each woodenfishing boat one at a time. I saw them board the boat Andrew was on -he raised his arms above his head and they put a life vest on him andput him on the Zodiac. Then more Israeli Forces boarded that boat andbegan putting the Palestinian fishermen on another Zodiac. Usuallythe Israeli Forces do not board the fishing boats. They order thefishermen to strip and then swim over to the Israeli boat. This timewas different…"
After they finished with the boat Andrew was on, a Zodiac came andIsraeli Forces boarded the boat I was on. One of the Israelis said inEnglish "you are in Israel."
"We were in Gaza waters and I did not want to go to Israel, but theIsraeli Forces kidnapped me at gunpoint and forced me to Israelagainst my will. We were told in English to raise our hands."
I said, 'I want to stay with my friends. I want to stay on theboat.' The three notebooks I had with me were confiscated. Atgunpoint I was forced off the Palestinian boat, onto the IsraeliZodiac and then onto the Israeli gunboat."
I saw the Palestinian fishermen, blindfolded and handcuffed, takenfrom the boat Andrew was on. I said I wanted to stay with my friendson the deck. I was then forced below to the second level and Ifinally saw Andrew again. He was handcuffed and sitting at a table ina galley-kitchen area. We started to talk and were ordered to shutup. The Israeli Forces separated us and later they brought Vittorio in."
Vittorio looked awful! I was very concerned about him, but didn'tlearn until much later that he had been tasered while holding onto ametal structure on the roof of the fishing boat. He ended up in thecold water and I am assuming he was suffering from hypothermia; hewas barefoot, and shivering!"
When we arrived in Ashdod and as I was being taken off the Israeligunboat I saw the Palestinian fishermen, blindfolded and handcuffedsitting on the deck. I yelled, in Arabic, that they were my dearfriends and I will see them again."
I was questioned by many Israelis and my response was that I was nottalking to anyone or answering any questions without my attorneypresent."
All of my belongings — cell phones, cameras, keys to my apartment,everything was confiscated and while in Israeli custody, I was takento Ben Gurion Airport for an audience with the Minister of the Interior."
I told him-and every other inquisitor that I wasn't answering anyquestions without my attorney. His response was, 'We are done!'"
I do not know what charges were filed against me. I was held in thewomen's compound in the men's prison at Ramle that held people withvisa violations. So I'm assuming I was there for being in Israelwithout a visa - pretty ridiculous given I was forced to go to Israelat gunpoint against my will. Israel deported me against my will backto America. I wanted to go to London or Cypress, but my requests wereignored. My belongings were not returned to me - my cell phone, mythree notebooks, my keys to the apartment!"
When I saw the Zodiacs, I tried to text on my cell phone but therewas no network. By some miracle, I received a phone call and told theperson what was happening. A little later the captain, Adham, handedme his phone as Fida, the ISM-Gaza Strip Palestinian coordinatorcalled to talk with me, she could not get through on my phone. If Ihad not received that first phone call I don't know how our friendsin Gaza would have known what happened to us."
Usually Israel will hold Gaza fishing men and their boats for weeksor months at a time. This time the men were released the followingday and their boat a week later. The Israeli Forces damaged a motoron one and stole all the GPS units."
On this trip 15 men who usually remain at sea for two days at atime, were denied their catch and that resulted in denying hundredsof children some protein! Hundreds of people were impacted just fromthis one illegal action by Israeli Forces. The families and everyoneconnected with the three Palestinian fishing boats were without theirsource of food and income for ten days — longer for the damaged boat.
"The thing that pulls me back to Gaza is the people. The Palestinianshave touched my heart and I will continue to work in solidarity withthem and I will return to Gaza."
(ed. note from Jan) To see a video of the Israeli Navy using water cannons to harrass Gazan fishermen, see "A Day in the Life of a Gaza Fisherman: http://redressnewsblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/video-day-in-life-of-gazan-fisherman.html
Eileen Fleming is the author of Keep Hope Alive and Memoirs of a Nice Irish American Girl's' Life in Occupied Territory and the producer of 30 Minutes With Vanunu. Email her at ecumei@gmail.com. Read otherarticles by Eileen, or visit Eileen's website: http://www.wearewideawake.org/
December 6, 2008
On November 18, 2008, Darlene Wallach of California was kidnapped atgunpoint by Israeli forces and deported to New York City onThanksgiving Day. She arrived without money, passport, cell phone,warm winter clothes and had no way of contacting her family andfriends in California, London, or Cyprus.
Darlene spoke to me on the phone from the home of the parents of an International Solidarity Movement/ISM activist who met her at JFKAirport.
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led NONVIOLENT movement that resists the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land in creative and always nonviolent ways. ISM wasfounded by a few committed thoughtful people in August, 2001. ISMsupports and strengthens the NONVIOLENT Palestinian popularresistance front by providing international presence and a voice thatwill not be silenced.
Darlene began and ended our conversation talking about why she "willreturn to Gaza. It is because of the people of Gaza. It is theirspirit, courage, resilience, kindness, warmth, hospitality, love andresistance to the occupation that pulls me back."
Twice, Darlene has been to Gaza and arrested and deported by IsraeliForces.
Her first visit was in 2002. While in the Balata Refugee camp she wasarrested along with seven other nonviolent internationals who werethere bearing witness to the collective punishment of Palestinians.All eight were arrested and deported, but that did not stop Darlenefrom returning for more.
Darlene arrived in Gaza for her second time, aboard the SS Liberty onAugust 23, 2008. She was arrested this time along with Andrew Munciefrom Scotland and Victor Arrigoni from Italy who had arrived at thesame time and had remained in Gaza until they were kidnapped byIsraeli Forces on November 18, 2008.Darlene said, "
I told the American Embassy I wanted to be deported toLondon or Cypress where I have many friends as I had no money did notknow anyone in New York and had no means of contacting anyone. Their response was to issue me passport valid for one month which becomeinvalid once I entered the USA. The two Embassy employees kindly gaveme fifty five dollars out of their own pockets, but the AmericanEmbassy, whose job it is to take care of American citizens and myCongressional Representative, whose job it is to represent me, failedme…
"It began around ten in the morning on the 18th. I was with 15 fishermen and Andrew and Vittorio; all on three typical woodenPalestinian fishing boats. The usual response from the Israeli Naval Forces who illegally invade Gaza water zones, is to shoot machineguns, canons, grenades. They do a lot of damage to the boats withtargeted high pressure water canons. Those water canons have crackedpeoples ribs and one of the nonviolent activists was nearly washedover board from the force. The Palestinian fishing boats havesustained a lot of damage from the high pressured water fired fromthe water canon. The Israeli navy has also used some kind of "dirtywater". We still don't know what the Israeli Forces are mixing inthat water, but it smells like putrid sewage and they wear protectiveclothing - masks, gloves and what ever else, to keep themselvesprotected from the liquid they shoot at the fishing boats, the catchin the nets and at the Palestinian fishermen and internationals whoare in Gaza territorial waters."
On that Tuesday morning, the Israeli Forces had three gunboats thatwere joined by five Zodiacs. Zodiacs are inflatable, high-speedmaneuverable water craft. The Zodiacs came right up to each woodenfishing boat one at a time. I saw them board the boat Andrew was on -he raised his arms above his head and they put a life vest on him andput him on the Zodiac. Then more Israeli Forces boarded that boat andbegan putting the Palestinian fishermen on another Zodiac. Usuallythe Israeli Forces do not board the fishing boats. They order thefishermen to strip and then swim over to the Israeli boat. This timewas different…"
After they finished with the boat Andrew was on, a Zodiac came andIsraeli Forces boarded the boat I was on. One of the Israelis said inEnglish "you are in Israel."
"We were in Gaza waters and I did not want to go to Israel, but theIsraeli Forces kidnapped me at gunpoint and forced me to Israelagainst my will. We were told in English to raise our hands."
I said, 'I want to stay with my friends. I want to stay on theboat.' The three notebooks I had with me were confiscated. Atgunpoint I was forced off the Palestinian boat, onto the IsraeliZodiac and then onto the Israeli gunboat."
I saw the Palestinian fishermen, blindfolded and handcuffed, takenfrom the boat Andrew was on. I said I wanted to stay with my friendson the deck. I was then forced below to the second level and Ifinally saw Andrew again. He was handcuffed and sitting at a table ina galley-kitchen area. We started to talk and were ordered to shutup. The Israeli Forces separated us and later they brought Vittorio in."
Vittorio looked awful! I was very concerned about him, but didn'tlearn until much later that he had been tasered while holding onto ametal structure on the roof of the fishing boat. He ended up in thecold water and I am assuming he was suffering from hypothermia; hewas barefoot, and shivering!"
When we arrived in Ashdod and as I was being taken off the Israeligunboat I saw the Palestinian fishermen, blindfolded and handcuffedsitting on the deck. I yelled, in Arabic, that they were my dearfriends and I will see them again."
I was questioned by many Israelis and my response was that I was nottalking to anyone or answering any questions without my attorneypresent."
All of my belongings — cell phones, cameras, keys to my apartment,everything was confiscated and while in Israeli custody, I was takento Ben Gurion Airport for an audience with the Minister of the Interior."
I told him-and every other inquisitor that I wasn't answering anyquestions without my attorney. His response was, 'We are done!'"
I do not know what charges were filed against me. I was held in thewomen's compound in the men's prison at Ramle that held people withvisa violations. So I'm assuming I was there for being in Israelwithout a visa - pretty ridiculous given I was forced to go to Israelat gunpoint against my will. Israel deported me against my will backto America. I wanted to go to London or Cypress, but my requests wereignored. My belongings were not returned to me - my cell phone, mythree notebooks, my keys to the apartment!"
When I saw the Zodiacs, I tried to text on my cell phone but therewas no network. By some miracle, I received a phone call and told theperson what was happening. A little later the captain, Adham, handedme his phone as Fida, the ISM-Gaza Strip Palestinian coordinatorcalled to talk with me, she could not get through on my phone. If Ihad not received that first phone call I don't know how our friendsin Gaza would have known what happened to us."
Usually Israel will hold Gaza fishing men and their boats for weeksor months at a time. This time the men were released the followingday and their boat a week later. The Israeli Forces damaged a motoron one and stole all the GPS units."
On this trip 15 men who usually remain at sea for two days at atime, were denied their catch and that resulted in denying hundredsof children some protein! Hundreds of people were impacted just fromthis one illegal action by Israeli Forces. The families and everyoneconnected with the three Palestinian fishing boats were without theirsource of food and income for ten days — longer for the damaged boat.
"The thing that pulls me back to Gaza is the people. The Palestinianshave touched my heart and I will continue to work in solidarity withthem and I will return to Gaza."
(ed. note from Jan) To see a video of the Israeli Navy using water cannons to harrass Gazan fishermen, see "A Day in the Life of a Gaza Fisherman: http://redressnewsblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/video-day-in-life-of-gazan-fisherman.html
Eileen Fleming is the author of Keep Hope Alive and Memoirs of a Nice Irish American Girl's' Life in Occupied Territory and the producer of 30 Minutes With Vanunu. Email her at ecumei@gmail.com. Read otherarticles by Eileen, or visit Eileen's website: http://www.wearewideawake.org/
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Update on Arrests: Darlene Wallach in Ramle Prison
Darlene Wallach is in a new prison in Ramle, a men's prison, but she's in a section reserved for illegal immigrants.
She wanted to pass on this information, "We were fishing about 7 miles off the shores of Gaza. The Israeli soldiers came on board the three boats via four Zodiacs. The frogmen came up and over each boat. They used a taser on Vik while he was still on the boat, then tried to push him backwards onto a sharp piece of wood. He jumped into the sea to avoid being hurt more than he already was and was in the water for quite a while.Then they came for me and forced me into the Zodiac at the point of a gun. They said, "You are in Israeli territory." even though it was obvious that all three boats were in Palestinian territory. They kidnapped me and Andrew and Vik and all of the Palestinian fishermen.
Today two women from immigration were there to see Darlene. They were very rude. Until just a few minutes ago, Darlene was refused a change of clothes and a mobile, but, thanks to Lubna and a nice woman at the prison, she now has both. The authorities are saying they will refuse to send Darlene to London and want to send her back to the United States.. The judge said she would make a decision today so Darlene is waiting to hear the ruling . She still does not have a passport. She sounded fine, relieved to finally be able to talk to someone outside Israel.
If you know ANY media who would like to interview her, please let me know and I will pass on Darlene's phone number to them. This story is vitally important to get out to the public.-- Greta BerlinMedia TeamFree Gaza Movement357 99 08 17 67www.freegaza.orgwww.anis-online.de/office/events/FreeGazaSong.htmwww.flickr.com/photos/29205195@N02/
She wanted to pass on this information, "We were fishing about 7 miles off the shores of Gaza. The Israeli soldiers came on board the three boats via four Zodiacs. The frogmen came up and over each boat. They used a taser on Vik while he was still on the boat, then tried to push him backwards onto a sharp piece of wood. He jumped into the sea to avoid being hurt more than he already was and was in the water for quite a while.Then they came for me and forced me into the Zodiac at the point of a gun. They said, "You are in Israeli territory." even though it was obvious that all three boats were in Palestinian territory. They kidnapped me and Andrew and Vik and all of the Palestinian fishermen.
Today two women from immigration were there to see Darlene. They were very rude. Until just a few minutes ago, Darlene was refused a change of clothes and a mobile, but, thanks to Lubna and a nice woman at the prison, she now has both. The authorities are saying they will refuse to send Darlene to London and want to send her back to the United States.. The judge said she would make a decision today so Darlene is waiting to hear the ruling . She still does not have a passport. She sounded fine, relieved to finally be able to talk to someone outside Israel.
If you know ANY media who would like to interview her, please let me know and I will pass on Darlene's phone number to them. This story is vitally important to get out to the public.-- Greta BerlinMedia TeamFree Gaza Movement357 99 08 17 67www.freegaza.orgwww.anis-online.de/office/events/FreeGazaSong.htmwww.flickr.com/photos/29205195@N02/
Israelis Arrest 15 Palestinian Fishermen and 3 Internationals Accompanying Them
Ed. note: This is a press release from the Free Gaza Movement, defying the Israeli blockade by bringing humanitarian supplies and international visitors to Gaza. They have now made three trips from Cyprus to Gaza and have also accompanied fishermen trying to fish in Palestinian waters off the coast of Gaza - the fishermen are routinely shot at and hosed with water cannons as they try to do their work to feed their families and community. See the links at the bottom for photos of the work of the Free Gaza Movement. For a video of the Israeli Navy's harrassment of the fishermen, see "A Day in the Life of a Gaza Fisherman": http://redressnewsblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/video-day-in-life-of-gazan-fisherman.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Caoimhe (Gaza) + 972 598 273 960
Donna (Gaza) + 972 598 836 420
Fida (Gaza - Arabic) – + 972 599 681 669
ISM Media Office - + 972 2-2971824
Fifteen Palestinian fishermen along with three internationals have been kidnapped in Palestinian waters by the Israeli Navy. They were fishing seven miles off the coast of Deir Al Balah, clearly in Gaza fishing waters and well within the fishing limit detailed in the Oslo Accords of 1994.
The fishermen and the human right's observers were transferred from 3 separate boats to the Israeli warships. Other Palestinian fishermen reported that the 3 boats were seen being taken north by the Israeli Navy.
The three internationals are Andrew Muncie from Scotland, Darlene Wallach from the United States and Victor Arrigoni from Italy. The U.K., U.S. and Italian embassies in Tel Aviv have been contacted and know about the abductions.
Please call the Israeli Ministry of Justice at +972 26 46 66 66 and register your outrage over these illegal actions by the Israeli Navy. Then call the Embassies in Jerusalem and make sure they know that many of us are appalled by Israel's illegal search and seizure.
Stephen Brown, UK Consulate +972 25 41 41 00
U.S. Consulate General + 972-2-6227230
Luigi MATTIOLO, Italian Ambassador +972 3 5104004
--
Greta Berlin
Media Team
Free Gaza Movement
357 99 08 17 67
www.freegaza.org
www.anis-online.de/office/events/FreeGazaSong.htm
www.flickr.com/photos/29205195@N02/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Caoimhe (Gaza) + 972 598 273 960
Donna (Gaza) + 972 598 836 420
Fida (Gaza - Arabic) – + 972 599 681 669
ISM Media Office - + 972 2-2971824
Fifteen Palestinian fishermen along with three internationals have been kidnapped in Palestinian waters by the Israeli Navy. They were fishing seven miles off the coast of Deir Al Balah, clearly in Gaza fishing waters and well within the fishing limit detailed in the Oslo Accords of 1994.
The fishermen and the human right's observers were transferred from 3 separate boats to the Israeli warships. Other Palestinian fishermen reported that the 3 boats were seen being taken north by the Israeli Navy.
The three internationals are Andrew Muncie from Scotland, Darlene Wallach from the United States and Victor Arrigoni from Italy. The U.K., U.S. and Italian embassies in Tel Aviv have been contacted and know about the abductions.
Please call the Israeli Ministry of Justice at +972 26 46 66 66 and register your outrage over these illegal actions by the Israeli Navy. Then call the Embassies in Jerusalem and make sure they know that many of us are appalled by Israel's illegal search and seizure.
Stephen Brown, UK Consulate +972 25 41 41 00
U.S. Consulate General + 972-2-6227230
Luigi MATTIOLO, Italian Ambassador +972 3 5104004
--
Greta Berlin
Media Team
Free Gaza Movement
357 99 08 17 67
www.freegaza.org
www.anis-online.de/office/events/FreeGazaSong.htm
www.flickr.com/photos/29205195@N02/
Monday, November 17, 2008
Aftershock - Memories of an Israeli soldier in the Occupied Territories (video)
This video speaks for itself. Their service as paratroopers in the Israeli Defense Force continues to haunt and shape the lives of these young men today. Compellingly honest look at the work of the IDF in Palestinian areas like Gaza, Nablus and Hebron. And what of the people whose lives they traumatized and the families of the people they killed? Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSlQ98r5QXo
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
From Northern Ireland, September 2008
It seems there are people all over the world sensitized to the injustices in Israel and Palestine and working for peace there - a hopeful sign. This photo was taken by Pat Melody on a trip in September of 2008.
More Israeli Attacks on Gazan Fishermen
For Immediate Release
November 9, 2008
Contact: Mary Hughes, Cyprus +357 96 75 00 59
Greta Berlin, Cyprus: +357 99 08 17 67
Osama Qashoo, +44 78 33 38 16 60
Angela Godfrey Goldstein, Jerusalem: +972 547 366 393
Gaza : All day
9:15 am. From a small Palestinian fishing boat, David Schermerhorn watched as Israeli sailors aboard a large Navy Gunboat put on Hazmat suits and masks. Five minutes later, the fishermen and internationals were blasted by water from a cannon mounted atop the gunboat. The water was filthy, with an appalling chemical smell to it.
Listening to David on his satellite phone, we could hear water hitting the cabin, a harsh thumping sound. It was pouring into the cabin as the boat flooded with water that drained out through the back. The sharp staccato of machine guns in the background clearly sounded close to the boat.
Everyone aboard the fishing boat was drenched.
Nikolas Bolos, a chemical engineer from Greece and one of the DIGNITY crew members, collected samples of water in glass containers for later analysis. The three internationals on board reported that, from the moment the boat approached the Israeli-imposed six-mile limit, it came under attack by machine-gun fire and water pulsing out of the powerful cannons.
11:30 am. David, "They have been shooting at us with water cannon off and on for the past two hours. Water has been hitting the boat from only 50 feet away. Vik, the Italian international, was yelling at the Israeli gunboat that there are three internationals on board, and the Palestinians are just fishing. We've moved into the cabin to get away from the heavy water-cannon fire as the gunboat has been trying to break the windows with the water. I've moved away from them just in case they shatter."
Early afternoon. "The gunboat is moving to the front of the fishing boat and is starting to bombard it with water again. There's a real possibility that the boat might break apart from that angle." David whispered from inside the wheelhouse.
5:00 pm, the boats were returning to the port. The boat David was on had brought in about 100 kilos of fish instead of the 1500 kilos they had caught a week before. Throughout the day to protect their catch from contamination by the chemical spray, the fishermen had lowered the nets back into the water. Much of the catch was lost.
"The sun is setting, and all was calm once we passed the 6-mile limit. But we were soaked with whatever was in that water, and we can only hope that none of us will get sick We'll certainly know more tomorrow." David said.
November 9, 2008
Contact: Mary Hughes, Cyprus +357 96 75 00 59
Greta Berlin, Cyprus: +357 99 08 17 67
Osama Qashoo, +44 78 33 38 16 60
Angela Godfrey Goldstein, Jerusalem: +972 547 366 393
Gaza : All day
9:15 am. From a small Palestinian fishing boat, David Schermerhorn watched as Israeli sailors aboard a large Navy Gunboat put on Hazmat suits and masks. Five minutes later, the fishermen and internationals were blasted by water from a cannon mounted atop the gunboat. The water was filthy, with an appalling chemical smell to it.
Listening to David on his satellite phone, we could hear water hitting the cabin, a harsh thumping sound. It was pouring into the cabin as the boat flooded with water that drained out through the back. The sharp staccato of machine guns in the background clearly sounded close to the boat.
Everyone aboard the fishing boat was drenched.
Nikolas Bolos, a chemical engineer from Greece and one of the DIGNITY crew members, collected samples of water in glass containers for later analysis. The three internationals on board reported that, from the moment the boat approached the Israeli-imposed six-mile limit, it came under attack by machine-gun fire and water pulsing out of the powerful cannons.
11:30 am. David, "They have been shooting at us with water cannon off and on for the past two hours. Water has been hitting the boat from only 50 feet away. Vik, the Italian international, was yelling at the Israeli gunboat that there are three internationals on board, and the Palestinians are just fishing. We've moved into the cabin to get away from the heavy water-cannon fire as the gunboat has been trying to break the windows with the water. I've moved away from them just in case they shatter."
Early afternoon. "The gunboat is moving to the front of the fishing boat and is starting to bombard it with water again. There's a real possibility that the boat might break apart from that angle." David whispered from inside the wheelhouse.
5:00 pm, the boats were returning to the port. The boat David was on had brought in about 100 kilos of fish instead of the 1500 kilos they had caught a week before. Throughout the day to protect their catch from contamination by the chemical spray, the fishermen had lowered the nets back into the water. Much of the catch was lost.
"The sun is setting, and all was calm once we passed the 6-mile limit. But we were soaked with whatever was in that water, and we can only hope that none of us will get sick We'll certainly know more tomorrow." David said.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Gazan Fishermen Attacked by Israeli Navy
This information comes from the Free Gaza Movement
See a video of Israeli Navy harrassment of these fishermen. The footage was taken from one Gazan fishing boat on 5 October 2008 as it fished in Gazan waters. 14 fishermen of Gaza have been killed by the Israeli Navy over the past four years as they were fishing off their coast.
For Immediate Release,
November 5, 2008
Contact: Mary Hughes, Cyprus +357 96 750059 Greta Berlin, Cyprus: +357 99 081767
David Schermerhorn, Cyprus +357 977 81 283
Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, Jerusalem: +972 547 366 393
Larnaca. When members of the Free Gaza Movement sailed to Gaza in August, several accompanied fishermen aboard their small boats. Israeli gunboats regularly confine these boats inside a 6-mile Israeli-imposed limit. Although international law allows every Mediterranean sea territory fishing rights 12-20 miles offshore, Israel ignores those laws and has killed at least 14 fishermen over the past few years.
"All we ever wanted to do was fish," said one as he fixed his nets. "We can't feed our families or make money doing what our ancestors have done for thousands of years."
Over the next two months, internationals reported and video taped several incidents of machine-gun fire and water-cannon attacks. Around 8:00 am, on October 31, ten internationals joined the fishermen as witnesses. By 8:30, the two lead boats had passed the Israeli limit. "The second boat was about 100 yards away from us when it was attacked for 30 minutes by a high-pressure water cannon from an Israeli warship. The spray was so powerful you couldn't even see the boat," said David Schermerhorn.
Throughout the day, as the men continued to fish, boats were hit so severely by high-pressure water cannon that only makeshift shutters and mattresses prevented the wheelhouse from flooding and windows from exploding onto the men. Within minutes, the Israeli water-cannon boat was joined by another gunboat, machine gun mounted in back. The gunner blasted multiple rounds within a meter of the fishing boat. Despite continued machine-gun fire, water cannons and three Israeli gunboats circling like sharks, the fishermen stayed out 10-11 miles for a catch.
When Angela Godfrey-Goldstein called Shlomo Dror, Israeli Ministry of Defense spokesman, to tell the Navy to stop machine gunning barely a meter over the heads of fishermen and internationals, he accused the rights advocates of being provocateurs, terrorists, supporters of Hamas. "The people of Gaza have plenty of food. They don't need to go fishing," he snarled.
"When the Ministry of Defense learns that this voyage brings a delegation of European parliamentarians, maybe he will begin to "get it." Average citizens of the world, even decision makers, are up in arms, non-violently, against the collective punishment, the state terrorism of the Israeli government. And we are restoring dignity to those abandoned human beings, just as we would have wanted to do in the past to others in other ghettoes" said Godfrey-Goldstein.
"I had only heard about these episodes before I came to Gaza. I can't begin to tell you the horror these men face every day by bullies in the Israeli Navy," an outraged Schermerhorn added. "What risks they take we don't even know about. The good news was the fishermen were ecstatic when they pulled up the nets. It was one of the largest catches they had had in years.
--
Greta Berlin
Media Team
Free Gaza Movement
357 99 08 17 67
www.freegaza.org
www.anis-online.de/office/events/FreeGazaSong.htm
www.flickr.com/photos/29205195@N02/
See a video of Israeli Navy harrassment of these fishermen. The footage was taken from one Gazan fishing boat on 5 October 2008 as it fished in Gazan waters. 14 fishermen of Gaza have been killed by the Israeli Navy over the past four years as they were fishing off their coast.
For Immediate Release,
November 5, 2008
Contact: Mary Hughes, Cyprus +357 96 750059 Greta Berlin, Cyprus: +357 99 081767
David Schermerhorn, Cyprus +357 977 81 283
Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, Jerusalem: +972 547 366 393
Larnaca. When members of the Free Gaza Movement sailed to Gaza in August, several accompanied fishermen aboard their small boats. Israeli gunboats regularly confine these boats inside a 6-mile Israeli-imposed limit. Although international law allows every Mediterranean sea territory fishing rights 12-20 miles offshore, Israel ignores those laws and has killed at least 14 fishermen over the past few years.
"All we ever wanted to do was fish," said one as he fixed his nets. "We can't feed our families or make money doing what our ancestors have done for thousands of years."
Over the next two months, internationals reported and video taped several incidents of machine-gun fire and water-cannon attacks. Around 8:00 am, on October 31, ten internationals joined the fishermen as witnesses. By 8:30, the two lead boats had passed the Israeli limit. "The second boat was about 100 yards away from us when it was attacked for 30 minutes by a high-pressure water cannon from an Israeli warship. The spray was so powerful you couldn't even see the boat," said David Schermerhorn.
Throughout the day, as the men continued to fish, boats were hit so severely by high-pressure water cannon that only makeshift shutters and mattresses prevented the wheelhouse from flooding and windows from exploding onto the men. Within minutes, the Israeli water-cannon boat was joined by another gunboat, machine gun mounted in back. The gunner blasted multiple rounds within a meter of the fishing boat. Despite continued machine-gun fire, water cannons and three Israeli gunboats circling like sharks, the fishermen stayed out 10-11 miles for a catch.
When Angela Godfrey-Goldstein called Shlomo Dror, Israeli Ministry of Defense spokesman, to tell the Navy to stop machine gunning barely a meter over the heads of fishermen and internationals, he accused the rights advocates of being provocateurs, terrorists, supporters of Hamas. "The people of Gaza have plenty of food. They don't need to go fishing," he snarled.
"When the Ministry of Defense learns that this voyage brings a delegation of European parliamentarians, maybe he will begin to "get it." Average citizens of the world, even decision makers, are up in arms, non-violently, against the collective punishment, the state terrorism of the Israeli government. And we are restoring dignity to those abandoned human beings, just as we would have wanted to do in the past to others in other ghettoes" said Godfrey-Goldstein.
"I had only heard about these episodes before I came to Gaza. I can't begin to tell you the horror these men face every day by bullies in the Israeli Navy," an outraged Schermerhorn added. "What risks they take we don't even know about. The good news was the fishermen were ecstatic when they pulled up the nets. It was one of the largest catches they had had in years.
--
Greta Berlin
Media Team
Free Gaza Movement
357 99 08 17 67
www.freegaza.org
www.anis-online.de/office/events/FreeGazaSong.htm
www.flickr.com/photos/29205195@N02/
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Free Gaza boats return with European dignitaries
Larnaca: On November 7, at 5:00 pm, the DIGNITY leaves for the third time for the shores of Gaza. This time, eleven past and current members of the European Parliament are on board, along with journalists from Al Jazeera English and The Independent.
These dignitaries were among the 53 Parliamentarians denied entrance by Egypt at the Rafah checkpoint: "Egypt did not allow us to enter Gaza via the Rafah terminal, but this will not stop us from visiting the area," Lord Nazir Ahmad, head of the European delegates stated, "We will sail to Gaza, we are determined to break the siege".
Ms Clare Short MP emphasized, "The Egyptian refusal to grant us access through Rafah Crossing is insulting to all of us, and Egypt should open the crossing now."
They will be on a three-day fact finding tour organized by the Free Gaza Movement and the European Campaign to End the Siege as well as several of the organizations in Gaza who have worked with the Free Gaza Movement on the past two voyages.
On the past two trips, Israel has threatened to stop the DIGNITY, arrest its passengers and tow the boat to Israel. The government has been silent on its plans this time, perhaps out of respect for the dignitaries on the voyage. Members of the two organizations stress that the DIGNITY has no intention of going anywhere near Israeli waters but will enter Gaza through its own coastal waters.
The port authorities have asked the media to come between 3:30 and 5:00 pm Friday at Larnaca Port to see the boat leave and to conduct interviews.
The passenger list is posted on the Free Gaza website, www.freegaza.org.
These dignitaries were among the 53 Parliamentarians denied entrance by Egypt at the Rafah checkpoint: "Egypt did not allow us to enter Gaza via the Rafah terminal, but this will not stop us from visiting the area," Lord Nazir Ahmad, head of the European delegates stated, "We will sail to Gaza, we are determined to break the siege".
Ms Clare Short MP emphasized, "The Egyptian refusal to grant us access through Rafah Crossing is insulting to all of us, and Egypt should open the crossing now."
They will be on a three-day fact finding tour organized by the Free Gaza Movement and the European Campaign to End the Siege as well as several of the organizations in Gaza who have worked with the Free Gaza Movement on the past two voyages.
On the past two trips, Israel has threatened to stop the DIGNITY, arrest its passengers and tow the boat to Israel. The government has been silent on its plans this time, perhaps out of respect for the dignitaries on the voyage. Members of the two organizations stress that the DIGNITY has no intention of going anywhere near Israeli waters but will enter Gaza through its own coastal waters.
The port authorities have asked the media to come between 3:30 and 5:00 pm Friday at Larnaca Port to see the boat leave and to conduct interviews.
The passenger list is posted on the Free Gaza website, www.freegaza.org.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Israeli Gunboats Attack Palestinian Fishing Boats
This press release came today from the Free Gaza movement - the internationals who are accompanying Gazan fishermen. Tuesday's post (below) links to a video of this or a similar attack: http://redressnewsblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/video-day-in-life-of-gazan-fisherman.html.
For Immediate Release
For More Information, Please Contact:Greta Berlin (Cyprus) +357 99 081 767 / iristulip@gmail.comOsama Qashoo (Cyprus) +44 (0)78 3338 1660 / osamaqashoo@gmail.comAngela Godfrey Goldstein (Jerusalem) +972 (0)54 736 6393 / angela@icahd.org
At 10:00 am Cyprus time, three Israeli gunboats attacked Palestinian fishing boats in the territorial waters of Gaza. Eleven internationals have accompanied the fishermen on five of the boats. The internationals were from the Free Gaza Movement and had landed on the shores of Gaza on October 29 aboard the SS DIGNITY.
According to David Schermerhorn, one of the internationals on board, "Three naval vessels attacked us with machine gun fire and water cannons. All three boats have machine guns on board, one of them has a huge water cannon. The water from the cannon was so fierce, it blasted a lot of the equipment overboard as well as my GPS locator. At the time of the attack, we were about 9 miles offshore fishing. Several of us got on the radio to the Israeli navy and shouted, "We are human rights watchers. We are unarmed internationals, and we are recording everything you are doing. They completely ignored us and continued menacing all of the boats."
As David was talking to us, one of the gunboats came back to within 45 meters, shearing the water and making it difficult for the small boat to steer its course.
Greta Berlin
Media TeamFree Gaza Movement357 99 08 17 67
www.freegaza.org/
www.anis-online.de/office/events/FreeGazaSong.htm
www.flickr.com/photos/29205195@N02/
For Immediate Release
For More Information, Please Contact:Greta Berlin (Cyprus) +357 99 081 767 / iristulip@gmail.comOsama Qashoo (Cyprus) +44 (0)78 3338 1660 / osamaqashoo@gmail.comAngela Godfrey Goldstein (Jerusalem) +972 (0)54 736 6393 / angela@icahd.org
At 10:00 am Cyprus time, three Israeli gunboats attacked Palestinian fishing boats in the territorial waters of Gaza. Eleven internationals have accompanied the fishermen on five of the boats. The internationals were from the Free Gaza Movement and had landed on the shores of Gaza on October 29 aboard the SS DIGNITY.
According to David Schermerhorn, one of the internationals on board, "Three naval vessels attacked us with machine gun fire and water cannons. All three boats have machine guns on board, one of them has a huge water cannon. The water from the cannon was so fierce, it blasted a lot of the equipment overboard as well as my GPS locator. At the time of the attack, we were about 9 miles offshore fishing. Several of us got on the radio to the Israeli navy and shouted, "We are human rights watchers. We are unarmed internationals, and we are recording everything you are doing. They completely ignored us and continued menacing all of the boats."
As David was talking to us, one of the gunboats came back to within 45 meters, shearing the water and making it difficult for the small boat to steer its course.
Greta Berlin
Media TeamFree Gaza Movement357 99 08 17 67
www.freegaza.org/
www.anis-online.de/office/events/FreeGazaSong.htm
www.flickr.com/photos/29205195@N02/
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
"Nam, Nehnu Nastatyeh!" is Arabic for "Yes, We Can!"
"Nam, Nehnu Nastatyeh!" is Arabic for "Yes, We Can!"
By Ramzi Kysia
By Ramzi Kysia
GAZA CITY, FREE PA
LESTINE (29 October 2008) - This morning I walked to the Indian Ocean and made salt in defiance of the British Occupation of India. This morning I marched in Selma, I stood down tanks in Tiananmen Square, and I helped tear down the Berlin Wall. This morning I became a Freedom Rider.
The Freedom Riders of the 21st Century are sailing small boats into the Gaza Strip in open defiance of the Israeli Occupation and blockade. This morning I arrived in Gaza aboard the SS Dignity, part of a Free Gaza Movement delegation of twenty seven doctors, lawyers, teachers, and human rights activists from across the world, including Mairead Maguire - the
1976 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
When I close my eyes, I still hear the crash of ocean waves, I still feel the warm sun on my face, and I still taste salt from the sea spray. When I close my eyes, I can still see the Israeli warship that tried to intimidate us when we reached the twenty-mile line outside Gaza, and I can still see a thousand cheering people crowding around our ship when we refused to be intimidated and finally reached port in Gaza City. Today, the proudest boast in the free world is truly, "Nam, Nehnu Nastatyeh!" - "Yes, We Can!"
Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, an independent member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, sailed aboard the Dignity, along with six other Palestinians from the West Bank, from 1948/inside the Green Line, and from countries in Europe. What should have been a ninety-minute drive from Ramallah to Gaza City became a three day odyssey as he travelled from the West Bank to Jordan, then flew to Cyprus, before finally coming aboard the Dignity for the fifteen hour sea voyage to Gaza.
"We're challenging Israel in a manner that is unprecedented, " said Dr. Barghouti. "Israel has prevented me from visiting Gaza for more than two years now. I am so pleased that we managed to defy Israel's injustice so that I can see all the people I love and work with in Gaza. Israel's measures are meant to divide us, but it is our defiance and resistance which unite us. "
This is a resistance which can and should light the fire of all our imaginations, and bring hope not just to Palestinians, but to peoples suffering the terrible tides of oppression and injustice the world around.
After watching the Dignity’s arrival, Fida Qishta, the local coordinator for the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in the Gaza Strip, said "If Gaza is free then it's our right to invite whomsoever we wish to visit us. It's our land and it's our sea. Now more groups must come, not only by sea but also the crossings at Erez and Rafah must be opened as well. This second breaking of the siege means a lot, actually. It's the second time in two months that people have come to Gaza without Israel’s permission, and that tells us that Gaza will be free."
For over forty years, Israel has occupied the Gaza Strip. Despite the so-called "Disengagement " in 2005, when they shut down their illegal settlements here, Israel maintains absolute control over Gaza’s borders and airspace, severely limiting the free movement of goods, services, and travel. Israel is still an occupying power.
For over two years, Israel has maintained a brutal blockade of Gaza. Less than twenty percent of the supplies needed (as compared to 2005) are allowed in. This has forced ninety-five percent of local industries to shut down, resulting in massively increased unemployment and poverty rates. Childhood malnutrition has skyrocketed, and eighty percent of families are now dependent on international food aid just to be able to eat. An hour after we arrived, I watched a teenage boy digging through the garbage, looking for something he could use.
Israel’s siege isn’t simply illegal - it's intolerable.
Renowned human rights activist Caoimhe Butterly also sailed aboard the Dignity, and will remain in Gaza for several weeks as Project Coordinator for the Free Gaza Movement. But, said Butterly, "My feelings are bittersweet. Although we're overjoyed at reaching Gaza a second time, that joy is tempered by the fact that the conscience of the world has been reduced to a small boat and 27 seasick activists. This mission is a reminder of not only the efficacy of non-violent direct action, but also of the deafening silence of the international community."
Our first voyage in August, the first voyage of any international ship to Gaza in over forty years, showed that it was possible to freely travel. This second voyage shows that it is repeatable, and this sets a p
recedent: The Siege of Gaza can be overcome through non-violent resistance and direct action. Today, the Free Gaza Movement has a simple message for the rest of the world: What are you waiting for?
-----
Ramzi Kysia is an Arab-American writer and activist, and one of the organizers of the Free Gaza Movement. To find out more about Free Gaza and what you can do to help support their work, please visit http://www.freegaza.org/
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Video: A day in the life of a Gazan fisherman
If you want to see what it is like to be a fisherman in Gaza, please take five minutes to look at this video of Israelis harrassing a Palestinian fishing boat: Video: A day in the life of a Gazan fisherman This footage was taken from one Gazan fishing boat on 5 October 2008 as it fished in Gazan waters. The furthest it ventured from shore was approximately 4 miles. There are other videos on this site as well - showing numerous incidents of Israeli military actions designed to disrupt the work of the fishermen.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
A Beautiful Face from Jayous
This is a picture of our host, hydrologist Dr. Abdul-Latif, showing us his village when we visited Jayous in June on a Sabeel fact-finding trip. Read about our experience in Jayous on my blog: See the July 5 entry at http://apilgrimstales.blogspot.com/ This latest letter from Dr. Abdul-Latif shows that conditions are not improving for Palestinians traveling between towns in the West Bank. Remember, this is a Palestinian traveling between two towns WITHIN the West Bank, all in territory supposedly to be part of Palestine under a two-state solution.
Dear Friends,
New way for Security Checking at Beit Iba Check Point in Nablus
Long time ago I did not write to you, however; nothing has changed at Beit Iba Check point.
What surprised me today when I came back from Nablus to Beit Iba Check point at 16:00 o'clock, that I was standing in what they call the humanitarian lane!!. When it is my turn, I gave my Id Card to the soldier in the checking room, he looked to me and said " go back to the youth line".
This means I have to go through the long line of the university students, and this alone means additional one hour waiting. I told the soldier, why? He said go back, then he called in Hebrew for another soldier. The new soldier came and took my Id from the soldier in the checking room and said "go back". I said why? he said" your face is not beautiful" and he was showing that to me in his finger. Then I said what?!! could you repeat what you have said?! He said " your face is not beautiful" then I said to him do you insist that this is the reason? He said "yes" then I look to the other soldier that I may find different answer. But he told me "the same, your face is not beautiful" I said be sure what you have both said will reach many people including your people. He said "I don't care go back"
I turned back and in my way to the back line I found another soldier, and I started telling him my story and without any introduction. He seemed to be not happy with what I said to him and he took my Id, but the same soldier who sent me back and claims he is the commander at the check point came and took the Id from this soldier and he was shouting on me to move. I said I am discussing what happened to your colleague. He said" no discussion. I said go back"
I went back and I followed the soldier's rules with little changes. The students in the line let me very close to the rotating gate, so it took me only twenty minutes to check again.
I am not sure if these are the new regulations at the check points, or if this make their commanders happy or if their families can be proud of such a shame. What I am sure that such things happen daily everywhere at the checkpoints.
I am not sure if my face is not beautiful because I don't see it much. But I am sure that my heart is beautiful because I see it every minute.
I cried, but the tears are in the heart.
Abdul-Latif
I cried, but the tears are in the heart.
Abdul-Latif
Friday, October 3, 2008
Israel's settlement-building frenzy
This is an excellent piece from Tuesday's Washington Post that explains how Israel has managed to continue building settlements, in spite of international pressure and countless agreements to stop.
www.washingtonpost.com
Failure Written in West Bank Stone
By Gershom Gorenberg
Tuesday, September 30, 2008; A19
JERUSALEM -- The latest phone call came from a journalist in Denmark. Why, he asked, has Israeli settlement in the West Bank continued despite peace negotiations with the Palestinians?
As a historian of settlements, I'm used to this question. Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert insists that Israel's future depends on a two-state solution. Building new homes in settlements only makes it more difficult to withdraw. When President Bush convened the Annapolis conference last November, there was media buzz about a settlement freeze. Olmert said that every request to build from within the government required his approval. Yet in the past year, construction has increased -- despite Olmert's talk, despite Bush's supposed commitment to his 2003 "road map" plan with its freeze on settlement.
Nearly a thousand housing units are being built in Maale Adumim, according to Peace Now's Settlement Watch project. At Givat Zeev, another of the settlements ringing Jerusalem, a 750-unit project was approved this year. The government has asked for bids on building nearly 350 homes in Beitar Illit, also near Jerusalem. Meanwhile, hundreds of homes have been added at settlements deep in the West Bank, with the government's acquiescence if not approval.
All this fits a historical pattern: Diplomatic initiatives accelerate settlement building in occupied territory. When the peace effort fades away, the red-roofed houses remain as a monument.
Maale Adumim, a hive of apartment buildings on the parched slope between Jerusalem and Jericho, is the most imposing example. Secret discussions about settling at the site began within the Israeli government in August 1974. At just that time, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was mediating between Israel and Jordan on an interim peace agreement. Israeli Foreign Minister Yigal Allon proposed that Israel would withdraw from Jericho as a first step toward realizing his larger plan: Israel would also give up major Palestinian towns deeper in the West Bank.
But Allon wanted to keep much of the West Bank under Israeli rule -- including a ring of land surrounding Jerusalem and separating it from Jericho. By the fall of 1974, the Israeli- Jordanian contacts had failed. But Allon's political ally, settlement czar Yisrael Galili, pushed on with Maale Adumim. Building is easier than negotiating, and it is harder to stop.
The government's method of acquiring land for the settlement was audacious -- and, until now, well hidden. After a tenacious freedom-of-information legal battle, Israeli human rights activist Dror Etkes of the organization Yesh Din recently received data from the Israeli army's Civil Administration on West Bank land expropriations. In April 1975, Israel expropriated 11 square miles east of Jerusalem "for public use." In 1977, another square mile was taken.
On his laptop, Etkes showed me an aerial photo of the settlement today, superimposed on a map of the expropriation. Most of the built-up area of Maale Adumim lies inside the land that was confiscated.
This is a prima facie violation of international law. Under the 1907 Hague Convention, an occupying power may expropriate land only for the public use of the occupied population. Taking private West Bank land for Israeli use is therefore barred.
That's just one example of the historical pattern. In 1970, Israel and Egypt ended their "War of Attrition" under a cease-fire proposed by Secretary of State William Rogers. The next stage of the Rogers initiative was supposed to be peace talks. Fearing pressure to withdraw, the Israeli cabinet approved the first settlement in the Gaza Strip to stake Israel's claim to the territory. Diplomacy stalled, but settlement continued in Gaza.
The pattern repeated itself in 1998, when President Bill Clinton convened the Wye River summit to revive the Oslo process. The summit ended with an Israeli commitment to resume West Bank withdrawals and a Palestinian pledge to suppress terrorism. Neither promise was kept. But Ariel Sharon, then foreign minister, returned home and publicly advised settlers to "grab more hills, expand the territory. Everything that's grabbed will be in our hands. Everything we don't grab will be in their hands." That spurred establishment of the tiny settlements known as outposts that dot the West Bank.
Since Annapolis, hard-line settlers have continued building, hoping to block any pullback. The government, meanwhile, is building in the so-called settlement blocs -- settlements that it insists Israel must keep under any agreement. As in the past, it is writing its negotiating position in concrete on the hills. That includes more construction on the expropriated land at Maale Adumim.
As shortsighted as Olmert has been to allow this, the same is true of Bush. The president began a negotiating process but has invested little effort in pursuing it. The administration's objections to settlement expansion have been too faint. The new buildings are a monument to Bush's failure as well as Olmert's. They will make Israeli-Palestinian peace a more difficult challenge for the next president -- assuming the next president cares about pursuing peace.
Gershom Gorenberg is the author of "The Accidental Empire: Israel and the Birth of the Settlements, 1967-1977." He blogs at http://SouthJerusalem.com .
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/29/AR2008092902665.html
www.washingtonpost.com
Failure Written in West Bank Stone
By Gershom Gorenberg
Tuesday, September 30, 2008; A19
JERUSALEM -- The latest phone call came from a journalist in Denmark. Why, he asked, has Israeli settlement in the West Bank continued despite peace negotiations with the Palestinians?
As a historian of settlements, I'm used to this question. Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert insists that Israel's future depends on a two-state solution. Building new homes in settlements only makes it more difficult to withdraw. When President Bush convened the Annapolis conference last November, there was media buzz about a settlement freeze. Olmert said that every request to build from within the government required his approval. Yet in the past year, construction has increased -- despite Olmert's talk, despite Bush's supposed commitment to his 2003 "road map" plan with its freeze on settlement.
Nearly a thousand housing units are being built in Maale Adumim, according to Peace Now's Settlement Watch project. At Givat Zeev, another of the settlements ringing Jerusalem, a 750-unit project was approved this year. The government has asked for bids on building nearly 350 homes in Beitar Illit, also near Jerusalem. Meanwhile, hundreds of homes have been added at settlements deep in the West Bank, with the government's acquiescence if not approval.
All this fits a historical pattern: Diplomatic initiatives accelerate settlement building in occupied territory. When the peace effort fades away, the red-roofed houses remain as a monument.
Maale Adumim, a hive of apartment buildings on the parched slope between Jerusalem and Jericho, is the most imposing example. Secret discussions about settling at the site began within the Israeli government in August 1974. At just that time, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was mediating between Israel and Jordan on an interim peace agreement. Israeli Foreign Minister Yigal Allon proposed that Israel would withdraw from Jericho as a first step toward realizing his larger plan: Israel would also give up major Palestinian towns deeper in the West Bank.
But Allon wanted to keep much of the West Bank under Israeli rule -- including a ring of land surrounding Jerusalem and separating it from Jericho. By the fall of 1974, the Israeli- Jordanian contacts had failed. But Allon's political ally, settlement czar Yisrael Galili, pushed on with Maale Adumim. Building is easier than negotiating, and it is harder to stop.
The government's method of acquiring land for the settlement was audacious -- and, until now, well hidden. After a tenacious freedom-of-information legal battle, Israeli human rights activist Dror Etkes of the organization Yesh Din recently received data from the Israeli army's Civil Administration on West Bank land expropriations. In April 1975, Israel expropriated 11 square miles east of Jerusalem "for public use." In 1977, another square mile was taken.
On his laptop, Etkes showed me an aerial photo of the settlement today, superimposed on a map of the expropriation. Most of the built-up area of Maale Adumim lies inside the land that was confiscated.
This is a prima facie violation of international law. Under the 1907 Hague Convention, an occupying power may expropriate land only for the public use of the occupied population. Taking private West Bank land for Israeli use is therefore barred.
That's just one example of the historical pattern. In 1970, Israel and Egypt ended their "War of Attrition" under a cease-fire proposed by Secretary of State William Rogers. The next stage of the Rogers initiative was supposed to be peace talks. Fearing pressure to withdraw, the Israeli cabinet approved the first settlement in the Gaza Strip to stake Israel's claim to the territory. Diplomacy stalled, but settlement continued in Gaza.
The pattern repeated itself in 1998, when President Bill Clinton convened the Wye River summit to revive the Oslo process. The summit ended with an Israeli commitment to resume West Bank withdrawals and a Palestinian pledge to suppress terrorism. Neither promise was kept. But Ariel Sharon, then foreign minister, returned home and publicly advised settlers to "grab more hills, expand the territory. Everything that's grabbed will be in our hands. Everything we don't grab will be in their hands." That spurred establishment of the tiny settlements known as outposts that dot the West Bank.
Since Annapolis, hard-line settlers have continued building, hoping to block any pullback. The government, meanwhile, is building in the so-called settlement blocs -- settlements that it insists Israel must keep under any agreement. As in the past, it is writing its negotiating position in concrete on the hills. That includes more construction on the expropriated land at Maale Adumim.
As shortsighted as Olmert has been to allow this, the same is true of Bush. The president began a negotiating process but has invested little effort in pursuing it. The administration's objections to settlement expansion have been too faint. The new buildings are a monument to Bush's failure as well as Olmert's. They will make Israeli-Palestinian peace a more difficult challenge for the next president -- assuming the next president cares about pursuing peace.
Gershom Gorenberg is the author of "The Accidental Empire: Israel and the Birth of the Settlements, 1967-1977." He blogs at http://SouthJerusalem.com .
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/29/AR2008092902665.html
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Free Gaza volunteers accompany Palestinian woman seeking medical attention for a tumor
Erez Crossing, by Donna Wallach:
"I along with others from Free Gaza Movement decided not to return with the SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty to Cyprus and instead to remain in Gaza Strip for a while to continue the work of breaking the siege. Throughout the time I am staying here I will participate with the others in various actions in Rafah, Gaza City, and other areas throughouth the Gaza Strip, including going out in fishing boats to challenge the Israeli Navy preventing the Palestinian fishermen from fishing more than 6 miles out.
In addition, we are re-organizing ISM Rafah, to do Palestinian led solidarity work here.
"This past Friday a 64 year-old Palestinian woman from Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip arrived to the Erez crossing accompanied by all of the remaining members of the Free Gaza Movement. She has been suffering for seven months with a tumor on her spine. Without the necessary surgery granted her by St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem, she will become paralyzed and will live in contant pain, from what I understand. We, FGM members, walked in front of her as a protection for her to not be shot by the Israeli soldiers guarding their border. She was being pushed in a wheelchair. Slowly we approached the Israeli side, holding our arms in the air and many of us clutching our passports.
"A Palestinian man was the liason between Dr. Mona El-Farra and the Israeli "authorities". Dr. Mona El-Farra was the main organizer for this action of bringing this 64 year-old woman to cross the Erez checkpoint.
The Palestinian man kept on telling us that we needed to stop because the Israelis told him they were going to shoot us. We decided it was more important to challenge the Crime Against Humanity of Israel not permitting this woman to receive the urgent medical treatment she needed, so we continued to walk towards the Israeli gate with our arms up in the air. We finally reached the Israeli gate without a shot being fired, not a bullet not a tear gas cannister or a sound bomb. In the end though, the Israelis heartlessly told the woman she had to go back home, but could return an 8th time.
"On Sunday 31st August, we from FGM arrived at about 9:00am from Rafah, the southernmost area in Gaza Strip, to Erez crossing, the northernmost area in Gaza Strip. We came to continue standing in solidarity with the woman from the village of Beit Hanoun. We arrived late and she and Dr. Mona El-Farra had already left for the border. We gathered inside the crude fenced in area where all Palestinians and others wait for permission to cross the dirt pathway to arrive to the Israeli gate. We waited hours, then we heard that the woman was turned back again, with ridiculous excuse that a member of her family must accompany her into Israel to the hospital. This woman came back, yet was not defeated. Almost all the members of her family have been wrongfully blacklisted by Israel, meaning that they cannot enter the Apartheid State of Israel. Finally the woman's 75 year-old husband was granted permission to enter Israel with her. After he arrived to Erez and the paper work for him was filled out, they went off to the Israeli side. We continued to wait in the heat to hear that she had crossed and was inside the Israeli ambulance that would take her to the hospital and to her surgery which was supposed to have started on Sunday. Dr. Mona El-Farra told us that she continued to tell the Israeli authorities that members of the Free Gaza Movement were waiting at Erez to ensure that the woman would enter this time and that we were willing to die, we would walk again to the border even if the soldiers would shoot and kill us, we would do what it takes so that the Israelis would allow her to enter, which they finally did. The 8th time was the charm for this very brave and courageous woman sitting in a wheelchair who defied the Israelis with all of their gunpower."
31 August 2008
Donna Wallach, Free Gaza Movement
http://www.FreeGaza.org
"I along with others from Free Gaza Movement decided not to return with the SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty to Cyprus and instead to remain in Gaza Strip for a while to continue the work of breaking the siege. Throughout the time I am staying here I will participate with the others in various actions in Rafah, Gaza City, and other areas throughouth the Gaza Strip, including going out in fishing boats to challenge the Israeli Navy preventing the Palestinian fishermen from fishing more than 6 miles out.
In addition, we are re-organizing ISM Rafah, to do Palestinian led solidarity work here.
"This past Friday a 64 year-old Palestinian woman from Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip arrived to the Erez crossing accompanied by all of the remaining members of the Free Gaza Movement. She has been suffering for seven months with a tumor on her spine. Without the necessary surgery granted her by St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem, she will become paralyzed and will live in contant pain, from what I understand. We, FGM members, walked in front of her as a protection for her to not be shot by the Israeli soldiers guarding their border. She was being pushed in a wheelchair. Slowly we approached the Israeli side, holding our arms in the air and many of us clutching our passports.
"A Palestinian man was the liason between Dr. Mona El-Farra and the Israeli "authorities". Dr. Mona El-Farra was the main organizer for this action of bringing this 64 year-old woman to cross the Erez checkpoint.
The Palestinian man kept on telling us that we needed to stop because the Israelis told him they were going to shoot us. We decided it was more important to challenge the Crime Against Humanity of Israel not permitting this woman to receive the urgent medical treatment she needed, so we continued to walk towards the Israeli gate with our arms up in the air. We finally reached the Israeli gate without a shot being fired, not a bullet not a tear gas cannister or a sound bomb. In the end though, the Israelis heartlessly told the woman she had to go back home, but could return an 8th time.
"On Sunday 31st August, we from FGM arrived at about 9:00am from Rafah, the southernmost area in Gaza Strip, to Erez crossing, the northernmost area in Gaza Strip. We came to continue standing in solidarity with the woman from the village of Beit Hanoun. We arrived late and she and Dr. Mona El-Farra had already left for the border. We gathered inside the crude fenced in area where all Palestinians and others wait for permission to cross the dirt pathway to arrive to the Israeli gate. We waited hours, then we heard that the woman was turned back again, with ridiculous excuse that a member of her family must accompany her into Israel to the hospital. This woman came back, yet was not defeated. Almost all the members of her family have been wrongfully blacklisted by Israel, meaning that they cannot enter the Apartheid State of Israel. Finally the woman's 75 year-old husband was granted permission to enter Israel with her. After he arrived to Erez and the paper work for him was filled out, they went off to the Israeli side. We continued to wait in the heat to hear that she had crossed and was inside the Israeli ambulance that would take her to the hospital and to her surgery which was supposed to have started on Sunday. Dr. Mona El-Farra told us that she continued to tell the Israeli authorities that members of the Free Gaza Movement were waiting at Erez to ensure that the woman would enter this time and that we were willing to die, we would walk again to the border even if the soldiers would shoot and kill us, we would do what it takes so that the Israelis would allow her to enter, which they finally did. The 8th time was the charm for this very brave and courageous woman sitting in a wheelchair who defied the Israelis with all of their gunpower."
31 August 2008
Donna Wallach, Free Gaza Movement
http://www.FreeGaza.org
Free Gaza - internationals accompany fishermen; Israeli army fires "warning shots" at them
The Free Gaza Movement volunteers who have stayed in Gaza, are accompanying Gazans who need medical attention and fishermen who have long been harrassed by Israeli soldiers, who shoot at them as they fish the waters off Gaza.
The following report was prepared by the Free Gaza Movement and International Solidarity Movement volunteers in Gaza Strip:
Yesterday, 1 September 2008, the first day of Ramadan, several volunteers with the Free Gaza Movement and the International Solidarity Movement accompanied a small fleet of seven fishing vessels from Gaza City port.
The fishermen exercised their right to fish in Gazan territorial waters, providing them with a livelihood and food for the besieged people of Gaza.
The fishing fleet reached approximately nine miles offshore and began trawling along the Gazan coast, well within international limits. Usually the Israeli Navy prevents Gazan fishing vessels from accessing beyond six miles and in many cases only three miles by attacking the boats, sometimes lethally, or by arresting the fishermen. However, this day’s fishing resulted in a highly successful catch due to the ability to access richer fishing grounds further offshore.
Two Israeli Naval gunboats approached the fleet soon after leaving port and began firing "warning shots" shortly afterwards. They were aware that internationals were on some of the boats. The Israeli Navy continued shooting multiple times at the fishing vessels, one of which was fired upon at least seven times. They also deployed explosive charges in the water and attempted to de-stabilise some of the boats by creating a strong wake. Communication was established with the Israeli Navy via VHF radio, informing them that everyone onboard were unarmed civilians and requesting that the Israeli Navy stop shooting.
The volunteers will continue to join Gazan fishing expeditions on a regular basis and will monitor Israeli aggressions towards the fishermen.
Video and written documentation will be posted publicly and made available to journalists. The Israeli Navy will not be informed as to when the volunteers will join the fishermen, nor the ports they will sail from, since this is not within their jurisdiction. Also no indication will be made as to which vessels have internationals onboard. Read more: www.fregaza.org
The following report was prepared by the Free Gaza Movement and International Solidarity Movement volunteers in Gaza Strip:
Yesterday, 1 September 2008, the first day of Ramadan, several volunteers with the Free Gaza Movement and the International Solidarity Movement accompanied a small fleet of seven fishing vessels from Gaza City port.
The fishermen exercised their right to fish in Gazan territorial waters, providing them with a livelihood and food for the besieged people of Gaza.
The fishing fleet reached approximately nine miles offshore and began trawling along the Gazan coast, well within international limits. Usually the Israeli Navy prevents Gazan fishing vessels from accessing beyond six miles and in many cases only three miles by attacking the boats, sometimes lethally, or by arresting the fishermen. However, this day’s fishing resulted in a highly successful catch due to the ability to access richer fishing grounds further offshore.
Two Israeli Naval gunboats approached the fleet soon after leaving port and began firing "warning shots" shortly afterwards. They were aware that internationals were on some of the boats. The Israeli Navy continued shooting multiple times at the fishing vessels, one of which was fired upon at least seven times. They also deployed explosive charges in the water and attempted to de-stabilise some of the boats by creating a strong wake. Communication was established with the Israeli Navy via VHF radio, informing them that everyone onboard were unarmed civilians and requesting that the Israeli Navy stop shooting.
The volunteers will continue to join Gazan fishing expeditions on a regular basis and will monitor Israeli aggressions towards the fishermen.
Video and written documentation will be posted publicly and made available to journalists. The Israeli Navy will not be informed as to when the volunteers will join the fishermen, nor the ports they will sail from, since this is not within their jurisdiction. Also no indication will be made as to which vessels have internationals onboard. Read more: www.fregaza.org
Hebron's tourist market closed and shuttered - BBC story
This picture tells the story of commerce in Hebron--Palestinian shopkeepers' stalls shuttered and welded shut by the Israeli government, stars of David spray-painted on the closed doors, streets empty. In June, we visited a Hebron that had lost all its tourist visitors--the main market, Shuhada Street, closed by Israeli soldiers for the "safety," because Jewish settlers, who move into apartments above the Arab market, regularly attack and harass Palestinians and anyone shopping at their market stalls. One shopkeeper told me his goods have been ruined when the settlers poured bleach out of their windows above his stall. 
Yesterday, Tim Franks of the BBC wrote in his Jerusalem Diary about the British government's plan to help tourism in Hebron. They invested $40,000 in the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee to fund horse-and-carriage rides through the Old City. However, the plan has not brought more tourists to Hebron and one carriage driver still waits to begin his business.Carriage driver Said Ali Ahmed told him, "We got the permits from the Israelis to bring in the horse and the carriage into the Hebron area," he told me. "But we need an additional permit to move around. And I'm still waiting for the Israeli captain to give me it." So for weeks Said has waited, unable to drive his carriage because he cannot get the permit to move about in Hebron. He is confined to the streets open to Palestinians, which do not allow him to take tourists through the Old City. Read his story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7587828.stm#startcontent
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Free Gaza boats arrive in Cyprus with 9 sick Palestinians
From Dr. Bill Dienst of Oregon, who traveled with the group breaking the siege of Gaza last week. Bill is a Family and Emergency Room physician for Omak, a town in rural Washington in the northwestern United States. In 1985, after an intensive summer course in Arabic, Bill took an extra year of medical school, and spent a half year in Egypt, the West Bank and Gaza volunteering with various Palestinian healthcare organizations, initially with the Palestine Red Crescent Society headquartered in Egypt. He has been to Palestine on trips sponsored by the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, by Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility to Israel/Palestine and with the Palestine Medical Relief Society.
Here is his report (read more about their journey: www.freegaza.org ):
Good Morning from Gaza City,
The boats of SS Liberty and SS Free Gaza arrived safely in Larnaca Cyprus last night with some of the original passengers and 9 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip aboard.
About 9 of our original international passengers stayed on in Gaza to do media and other work.
Yesterday, British Journalist Lauren Booth and I attempted to exit via Eretz Crossing into Israel, accompanied by sick Palestinians needing specialty care not available in Gaza.
The Israeli border guards threatened to shoot us, but we advanced slowly with our arms raised holding our passports up high; We advanced right through the tunnel right up to the iron gate, but the Israelis would not open it. The US and British Embassy's gave us the Royal run around and would not help us.
So after a visit to Beit Hanoun to see the Al Athamna Family, who are still in a state of grief from the massacre of 19 members of their family by Israeli mortar shells 2 years ago, we headed back to Gaza City. So now we are waiting for the Egyptian authorities to let us out of Gaza through Rafah. They are under pressure from Israel to keep us trapped in here. Now I am getting a better appreciation of what it means to be a Palestinian from Gaza.
I will keep you posted as best I can. It has been a grueling, but very worthwhile month.
Love,
Dr. Bill Dienst, Gaza
http://www.FreeGaza.org
Here is his report (read more about their journey: www.freegaza.org ):
Good Morning from Gaza City,
The boats of SS Liberty and SS Free Gaza arrived safely in Larnaca Cyprus last night with some of the original passengers and 9 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip aboard.
About 9 of our original international passengers stayed on in Gaza to do media and other work.
Yesterday, British Journalist Lauren Booth and I attempted to exit via Eretz Crossing into Israel, accompanied by sick Palestinians needing specialty care not available in Gaza.
The Israeli border guards threatened to shoot us, but we advanced slowly with our arms raised holding our passports up high; We advanced right through the tunnel right up to the iron gate, but the Israelis would not open it. The US and British Embassy's gave us the Royal run around and would not help us.
So after a visit to Beit Hanoun to see the Al Athamna Family, who are still in a state of grief from the massacre of 19 members of their family by Israeli mortar shells 2 years ago, we headed back to Gaza City. So now we are waiting for the Egyptian authorities to let us out of Gaza through Rafah. They are under pressure from Israel to keep us trapped in here. Now I am getting a better appreciation of what it means to be a Palestinian from Gaza.
I will keep you posted as best I can. It has been a grueling, but very worthwhile month.
Love,
Dr. Bill Dienst, Gaza
http://www.FreeGaza.org
From the August 27 edition of Ha'arretz:
Police detain Israeli for entering Gaza in blockade-busting boat
By Ofri Ilani, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters
Police on Tuesday detained an Israeli activist who had sailed to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to challenge Israel's blockade of the coastal region.
They accused Jeff Halper, who also holds United States citizenship, of violating a ban on Israelis entering Gaza.
Halper was among 44 "Free Gaza" activists from 17 nations who sailed in two boats from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip on Saturday in defiance of the blockade.
He spent three days in the Gaza Strip before entering Israel through the Erez border crossing, where police detained him.
According to Halper, Israeli forces at the crossing initially told him that if he came with the boat - he should return the same way. However, he said, they allowed him to cross into Israel shortly afterward.
"He is being questioned at the police station in Sderot for entering the Gaza Strip in defiance of a military decree banning Israeli citizens from doing so," Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
Halper told Haaretz on Tuesday that he expected to be interrogated upon his return to Israel. He expressed satisfaction with his success in entering and leaving Gaza, and said he did not fear harassment by Israeli security forces.
Israel allowed the activists to sail to the Gaza Strip, the first foreigners to reach the territory by sea since travel restrictions were tightened after Hamas's takeover more than a year ago, saying it wanted to avoid a public confrontation.
The activists brought with them a symbolic shipment of hearing aids.
As part of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that took effect in June, Israel has eased its blockade of the territory, allowing in more humanitarian goods and medical equipment.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1015457.html
Police detain Israeli for entering Gaza in blockade-busting boat
By Ofri Ilani, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters
Police on Tuesday detained an Israeli activist who had sailed to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to challenge Israel's blockade of the coastal region.
They accused Jeff Halper, who also holds United States citizenship, of violating a ban on Israelis entering Gaza.
Halper was among 44 "Free Gaza" activists from 17 nations who sailed in two boats from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip on Saturday in defiance of the blockade.
He spent three days in the Gaza Strip before entering Israel through the Erez border crossing, where police detained him.
According to Halper, Israeli forces at the crossing initially told him that if he came with the boat - he should return the same way. However, he said, they allowed him to cross into Israel shortly afterward.
"He is being questioned at the police station in Sderot for entering the Gaza Strip in defiance of a military decree banning Israeli citizens from doing so," Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
Halper told Haaretz on Tuesday that he expected to be interrogated upon his return to Israel. He expressed satisfaction with his success in entering and leaving Gaza, and said he did not fear harassment by Israeli security forces.
Israel allowed the activists to sail to the Gaza Strip, the first foreigners to reach the territory by sea since travel restrictions were tightened after Hamas's takeover more than a year ago, saying it wanted to avoid a public confrontation.
The activists brought with them a symbolic shipment of hearing aids.
As part of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that took effect in June, Israel has eased its blockade of the territory, allowing in more humanitarian goods and medical equipment.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1015457.html
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