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Free Gaza Boats Break the Siege Again

category limerick | anti-war / imperialism | press release author Wednesday October 29, 2008 23:39author by Zoe Lawlor - Limerick branch Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign Report this post to the editors

Second boat reaches Gaza

The second boat from the Free Gaza Movement reaches Gaza. Doing what the international community refuses to do.

We've done it again

For Immediate Release Date : 10-29-2008

LARNACA - The Free Gaza Movement is delighted to announce that their third boat, the SS Dignity carrying 27 crew and passengers arrived in Gaza at 8:10 Gaza time, in spite of Israeli threats to stop them. In the pouring rain, the boat pulled into port amid cheers from the people of Gaza and tears from the passengers.

David Schermerhorn, one of the crew members called an hour before the boat entered the waters of Gaza and said, "There is a rainbow stretching across the Mediterranean from where we are right now."

Yesterday, The Israel Navy said they would stop the stop our vessel once it reached Israel's territorial waters. Apparently to save face, they said they would harm our boat, arrest us and tow us IF we entered Israeli waters. The problem for Israel is that the SS Dignity had no intention of getting anywhere near those waters.

One of the organizers, Huwaida Arraf cheered, "Once again we've been able to defy an unjust and illegal policy while the rest of the world is too intimidated to do anything. Our small boat is a huge cry to the international community to follow in our footsteps and open a lifeline to the people of Gaza."

For the second time, the Free Gaza Movement has demonstrated that the might of the Israeli navy is no match for a small boat of human rights activists determined to call to the attention of the world the occupation of the people of Gaza.

Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council added, "Despite the injustice against the Palestinian people, we believe in justice and will keep on trying to break Israel's siege. The occupation has divided the Palestinians, but our nonviolent resistance has united us."

Osama Qashoo, one of the organizers of the Free Gaza Movement, overjoyed for the second time in three months, "We are all capable of leading a nonviolent and effective movement to end the Israeli Apartheid and expose the injustice that has been meted out to the Palestinians. We in the FG movement have provided the new dictionary, it's up to the Palestinians and the Israelis and the Internationals to add the words."

Nam, Nehnu Nastatyeh!" is Arabic for "Yes, We Can!"

By Ramzi Kysia Date : 10-29-2008

GAZA CITY, FREE PALESTINE (29 October 2008) - This morning I walked to the Indian Ocean and made salt in defiance of the British Occupation of India. This morning I marched in Selma, I stood down tanks in Tiannamen Square, and I helped tear down the Berlin Wall. This morning I became a Freedom Rider.

The Freedom Riders of the 21st Century are sailing small boats into the Gaza Strip in open defiance of the Israeli Occupation and blockade. This morning I arrived in Gaza aboard the SS Dignity, part of a Free Gaza Movement delegation of twenty seven doctors, lawyers, teachers, and human rights activists from across the world, including Mairead Maguire - the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

When I close my eyes, I still hear the crash of ocean waves, I still feel the warm sun on my face, and I still taste salt from the sea spray. When I close my eyes, I can still see the Israeli warship that tried to intimidate us when we reached the twenty-mile line outside Gaza, and I can still see a thousand cheering people crowding around our ship when we refused to be intimidated and finally reached port in Gaza City. Today, the proudest boast in the free world is truly, "Nam, Nehnu Nastatyeh!" - "Yes, We Can!"

Dr. Mustapha Barghouti, an independent member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, sailed aboard the Dignity, along with six other Palestinians from the West Bank, from 1948/inside the Green Line, and from countries in Europe. What should have been a ninety-minute drive from Ramallah to Gaza City became a three day odyssey as he travelled from the West Bank to Jordan, then flew to Cyprus, before finally coming aboard the Dignity for the fifteen hour sea voyage to Gaza.

"We're challenging Israel in a manner that is unprecedented, " said Dr. Barghouti. "Israel has prevented me from visiting Gaza for more than two years now. I am so pleased that we managed to defy Israel's injustice so that I can see all the people I love and work with in Gaza. Israel's measures are meant to divide us, but it is our defiance and resistance which unite us."

This is a resistance which can and should light the fire of all our imaginations, and bring hope not just to Palestinians, but to peoples suffering the terrible tides of oppression and injustice the world around.

After watching the Dignity's arrival, Fida Qishta, the local coordinator for the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in the Gaza Strip, said "If Gaza is free then it's our right to invite whomsoever we wish to visit us. It's our land and it's our sea. Now more groups must come, not only by sea but also the crossings at Erez and Rafah must be opened as well. This second breaking of the siege means a lot, actually. It's the second time in two months that people have come to Gaza without Israel's permission, and that tells us that Gaza will be free."

For over forty years, Israel has occupied the Gaza Strip. Despite the so-called "Disengagement " in 2005, when they shut down their illegal settlements here, Israel maintains absolute control over Gaza's borders and airspace, severely limiting the free movement of goods, services, and travel. Israel is still an occupying power.

For over two years, Israel has maintained a brutal blockade of Gaza. Less than twenty percent of the supplies needed (as compared to 2005) are allowed in. This has forced ninety-five percent of local industries to shut down, resulting in massively increased unemployment and poverty rates. Childhood malnutrition has skyrocketed, and eighty percent of families are now dependent on international food aid just to be able to eat. An hour after we arrived, I watched a teenage boy digging through the garbage, looking for something he could use.

Israel's siege isn't simply illegal - it's intolerable.

Renowned human rights activist Caoimhe Butterly also sailed aboard the Dignity, and will remain in Gaza for several weeks as Project Coordinator for the Free Gaza Movement. But, said Butterly, "My feelings are bittersweet. Although we're overjoyed at reaching Gaza a second time, that joy is tempered by the fact that the conscience of the world has been reduced to a small boat and 27 seasick activists. This mission is a reminder of not only the efficacy of non-violent direct action, but also of the deafening silence of the international community."

Our first voyage in August, the first voyage of any international ship to Gaza in over forty years, showed that it was possible to freely travel. This second voyage shows that it is repeatable, and this sets a precedent: The Siege of Gaza can be overcome through non-violent resistance and direct action.

Today, the Free Gaza Movement has a simple message for the rest of the world: What are you waiting for?

-----
Ramzi Kysia is an Arab-American writer and activist, and one of the organizers of the Free Gaza Movement. To find out more about Free Gaza and what you can do to help support their work, please visit http://www.FreeGaza.org

Related Link: http://www.FreeGaza.org
author by revengepublication date Fri Apr 24, 2009 16:26author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"Razein Hshaba, the head of the fishermen's union in Rafah, told local media that a massive explosion was seen off the Gaza coast, after the Israeli forces opened fire. He was able to say that several men armed with AK-47, two rocket launchers and strapped with suicide bombing belts, jumped off the boat a couple of minute before it exploded".

This is as made up story as the previous one

author by Rodpublication date Tue Apr 14, 2009 19:08author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Not to mention the fact that there was a witness who saw the Israeli Navy blowing the boat up themsleves.

http://www.imemc.org/article/59900

" Niezar Abash, the head of the fishermen's union in Gaza, told local media that a massive explosion was seen off the Gaza coast, after the Israeli forces opened fire. He was unable to say whether anyone was on board the boat. "

author by Susanpublication date Tue Apr 14, 2009 19:04author address author phone Report this post to the editors

On who's word are we relying that this was a booby trap boat ? Israeli military ?

Lets be realistic here. The Palestinians are not stupid, they know that the Israelis rigidly control all Palestinian fishing boats movements with unfettered violence. Thay are not stupid enought to think that they would sail a boat up to an Israeli warship and blow it up.

What really happened.?

Israelis blew up a fishing boat that was not moored. Either they broke the moorings themselves or it was accidental, then they blew it up. Thats it ! Apart from making up the cockamamey story about the booby boat, that is, in order to harrass Gazan fishermen more violently in future.

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=53078

"Shooting fishermen is now a daily routine for Israelis that my family presses me to end my career."

author by Joseph Andersonpublication date Tue Apr 14, 2009 18:42author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Gaza "fishing boat" explodes in botched attack

A Palestinian fishing boat exploded as it neared the Israeli coast from the direction of Gaza.

IDF sources estimated that the booby-trapped boat was activated by remote control and meant to explode near an Israeli Navy vessel or a coastal community.

A naval patrol followed the boat for about an hour and spotted no people on board. As it was several hundred meters off the Gaza shore and heading north the boat exploded.

None of the soldiers was injured and no damage was reported.

IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi said that the boat was loaded with a large amount of explosives.
The "Free Gaza" movement has been obsessing over Israel's patrols off the Gaza shore to ensure no weapons being smuggled into Gaza as well as to stop "fishing boats" like these from steering into Israeli ports. Not surprisingly, they have been silent about this incident.

author by mebosa ritchiepublication date Sun Dec 21, 2008 20:03author address author phone Report this post to the editors

the israelis are too soft .

they should sink every boat coming to gaza as it may contain fuel for rockets to be fired at israel

author by Vincentpublication date Fri Dec 19, 2008 15:44author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Voice of Israel government radio said :

"The firing at farmers in the field is the final piece of evidence on the end of the 'calm' , We have gone back to the situation of half a year ago."

So now we have the official admission on the truce from Israeli Government Radio : The Israelis never were on a truce as they have been firing at farmers and fishermen since day one, literally ! They had even shot an old man by day 4. So I presume that officially makes the IDF terrorists for firing on civilians in the open (in case you didnt know).

FROM A UN REPORT

-- Most of the offences committed by the IDF include shots fired by soldiers at Palestinian farmers attempting to reach their land near the border security fence. According to the UN, on June 20 an IDF patrol shot at Palestinian farmers near the fence east of Rafah. The soldiers fired for ten minutes in order to drive the farmers away, but no injuries were reported.

During the evening of the same day a similar incident was recorded, in which IDF forces shot at Palestinian farmers near the Maghazi refugee camp. Soldiers reportedly fired for five minutes, and no injuries were reported. An hour later soldiers fired towards fisherman near the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya in an attempt to drive them away.

Early on June 21 Navy forces opened fire in the same area, and later the same morning forces fired towards Palestinians near the Maghazi refugee camp. No injuries were reported in either case.

70-year old Jamil al-Gahoul was injured from IDF fire two days later, when an army patrol opened fire on a group of Palestinians reportedly gathering wood near Beit Lahiya at 7 am. --

By the way, it wasn't a secret that Hamas had decided to rejoin the shooting as they had declared openly that their truce was over until Israel made a decision to actually stop firing and open the border - which was their end of the bargain, believe it or not.

author by Sean Ogpublication date Fri Dec 19, 2008 14:13author address author phone Report this post to the editors



Gaza terrorists began the first official day after the end of the so-called "temporary ceasefire" early Friday morning with the usual barrage of Kassam rockets aimed at the western Negev.

The attacks began at the usual hour, approximately 7:30 a.m., when Jewish children are walking to school and their parents and other adults are on their way to work, thus maximizing the chances of the missiles hitting civilian targets.

Two Kassam rockets exploded in the Eshkol region, fired by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.

A second attack soon followed, with the terrorist group also responsible for a Kassam rocket striking the Sha'ar HaNegev district

By 8:30 a.m., however, the attacks had escalated to include SNIPER fire, thus indicating the official end to the tahadiyeh, or temporary truce.

Gaza terrorists fired at farmers working near Kibbutz Nir Oz, east of the Hamas-controlled region.
The targeted Jews were rescued by an IDF armored corps unit.
Although a vehicle was damaged, no one was injured in the attack.

Sniper fire made it clear that HAMAS had no intention of continuing the ceasefire, according to Voice of Israel government radio.

The radio said "The firing at farmers in the field is the final piece of evidence on the end of the 'calm' , We have gone back to the situation of half a year ago."

author by Frank Adam - private citizenpublication date Tue Dec 09, 2008 14:27author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Most of your correspondents seem exceedingly shortsighted historically - like the English on Ireland.

Between 1949 and 1967 the Arab neighbours of Israel apart from refusing to use her name or deal with her anywhere; permited no traffic across the borders of the time - apart from some UN people, a few other diplomats, and even fewer tourists at the "Mandlebaum Gate" in Jerusalem. This meant that for two decades no Israeli Moslem was allowed to attend the Haj; but nobody protested anywhere. Gaza is being treated no worse than the Arabs treated Israel in 1949 - '67 and in effect somewhat better as those in need of medical treatment are allowed transit and they are being supplied free of payment.

Given the optimism arising from the Obama election do place some each way bets now; because after the elections in Israel and the PA, when the new US admin has got its feet under the table and calls the parties to talks, they will fail or drag out for ever for the same previous "Humpty Dumpty" misinterpretations that a word means what I want it to mean. Then there will be another dust up because wars start when Arabs think they can win them and at the moment they are being cocky as ever - or rather rockety.

As usual it will end badly because Arabs can afford to lose or run away while Israelis' lives are on the line and per precedent will be the more determined and better organised.

author by JayCeemepublication date Mon Dec 08, 2008 23:51author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Susan have you seen the photos taken in Gaza of Lauren Booth? Every single person who writes on the situation in Gaza should really look at them closely. Unfortunately both Vincent and Reporter 12 have trouble with their eyesight because they don't appear to see them too well, so here they are again.

http://www.daylife.com/photo/02uy2JZ8Uw445/Lauren_Booth
At the concentration camp supermarket.

http://www.daylife.com/photo/0a44grgdw3fJv/Lauren_Booth
At the slum residence in Gaza

http://www.daylife.com/photo/0gtydNr3679Lr/Lauren_Booth
Using her mobile phone in Gaza "while they are dying"

http://www.daylife.com/photo/025m61w6uSbhP/Lauren_Booth
leaving a bakery/grocery store in Gaza City

Never hear from those chaps about rocket attacks in Sderot either in fact don't ever seem to hear about Israeli casualties or Hamas, Mumbai, Rwanda, Dafur or Zimbabwe come to think of it. Only about that tiny little country the size of Wales because it happens to be the only democracy in the Middle East that they think has no right to exist.

author by Maerton Davis - Nonepublication date Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:46author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Nice to see many people trying to bring relief to Islamic terrorists.
How quick we forget Bombay, Bali, London, Madrid, New York and soon to come, our very own Dublin.

author by Susanpublication date Sun Dec 07, 2008 20:31author address author phone Report this post to the editors

It is that simple. Hamas is the elected , governing Authority in Gaza. such matters are dealt with by the Government.
The Fianna Fail Government of Ireland will not accept A Fine Gael/Labour Coalition of the opposition to start running the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hamas selects the pilgrims Saudi Arabia issues permits to the governing authority. The pilgrims leave through Egypt with the consent of Hamas. You have no understanding of the situation.
Your previous post is particularly illuminating in respect of your lack of understanding as every single sentence is factually incorrect.

Taking them one by one I will correct you.

1. The exact oppostire happened. Hamas defeated a planned coup against them by routing the US and Israel backed Fatah as they tried to bring Gaza to war.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/jun/22/isr...mment

QUOTE : Reports have been circulating for months of a more sinister side to the boycott. According to them, the US decided last year on a plan to arm and train Mahmoud Abbas's presidential guard in a deliberate effort to confront and defeat Hamas militarily. Israel has already locked up several dozen Hamas legislators and mayors from the West Bank. The next stage was to do the same in Gaza but have Palestinians, rather than Israelis, run the crackdown.

2. No, you are of course incorrect in presuming that the PA will negotiate with the Israeli government and Hamas wont. Hamas has negotiated a truce with Israel that technically still holds. Fatah must do what they are told by the US in accommodating Israeli military deployments, Fatah has no negotiating power anymore as evidenced in the Beit El Meeting Scandal. Abbas , like his master Bush is a lame duck with no mandate.

http://www.ptimes.org/main/default.aspx?xyz=BOgLkxlDHte...Ho%3D

QUOTE :"The gist of their argument is that a violent confrontation between Fatah and Hamas will take place in January of 2009. On the 9th of January, Abu Mazen’s presidential term will expire. He is determined to stay in office until January 2010. We can’t rule out the possibility that Abu Mazen will declare the Gaza Strip a 'rebellious province.'

3. Hamas kept very tight reign over the resistance Faction in the Gaza Strip whilst Israel persistently violated the truce conditions daily. Israel's recent murder of seven Palestinians in an afternoon caused a retaliation of rocket fire which Hamas didnt stop.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4A37B52...81105

QUOTE : GAZA (Reuters) - Hamas fired dozens of rockets at Israel on Wednesday after Israeli forces killed six Palestinian militants in an eruption of violence that disrupted a four-month-old truce along the Gaza Strip's frontier.

4. Similarly to Fatah , Egypt is a puppet regime which has no negotiating credentials with Israel as it's annual grants from America are dependent on compliance with conditions laid out for border control and enforcement of the siege on their Gazan brothers.

http://www.alarabiya.net/save_print.php?print=1&cont_id...ng=en

QUOTE : The arrests were made after the Brotherhood organized "events across the country showing solidarity with the Palestinian people, particularly those facing the deadly siege in Gaza."

author by Sean Og - Media Analyst publication date Sun Dec 07, 2008 00:32author address author phone Report this post to the editors



Susan - The Haj dispute is not so simple
The P A blames HAMAS - Hamas blames Saudi Arabia
Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday blamed Hamas for preventing thousands of Palestinians taking part in the HAJ saying even Israel had not held back pilgrims .

"Unfortunately, this is the first time in the history of the Palestinian people that pilgrims were prevented. Israel never once prevented pilgrims,"
Abbas told reporters during the HAJ pilgrimage in Mecca .

3000 pilgrims from Gaza were deprived of HAJ this year
Pilgrims bound for Mecca were prevented from leaving the Gaza Strip via Egypt on Saturday.
Hamas Islamist rulers in GAZA and the rival Fatah leadership in the West Bank blamed each other for the hold-up.
Saudi Arabia was also involved as Saudi Arabia only granted visas to Palestinians who registered through the Palestinian Authority run by Abbas' Fatah faction.

Hamas asked Saudi Arabia to give visas to some 3,000 people who tried to arrange HAJ through Hamas authorities in Gaza and some Hamas figures said they would prevent anyone leaving Gaza for the pilgrimage unless Saudi Arabia approved the trips.

Saudi Arabia said this week it would be prepared to receive Palestinian pilgrims who arrive late for the HAJ

author by Sean og - MedisAnalystpublication date Sat Dec 06, 2008 18:53author address author phone Report this post to the editors


Thanks -- oh Susan I forgot -- how forgetful of me - democraic Hamas rules GAZA

but did not Hamas stage a coup in Gaza a year or two ago and kick out the PA ?

Am I correct in presuming that the PA will negotiate with the Israeli government

and Hamas wont and is not this the problem ?

So Hamas rules GAZA now and permits the rocket and missile attacks against Israel

and then complains that the Israelis reduce essential supplies

to an humanitarian level -but the tunnels supply the rest .

I have read that any negotiations about GAZA and Israel go through Egypt anyway

author by Susanpublication date Fri Dec 05, 2008 18:05author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Well actually if you read the article , you will see that it is the PA trying to undermine the democratic mandate of Hamas in Gaza that is causing the problem for the people wanting to go on the Hajj.

It is the governing authority that should be dealt with in relation to these permits being issued.

Hamas is the governing authority in Gaza. Its really that simple.

author by Sean Og - Media Analysispublication date Thu Dec 04, 2008 23:26author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Link to article

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1043042.html

Report by Amira Hass giving more details about the 6000 GAZA HAJ pilgrims and how

HAMAS is tryng to use it to reduce the role of the P A

author by BADpublication date Thu Dec 04, 2008 13:32author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council added, "Despite the injustice against the Palestinian people, we believe in justice and ------------------------- our nonviolent resistance has united us."

Osama Qashoo, one of the organizers of the Free Gaza Movement, overjoyed for the second time in three months, "We are all capable of leading a nonviolent and effective movement to end ------------------------

AS AN ISRAELI RESIDENT SUFFERING FROM DAILY QUASSAM ATTACKS I ADMIT I HAVE CROPPED THE ABOVE QUOTES BUT DON'T YOUR READERS AND WRITERS UNDERSTAND THAT THE BORDERS WOULD BE OPEN IF THE QUASSAMS WERE TO STOP. AND THERE WOULD BE PEACE IF HAMMAS WOULD RECOGNISE OUR RIGHT TO EXIST.
SO I'M WITH BARGHOUTI AND QASHOO. LETS STOP THE QASSAMS.

author by Sean Og - Media Analystpublication date Wed Dec 03, 2008 23:49author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I read in an israeli paper online that the LIBYAN ship turned around

Meanwhile a rocket one of many launched from Gaza towards Israel

damaged a power line supplying electricy to Gaza

However the tunnels are still operating quite freely

author by Reporter12publication date Mon Dec 01, 2008 14:12author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Rogue Israeli terror boats attack international shipping off the coast of Europe.

Europe Yawns.

" Alkhudari decried the Israeli measure 'in a time Gaza is starving because of the restrictive Israeli blockade in place for more than 19 months now'. He called on the Arab and Islamic nations, to intervene immediately to break the Gaza siege. "

http://www.imemc.org/article/57862

author by Sean Ogpublication date Sun Nov 30, 2008 00:34author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Gazans have problems going on HAJ

Hamas prevents Muslim pilgrims from leaving Gaza due to arguments between P A and Hamas

#
Article about the problems
Click here to view the entire article:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2...64190

author by Frank Adam - private citizenpublication date Fri Nov 28, 2008 13:59author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Vincent writes not remembering how Gazans commuted for decades to 120 000 jobs in Israel and trebled their population on the highest wages in the Arab World, "from the Ocean to the Gulf," and the highest foreign aid ($700 per cap) on Earth. All of which ended with Arafat’s war posited on Arafat's experience and Soviet training of the fifties when European empires retreated before guerillas sponsored by the new great powers to pick up the power and trade.

The bloody buffoon's fallacy is that in Israel and Northern Ireland, Lebanon and Ceylon needling merchants and officials does not work so easily and cheaply against a population that considers itself at home and sees the casualties for the low levels they are to be avenged. When pushed too far as in Ceylon now, or Israel 1948, the full weight is unleashed and the needlers are deservedly dumped by the trouble they have caused as in the exchange of Smyrna Greeks and Thracian Turks in 1921, or Indian partition.

The Germans with their Hymn of Hate found out from1914, hate is self-destructive and clouds thinking as much as any other passion. You can only influence friends and partners. As Neil Kinnock put it, "There is no such thing as out-fluence. There is only influence." The trouble is the Arab World slashes its nose to spite its face rejecting UN 181 and partition in general for decades – Hamas still does. Arabs indulged Iraqi wars on Kuwait and Iran; Syrian meddling bloodily in Lebanon (100 000 dead in civil war!), or Egypt in Yemen; Morocco and Algeria in the Saharawi where the other Arab refugee population festers on UN aid because Arabs in general do not care about their fellows when down.

author by Sean Og - Monitoring the Mediapublication date Thu Nov 27, 2008 11:16author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Now, with the intervention of a Libyian ship for Gaza, the stakes get a little higher

as this REUTERS news REPORT shows !

Sean Og

http://uk.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUKLQ3007....2420

author by Reporter 12publication date Wed Nov 26, 2008 19:40author address author phone Report this post to the editors

THE END IS NIGH !

A Libyan state sponsored ship set sail for Gaza today with no less than 3000 Tons of supplies for the besieged people there. If Israel lets this ship through then it effectively ends Israel's ability to secretly punish the people of Gaza for their Hamas Government. It is to be the first of many according to this Free Gaza Article.With an end to Israel's control of how much supplies get in and out and with the people of Gaza free to travel internationally Hamas could claim complete victory over the occupation and the forces of Fatah , the US and Israel that have tried to scupper their abitlity to govern the people at every turn.If Gaza is liberated then the west Bank will look like a concentration camp by comparison and unrest is sure to ensue.
Israel has five days to come up with a plan that will allow them to continue to deny the Palestinian their Human Rights.

http://www.freegaza.org/index.php?module=latest_news&id...fset=

"Upon a call with Libyan officials Tuesday evening, El Khoudary said the ship is presented from the Libyan State and its people in coordination with the Libyan foreign affairs ministry.He added that this ship is number one and it would be followed by tens of other ships in case of getting today's trip succeeded."

http://www.imemc.org/article/57808

“This ship is a practical measure against the siege” El Khodary said, “It is not for media consumption”.

author by Vincentpublication date Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:23author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Mr Frank Adams has inadvertently given us a sneek peek at his true position when he says " they increase the fear, disgust and contempt for the Arab World that is only put up with since 1945 because of oil requirements."

What with harbouring dark prejudices like that, with feelings such as digust, contempt and fear (no less) I am not the least bit surprised that you cant find it within yourself to accord to the Palestinian some humanity.
Im not surprised that it does not shock you to read from your sidekick that he feels it perfectly fitting that the people of Gaza should be fed through tunnels.
I certainly can see why you think that torture and isolation is acceptable for the thousands of abductees.
There are other message boards on the internet where you will find like minded people expressing their disgust, contempt and fear of Arabs in a similar manner to you.

You should post your messages there.

author by Sean Og - Monitoring the Media publication date Tue Nov 25, 2008 00:30author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The moderators must make up their minds

Contribution 293232 which has been removed was an abstract of an Analysis report on the front page in the print edition of the Jerusalem Post dated 14 November
It was listed in your hidden column as "unsubstantiated drivel "
The article was a long article written by Khaled Abu Toameh
ans was entitled " Perfume Viagra ,lions and fuel -smuggling is Gaza's growth industry "
With nearly 1000 tunnels operating Israels's blockade is hardly hurting Hamas "
Details were given about the extent of the traffic through the tunnels from Egypt to Gaza
this was not drivel it was factual .

Contribution 299234 which has also been removed was an article called Gaza Powder Keg
and had the comment "c+p " It described the dangers which might occur soon if the cease fire is not renewed .

Do you want original factual articles ,abstracts , or c+p on News Wire or just rantings between various antagonists ?

Make up you mind

Seek the truth wherever you find it -- dont pick and choose

author by Frank Adam - private citizenpublication date Mon Nov 24, 2008 19:48author address author phone Report this post to the editors

If Vincent and others used some simple observation they would not make themselves ridiculous. I take it the Irish prison system is still based on the British inheritance so it is not difficult to take a look at Mountjoy - or Collins Barracks now the National Museum which I have enjoyed as Museum - to see what sort of facility is required per thousand or so prisoners, soldiers etc.

The total of 10 000 claimed Palestine Arab security prisoners can in no way all fit into (part of) a single Teggart Fort; and the fort said to be the numbered unadmitted secret prison is clear as a bell without out-buildings East of the South entrance to the Wadi Ara main road from the coast to Afula.

Whatever the disputes about newly caught and interrogated prisoners, the vast majority are in ordinary prison service jails which if all Arab states' jails were up to Israeli standards would be nice.

Now perhaps we could have an admission that the treatment of Ron Arad and the other eight Israeli POW's assorted Arab (current jargon) "non-state actors" have held without Red Cross access or correspondence access to their families or a protecting power has been entirely wrong.

Every time an Arab party indulges: the mutilation of bodies - ask any British or French or US ex- serviceman with Middle East experience - the pointless attacks on civil buildings - anywhere - and the permanent disappearance of prisoners in the name of the rules being Western, Kaffir and soft headed; they increase the fear, disgust and contempt for the Arab World that is only put up with since 1945 because of oil requirements. Come the end of the oil dependency epoch in a couple of decades and there will be a rude awakening, "from the Ocean to the Gulf."

author by Vincentpublication date Mon Nov 24, 2008 19:04author address author phone Report this post to the editors

God Help us, You have come in with some pretty dumb stuff on this forum on many occassions but I do believe you pair have lost all sense of reality here.

"We saw a programme on telly once !" WWWhat are you like ???

Israel's institutionalised abuse of Palestinians in filthy dark prisons is, at this stage, not a point for debate but an internationally recognised Israeli National trait.
Below is an article explaining the findings of Btselem into the detention and torture of Palestinians in Israeli Jails. Kidnappings, torture, beatings, sleep deprevation, isolation from Family, denial of legal representation etc etc etc.

--- use of "dry" beatings that included punching, kicking all parts of the body, striking with rifle butts and face slapping; detainees hit with clubs, helmets and other objects; heads slammed against a wall, floor or hard surface; beatings inflicted when detainees' hands were bound behind their back, and they were blindfolded; additional beatings during physical inspections with their hands cuffed;---

This report is extensive and detailed Are you pair getting any of this ???????

-- psychological pressure from solitary confinement in "putrid, stifling cells three to six square meters in size" with no windows or access to daylight and fresh air;.....damp mattress and "filthy putrid" blankets on the floor; nothing else in cells...... detainees denied all human contact except for guards and interrogators.------

Here's Btselems report on Israels use of Administrative to by pass Human rights.

http://www.btselem.org/English/Administrative_Detention/

And here for you information is the report on the 13 year old Vigil of the mothers at the ICRC in Gaza of the abducted men who are waiting to see their sons , for more than 6 years in some cases. Please do yourselves a favour and learn the meaning of the word Shame.

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/campaigns/english/gaza_cl....html

author by JayCeemepublication date Mon Nov 24, 2008 15:35author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Vincent must be a politician as he always avoids answering specific points or questions.

I too saw the T.V.program Frank referred to on Arab prisoners in Israeli jails not one of them was blindfolded or in the dark.

No T.V. programs featuring Ron Arad, Zachary Baumel, Tsvi Feldman, Yehuda Katz, Guy Hever, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. Mainly because they were tortured and murdered.

Gilad Shallit who was kidnapped before Alan Johnson was, has no contact with anyone, his family are suffering in the knowledge of how previous kidnap victims have fared. This young man is suffering inhuman treatment beyond imagination.

The farce that is the Gaza flotilla presents an entirely different picture to that revealed in the photographs taken of Lauren Booth when she was there.

http://www.daylife.com/photo/0gtydNr3679Lr/Lauren_Booth
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http://www.daylife.com/photo/025m61w6uSbhP/Lauren_Booth
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http://www.daylife.com/topic/Lauren_Booth
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http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/polla...25632

author by Vincentpublication date Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:33author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Oh please give us all a break , Frank !

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=3...Src=Y

----- Detainees are blindfolded and kept in blackened cells, never told where they are, brutally interrogated and allowed no visitors of any kind. Dubbed 'the Israeli Guantanamo,' it's no wonder facility 1391 officially does not exist. ----------

author by Frank Adam - private citizenpublication date Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:47author address author phone Report this post to the editors

First the British Empire has been dead and buried since 1956 - the Suez Affair - when the USA made it quite clear Britain will not be allowed to do anything inconvenient to the USA which is why Bloody Margaret had to handbag Ronnie Reagan for permission to reconquer the F--klands in spite of the Monroe Doctrine.

Second the 10 000 Arab security prisoners in Israeli jails have not disappeared; but have adequate food, medicine correspondence with relatives and family visits as was on British television within these last twelve months.

All of which is a lot more than Arab regimes or other outfits give their prisoners. Your whole credibility would be a good deal higher if you made some fuss about Gilad Schalit who has been denied any access from the Red Cross - not that the Red Cross has ever bothered to exercise itself too hard neither for Jews under the nazis nor for prisoners that any Arab apology for government takes - as proven by the cases of: Ron Arad, Zachary Baumel, Tsvi Feldman, Yehuda Katz, Guy Hever, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. FDA

author by Miles from Leedspublication date Sat Nov 22, 2008 16:43author address author phone Report this post to the editors

As a citizen of the United Kingdom I wish to express my violent disgust at the British Authorites for allowing the kidnapping and detention of a Scottish citizen to continue uncontested in a filthy jail in the Middle East. In the most recent report from an Italian Human Rights Worker who was also subjected to this barbaric treatment the conditions of incarceration described are tantamount to torture.

" Manifestly violating every human and civil right and against every international law, I spent the last six hours with Andrew locked in a piggish toilette full of fleas and parasites and without drinking water. This was the treatment we received because we announced a hunger strike in order to ask for the restitution of the fishing boats stolen to Palestinian fishermen offshore Gazan coasts when we were kidnapped by Israeli soldiers. "

It seems that the day has arrived when the British Parliament would rather allow its citizens to be kidnapped and tortured by Medieval Savages rather than confront them. The Great British Empire will not even raise a finger to protect it's subjects now. I am ashamed to call myself British.

http://www.freegaza.org/index.php?module=latest_news&id...fset=

author by Reporter 12publication date Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:10author address author phone Report this post to the editors

International prisoners in Israel go on Hunger Strike.

Israel says it intends to put them on trial which is perplexing when taken into account that they broke no law and where not anywhere near Israel when kidnapped. The international are Andrew Muncie, a Scottish British citizen, Vittorio Arrigoni, an Italian citizen, and Darlene Wallach, an American citizen.

This development confirms the rogue, totalitarian nature of the Israeli regime whilst exploding the myth that Gaza is not under a siege enforced by Israeli warship firing at small defenseless wooden fishing boats..

These innocent peiople include citizens of free Europe who now languish in a middle east jail where torturing is standard practice and where 10 000 Palestinians have dissappeared into obscurit y, many without trial and simply kidnapped by terror squads in a similar manner.

What will the Governments of the EU do now to ensure that the waters of our Mediteranean are made safe from such predatory attacks by unnaccountable military regimes.

Italy and the UK have a responsibility to despatch urgent emissaries to the region backed up with the necessary naval power to secure the liberty of their kidnapped citizens.

http://www.imemc.org/article/57745

author by Sean Og - Monitoring the mediapublication date Thu Nov 20, 2008 00:45author address author phone Report this post to the editors



Israel outraged at UN remarks on Gaza blockade
by Barak Ravid and Amos Harel, Haaretz, and News Agencies

Israel reacted angrily to comments made Tuesday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, in which she called for an immediate end to its blockade of the Gaza Strip, which she said breached international and humanitarian law.

Pillay's demands provoked an angry response from Israel's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Aharon Leshno-Yaar, who accused her of being utterly shortsighted and repeating blatant misinformation.

"Overall responsibility for the situation in the Gaza Strip lies with Hamas, which invests all of its resources in arms and terrorism instead of providing for the civilians that it brutally controls,"

Aharon Leshno-Yaar said, adding that Palestinian groups had fired more 170 rockets and mortars at Israel during the past 10 days.

Leshno-Yaar said that Pillay's should have begun her statement with a condemnation of Hamas' continued violence against Israel.

"Overall responsibility for the situation in the Gaza Strip lies with Hamas, which invests all of its resources in arms and terrorism instead of providing for the civilians that it brutally controls," Leshno-Yaar said, adding that Palestinian groups had fired more than 170 rockets and mortars at Israel during the past 10 days.

Leshno-Yaar also rejected Pillay's claim that Israel has cut off essential supplies to Gaza.
"Electricity and water continue to flow from Israel to Gaza, and 33 trucks laden with supplies arrived in Gaza yesterday, with more waiting to enter as soon as Hamas ends its violent attacks," he said.

"It is disappointing to see the high commissioner fall victim to Hamas' cynical manipulation of the media," said Leshno-Yaar.

"Most disturbing is the way she casually refers to Palestinian aggression in the last sentence of her statement, almost as an afterthought.

Unfortunately, Israel does not have the option of being so casual in its response to rocket attacks on its civilians, attacks which violate the most fundamental right of all, the right to life," said Leshno-Yaar.

The P A accuses Hamas of staging shortages

by KHALED ABU TOAMEH, Jerusalem Post
Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah accused Hamas on Tuesday of staging the latest blackouts in the Gaza Strip in a bid to win sympathy and incite the Palestinian public against Israel and the PA.

The officials said that contrary to Hamas's claim, there is no shortage of basic goods, medicine and fuel in the Gaza Strip, largely thanks to the many underground tunnels along the border with Egypt.

This is not the first time that Palestinians have accused Hamas of staging Gaza blackouts under the pretext that Israel had cut off fuel supplies to the district's power grid. Earlier this year,

Palestinian journalists in Gaza City told The Jerusalem Post that scenes of Palestinian children and women holding lit candles in the dark had been staged by Hamas and some Arab satellite TV stations.

"There's no shortage of fuel in the Gaza Strip and the Electricity Company is continuing to function normally," said a PA official.

"Our people in the Gaza Strip have told us that the blackouts are all staged as part of the Hamas propaganda."

Another PA official noted that Hamas's lies reached their peak last January when its legislators held a meeting in a darkened hall of the Palestinian Legislative Council—while light could be seen coming in through the curtained windows.

The official accused Al-Jazeera of serving as a platform for Hamas's propaganda machine by airing staged footage of children and women during candlelight protests in the streets of Gaza City.

"There's enough fuel in the Gaza Strip," he said. "Even when Israel reduces the fuel supplies, Hamas continues to smuggle tens of thousands of liters through the underground tunnels."

The Fatah-controlled Pal-Press Web site has quoted a senior official in the Gaza Electricity Company as saying that Hamas has been stealing fuel supplies intended for the power grid.

The official, who asked not to be identified, also denied claims by Hamas and Al-Jazeera about power outages in large parts of the Gaza Strip.

He noted that 70% of the Gaza Strip's electricity came from Israel and Egypt, while the remaining 30% were being supplied by the local company.

"Hamas has seized more than 220,000 liters of fuel that was intended for generators belonging to our company," he revealed.

"There's no shortage of fuel and as such there is no reason for a crisis."

The official also disclosed that Hamas militiamen had been forcing the company to cut off power supplies to some areas in the Gaza Strip so as to create the impression that the outage was due to a lack of fuel caused by the ongoing closure of the border crossings.

author by jennypublication date Wed Nov 19, 2008 16:52author address author phone Report this post to the editors

3 activists from the free gaza movement, and 15 palestinian fishermen kidnapped and arrested in gaza. Fishing boats seized

Related Link: http://www.freegaza.com
author by Sean Og - Monitoring the net publication date Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:40author address author phone Report this post to the editors

> Olmert allows activist boat to dock in Gaza
> Herb Keinon , THE JERUSALEM POST Oct. 29, 2008
> www.jpost.com
> /servlet/Satellite?cid=1225199593525&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
>
> A boat carrying 27 far-left protesters docked in Gaza Wednesday morning,
> after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reversed course and decided against barring
> the vessel's entrance.

> > Two other boats that set sail together in August were also let in by the
> Israeli authorities, who wanted to deny the protesters publicity.
>
> Government officials said that a decision was taken "at the highest

> governmental levels" a number of days ago to stop this new boat and arrest

> the protesters.
>
> But Olmert - after consultations with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief

> of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi - changed the decision at the last

> moment, apparently concerned about publicity.
>
> One senior government official said Israel's decision to let the boat pass

> was made after it became clear exactly who and what were on the boat.
>
> He also said Israel "wants to keep these agitators guessing, and not play
> into their hands."
>
> The official said that the decision to let the boat in Wednesday was made on
> a one-time basis, and did not represent a blanket policy.

He added that no decision has been made whether Israel would allow the boat to sail back, as
> it did in August.

>
> Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev, meanwhile, said that the protesters and

> organizers of the boat were not the only ones who wanted a "free Gaza."
>
> "We are also interested in freeing Gaza," Regev said. "We want to free the

> civilian population of the Gaza Strip from the authoritative, totalitarian,

> Taliban-type regime that is oppressing it."

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