Posted on 07/18/2011 by RamallahOnline

Welcome to Palestine

Ein Qinya

Mazin Qumsiyeh, 18 July 2011

It was one of the busiest (with little sleep) period in our lives but perhaps one of the most productive. As the July 9-16 “Welcome to Palestine” July Campaign came to an end (see below for call to a press conference), we are mostly grateful for the volunteers around the world who put in so much time and their own money to make this such a remarkable success. We promise you to do even bigger and better campaigns in the months to come until Palestine is free. Below the press release are three other relevant items. But as always, you are always Welcome to Palestine.

Invitation to Concluding Press Conference from the “Welcome to Palestine” Campaign

12 pm (noon) on Monday, July 18th, Alternative Information Center (AIC), Queen Shlomzion Street 4, Jerusalem

In response to a Palestinian invitation, hundreds of international visitors reserved flights to Ben Gurion airport for July 8th. The Israeli government did everything in its power to stop them, including pressuring seven commercial European airline companies into abruptly canceling a huge number of the flight reservations.

The Israeli authorities detained and then deported en masse those who did arrive in Tel Aviv. Only a few dozen international guests were finally able to come to Palestine and only after overcoming many obstacles: for example, Vivienne Prozsolt from Australia, who was with the Freedom Flotilla II, flew from Athens, was detained, but unexpectedly prevailed in her court appeal against the deportation. The international guests who did get through to us participated in a week of fellowship and solidarity from July 8th until July 16th.

The organizers of “Welcome to Palestine” invite you to a press conference to review our accomplishments, despite the massive Israeli government obstructions, and to discuss future directions for international solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Speakers in Jerusalem:

- Lubna Masarwa, leading organizer who worked with both the flotilla to Gaza and with “Welcome to Palestine”

- Vivienne Prozsolt, of Sidney, Australia, a member of Jews against the Occupation and international guest of “Welcome to Palestine”

- Shireen Al-Araj, activist from Al-Walaja, who organized and accompanied the visitors who were with us in Palestine July 8th-16th

- Sergio Yahni, media coordinator at Alternative Information Center

Speakers available via Skype-Video:

- Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, of Beit Sahour near Bethlehem, professor of genetics and author, and co-organizer of “Welcome to Palestine”

- International organizers of “Welcome to Palestine,” including, among others, Elsa Rassbach of Germany and Karin Pally of USA

“This was not the first or the last project we, civil society in Palestine, do to shed light on the illegality of occupation and colonization,” says Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh of Bethlehem, a leading organizer of the initiative. “More and more people are becoming aware, and our next projects will build on this momentum until Palestine is free.”

Laura Durkay of New York, who was detained at Ben Gurion airport on July 8th and then jailed and deported says: “Everyone I have spoken to has come back to their home countries more determined than ever to continue the struggle for Palestinian freedom and equal rights.”

Media Contacts:

GENERAL: info@palestinejn.org

JERUSALEM: Sergio Yahni, sergioyahni@gmail.com, +972(0)526375032

BETHLEHEM: Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, mazin@qumsiyeh.org, +972(0)598939532 (English and Arabic), and Fadi Kattan (French)press.welcometopalestine2@gmail.com +970 (0) 595 754 100

FRANCE: Nicolas Shahshahani, bienvenuepalestine@orange.fr +33(0)1 42 94 39 94 and +33(0)673 38 24 84

GERMANY: Sophia Deeg, sophia_deeg@yahoo.de, +49(0)88 007761,+49(0)1799878414 and Elsa Rassbach (contact information below)

UK: Sofiah MacLeod, secretary@scottishpsc.org.uk,+44(0)7931 200 36100,+44(0)131 620 0052

USA: Karin Pally, myizzy@gmail.com or kpally@earthlink.net, +1 310-399-1921

INTERNATIONAL Media Coordinator: Elsa Rassbach, elsarassbach@gmail.com, +49 (0) 30 326 01540 or +49 (0) 170 738 1450 Skype: elsarassbach

————-

In good news, public pressure is mounting on politicians to do something about the uncontrolled media empire built by extremist Zionist Rupert Murdoch. The illegality and arrogance of phone hacking is just the tip of the iceberg. What is left of independent media should investigate how this empire grew and all the other immoral and ilelgal behavior including villifying Muslims and Arabs to benefit the apartheid racist state of Israel.

Good Editorial from the (Jewish daily) Forward Magazine: We can’t say this http://forward.com/articles/139822/

Action: Call 202-647-4000 and email acseurope@state.gov the US State Department about the unreasonable and ilelgal isolation of the US boat to Gaza (dubvbed “the Audacity of Hope”). Tell them that 3 people are still enduring the inhumane, dangerous conditions on the boat (Regina Carey, Ann Wright, Jenny Linnell).

Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD

A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home

http://qumsiyeh.org

http://palestinejn.org

http://pcr.ps

http://IMEMC.or

http://www.alrowwad-acts.ps

Posted on 07/04/2011 by RamallahOnline

Israeli peace groups support the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla

Statement of Support for the Gaza-Bound Freedom Flotilla

July 4, 2011

We, Israeli organizations, Jews and Arabs, full-heartedly support Freedom Flotilla, aim of sailing to the Port of Gaza with the proclaimed goals of breaking through the sea and land siege and blockade of Gaza, which is a manifestation of a continuing occupation by Israel. We condemn the campaign of slander which the government of Israel is waging against the flotilla and those who take part in it. There is a very real reason to worry that such lies might be designed by the government as a pretext and justification in advance for further acts of violence against activists taking part in a legitimate political act of protest.

The Gaza Flotilla is indeed a courageous act of political protest, an expression of worldwide solidarity with the Palestinian people and rejection of Israeli practices of oppressive occupation, as manifested in the continuing siege and blockade of Gaza and the imposition of collective punishment upon a mass of civilians.

At present the Gaza Strip is little more than a giant open air prison where a million and half residents are held, deprived of their fundamental rights. It is the right of Gaza Palestinians to maintain direct contact with the outside world; it is their right to open and maintain sea port where vessels might freely dock and depart, to import and export all goods, for the benefit of their economy and in fulfillment of its needs. The Palestinians have all these rights – not one whit less than Israel has them. The state of Israel is obliged, under International Law, to put an end to its control over the Gaza Strip – indirect as well as direct – which is part of Israel’s wider obligations to out an to the occupation of Palestinian territory and facilitate the independence of Palestine.

We must reiterate that, contrary to the statements issuing from the government, the flotilla is acting non-violently in setting out to Gaza. Moreover, if attacked by Israel’s armed forces it is with non-violence that activists on board intend to respond. A member of the flotilla ‘s International Coordinating Team specifically explicitly stated, when responding to assertions emanating from the security system in Israel, that “there are no weapons of any kind on board any of our boats – which could be confirmed by dozens of international media representative on board”. Activists intenting to take passage in the flotilla are undergoing non-violence training and sign clear personal commitment not to resort to violence.”

The government of Israel is conducting considerable efforts to cause the flotilla to be regarded with fear, and to discourage people from taking part in it. So as to create a baseless atmosphere of fear, lies are knowingly spread lies regarding supposed preparations for violent resistance and alleged plans to kill soldiers, and peace activists taking part are accused of intending to run weapons into Gaza. At the same time, an unprecedented pressure is applied to international journalists, so as to deter them from covering the flotilla from on board. The continuing media campaign which is clearly designed to cause fear and hatred among the Israeli population, and there are grounds for suspecting that it is intended to provide justification in advance for the dangerous and harsh outcome liable to occur should the boats be violently taken over and harm comes to their passengers.

We strongly condemn the the Government of Greece for its decision of block the flotilla boats from leaving Greek ports in the direction Gaza. This decision is in violation of International Law concerning Freedom of the Seas, and is highly unreasonable. Reports in Israeli newspapers regarding contacts between the governments of Israel and Greece create the impression that Greece in fact caved in to political pressures of an unacceptable kind, applied by the government in Israel.

We call upon the Government of Greece to rescind forthwith its order, prohibiting the flotilla boats from leaving the ports of Greek, let them sail and ensure the safety of passengers and boats alike.

We call upon the Government of Israel and its armed forces to let the boats get to Gaza and deliver peacefully their cargo of humanitarian supplies.

We hope to witness the boats arriving in safely to their destination.

We call upon the Government of Israel to put an immediate end to the siege and blockade of Gaza. .

Contact:

Adam Keller: +972-54-2340749

Yaakov Manor: +972-50-5733276

Alternative Information Center (AIC) * Coalition of Women for Peace * Combatants for Peace * Gush Shalom * Hithabrut-Tarabut * Israeli Committee against House Demolitions (ICAHD) * New Profile *Rabbis for Human Rights* Ta’ayush: Arab-Jewish Partnership * Yesh Gvul

Social TV video of support demo outside Greek Embassy Tel Aviv on July 2 night, and extreme right counter-demonstration
http://tv.social.org.il/politics/2011/07/04/demo-embassy-of-greece

Posted on 07/02/2011 by RamallahOnline

Feeding the brave Flotilla to Israel’s slavering attack-dogs

Stuart Littlewood, 2 July 2011

It doesn’t look good.

Our oh-so-moral international community, always poking its democracy-loving nose into any trouble spot that might threaten western security (whatever that means) and always eager to mobilize its mighty weapons of war, is still reluctant to operate on the cancer it foolishly implanted into the Holy Land 63 years ago and which now menaces the world.

Instead, our heroes encourage it to grow and won’t even protect the ‘caring services’ wishing to sooth the excruciating pain suffered by the Palestinian victims.

And right now it’s disappointing to find that the Free Gaza Flotilla’s new international media office in London is not up to the job. It issued its first press release this week. An accompanying note told us that “the steering committee decided it didn’t want a unified media strategy” – a fatal mistake, surely, when faced with an aggressive campaign of distortion, disinformation and sabotage mounted by Israel and its massive stooge network to scupper the sailings. It also mentioned a letter to British prime minister David Cameron but didn’t make the text available. And it revealed they still hadn’t written to the Foreign Office – unbelievable,

The press release announced that a boat packed with Freedom Flotilla activists had sailed along the Thames to Westminster. MP Caroline Lucas went ashore at the Houses of Parliament “to deliver a message of freedom for Palestine” and afterwards “asked William Hague what the government is doing to support the flotilla to Gaza”.

No further details were given. So what exactly was the “message of freedom” delivered to Parliament, and how was it received? And, most important, what did foreign secretary Hague say?

Back came the reply: “Freedom for Palestine was the message. Ms Lucas posed a question in Parliament. Our press release was about our action and her involvement in it. You can look up Hague’s response in Hansard if you’re interested but he didn’t say anything we wanted to repeat in that press release.”

That’s the sort of attitude that’s guaranteed to bury a release in a news editor’s wastepaper basket. You don’t ask a high-credibility MP like Caroline Lucas to publicly pin down a foreign secretary like Hague who’s a prominent cheer-leader for Israel, and hide the result.

As for the flotilla’s abrupt “Freedom for Palestine” message to Parliament, at the very least the press office could have beefed it up with a list of freedoms taken for granted in Westminster but denied to Palestinians… like freedom of self-determination, freedom to choose their own government, freedom to trade with the outside world, freedom to come and go, freedom to work, freedom to attend university even within their own country let alone abroad, freedom to worship in their holy places, freedom to reunite with their families, freedom to travel for medical care, freedom to fish their own territorial waters, freedom even to have a good night’s sleep. The ‘packaging’ possibilities are endless.

Here’s how Hansard (29 Jun 2011: Column 969) recorded the Lucas – Hague encounter…

Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green): Earlier today, Palestine solidarity groups, politicians, teachers and others marked the anniversary of the attacks on the Free Gaza flotilla last year by sailing down the river outside Parliament and marking the launch of a new Free Gaza flotilla. As the Foreign Secretary has previously said that the situation in Gaza is unacceptable and unsustainable, will he tell us what further action he is taking to help get the siege lifted, and will he do everything that he can to get guarantees that this new flotilla will be safe from attack?

Mr Hague: We have continued to take the action that I set out in the House last year. We have urged Israel greatly to improve access to Gaza. It has taken some steps, but those steps have not been as fruitful as we had hoped when they were set out. Egypt has now opened an important crossing into Gaza, which may also provide some relief. The answer relies on the general lifting of a blockade of Gaza and on a negotiated two-state solution in the middle east. However, embarking on new flotillas is not the way in which to bring that about. We advise against all travel to Gaza by British nationals, which includes people who may be thinking of boarding a flotilla to go there. We hope that Israel will make only a proportionate response to any such flotilla, but it is, none the less, not the way in which to sort out the problems of the middle east. Such problems require negotiations in good faith by the parties concerned.

Actually Hague’s answer is very useful because it reads like the work of Israeli speechwriters and rhymes perfectly with the nonsense he has spouted before. He insists that flotillas are “not the way”. Well, what is? The proper way to break a siege, which the UN itself calls “illegal and contrary to Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention”, is surely for the UN to apply sanctions. Failing that, the right thing would be for UN warships to break the siege… or for international civil society to do it escorted by UN warships or by warships belonging to the nation(s) of the flagged humanitarian vessels threatened with attack.

The proper way for Israel to avoid trouble would be to end its illegal blockade and end its illegal occupation of the rest of Palestine, and not interfere with humanitarians going about their lawful business.

As for “negotiations in good faith”, does William Hague think he’s talking to idiots? What make-believe world is he living in?

A year ago, on 2 June 2010 after Israel’s assault on the Mavi Marmara killing nine unarmed humanitarians, including an American, Hague made similarly daft remarks in the House of Commons:

• “Our clear advice to British nationals is not to travel to Gaza.” Music to Israel’s ears, of course, as Hague helped to legitimize the illegal sea blockade and armed assault against unarmed citizens in international waters.

• “We deeply deplore the loss of life…”

• “Their welfare [meaning the British nationals on board] is our top priority.” Mr Hague knew of Israel’s intention to go to any lengths, including the use of lethal force, to stop the mercy ships but he took no precautionary action.

• He referred to “individuals who are allegedly involved in violence against Israeli servicemen during the boarding”, failing to grasp that the violence was committed by Israeli storm-troopers dropping from helicopters with guns blazing under cover of darkness in international waters.

• “Restrictions on Gaza should be lifted – a view confirmed in United Nations security council resolution 1860.” Bravo, he gets that right. But Resolution 1860 goes much further and calls for the sustained reopening of crossing points on the basis of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access, which provides for
- the reduction of obstacles to movement within the West Bank
- bus and truck convoys between the West Bank and Gaza
- the building of a new seaport in Gaza
- re-opening of the airport in Gaza

Eight months earlier the European Council had repeated the EU’s call for “an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza” and for “full implementation of The Agreement on Movement and Access”. So where is all that?

• “We will… continue to press the Israeli government to lift the closure of Gaza, and plan early discussions… about what more can be done to ensure an unfettered flow of aid.” Has unfettered flow happened? Of course not. And it won’t happen without naval escorts and/or sanctions. If Mr Hague doesn’t understand this he hasn’t been paying attention.

Hague was challenged by Sir Gerald Kaufman, the straight-talking Jewish MP, who pointed out that any one of the 37 UK citizens might have been killed when the Israelis “committed a war crime of piracy in international waters, kidnapping and murder—and all in pursuit of upholding an illegal blockade on Gaza that amounts to collective punishment…” He asked Mr Hague for his assurance that further steps would be taken if the Israelis failed to comply with the modest request that had been made.

But Hague sidestepped, saying: “It is our strong advice to British nationals, as it has been in the past and will be in the future, not to travel to Gaza—let me make that absolutely clear—as they would be going into a dangerous situation, but it is absolutely wrong to maintain the blockade.”

Jeremy Corbyn asked if it wasn’t time for sanctions such as revoking the EU-Israel trade agreement. Hague replied that he did not think imposing sanctions was the right policy – but gave no reason. So no consequences.

Frank Dobson suggested that Britain and the other European members of NATO should give naval protection if another flotilla were to set off for Gaza, with the Royal Navy reverting to its traditional role of protecting the freedom of the seas. Hague dismissed this too.

The government chicken coop happily clucked its approval as Hague handed the Israelis total victory. As expected, year later and there has been no improvement. Israel is making the same murderous threats against the latest flotilla. And Hague is making the same stupid remarks.

“Reckless to travel to Gaza”

A year before that, in July 2009, I received a letter from the office of Britain’s then foreign secretary David Miliband in reply to questions about Israel’s hijacking of the mercy ship Spirit of Humanity on the high seas and the outrageous treatment of six peace-loving British citizens including the skipper. They were en route to Gaza, not Israel, had their gear stolen or damaged and were thrown into Israeli jails. The letter said: “All those on board, including six British nationals, were handed over to Israeli immigration officials. British consular officials had good access to the British detainees and established that they were treated well.”

That’s not what the peaceful seafarers were saying. They were assaulted, put in fear of their lives and deprived of their liberty for fully a week – a long time in a stinking Israeli jail – for committing no offence.

The letter continued: “The Foreign Secretary said in the House of Commons on 30 June that it was ‘vital that all states respect international law, including the law of the sea… We regularly remind the Israeli government of its obligations under international law on a variety of issues, including with respect to humanitarian access to Gaza as well as Israel’s control of Gazan waters…

“Our Travel Advice makes clear that we advise against all travel to Gaza, including its offshore waters; that it is reckless to travel to Gaza at this time…”

So, instead of keeping the seaways open, it seems the British Government has colluded with Israel to put part of the Holy Land off-limits to British pilgrims, humanitarians and businesspeople and implicated itself in the collective punishment Israel continues to inflict on the Palestinian citizens of Gaza.

Fast-forward to this week and Middle East minister Alistair Burt echoing his boss William Hague after visiting the Gaza Strip. He told the Jerusalem Post http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/50937/uk-minister-better-ways-gaza-flotilla that he was opposed to the latest flotilla and that the action by pro-Palestinian campaigners was a political gesture and a challenge to Israel’s authority. “There are better ways to do this in humanitarian terms, and better ways politically.”

What are these “better ways”? Everyone would love to know.

And what exactly is Israel’s “authority” over who comes and goes in international waters, or who enters or leaves Palestinian territory?

Burt also said: “I am here to encourage the Israeli government and the Palestinians to get back around the table.” Hasn’t he heard? Everyone’s done with time-wasting “negotiations”. The path to justice and peace is already set down in law and UN resolutions. It’s time to pursue that path and enforce those laws.

Is anyone safe in the international community’s hands?

In case you’re wondering, Mr Burt used to be an officer of the Conservative Friends of Israel, Mr Hague has been a signed-up Friend of Israel since he was a teenager, and Prime Minister David Cameron also counts himself a Friend of Israel and says he’s a Zionist.

This unpleasant trio of supporters of Israel’s psychopathic regime are just the UK tip of a sinister and menacing Western-world iceberg. Nothing should surprise us about the behaviour of the rest of the so-called international community.

The international community was happy to slap cruel sanctions on Iraq’s women and children for 12 years before bombing the hell out of them. The international community has been happy to bomb the hell out of women and children in Afghanistan for nearly 10 years. The international community is current bombing the hell out of women and children in Libya and, I hear, using DU (depleted uranium) ordnance for good measure. The international community stood happily by and watched Israel unleash its Cast Lead blitzkrieg against Gaza’s trapped civilians, killing 1400, maiming countless more and wrecking their infrastructure. Not a single aircraft carrier, destroyer, Tornado jet or Apache helicopter was deployed in their defence, nor has there been any move in the UN to sanction against Israel for its continuing blockade of Gaza. Nor have there been any consequences for Israel’s interception of the Mavi Marmara on the high seas, which the UN says was “clearly unlawful”. Even the International Criminal Court drags its feet. Meanwhile the international community has taken sanctions against Iran and can’t wait to bomb the hell out of the Islamic Republic’s women and children.

“There is no greater priority, no more important responsibility than the safety of all our citizens…” So said one of our previous prime and no doubt many other heads of state. Somebody please correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe a single member of our international community has promised to protect the brave men and women of the Flotilla while in international waters from the vile threats of the regime that committed wholesale murder against the last flotilla. Indeed, the international community seems prepared to let Israel carry on with its dirty work, its defiance of all laws and codes and its crimes against humanity.

In the UK Cameron, Hague and Burt would do well to remind themselves what it is they are paid and sworn to do… whether it is to protect British citizens going about their peaceful and lawful business on the high seas, or to further the lawless ambitions of a criminal foreign regime that’s contemptuous of human values.

The British public know the answer. If Israel harms a hair on the head of any Britisher aboard this flotilla, or shows disrespect, Messrs Burt, Hague and Cameron may get the roasting they so richly deserve.
I wouldn’t mind betting that the same fate awaits Obama and Clinton if any American citizen is harmed this time.

Stuart Littlewood
2 July 2011

Stuart Littlewood

Stuart Littlewood is an industrial marketing specialist turned writer-photographer. In 2005 he was invited to write and shoot pictures for a book about the plight of the Palestinians under occupation. ‘Radio Free Palestine’ was published in 2007. For details please see www.radiofreepalestine.co.uk.

The Author is a regular contributor to RamallahOnline.com. Find more Articles by Stuart Littlewood on RamallahOnline.

Posted on 06/22/2011 by RamallahOnline

The battle lines are drawn

Mazin Qumsiyeh, 22 June 2011

Israel’s UN ambassador met with major American Jewish organizations telling them to work hard to ensure there will not be passage of any votes on Palestine at the UN. Presidernt Obama met with 80 influential Jewish donors (who each gave $25-35,000 to attend the private dinner with the President) and Obama assured them that the US has iron-clad commitment to Israel. He stated to them that any differences with the current Israeli government are not about goals and strategies but merely minor tactical differences among close friends and allies. Money and weapons will keep flowing and American lives will continue to be threatened and shed for this Zionist cash. Fatah and Hamas are dragging their feet and have yet to follow on their promises of putting together a unity “authority” (although the term is misleading as there is no authority under occupation) let alone allowing for a constitution of a representative Palestinian National Council (the main demand of the Paestinain people).

Israeli apartheid system continues its ethnic cleansing. Last week dozens of structures for poor bedouins were demolished rendering nearly 100 homeless. The apartheid Knesset is debating new racist laws to punish free speech and any NGOs that do not accept apartheid/refuse to acknowledge the Jewish nature of the state. The apartheid regime continues to hold thousands of Palestinian political prisoners and continues to deny basic human rights (like the right to return to one’s home and land or the right to travel free in one’s country). Further, the despotic regimes in Syria, Bahrain, Yemen, Morocco and elsewhere continue to torture, kill, and imprison their citizens who dare call for democracy. Greece is being threatened about its loans unless it joins the US/Israel to stop the freedom flotilla. Turkey’s elections consolidated power in the ruling party which now felt a bit freer (or so we are told) to bend to US/Israel pressure to a) stop the Freedom Flotilla II, and b) drop its demand for an apology and for lifting the siege on Gaza (after the execution of 9 Turkish passengers in International waters last year).

But all these political shenanigans can be stopped when enough people say “enough is enough” and demand all these governments comply with International law and human rights. The brave pioneers of the world-wide people movement/Intifada who have worked for years urge you to join them. They celebrate and consolidate success in Tunisia and Egypt. I send example regularly of people power and today I send you a few more links. Action is the best antidote to despair. Silence is complicity.

Challenging Israeli apartheid, starting at Ben Gurion Airport

“From July 8-16, I will join hundreds of internationals for a week of solidarity actions in coordination with 15 Palestinian civil resistance organizations in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem…”

http://mondoweiss.net/2011/06/challenging-israeli-apartheid-starting-at-ben-gurion-airport.html

http://lauraontheleftcoast.blogspot.com/2011/06/back-to-palestine-july-8-16.html

Allemagne, Israël : les leçons de l’histoire

Conference de presse de Mazin Qumsiyeh, le 31 mai à Berlin.

http://www.europalestine.com/spip.php?article6212&var_mode=calcul

David Cronin interviews Mazin Qumsiyeh in EI

http://electronicintifada.net/content/interview-mazin-qumsiyeh-popular-resistance-and-breaking-spell-fear/10086

AMAZING SPEECH BY WAR VETERAN Asombroso discurso de un Veterano SUBTITULADO ESPAÑOL

Official weblinks to boats to Gaza from Europe http://www.freedomflotilla.eu/
and general one http://witnessgaza.com/

US boat called the “Audacity of Hope” leads flotilla to break the illegal and immoral siege on Gaza

Press Conference http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-us-boat-to-gaza

Website http://ustogaza.org/

Promotional video

ACTION: Easy way to contact US Congress (e.g. to demand Israel allow US citizens safe passage both on the Freedom Flotilla and on the July 8-16 actions)

http://capwiz.com/networklobby/home/

Video of action: Peaceful demonstrators in the village of Deir Qaddis

9th International Seminar “Bridges instead of Walls” 26th – 31st July 2011 http://www.alternativenews.org/english/
Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh teaches and does research at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities in occupied Palestine. He serves as chairman of the board of the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People and coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Sahour He is author of “Sharing the Land of Canaan: Human rights and the Israeli/Palestinian Struggle” and the forthcoming book Popular Resistance in Palestine: A history of Hope and Empowerment.

A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a villager at home
http://www.qumsiyeh.org
http://www.pcr.ps

Articles by Dr. Qumsiyeh on RamallahOnline.com.

Posted on 06/02/2011 by RamallahOnline

Netanyahu’s War on Gaza

Stephen Lendman, 2 June 2011

Governing lawlessly by any standard, Netanyahu waged war on Gaza since becoming Israel’s prime minister for the second time on March 31, 2009.

Under his leadership, May 31 marked the anniversary of Israel’s barbaric slaughter of nine Freedom Flotilla activists in international waters, injuring dozens more trying to deliver thousands of tons of vital aid to besieged Gazans, suffocating illegally since June 2007.

At the time, Defense Minister Ehud Barak blamed Flotilla organizers for inciting the attack, while his deputy, Danny Alalon, said they were connected to international terrorist organizations, trying to smuggle in arms. In fact, none were on board nor on other aid ships trying to breach Israel’s lawless blockade.

Caught red-handed in a bald-faced lie, Haaretz writer Gideon Levy said:

“The Israeli propaganda machine has reached new highs (distributing) false information. It embarrassed itself by entering a futile public relations battle….There is nothing to explain, certainly not to a world that will never buy (its) web of explanations, lies and tactics.”

Video footage on board the Mavi Marmara mother ship showed Israeli commandos opened fire during the assault, activists saying it began when they stormed on board.

Al Zazeera’s Jamal Elshayyal, aboard the ship, said “a white surrender flag was raised (and) there was no live fire coming from the passengers.”

What happened was clear. IDF commandos planned and executed a premeditated attack against unarmed, nonviolent activists, trying to break Israel’s illegal blockade to deliver essential aid. Cold-blooded murder resulted.

An independent UN Human Rights Council (HRC) fact-finding mission held Israel entirely culpable, calling its assault brutal and disproportionate. Based on eye witness testimonies, forensic evidence, video footage, and other photographic material, it:

“concluded that a series of violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, were committed by the Israeli forces during the interception of the flotilla and during the detention of passengers in Israel prior to deportation….The preponderance of evidence from impeccable sources is far too overwhelming to come to a contrary opinion.”

Israel’s justification on “security grounds” was called entirely baseless. Moreover, prosecuting Israeli criminals is warranted and essential under Fourth Geneva’s Article 147, covering:

– willful killing;

– torture or inhuman treatment; and

– deliberately causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health.

In emergency session ahead of its investigation, the HRC criticized Israel’s “outrageous attack on aid ships attempting to breach a blockade on the Gaza Strip,” calling it “piracy, (an) act of aggression, (a) brutal massacre, (an) act of terrorism, (a) war crime, (a) crime against humanity – unprovoked, unwarranted, atrocious, (and) brutal.”

It described activists onboard as “peaceful, innocent, noble, unarmed, (and) defenseless,” setting the record straight on what happened.

Following its own investigation, Turkey also held Israel responsible, accurately explaining the facts, not Israel’s web of lies and coverup, its speciality.

High Seas Barbarism and Piracy

Israel violated the 1958 Geneva Convention on the High Seas and 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Under UNCLOS’ Article 101, maritime piracy includes “any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation….against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State (and) any act of inciting or of intentionally facilitating (such) an act.”

Usually it refers to robbery or criminal violence committed by private parties. Broadly interpreted, it can apply to states committing lawless acts. UNCLOS lets them interdict at sea to prevent illegal arms and drug smuggling, the slave trade or terrorist activities – not applicable to Flotilla activists despite Israel’s accusations.

Its mission was humanitarian. Inspected before departure, its cargo included food, medicines, educational, construction, and other materials, not weapons, munitions or anything threatening Israel. Under UNCLOS, its commandos had no right to interdict or attack activists on board, especially in international waters.

Under customary maritime law, ships have “innocent passage” rights through all international and coastal area waters, subject to certain restrictions.

UNCLOS defines “innocent passage” as expeditious, continuous passage through waters in ways not “prejudicial to the peace, good order or the security” of a coastal state.

America’s Defense Department defines it as:

“The right of all ships to engage in continuous and expeditious surface passage through the territorial sea and archipelagic water of foreign coastal states in a manner not prejudicial to its peace, good order, or security. Passage includes stopping and anchoring, but only if incidental to ordinary navigation or necessary for force majeure (a natural or unavoidable catastrophe) or distress, or for the purpose of rendering assistance to persons, ships, or aircraft in danger of distress.”

Israel’s brazen slaughter was lawless, punishable under international law. Claiming it was self-defense was spurious, reprehensible and laughable on its face.

Law Professor and international law expert Francis Boyle said Israel also “violated the SUA (Suppression of Unlawful Acts) Convention, to which Israel, Turkey and the USA are all parties.” SUA followed “in reaction to the (1985) Achille Lauro Hijacking and the murder of Leon Klinghoffer.”

It’s “one of the Conventions adopted by the UN and its affiliated organizations to deal with the phenomenon of international terrorism,” what Israel stands guilty of repeatedly, yet remains free from accountability, ready to do it again.

It’s Coming: Freedom Flotilla Two (FF 2)

On May 31, 2011, Haaretz writer Amos Harel headlined, “Israel prepping to block next Gaza flotilla,” saying:

On the massacre anniversary date, “Netanyahu said Israel prefers (diplomacy, but will) exercise force against anyone (trying) to disobey the navy’s orders….” to thwart an expected late June arrival.

Called “Freedom Flotilla Two (FF 2),” 15 ships with over 1,500 activists from about 100 countries are sailing on June 20 from various Mediterranean ports, calling on UN member states to support their humanitarian mission to deliver medical equipment, educational supplies, construction materials, (including 700 tons of cement), and other vital aid to besieged Gazans awaiting them.

In readiness, Israel held drills, involving ships and mobilized reserve combatants, including surveillance, “based mainly on open communications and Internet sites.” Focusing on riot-control measures, brute force will be used “as a last resort.”

In fact, it’s Israel’s method of choice, showing contempt for rule of law standards. Former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, in fact, admitted that activists resisting interdiction will be shot, knowing after action whitewashes will absolve Israel’s worst crimes, calling them self-defense, the last refuge of lawless scoundrels.

Knowing the risks, 1,500 courageous activists are still coming, determined to breach Gaza’s blockade no matter what Israel intends. From what’s known, expect force, including “surprises” from the same commando unit that murdered activists last May.

They’re preparing, undergoing “extensive training in hand-to-hand combat taught by experts from Israel’s Shin Bet security service.” More still involving “mock raids aboard a vessel that simulates events aboard the Mavi Marmara.”

Israel calls cold-blooded murder self-defense and international water interdiction “legal.” Others call them barbarism and piracy.

Stephen Lendman

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/

Posted on 03/29/2011 by RamallahOnline

Protecting the latest freedom flotilla

MEMO to the brave nations uniting to defend civilians in Libya…

Are any of you willing to protect the unarmed humanitarians sailing with latest freedom flotilla to Gaza?

The European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza (ECESG) has issued a press release to remind everyone that what promises to be the largest flotilla yet, comprising 15 ships carrying passengers from 12 European states as well as Latin America, Africa, Asia, Canada and the United States, is due to sail for Gaza in late May.

Passengers will include hundreds of peace advocates, including parliamentarians and human rights activists, and representatives of more than 40 media institutions.

These decent people face Israeli snipers and attack dogs

Campaign organisers say that Israel has responded by threatening to once again use deadly force to stop the flotilla, including snipers and attack dogs. According to the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz, Israeli Defense Forces chief-of-staff Gabi Ashkenazi has warned that “if the IDF is faced with a similar situation in the future, there may be no alternative to deploying snipers to minimize troop casualties.”

The Jerusalem Post reports that the IDF will deploy attack dogs from its Oketz canine units.

The release says Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, is summoning foreign diplomats to Jerusalem to urge them to work with Israel to stop the flotilla from taking place. According to the Irish Times, he justified his call for co-operation by claiming the flotilla would violate international law.

“There is nothing in international law that supports Israel’s four-year-long
blockade of Gaza, or its attacks on humanitarian shipments in international
waters,” says the campaigners’ spokesman Rami Abdo.

Funny how HMS Cumberland and HMS York magically appeared in the
Mediterranean during the Libyan crisis to protect the victims of Qaddafi. HMS York unloaded tons of medical supplies and other humanitarian aid for the Benghazi Medical
Centre. Where were these ships when British nationals on the Mavi Marmara and the Dignity and other vessels were being assaulted in international waters and terrorized by Israeli thugs, abducted and thrown in their stinking jails?

Why weren’t they bringing life-saving aid to Gaza’s hospitals after Israel’s indiscriminate ‘Cast Lead’ blitzkrieg on innocent civilians?

Israel still bombs, strafes and blockades Palestinians in Gaza with impunity on a daily basis, so when the Libyan crisis dies down can we expect to see HMS York load up with more supplies and sail for the Gaza Strip, along with the rest of the NATO fleet, where the humanitarian crisis continues unabated?

I have asked my MP to find out what the British Government is planning to do to safeguard British subjects (and indeed the other humanitarians) sailing with this latest flotilla on its peaceful mission to Gaza. Do ministers agree, I wanted to know, that the Cumberland and York should be made available to escort the mercy mission and protect it from Israeli psychopaths, who have amply demonstrated their eagerness to resort to lethal force and total lack of civilised restraint?

Of course, one letter isn’t enough. A thousand may not be enough. Let’s hit all MPs and MEPs in Europe with an avalanche demanding that they discover their backbone and do the right and honourable thing by the Palestinians in Gaza.

Deeply committed to UN Resolutions 1970 and 1973 but what about 194 and 242?

Tomorrow 40 foreign ministers from all over descend on London for a summit chaired by William Hague to:

Strengthen and broaden the international community’s commitment to implementing UNSCRs 1970 and 1973 [a no-fly zone and another jolly bombing-fest].
Reaffirm the importance of urgent humanitarian assistance…
Call for a political process which helps create the conditions in which the people of Libya can chose their own future.

What a pity they aren’t as passionately committed to UN Resolutions 194, 242 and all the other solemn pronouncements that they signed up to but Israel still defies.

It’s certainly a busy week in London. On Wednesday the Chatham House think-tank. aka the Royal Institute of International Affairs, holds a conference on the theme ‘Sixty Years of British-Israeli Diplomatic Relations’. One of the agenda items asks ‘Are we there yet? 60 years of bilateral relations and the search for common ground’.

Common ground???

President of the delinquent entity, Shimon Peres, is attending and Hague will be there to deliver a keynote speech and no doubt stand guard over Mr Peres to ensure he is not slapped with a universal jurisdiction arrest warrant.

Stuart Littlewood

The Author is a regular contributor to RamallahOnline.com. Find more Articles by Stuart Littlewood on RamallahOnline.

Posted on 12/08/2010 by RamallahOnline

Mavi Marmara Returns to Istanbul Ahead of Leading New Gaza Flotilla

MV Mavi Marmara leaving Antalya for Gaza on May 22, 2010 (Free Gaza movement)

Palestine Monitor, 8 December 2010

The Turkish ship the Mavi Marmara, on which nine activists were killed on the May 31 Flotilla Massacre, is returning to Istanbul on the anniversary of ‘Operation Cast Lead’. In a ceremony organised by the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), politicians, activists and survivors will gather to mourn the losses on the flotilla and in Gaza, while reiterating their commitment to ending Israel’s illegal policies.

Having been held in Israel along with all ships that formed the Freedom Flotilla, the Marmara has now been repaired and is ready to form part of a new flotilla that will sail to Gaza on May 31, 2011. The IHH have published a list of demands addressed to the Israeli authorities in acknowledgement of what the UN Human Rights Council have called “Incredible violence” and an “unacceptable level of brutality” against the ship’s passengers. The attack drew near unanimous condemnation from world leaders, although soldiers responsible for killings received commendations for bravery from the Israeli military.

The first demand is for a process of lifting the illegal siege on Gaza to have begun by the time the Marmara and accompanying ships to arrive there next May.

The IHH are also calling for Israel to accept, apologise and account for crimes of murder, torture, theft and suppression, as well as paying substantial compensation to the victims. Finally, they are seeking trials in Turkey to identify and issue arrest warrants to those responsible.

The ceremony on December 26 in Istanbul marks the first day of ‘Operation Cast Lead’, Israel’s brutal assault on the population of the Gaza strip, which left 1,500 dead, including over 1,000 civilians and 500 children.

The IHH expect many thousands to attend. “With this opportunity, the brutal attacks and killings of Israel on the Flotilla as well as Gaza will be once again highlighted and the world will be called out to end the attacks and the siege imposed on Gaza”, said IHH board member Huseyin Oruc.

Learn more about IHH http://www.ihh.org.tr/

Posted on 10/01/2010 by RamallahOnline

The extraordinary rendition of Palestine

Mazin Qumsiyeh, 30 Sept 2010, In occupied Bethlehem, Palestine

It has been a rather bizarre week in the Middle East. Let me just cite a few examples:

- The International Atomic Agency (IAEA) succumbed to pressure from the US and other Western Countries and thus failed to make any explicit or even implicit request of Israel to join the nonproliferation treaty. One of the excuses given is that there is a delicate peace process going and we do not want to upset the situation (i.e. Upset Israel)

-With help from an emasculated Palestinian authority, the United Nations Human Rights Council succumbed to the “might makes right” philosophy and refused to actively pursue Israel for its blatant violation of International law when it attacked Gaza. One of the excuses given is that there is a delicate peace process going and we do not want to upset the situation (i.e. Upset Israel)

-The UN human rights council issued a report about its investigation of Israeli use of force including apparently executing passengers on the Gaza bound freedom flotilla. Yet, the great powers claim there is a UN commission of inquiry (three people sympathetic to Israel including a known war criminal) who will look into the matter of the attack and issue recommendations but without interviewing survivors or the attackers and without demanding from Israel the tapes, cameras etc that it confiscated (i.e. without evidence). And yes, the US and great powers claim that there is a delicate peace process going and we do not want to upset the situation (i.e. Upset Israel)

- Israel refuses to stop colonial settlement activities on the remaining shreds of Palestinian territory. The US administration will offer Israel all sorts of incentives including promising to support Israeli demands that any Palestinian statelet is devoid of sovereignty (e.g. Israeli troops continue to be posted at borders) and that there will not be any demands to implement Palestinian rights (e.g. return of refugees). But, this is part of diplomatic maneuvering because we want the “peace” talks (now on for 18 years) to continue..

-News media parroted Israeli releases that the boarding of the latest boat to Gaza was done “without violence from those on board” or from the Israeli Navy. Yet once those on board were released, we know that they told of horrific and degrading treatment done to them including being tasored. But hey, the Palestinian authority and Israel apartheid regime are in a peace process. So who cares about what happens to an 80 year old holocaust survivor or a bunch of Jews with conscience.

-The powerful Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman gave a speech at the UN bragging about the power and claiming there will be no peace for a very long time only interim arrangements some may involve transfer of part of the Palestinian population from inside the Green line to get rid of those while Israel keeps the settlement. To counter the diplomatic damage, Netanyahu did not dismiss the ideas but merely said that his office makes policy. The US continues to insist Netanyahu is serious about “peace” when even imbeciles can see that this is the most fascist rightwing government in Israel’s history and that Netanyahu is a veteran liar (in private conversations he was recorded as dismissing all notions of peace).

-At the behest of the Zionist lobby, the EU and US governments are applying additional sanctions on Iran and Iranian officials on the pretext of suppressing human rights in Iran during recent unrest! Do they really think the world is blind, deaf, and mute? Do they not see that Iran’s behavior towards dissidents is child’s play compared to Israel’s relentless massacres and ethnic cleansing? And need we remind ourselves of the FBI search and seizure policy against human rights activists in the US? Would they at least demand that Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire be released immediately from detention at Ben Gurion airport (named after a war criminal and ethnic cleanser). Oh, yes I forget, the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas, Saeb Erekat et al are talking peace here so we should all shut up.

-President Barak Obama with a straight face stands in front of the UN to declare ” Those who long to see an independent Palestine must also stop trying to tear down Israel. After thousands of years, Jews and Arabs are not strangers in a strange land. After 60 years in the community of nations, Israel’s existence must not be a subject for debate. Israel is a sovereign state, and the historic homeland of the Jewish people. It should be clear to all that efforts to chip away at Israel’s legitimacy will only be met by the unshakeable opposition of the United States. And efforts to threaten or kill Israelis will do nothing to help the Palestinian people.” Imagine if he said the same thing about Apartheid South Africa. But then again there was no peace process other than between Chief Buthalesi Bantustan and the white regime.

-The Israeli occupation forces killed five Palestinians this week including a fisherman and a toddler and continued with its other policies of siege, building walls on Palestinian lands, arresting political activists etc as the talk about the talk of “peace” continues.

These are just few of the rather bizarre happenings this week in the Middle East but when I think about it, we have had 62 years of misery, mayhem and pain filled with bizarre and almost unbelievable events. Who would have though it possible to gather members of a particular ideology into one spot on earth, displacing its native people and making them refugees and yet label the victims terrorists. Who would have thought that this would be achieved with incredible brutality supported by Western powers, themselves riddled with racism and hatred of non-whites?

But we take heart in the fact that this whole rigged game is finally coming to an end. Some claim that there is a trend that made the Palestinian cause a commodity traded for profit and positions and hence Palestine had been lost already in this game of world politics. But I, writing these notes after a long day of work with Palestinians (weak and strong, young and old) can tell you that they underestimate us. Like contrarian investing, I tell people to be careful in making gloomy predictions. Things looked pretty gloomy in 1920, 1928, 1935, 1972, 1986, and 1999. The year after in each of those things was not predicted or predictable by the majority of people. But I will go out on a limb and say that based on history, the next intifada is likely to be global. Individuals have one of three choices regardless of their background: support the oppressors, be apathetic (and hence support the status quo of oppression), or join the growing movement saying “enough is enough”.

For more on this subject see ” What if Peace Talks “Succeed?”

Many commentators expect the direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians to fail. But there is a much worse scenario: What if they “succeed?”

http://al-shabaka.org/policy-brief/politics/what-if-peace-talks-succeed

Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh teaches and does research at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities in occupied Palestine. He serves as chairman of the board of the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People and coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Sahour He is author of “Sharing the Land of Canaan: Human rights and the Israeli/Palestinian Struggle” and the forthcoming book Popular Resistance in Palestine: A history of Hope and Empowerment

Posted on 09/22/2010 by RamallahOnline

Freedom Flotilla Survivors Lead New Convoy

Palestine Monitor, 21 September 2010

Two survivors from the Israeli assault on the Mavi Marmara are leading the Viva Palestina convoy to break the siege of Gaza. Nicci Enchmarch and Kevin Ovenden were both aboard the Mavi Marmara when it was attacked by Israeli military navy in the early hours of 31st May.

httpv://www.youtube.com/v/OeqtU-Jdtvk&border=1&color1=0×234900&color2=0x4e9e00&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&fs=1

The Viva Palestina Lifeline 5 convoy carries urgent medical aid to Gaza and left from Central London last Saturday. It has representatives from organisations in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Malaysia as well as volunteers from the United States, Britain and Northern Ireland. En route it will be joined by representatives of associations and solidarity groups in France, Italy, Greece and Turkey.

The British convoy formed up at the Embankment east of Westminster Bridge: George Galloway, one of the major founders of Viva Palestina initiative and the human rights lawyer Jim Nichol joined the convoy at the Embankment. On Monday the convoy was welcomed in the city of Valux-en Velin, France (close to Lyon) by the Mayor Bernard Genin. The city has a distinction of being the only in France to fly the Palestinian flag.

Two other convoys are being organised from Casablanca and Doha, involving representatives of organisations in Morocco and Algeria and the Gulf States and Jordan respectively.

The three convoys with between 150 and 200 vehicles will then meet in Latakia in Syria before being shipped past the point at which the Mavi Marmara was attacked down to the Egyptian port of El Arish before crossing into Gaza via the Rafah Crossing. This is the biggest and most international convoy set to break the siege of Gaza so far. Aid that will be travelling to Gaza on the convoy will include medical equipment, educational supplies, and the wherewithal to rebuild a destroyed mosque, a school for orphans and to construct a maternity facility in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.

Viva Palestina, a registered charity founded by George Galloway, has organised three massive land convoys to Gaza in the last 18 months, bringing over 1,000 people and 500 vehicles loaded with vital humanitarian aid.

The terrible massacre aboard the Mavi Marmara on 31 May has brought a sea change in international opinion against the inhumane siege on the people of Gaza. Far from deterring people from seeking to bring the siege to an end, the Israeli assault on the Freedom Flotilla is spurring on even more people to bring humanitarian aid to the besieged 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and to end the blockade. Recently, Israel announced that they would ” ease ” the siege on Gaza, however, many essential items are still banned. Among the goods still banned are all construction materials, farming supplies, certain medical supplies, and motor vehicles and spare parts.

Last weekend, Chris Patten and Catherine Ashton visited Gaza as part of a EU delegation to the region. Both slammed the partial easing of the siege, and called for the siege to be lifted immediately, and for all the borders to open up as a matter of urgency.

Arrangements for the second Freedom Flotilla are also going ahead. By the end of the month, the organisers say, a date of departure will be scheduled, probably within the second half of November. Compared to the Freedom Flotilla, this new initiative will see a huger participation of several international organisations and an increased number of boats involved. According to the organisers, 10.000 people have registered as of today to sail towards the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile a new video “Sail a Ship Bound For Gaza” realised by an unknown artist, is drawing the crowds on Youtube.

Posted on 09/12/2010 by RamallahOnline

BBC Bias: The Gaza Freedom Flotilla

by video’s producer Antony Lawson – 11 September 2010

Whatever happened on the Mavi Marmara on the morning of May 31st, 2010,
the BBC’s Panorama team failed to give a balanced view of it in its so-called
documentary, Death in the Med. Even the title sounds more like that of a
paperback mystery, rather than a serious analysis of Israel’s worst
atrocity since Operation Cast Lead.

Documentaries should be truthful and informative and expand our
understanding of situations and events; their content should be rigorously
checked for errors in statements which are presented as facts and
conjecture, and the personal opinions of their writers and presenters
should be explicitly identified as such. But Death in the Med failed any
test based on those parameters.

The BBC’s television and radio services reach an audience measured in
hundreds of millions, world-wide, but are primarily funded by taxes and
license fees paid by the British public; not by Israel or its influential
friends. Panorama’s biased and often untruthful treatment of Israel’s
worst atrocity since Operation Cast Lead should trigger a public enquiry
about who is really in charge of one of the most influential broadcaster’s
on the planet.

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