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/
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