11 Aug 2008

Insh'Allah we'll all meet in Gaza, Says Yvonne Ridley

By Yvonne Ridley
Seventh diary
August 8

This Sunday, around the time our peace flotilla will be attempting to smash the siege of Gaza by sea, a group of Scottish activists will be launching their own protest on land.
A Tartan army is gathering at 2pm in Mound Precinct on Princes Street to show support for another group of blockade breakers who are desperately trying to get urgent medical aid through to Palestinians.
And the rally is also being held to show their outrage as well towards the Zionist State, which can no longer shake off its reptilian image to ordinary people across the world.

Israel says it pulled out of Gaza two years ago, and there is NO siege. Poppycock!
The Zionist State is lying, and with the help of Egypt's despicable President Hosni Mubarak, they are exerting more pressure on the weakest members of the Gaza community.
Mubarak, who makes some of the most brutal, oppressive Pharaohic dynasties look like a bunch of Tupperware Agents, is a disgrace to humanity.
Great leaders are respected for their courage and wisdom - Mubarak, a man who bellydances and contorts himself to please his Zionist masters in Tel Aviv, has neither of these qualities.
Of course, his real masters are in Washington, and it's their dollars that have turned him into the Chief Pimp of Arab politics.

The latest example of Mubarak's craven behaviour surfaced when humanitarians Linda Willis and Khalil al Niss were kept waiting at the Rafah-Gaza border to deliver medical supplies to a hospital in Gaza.
They spent 10 days driving across Europe with 1.5 tonnes of medical supplies donated by kind-hearted Scots but for the past two weeks their van has been held up by officials.
Mubarak's men are refusing them entry saying they do not have the correct paperwork.
I feel ashamed that only yesterday I was writing to you all, complaining that some high winds had delayed our own peace mission by a couple of days - I really do salute the stamina of Linda and Khalil.
Sadly Linda, 51, a nurse has now been forced to return to Edinburgh leaving Khalil, 49, who is from Jerusalem, to wait, and wait and wait.
One of the hospitals is just five minutes from the border where these jumped up soldiers of Mubarak are refusing to let him pass.

The venture is supported by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and they have now enlisted heavyweight political leader Alex Salmond.

The van is packed with medical supplies including medication for heart conditions and diabetes, as well as syringes, bandages, swabs, antibiotics, blood bottles for taking samples, and more advanced equipment such as endotracheal tubes for use in surgery.

As I said before, this aid mission is stuck at the Rafah crossing, the only Egypt-Gaza gateway which has been continuously closed since June 2007, with brief openings for extreme cases. They were initially made to wait more than 24 hours at the border town of Nuweiba, where Egyptian authorities sent them to six departments to fill out forms.



The couple have been interviewed by numerous officials from the Egyptian border, Egyptian intelligence, and the weak and feckless Palestinian Authority, but still lack the permission to deliver the medical supplies.

The two recently submitted to Egypt's Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman a letter with the signatures of six Scottish MPs supporting their mission. Although the letter was requested by the Egyptian authorities handling the case, no reply has been forthcoming.

They have also faced down threats to impound their van.
Well I will be making dua for my brother Khalil's patience and I hope he succeeds in his mission, just as we are determined to suceed in ours.

Insh'Allah we'll all meet in Gaza to exchange stories and tales about over-coming the pettiness of the Zionists and their feckless supporters.
The parallels being drawn between israel and Apartheid South Africa are growing stronger by the day.
This is not the way to win over the international community and the more Israel stamps its jackboots and refuses peace missions and initiatives the more damaged is its reputation.
Might is not right. But our determination to succeed smashing the siege by land and sea is far more powerful than any red tape, petty politics or artillery.
Well done to everyone who turns up to protest in Edinburgh on Sunday - please continue to protest, shout and highlight the brutality of the Zionist State.

And as for you Khalil - well, we'll see you in Gaza soon, insh'Allah.


More info @ The FreeGaza Movement
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The aim: breaking Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza


Boats towards Gaza
Day six diary
By Yvonne Ridley

ONE of the Free Gaza campaigners is an extremely feisty journalist and friend of mine called Lauren Booth who also happens to be the sister-in-law of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Lauren and I first met through the heroic charity InterPal which raises awareness, funds and aid for Palestinian kids and their communities.
We've been out to the refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan, though not together.
In fact I ended up going to the Jordan refugee camps after the Israelis refused to let me in through the Jordan River Crossing entry point where I was going to cover the elections which swept Hamas to power.
They strip searched me, interrogated me for 10 hours and then called me a terrorist and refused me entry. it was a bizarre experience but this treatment is meted out to anyone who shows interest, kindness or curiosity towards Palestine.
83-year-old Hedy Epstein had the same treatment a couple of years ago, but not only did her questioners strip search her they also snapped on the rubber gloves and internally checked her as well ... what a disgusting way to treat a Holocaust survivor! Hedy's in trusive treatment was at the hands of Israeli security in the Ben Gurion airport.

Sorry, I digressed. Let's get back to Lairen Booth.
Well, we've talked in the past about doing a project together for Palestine and now it seems the Free Gaza Movement has provided the platform we need.
Apart from the fact she's feisty and in the same profession, I'm a big admirer of Lauren because she does something too few journalists are prepared to do these days ... she tells the truth, which is almost an act of resistance in itself.
It would have been very easy for her to jump on the Blair Bandwaggon for a free ride, but instead she stood shoulder to shoulder with the rest of us in the anti-war movement and called her infamous brother-in-law a liar over his ridiculous claims of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq.

Shooting from the lip is not that easy where family is concerned, but Lauren - who writes for the Mail on Sunday - did exactly that through Blair's Downing Street years.
And she's got Tony in her sights again, highlighting his inadequacies in his present role at the Quartet's Middle East envoy. He has yet to step in Gaza and was warned off by the Israelis recently because of so-called security threats.
Well Lauren has issued a challenge to Blair. She's told him to: "Show some guts!" and come and join us. And he does have a choice if he doesn't want our company there are two boats The Free Gaza or The Liberty.
Blair has the backbone of an amoeba so I don't expect him to come on board with the likes of Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, or the Christian peace activists, or the 70+ years Roman Catholic nun because then he would have to do something he is not used to - he would have to face the uncomfortable truth of the suffering of the people of Gaza.
The nearest Blair has been to Gaza is looking out of his air-conditioned room in the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.
And while I think the good citizens of Gaza have already suffered enough without having to endure his Cheshire Cat-like grin and weasel words, it would do the impotent peace envoy the world of good to have a reality check.
He might not want to share a boat with Lauren or myself - but we have two boats. In fact he could bring his own as long as he agrees to abide by our rules ... no weapons, no violence, no armed body guards - just peaceful activism.

And there's plenty of time, bad weather has blighted the start of the voyage but we should be able to sail from Larnaca, Cyprus once we pick up the 36 activists there in the next couple of days.

Our aim is to break Israel’s illegal siege of the gaza Strip and establish a permanent sea-link from there.

As yet Israel's Navy has not said openly how it will try and stop us, but they do have previous for bombing, attacking and shooting at anyone who floats a boat in those waters.
In the meantime the government of the Zionist State is trying to bully and cajole the Cypriot Government into stopping us from sailing.
Film-maker Aki Nawaz and myself will be joining the crew of the boats as they come sailing past our own secret location in the Greek islands, and I've just heard that the captains of the 21-metre Free Gaza and the 18-metre Liberty, are both Irish.
Don't you just love the Irish? If anyone knows anything about resistance and standing up to a bullying, imperialistic state it's the Irish.
And I note there is a great deal of solidarity between the Irish people and the Palestinians - go for a stroll down the Falls and you will see Palestinian flags on wall murals and hanging from some windows.
Members of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee often send messages of solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Palestine.
Well, I am really cheered - you must have all heard of the "Luck of the Irish".

More info @ The Free Gaza Movement
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Endorsers of Free Gaza Movement on breaking the siege



Break the Siege of Gaza Convoy

“Please accept my support for your forthcoming peace boat journey to break the Siege of Gaza. You carry with you the hopes and wishes of many people around the world.”

Mairead Maquire, Nobel Peace Laureate

Who are the endursers of this massive movement?

Palestine/Israel

Africa

§ Archbishop Desmond Tutu

§ Salahuddeen – The Voice of Palestine (South Africa)

Europe

USA/Canada

§ 14 Friends of Palestine, www.14friendsofpalestine.org

§ Adams, Miriam and Steve, New Mexico, (USA)

§ American-Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC) www.progressiveportals.com/aifc

§ Arab-Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East (Chicago), www.arabjewishpartnership.org

§ Americans For A Just Peace In The Middle East, www.ajpme.org

§ Americans For A Palestinian State, CA, http://americansforapalestinianstate.org

§ American Muslims for Palestine, www.ampalestine.org

§ Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights (Oregon, USA)

§ Bay Area Peace Navy, www.docspopuli.org

§ Center for Theology and Social Analysis (Missouri, USA)

§ Chomsky, Noam, www.chomsky.info

§ Citizens for Justice in the Middle East (Kansas, USA)

§ Code Pink, www.codepink4peace.org

§ Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine CJPIP (USA), www.cjpip.org

§ Conscience International (USA), www.conscienceinternational.org

§ Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), www.cair.com

§ DePaul Academic Freedom Committee (Chicago), www.academicfreedomchicago.org

§ Global Exchange, San Francisco, CA, www.globalexchange.org

§ International Action Center, San Diego, CA

§ International Solidarity Movement Northern California, www.norcalism.org

§ International Solidarity Movement Chicago chapter

§ ISM, Michigan

§ I-Witness Palestine, Southern California, www.iwitnesspalestine.org

§ Jewish Voice for Peace, www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org

§ Justice for Palestinians, San Jose, CA, U.S.A., website

§ LA Jews for Peace, www.LAJewsforPeace.org

§ Middle East Crisis Response, Woodstock, NY, http://mideastcrisis.org

§ Middle East Study Group (California, USA)

§ MidEast:JustPeace, Michigan, www.mideastjustpeace.org

§ Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia, http://seanacc.org

§ Olympia/Rafah Sister City Project – Olympia, WA/Rafah, Gaza, www.orscp.org

§ Palestine Solidarity Committee – Seattle, www.palestineinformation.org

§ Pax Christi Metro New York, www.nypaxchristi.org

§ Rachel Corrie Foundation (Washington, USA), www.rachelcorriefoundation.org

§ Resource Center for Nonviolence, Santa Cruz, CA, www.rcnv.org

§ Rivero, Michael (USA), http//whatreallyhappened.com

§ Sheehan, Cindy, anti-war campaigner, Congressional candidate (US), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy Sheehan

§ Stand Up Seattle, Seattle, WA, www.standupseattle.org

§ SUSTAIN:Stop US Tax Aid to Israel Now

§ http://sustainphilly.blogspot.com

§ US Academics For Peace (USA)

§ “We Refuse to Be Enemies, Jews, Muslims and Christians in Coalition for Peace,” Connecticut

§ The Western New York Peace Center, www.wnypeace.org

§ Women in Black – Amherst, Massachusetts

§ Women in Black – Green Valley, Arizona

§ Women in Black – Los Angeles, www.wib-la.net

§ Women in Black – St. Louis, MO

§ Women in Black – Victoria BC, Canada

§ Women of a Certain Age (WCA), New York, NY

§ The Working Group on the Middle East, Metropolitan Chicago Synod-ELCA

Asia, Australia, India

More info @ Free Gaza Movement
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10 Aug 2008

Jeff Halper an Israeli jew against Gaza siege


A statement by Jeff Halper
Free Gaza Movement Boats

In another few days, I will sail on one of the Free Gaza movement boats from Cyprus to Gaza. The mission is to break the Israeli siege, an absolutely illegal siege which has plunged a million and a half Palestinians into wretched conditions: imprisoned in their own homes, exposed to extreme military violence, deprived of the basic necessities of life, stripped of their most fundamental human rights and dignity. The siege violates the most fundamental principle of international law: the inadmissibility of harming civilian populations. Our voyage also exposes Israel’s attempt to absolve itself of responsibility for what is happening in Gaza. Israel’s claim that there is no Occupation, or that the Occupation ended with “disengagement,” is patently false. Occupation is defined in international law as having effective control over a territory. If Israel intercepts our boats, it is clear that it is the Occupying Power exercising effective control over Gaza. Nor has the siege anything to do with “security.” Like other elements of the Occupation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where Israel has also besieged cities, towns, villages and whole regions, the siege on Gaza is fundamentally political. It is intended to isolate the democratically-elected government of Palestine and break its power to resist Israeli attempts to impose an apartheid regime over the entire country.

This is why I, an Israeli Jew, felt compelled to join this voyage to break the siege. As a person who seeks a just peace with the Palestinians, who understands (despite what our politicians tell us) that they are not our enemies but rather people seeking precisely what we sought and fought for – national self-determination -- I cannot stand idly aside. I can no more passively witness my government’s destruction of another people than I can watch the Occupation destroy the moral fabric of my own country. To do so would violate my commitment to human rights, the very essence of prophetic Jewish religion, culture and morals, without which Israel is no longer Jewish but an empty, if powerful, Sparta.

Israel has, of course, legitimate security concerns, and Palestinian attacks against civilian populations in Sderot and other Israeli communities bordering on Gaza cannot be condoned. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel, as an Occupying Power, has the right to monitor the movement of arms to Gaza as a matter of “immediate military necessity.” As activists committed to resisting the siege non-violently, I have no objection to the Israeli navy boarding our boats and searching for weapons. But only that. Because Israel has no right to besiege a civilian population, it has no legal right to prevent us, private persons sailing solely in international and Palestinian waters, from reaching Gaza – particularly since Israel has declared that it no longer occupies it. Once the Israeli navy is convinced we pose no security threat, then we thoroughly expect it to permit us to continue our peaceful and lawful journey into Gaza port.

Ordinary people have often played key roles in history, particularly in situations like this where governments shirk their responsibilities. My voyage to Gaza is a statement of solidarity with the Palestinian people in their time of suffering, but it also conveys a message to my fellow citizens.

First, despite what our political leaders say, there is a political solution to the conflict, there are partners for peace. The very fact that I, an Israeli Jew, will be welcomed by Palestinian Gazans makes that very point. My presence in Gaza also affirms that any resolution of the conflict must include all the peoples of the country, Palestinian and Israeli alike. I am therefore using whatever credibility my actions lend me to call on my government to renew genuine peace negotiations based on the Prisoners’ Document accepted by all Palestinian factions, including Hamas. The release of all political prisoners held by Israel, including Hamas government ministers and parliamentary members, in return for the repatriation of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, would dramatically transform the political landscape by providing the trust and good-will essential to any peace process.

Second, the Palestinians are not our enemies. In fact, I urge my fellow Israeli Jews to disassociate from the dead-end politics of our failed political leaders by declaring, in concert with Israeli and Palestinian peace-makers: We refuse to be enemies. Only that assertion of popular will can signal our government that we are fed up with being manipulated by those profiting from the Occupation.

And third, as the infinitely stronger party in the conflict and the only Occupying Power, we Israelis must accept responsibility for our failed and oppressive policies. Only we can end the conflict.

In the Israeli conceptions, Zionism was intended to return to the Jews control over their own destiny. Do not let us be held hostage by politicians who endanger the future of our society. Join with us to end the siege of Gaza, and with it the Occupation in its entirety. Let us, the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, declare to our leaders: we demand a just and lasting peace in this tortured Holy Land.
(Jeff Halper, the head of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, was a nominee for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. He can be reached at jeff@icahd.org.)

More info about the boats @ The FreeGaza Movement
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Growing Int. interest to free Gaza, the world's largest open air prison



3rd diary from the boat campaign
By Yvonne Ridley
4 August 2008

INTERNATIONAL interest is growing over daring plans by the Free Gaza campaigners to break the Israeli siege judging by yesterday's press conference in Cyprus.
The two-boat peace mission to sail into the waters off Gaza, the world's largest open air prison where 1.4 million Palestinians are fighting for survival against the medieval, Zionist blockade has really captured the imagination of others.
And now we are hopeful that a flotilla of ships will join us in our mission to highlight the Israeli-imposed injustices on the innocent people of Gaza.
The excitement has even spread to the Gaza Strip where we are told tens of thousands of people are expected on the beaches to greet the historic blockade-busting peace activists.
The only blot on the horizon is speculation over exactly what the Israeli military will do to scupper the historic, waterborne mission.
You see we, as in the peace activists, are bracing ourselves for the worst ... Israel has a history of using immense force to crush anyone offering the slightest goodwill gesture and hope to the Palestinians who are now the victims of a slow genocide.
The brutality of the Israeli military was recalled yesterday when organiser Greta Berlin revealed to the media the names of our two peace boats - Free Gaza and SS Liberty.
The latter is in memory of a war crime which happened on the fourth day of the 1967 Arab Israeli War when the intelligence ship 'USS Liberty' was steaming slowly in international waters, 14 miles off the Sinai Peninsula.
The Second World War freighter had been converted into an intelligence vessel by the top-secret US National Security Agency, and packed with the latest signals and electronic interception equipment.
At 1400 hrs, 8 June, 1967, a squadron of low-flying Israeli Mystere and Mirage-III fighter-bombers repeatedly attacked the American vessel with rockets, napalm, and cannon. The bombing lasted 20 minutes, concentrating on the ship's electronic antennas and dishes. The 'Liberty' was left afire, listing sharply. Eight of her crew lay dead, a hundred seriously wounded, including the captain, Commander William McGonagle.
At 1424 hrs, three Israeli torpedo boats attacked, raking the burning 'Liberty' with 20mm and 40mm shells. At 1431hrs an Israeli torpedo hit the 'Liberty' midship, precisely where the signals intelligence systems were located. Twenty-five more Americans died.
Israeli gunboats circled the wounded 'Liberty,' firing at crewmen trying to fight the fires. At 1515, the crew were ordered to abandon ship. The Israeli warships closed and poured machine gun fire into the crowded life rafts, sinking two. As American sailors were being massacred in cold blood, a rescue mission by US Sixth Fleet carrier aircraft was mysteriously aborted on orders from the White House.
The Israeli attacks killed 34 US seamen and wounded 171 out of a crew of 297, the worst loss of American naval personnel from hostile action since World War II.
Less than an hour after the attack, Israel told Washington its forces had committed a 'tragic error.'

So, it is with good reason that the Free Gaza Campaign organisers were reluctant to tell the media exactly when we are setting sail from Larnaca in Cyprus on a journey of 241 nautical miles.
We are still keeping the exact location of the boats a secret, but I can tell you that they are now on course for Larnaca.
And I can also tell you that myself and film-maker Aki Nawaz flew out of Cyprus last night for a secret destination to rendezvous with the two boats so our Press TV documentary will capture every moment for our viewers.
We should be re-united with our fellow passengers some time this week to break the siege of Gaza and raise international awareness.
So, if you have a boat in the region set your course for Larnaca and let's have a Dunkirk-style flotilla steaming for Gaza.
We can no longer rely on the weasel words and actions of Western politicians to rein in Israel from continuing its brutal policies towards the Palestinians.
Let's take on the Zionist State using nothing more than people power to show how much we really do care. The most powerful weapon to combat the violence of the Zionists will be the non-violent actions of peace activists.

We have spent the last week training in non-violent resistance techniques and while I will freely admit a few of us have fears and concerns, every one of us is determined not to be intimidated or bullied by Israel.

I've previously mentioned the amazing Holocaust-survivor Hedy Epstein, who could celebrate her 84th birthday at sea. She actually learnt to swim to qualify for this trip.

Once we reach Gaza, the plan is to return to Cyprus with Palestinian passengers and establish a ferry service, giving priority for people seeking medical treatment and students prevented by Israel from studying abroad.

If you, like us, believe might is not right then pray for us, support us and - if you have a boat - come sail with us.
See you on the beaches in Gaza ... insh'Allah.

More info @ The FreeGaza Movement
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A message from Free Gaza boat: Let's create a flotilla of peace!


The fifth diary from Free Gaza boats campaign
By Yvonne Ridley
Wednesday 6 August

THERE'S an idiom which says 'it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good'.
Frankly, I've never really understood it and so I checked out its origins this morning and to my surprise it is something people say which means most bad things that happen have a good result for someone.
Well, as you can guess, if I am using myday looking up the origins of old sayings then I must have a lot of time on my hands.
It's true. I am still a land lubber and a very frustrated one at that.
Basically the reason for my dry dock situation is that strong winds have scuppered the current schedule of the Free Gaza Campaign which plans to sail two boats into Gaza thus breaking Israel's medieval siege.
I'm stuck on an extremely picturesque Greek island with film-maker Aki Nawaz waiting for one of our boats to come in, and now we are becoming increasingly frustrated.
By joining the boat ahead of Cyprus we felt it would add to the content of the documentary we are hoping to shoot for Press TV.
Having written out our Next-Of-Kin forms, spent days training for all the "What If" scenarios in Cyprus then making a dash, at breakneck speed to the airport for our secret destination, I feel a bit deflated.
I can only imagine how my fellow travellers must feel in their steaming hot bunker in Cyprus which has all the charm of a cement factory.
Actually they had a break out yesterday and you can see from the attached pictures that Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein proved that she can swim as good as the rest of us at the grand old age of 83.
Meanwhile I am assured that the two boats Free Gaza and Liberty are in the water, making their way first to pick up Aki and myself and then full steam ahead to Cyprus.
From there we are going to be full throttle for Gaza, insh'Allah as we Muslims say.
So it seems we are behind schedule by a couple of days because of high winds - hence the ill wind idiom.
Actually, on reflection, I should be ashamed of myself for huffing and puffing about the delay ... after all, this is part and parcel of the daily lives of the good people of Gaza. Palestinians on the Strip as well as the West Bank have learned to be patient when it comes to going out and about doing things we often take for granted.

Holocaust-survivor Hedy Epstein among few other campaignersto the Free Gaza Movement boat


For instance, did you know that scores of Palestinian babies are born at Israeli checkpoints as those charmless individuals dressed in the Zionist Army uniform hold ambulances back in spite of sirens and flashing lights.
I know. I actually witnessed such an incident at a checkpoint near Nablus. I even tried to reason with a schmuck with the gun - an Argentinian (what the hell was he doing in an IDF uniform?) - who stood there totally oblivious to the fact a woman was about to give birth. What a heartless, nasty little piece of work he was.
I'm sure had his mother known what he was doing she would have given him a good slap ... he looked barely old enough to be out of nappies himself.
That checkpoint in the West Bank I remember very well because our delegation was kept waiting for more than two hours even though we had two British Lords and several MPs on board as well as a consular official from the British Embassy standing by.
As we eventually were allowed to continue our journey I noted the ambulance, lights still flashing, remained in a lay by and I often wondered what happened to mother and baby. Did they survive?
And then there's the Palestinian children - their school run is nothing like the one for our children in the free world. These kids are often held up at checkpoints all day and when they do move they run like hell because they have been used for target practice by the thugs who represent the fourth largest army in the world - an army which openly uses live rounds when firing upon women and children.
Shopping, going to work, socialising, visiting relatives - they are all simple acts taken for granted by those of us whose lands aren't occupied, but for Palestinians each day is a challenge.
So I am going to quit moaning and try and adopt the same patience that our brothers and sisters in Palestine have learned to live with every day of their lives.
Our peace boats were intended to sail on the 5th but they are still on their way.
Please keep monitoring this website which is carrying my daily blog - and there's also a Face Book group on the Free Gaza Campaign as well as a website.
Meanwhile I'm told the Zionist State is also cranking up its campaign to stop our boats sailing in to Gaza. They do not want it to happen at all which is why, if you have a boat in the region, jump in it now and head for Larnaca.
We can meet up in the next day or so and ALL sail in to Gaza ... the more the merrier. Let's create a flotilla of peace because if there's anything Israel can't handle it is PEACE.
God grant me the patience of a Palestinian.

More info @ The FreeGaza Movement
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5 Aug 2008

Israel put pressure on Cyprus to block Gaza Boat Campaign


A diary By Yvonne Ridley
05 August 2008

THE enormity of what the Save Gaza Campaign is about to do is now beginning to hit home, and home is a place which has been on my mind the last 24 hours.
Home is where my husband wants me to be "right now" as he said last night. Home is also another place, it's the family home where my mother lives and where she wants me to be "right now".
Home obviously means somewhere which is safe and secure and in the arms of your loved ones.
Well that's what it means to me and millions of others around the world. But just what does home mean if you live in the Gaza Strip?
Many of us are wearing Arabic t-short at the moment bearing the words: "Gaza on my mind" and Gaza is very much on my mind these days.
It is the place where I want to be. It is the place where I want the international headlines to be focussed for all the right reasons.
It is the place where I want us all to be in the next few days - in fact, I want us all to unite and be Gazans for the day.
Gaza is home to 1.4 million Palestinians and the sad thing is they don't feel safe. They are under siege, at the mercy of a brutal, hostile military from another land.
They are shot at, their homes demolished on a Zionist whim, and no mercy or respect is shown for age - if you have an olive skin, are a babe in arms or a pensioner you are "untermenschun" as far as the Israeli regime is concerned.
Yes, it is the Nazi word which was reserved for the Jews during the rise of Hitler - and now we have a classic case of the abused becoming the abuser.
Israel has the power to turn off their tap water - and often does. Israel has the power to switch off their lights, stop food and medical aid reaching them and often does.
The only thing Israel can not do is steal the oxygen of Gaza which fills the lungs of the old and young so they can wail, and cry and scream. Sadly no one hears because these people have been cut off from the rest of the world.
They live in the 360 square kilometres of the Gaza Strip, making it one of the most crowded places on earth. In 1948, just 80,000 people lived in the same area. Now, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), 993,818 of the residents of the strip are refugees and 75 per cent of them live in eight camps, where the population density can reach over 75,000 people per square kilometre.
Despite all of the power which Israel wields over this tiny piece of land, the government is still not happy. Now there are moves to try and stop our peace boats from sailing in to Gaza with some hearing aids for the children.
the Zionists are trying to put pressure on the Government of Cyprus to block our attempts to smash the siege of Gaza - but what they forget is that Cyprus knows only too well the cost of occupation.
Cyprus has been occupied for more than three decades following the Turkish invasion of the 70s.
There is only one way the Cypriot Government will fall - and that will be on the side of right and not might.
Come hell or high water, our boats The Liberty and Free Gaza will set sail any day now - we are doing it not for ourselves, but for humanity.
And when we land on the beaches, that is the day we will all become Gazans - armed with nothing more than messages of love and peace.
Is the Israeli war machine fuelled with so much hate there's not room for one ounce of humanity?
One of my fellow passengers Donna Wallach, a jewish lady who has lived in Israel and now resides in America, told me how, despite the hardships suffered under Israel, she is always greeted with love and affection from palestinian children when she visits the occupied lands.
"You know Yvonne, Palestinians don't bring their children up to hate Jews. Sadly the same can not be said in Israel where the children are indoctrinated against Palestinians. It is a tragedy."
Donna Wallach has so much love to give that I know she can't wait to be a Gazan for the day, and I also know that despite her nationality she will be loved just as much by those who she wants to support.
Because, at the end of the day, we are one big family - and families help each other out.

More info @ The Free Gaza Movement
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3 Aug 2008

Why the Free Gaza Campaigners don't want to sail in to an Israeli Port?

2nd day diary on boat trip to Gaza
03 August 2008 By Yvonne Ridley

I hate filling out forms at the best of times but the one I was given today really concentrated my mind about all the "what if" scenarios we have been trying to address during the intensive training sessions in our land-locked HQ in Cyprus.
The 'we' in question is an assortment of peace activists aged between 22 and 83 years drawn from nearly 15 countries across the world representing people of all faith and no faith ... although as I was once told: "There are no atheists aboard a sinking ship!" (Insh'Allah, there will be no need to verify of corroborate that statement at a later date).
In the next few days no less than TWO ships currently berthed in a top secret location, will come sailing in to the holiday resort of Larnaca to take us on our peace mission.
It is obvious from checking the Zionist websites and chatrooms, there are those who do not want to see our boats float, and the plan to sail a coupe of them in to Gaza, breaking the Israeli siege, has caused outrage among some hardliners in the Zionist State.
The obvious question to ask is: "Why?" After all, the Free Gaza Campaigners don't want to sail in to an Israeli Port. The mission is bound for Gaza which is in Palestinian waters according to any map of the region.
How can delivering a goodwill message and some hearing aids for kids deafened by bombs threaten Israel and the fourth largest army in the world?
But of course logic does not apply and even ordinary Israeli citizens are becoming embarrassed by the hysteria of some Zionists who continue to promote the ill-conceived and medieval siege of the Gaza Strip.
According to a recent poll the Jewish public there does not believe Israel's policy in Gaza is achieving its goals, and that most of the public even believe this policy is harming their interests.
In fact the survey revealed that 83 per cent felt the siege had made Hamas stronger than ever.
Now if the politicians do decide to pay attention to the people who voted them into power they should tell the Defence Minister to instruct the Navy to give us a wide berth and let our boats pass through so we can get on with our humanitarian mission.
Sadly commonsense does not prevail in the Knesset, and in fact some pretty nasty decisions have been taken by brutal, uncaring, emotionally damaged people who care not one jot for their fellow man. And it will be this mentality which will be the eventual undoing of the Zionist State.
Fellow traveller Mary Hughes reinforced this view as we sat and drank a strong cup of english tea in our communal kitchen today. You see Mary has witnessed firsthand the brutality of those who say the land of Palestine is theirs.
Mary, who is flying the flag for Canada, although she was born in Bolton, Lancashire, went on an olive-picking adventure Itamar near Nablus in october 2002 to try and persuade under-fire Palestinian farmers to remain on their land.
She and other peace activists headed to the village after they were told that a bunch of particularly nasty, violent settlers were trying to drive the Palestinians from the lands they and their ancestors had farmed for thousands of years.
And for those of you not familiar with the term settlers - it refers to a group of people who are illegally occupying Palestinian lands. Settlers are thieving, land grabbers and all of them without exception refuse to recognise the 1967 borders issued under international law.
Mary believed that if she helped the farmers pick their olives then no one would stop them. She was wrong. She was jumped on by eight young Israeli settlers who then kicked and punched her to the ground before robbing her. She received injuries that needed hospital treatment.
Mary was traumatised. Some of her fellow activists were also beaten up by the same gang and received broken ribs and fractured bones.
Did I tell you Mary was 67 years old when these thugs attacked her?
Well she's now older and wiser and 73 and undeterred by the proven brutality of some Israelis (not all, we have many supporters from Jewish peace groups within the Zionist state). She will be part of our peace mission and I, for one, salute her courage and bravery.
I hope the cowards from the illegal settlements near Nablus who kicked and punched Mary read this and hang their heads in shame. I doubt they will, but listening to people like Mary makes me more determined than ever to be proud of taking part in this amazing humanitarian project.
And one day, when my grandchildren ask me what I did to stop the genocide of the Palestinians I will be able to say I took part in the Free Gaza Campaign with some of the bravest people I have ever met.
Suddenly I feel a whole lot braver - now pass me that NOK form.
Tomorrow: Why Israel thinks the Free Gaza Campaigners are taking a liberty over the name of one of the boats.
More info @ The Free Gaza Movement
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US and the Iranian terrorist MEK (MKO): Blurring friends and enemies


Fri, 01 Aug 2008
By Nina Hamedani, Press TV

The United States of America has consistently and historically championed itself as a preeminent nation in the world. However, since recent international and domestic events left the US in a more precarious position, they are desperately making friends with unlikely groups.

Post 9/11 US Befriending the MEK or MKO

President George W. Bush, his administration, and the mass media have carried the banner of an age-old mantra post-September 11, 2001: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Along with this mantra, the aforementioned have also propagated a polarizing theory with public statements declaring, “You're either with us, or against us.” However, political situations are not always so black and white - but neither are friends and enemies.

The relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the US has remained strained since the 1953 British and US Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) orchestrated coup d'état of Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq, who had aims of nationalizing Iran's oil. Along with the following 1979 Islamic Revolution and ensuing 444-day student takeover of the US embassy in Tehran, Iran and the US continued to grow apart and remain isolated from one another.

US-Iranian political atmosphere and dominant American philosophies have encouraged the US government to forge a friendship with an Iranian opposition group that is living in exile, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK, MKO or PMOI for the People's Mujahedin of Iran).

BBC's Newsnight on January 17, 2007 uncovered an offer that Tehran sent to Washington in 2003, stating Iran would abandon supporting Hamas and Hezbollah if the Western countries would ensure the MEK be disbanded. Many officials in the US government saw an enormous potential of working with Iran, but the offer was stopped in its tracks by Vice President Dick Cheney - and remained unsigned.

Instead of attempting to bridge the gaps between Iran and the US, the American government has been funding the MEK under a guise of 'democracy promotion' in Iran. Reported amounts of money differ, but consider the following:

See the rest of the article @ Press TV
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2 Aug 2008

ISRAELI LAWYERS ATTEMPT TO SCUPPER GAZA PEACE BOAT


By Yvonne Ridley

ORGANISERS who plan to break the siege of Gaza using a boat sailing from Cyprus are facing accusations their seaborne peace mission could be used as a front for a gun-running operation.
The astonishing claims were made yesterday by Israeli lawyers to the Attorney General of California where funding for the project originally began. It is clear from the letter the Zionist group is determined to stop the boat from sailing into Gaza with medical aid for Palestinian children.
Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center also accuses the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), and others, of violating Israeli sovereignty and the U.S. Neutrality Act.
Darshan-Leitner wrote that based on prior experience there were "serious concerns that the boats will be carrying weapons, explosives and contraband".
She cited that the Zionist State had imposed a series of sanctions on the Gaza Strip including a coastal blockade to prevent "previous attempts by the Iranian Government to transfer weapons to Palestinian militants at sea."
Last night from their base in Cyprus, organisers of the Free Gaza project said they were bemused by the accusations adding: "Not bad for a group of peaceniks who want to deliver hearing aids for Palestinian kids."
The seaborne venture which sets sail in a few days time has been endorsed by politicians and humanitarians across the globe including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Nobel Peace prize winner Mairead Maquire.
This latest development seems to have had little impact on the internationals representing more than 12 different countries including America, Canada, Pakistan, Britain, Palestine and Israel.
They were joined yesterday by journalist Lauren Booth, sister-in-law of the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair who ironically was forced to cancel his trip to Gaza a few weeks ago because of security concerns.
Last night the head of the Free Gaza campaign, Californian Greta Berlin said: "It is utter nonsense to sggest we carry anything except hearing aids. the only boats in that area of the Mediterranen that are carrying guns, munitions and rockets belong to israel.
"This is a human rights mission and one which we intend to run throughout the summer months and early Fall. This is not a one time operation. Our intent is to break the Israeli Siege of Gaza."

* Press TV will be following the progress of the peace activists and journalist Yvonne Ridley, who will be on board with Indy film-maker Aki Nawaz, will be sending a regular blog to Press TV's website.

See updates on boat campaign @ Press TV
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