Galway to Gaza Gig

by Niall Farrell - Galway's Palestinian Children's Fund Mon Jul 21, 2008 21:50 gaaw1 at eircom dot net

Fundraiser to send much needed medical supplies to the Palestinian People
Donal Lunny will play a rare “Galway to Gaza Gig” this Wednesday in the Ardilaun Hotel, Galway at 8pm.: The event is being organised by the Galway Palestinian Children’s Fund in order to raise funds to send much needed medical supplies to Gaza, the West Bank and Southern Lebanon.
A host of acclaimed traditional musicians, singers and dancers will join Donal Lunny on stage. Donal needs no introduction; he has been at the cutting edge of the traditional music scene for over 40 years. And over the years has consistently offered his talents to support the Galway Palestinian Children’s Fund.

This will not only be a wonderful gig but it is also for a wonderful cause. Tickets are €40 and can be bought from the Crane Bar, Galway or Treasa Ní Cheanabháin at [email protected]

by Mr Man Tue Jul 22, 2008 23:33

How exactly will the money be channeled? Will it be going to Hamas or a neutral third party? Just asking because I have heard that Hamas siphons money and distributes it to less humanitarian purpouses.

by Aine Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:39

And what is Mr Man's idea of a neutral third party ... the US I suppose?

by Fred Johnston Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:23

Congratulations to everyone involved in putting this gig together and of course to Donal Lunny. Naturally, there will be the usual gaggle of detractors, doubters, hurlers-on-the-ditch. They''re best ignored. The work that is being done in Galway by a dedicated number of people on the issue of Palestine is an example to the rest of the country as to what can be achieved. I am not in the country at present but wish all the very best for this gig and to everyone involved.

by Mark C Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:33

Great effort folks.

Perhaps a third party that could be considered to help distribute funds is www.dci-pal.org - ask for Khaled Quzmar - he did a Master's Degree in NUI Galway last year in International Human Rights Law at the Irish Centre for Human Rights. I have his phone number if you'd like it.

Mark.

by Mr Man Wed Jul 23, 2008 15:02

Aine;

Well, the US certainly isn't neutral but I would trust them to distribute funds appropriately to medical needs rather than Hamas. I was more thinking of an independant, trustworthy charity.

Any chance of a clarification on this issue?

by Barak Wed Jul 23, 2008 15:18

Mr Man,

Was it appropriate when they distributed funds to Fatah and the warlord Dahlan for the purposes of instigating a civil war amongst the Palestinians ? Is American terrorism appropriate for you?

Where is YOUR evidence that Hamas usurp the funds to pay for weapons? Generally they are perceived to be more honest than Fatah or other US / Israel stooges in the region.

by Mr Man Wed Jul 23, 2008 17:43

Barak;

"Was it appropriate when they distributed funds to Fatah and the warlord Dahlan for the purposes of instigating a civil war amongst the Palestinians ?"
Was that money provided by fundraisers in Galway?

You are missing my point. I wasn't advocating using the US as an intermediate, Aine put forward that Idea, rather an idependant trustworthy third party. Sure, Hamas is better than Fatah in relation to embezzlement, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen, nor does it mean that Hamas is a squeaky clean organization filled with really nice guys.

Is it really necessary to enter a moral grey area by giving them money? I would find it very hard to believe that there isn't other channels to go through to buy medical supplies for the area. In any case, we haven't heard from the organizers of the gig where the money is actually going.

by Barak Wed Jul 23, 2008 20:52

Im not missing your point at all Mr Man,

You said : " I would trust them to distribute funds appropriately to medical needs rather than Hamas "

Why would you do that when we know for a fact they were trying to foment violence and civil war. They dont give a damn about the ordinary people otherwise they would not have tried to stir up a hornets nest of violence that would sure ly have claimed many innocent lives. Hamas averted that.

You made a point I picked you up on it - you should nt make points then run away from them.

by Mr Man Wed Jul 23, 2008 21:27

Get off your high horse. Aine suggested that I meant the US and I responded that they wouldn't be neutral, but would be better than Hamas and called for a non-partisan trustworthy third party to be used.

If it were possible to actually get in touch with 'the US' and get them to handle the funds so that it goes to medical stuff, I would trust them alot more to do it rather than Hamas. The funding of Fatah wasn't done with charity donations from people in Galway, it was their own money. But that is neither here nor there, because it's not going to happen.

I stand by my statement, but it was not my point. A point that you ARE missing.

by Tim H. Wed Jul 23, 2008 23:38

Perhaps the administrators of the charity can give us an outline of how the dispersal of the funds will be carried out ?

by Barak Thu Jul 24, 2008 13:27

Thats a red herring Tim. If you look at the notice you will see that the funds are to help , not just Gaza, but the West Bank and Lebanon too. Now our friend Mr Man, even though he accepts that the US are not trustworthy has decided to single out the Gazans for special scrutiny. Not the US Puppet Sionora government which now relies on Hezbolla for it's existence nor the utterly corrupt and violent US sponsored Fatah regime which was backed by Bush to topple the elected Hamas government in civil war. No... Mr. Man has no concerns with these shady cabals , just Hamas. The whole charade is complete nonsense.

The point is that this Gaza Galway Gig is going to gather the money and help to make the lot of these people better.

Mr Man and his likes will try to undermine the good in that in any sleazy way possible.

by Mr Man Thu Jul 24, 2008 13:58

Barak;

Red herring nothing. How is it sleazy to ask whether the money is going to someone trustworthy? I'm all for helping the people, I would think that people would have a right to know where their money is going, especially in such a morally grey area.

"No... Mr. Man has no concerns with these shady cabals , just Hamas."
I never said I have no concerns with the other parties, I only want to see the money to go to a neutral trustworthy third party. I wouldn't want the money to go to any of the factions you described. Neutral. Trustworthy. Third. Party. It can't be that hard.

It isn't a bad question, which has yet to be answered. You are the one throwing down red herrings to distract from the question.

So I will ask again, who are the funds going to?

by Barak Thu Jul 24, 2008 14:10

The funds are going to the people of Lebanon Gaza and the West Bank who are the victims of US / Israeli militarism in the region. Its quite simple Mr Man.
I dont have a problem with you wondering how the funds will be distributed, you are entitled to ask. I simply have a problem with you using sleazy gutter tactic in trying to present Hamas as the bogeyman in the background to frighten people who have reservations about Islamic idealism.

A simple scratch at the surface and we see that the other cabals in the region are far more destructive and nefarious than Hamas. Why didnt you highlight your fears that one of these more violent groups would be trusted with the funds ?

by Mr Man Thu Jul 24, 2008 16:42

Barak;

"The funds are going to the people of Lebanon Gaza and the West Bank"
This is still avoiding the question. It's not like you can go to your online banking and select 'transfer money to people of Lebanon Gaza and the West Bank'. I made it quite clear that I was enquiring what channels the money was going through. And you accuse me of supplying red herrings.

"Why didnt you highlight your fears that one of these more violent groups would be trusted with the funds?"
A fair question. To be honest, it is because I read somewhere that when Treasa went to gaza some other time with funds (in the whole border crossing debacle) she gave the funds via/to Hamas. Don't know how true that was but still raised worries with me.

Still awaiting an answer.