UPDATE: Amnesty International interim Secretary General Claudio Cordone called for an international inquiry into the deaths caused by the raid on the aid flotilla in international waters outside Gaza today.
Given the international nature of this incident and the continuing lack of credible Israeli investigations into violations of human rights in the context of the Gaza conflict, there is also a need for an immediate international investigation.
The Israeli authorities have the primary responsibility to investigate the use of lethal force by its forces, as well as the claims by Israeli officials that Israeli forces were attacked with a range of weapons. But for full credibility and transparency, Israel should invite the relevant UN experts to carry out an investigation into the events of 31 May.
Beyond this tragedy, however, it is imperative that Israel lifts the blockade of Gaza without delay, as it is a form of collective punishment in contravention of international law and primarily affects the most vulnerable among the population.
Israeli armed forces today stormed a ship carrying supplies for Gaza, killing 10 activists on board. The circumstances remain unclear; however, it appears that Israeli forces have used excessive force. Amnesty International has called for Israel to launch an immediate, credible and independent investigation into the killing. Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa, had issued the following statement:
Israeli forces appear clearly to have used excessive force. Israel says its forces acted in self-defence, alleging that they were attacked by protestors, but it begs credibility that the level of lethal force used by Israeli troops could have been justified. It appears to have been out of all proportion to any threat posed.
The killings have drawn strong criticism and worldwide condemnation. The UN is preparing an emergency session for Tuesday.
High Representative Catherine Ashton expresses her deep regret at the news of loss of life and violence and extends her sympathies to families of the dead and wounded. On behalf of the European Union she demands a full enquiry about the circumstances in which this happened…The continued policy of closure is unacceptable and politically counter-productive. She calls for an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of the crossing for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza – European Union
The United States deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained, and is currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy – White House Spokesman William Burton
It is vital that there is a full investigation to determine exactly how this bloodshed took place. I believe Israel must urgently provide a full explanation – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
Israel’s blockade of Gaza suffocates daily life
Israel’s blockade of Gaza leaves more than 1.4 million Palestinians cut off from the outside world and struggling with desperate poverty. Israel has a duty under international law to ensure the welfare of Gaza‘s inhabitants, including their rights to health, education, food and adequate housing.
The blockade does not target armed groups but rather punishes Gaza’s entire population by restricting the entry of food, medical supplies, educational equipment and building materials. Unsurprisingly, its impact falls most heavily on those most vulnerable among Gaza’s 1.5 million people: children, the elderly and the sick. The blockade constitutes collective punishment under international law and must be lifted immediately.
Any fair investigation will conclude the following:
1) The convoy organizer spokespersons repeatedly gave public assurances in the media over the last week that that they would not react with violence to an Israeli intervention, only with absolute peaceful non-violent disobedience.
2) The Israeli boarding soldiers were armed primarily with ridiculous paint ball rifles. Yes, you read this correctly, PAINT BALL RIFLES.
3) On 5 out of the 6 ships boarded, the civilians did respond just as promised with non-violent disobedience and were in turn not abused or harmed in any way shape or form by the Israelis.
4)On only one of the 6 ships, the Marmara, the civilians did not react to the Israelis with non-violence.
As is clearly shown in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYjkLUcbJWo
A group of about 50 men from among the ships passengers, armed with steel clubs, axes and knives lay hidden in wait and ambushed with extreme violence the first Israeli who came down the rope from the helicopter. The few Israelis were then trapped on the deck of the ship and outnumbered dozens to 1. The Israelis tried defending themselves with their idiotic paint guns to no effect. Several Israelis were thrown overboard into the sea as can be seen in the video. As can be seen in the video, the other few Israelis who had not been thrown overboard were in the process of being beaten to death by an enraged mob armed with steel clubs. Some small caliber handgun sidearms brought by the Israelis for personal protection were stripped from the Israelis by the passengers during the beatings. The passengers used these handguns to open fire on the next Israelis to come down the ropes from the helicopter. At this point, after life fire had been first opened on the Israelis by the passengers, and only in order to save their own lives, the Israelis who still had their own handguns reluctantly returned fire, which lead to the tragic deaths.
5)The Israelis had been promised and planned for an encounter with absolute non-violent civil disobedience and therefore the Israelis were naively armed with paintball rifles. As the video evidence clearly shows without question, instead of non-violence the civilians were the first to use violence and were clearly attempting to kidnap and/or murder the Israelis which is why the tragedy occurred.
6)
After the Hamas government a few years ago took power in a violent civil war in which hundreds of Palestinians were brutally murdered by other Palestinians, and then Hamas officially renounced all previously signed peace agreements with Israel and then Hamas officially declared a war to the death against Israel until all historic Palestine and the whole middle east what so ever was ethnically cleansed of Jews, Israel is under no international legal obligation to allow economic commerce into Gaza. Israel is required under international law only to allow in humanitarian necessities. As reported by the United Nations each month more than 2500 heavy transport trucks packed with basic necessities such as food, clothing, medicine passes into Gaza from Israel each month. Additional thousands of truckloads of diesel fuel are delivered to Gaza each month, and 75% of Gaza's electricity is delivered by way of direct connection to the Israeli power grid. According to World Health Organization, in terms of infant/child/maternal mortality, access to clean water, shelter, medical care Gaza is among the best of in the entire 3rd world, Gaza, according to the WHO, is even better than many other Arab countries. Nearly a billion people in the continent of Africa alone, including hundreds of millions of Muslims live in humanitarian conditions far worse than Gaza, with infant/ child/maternal mortality rates, and access to food and water and shelter, up to 10 or 20 or even 30 times worse than Gaza, but why don't they don't ever get aid convoys? Haiti had 200,000 people killed just a few months ago yet Gaza, with the fastest population growth on earth, with shops and UN warehouses bursting with food still gets an aid convoy but not Haiti.
Why I wonder? Could someone tell me please?
Any fair investigation will conclude the following:
1) The convoy organizer spokespersons repeatedly gave public assurances in the media over the last week that that they would not react with violence to an Israeli intervention, only with absolute peaceful non-violent disobedience.
2) The Israeli boarding soldiers were armed primarily with ridiculous paint ball rifles. Yes, you read this correctly, PAINT BALL RIFLES.
3) On 5 out of the 6 ships boarded, the civilians did respond just as promised with non-violent disobedience and were in turn not abused or harmed in any way shape or form by the Israelis.
4)On only one of the 6 ships, the Marmara, the civilians did not react to the Israelis with non-violence.
As is clearly shown in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYjkLUcbJWo
A group of about 50 men from among the ships passengers, armed with steel clubs, axes and knives lay hidden in wait and ambushed with extreme violence the first Israeli who came down the rope from the helicopter. The few Israelis were then trapped on the deck of the ship and outnumbered dozens to 1. The Israelis tried defending themselves with their idiotic paint guns to no effect. Several Israelis were thrown overboard into the sea as can be seen in the video. As can be seen in the video, the other few Israelis who had not been thrown overboard were in the process of being beaten to death by an enraged mob armed with steel clubs. Some small caliber handgun sidearms brought by the Israelis for personal protection were stripped from the Israelis by the passengers during the beatings. The passengers used these handguns to open fire on the next Israelis to come down the ropes from the helicopter. At this point, after life fire had been first opened on the Israelis by the passengers, and only in order to save their own lives, the Israelis who still had their own handguns reluctantly returned fire, which lead to the tragic deaths.
5)The Israelis had been promised and planned for an encounter with absolute non-violent civil disobedience and therefore the Israelis were naively armed with paintball rifles. As the video evidence clearly shows without question, instead of non-violence the civilians were the first to use violence and were clearly attempting to kidnap and/or murder the Israelis which is why the tragedy occurred.
6)
After the Hamas government a few years ago took power in a violent civil war in which hundreds of Palestinians were brutally murdered by other Palestinians, and then Hamas officially renounced all previously signed peace agreements with Israel and then Hamas officially declared a war to the death against Israel until all historic Palestine and the whole middle east what so ever was ethnically cleansed of Jews, Israel is under no international legal obligation to allow economic commerce into Gaza. Israel is required under international law only to allow in humanitarian necessities. As reported by the United Nations each month more than 2500 heavy transport trucks packed with basic necessities such as food, clothing, medicine passes into Gaza from Israel each month. Additional thousands of truckloads of diesel fuel are delivered to Gaza each month, and 75% of Gaza's electricity is delivered by way of direct connection to the Israeli power grid. According to World Health Organization, in terms of infant/child/maternal mortality, access to clean water, shelter, medical care Gaza is among the best of in the entire 3rd world, Gaza, according to the WHO, is even better than many other Arab countries. Nearly a billion people in the continent of Africa alone, including hundreds of millions of Muslims live in humanitarian conditions far worse than Gaza, with infant/ child/maternal mortality rates, and access to food and water and shelter, up to 10 or 20 or even 30 times worse than Gaza, but why don't they don't ever get aid convoys? Haiti had 200,000 people killed just a few months ago yet Gaza, with the fastest population growth on earth, with shops and UN warehouses bursting with food still gets an aid convoy but not Haiti.
Why I wonder? Could someone tell me please?
Any fair investigation will conclude the following:
1) The convoy organizer spokespersons repeatedly gave public assurances in the media over the last week that that they would not react with violence to an Israeli intervention, only with absolute peaceful non-violent disobedience.
2) The Israeli boarding soldiers were armed primarily with ridiculous paint ball rifles. Yes, you read this correctly, PAINT BALL RIFLES.
3) On 5 out of the 6 ships boarded, the civilians did respond just as promised with non-violent disobedience and were in turn not abused or harmed in any way shape or form by the Israelis.
4)On only one of the 6 ships, the Marmara, the civilians did not react to the Israelis with non-violence.
As is clearly shown in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYjkLUcbJWo
A group of about 50 men from among the ships passengers, armed with steel clubs, axes and knives lay hidden in wait and ambushed with extreme violence the first Israeli who came down the rope from the helicopter. The few Israelis were then trapped on the deck of the ship and outnumbered dozens to 1. The Israelis tried defending themselves with their idiotic paint guns to no effect. Several Israelis were thrown overboard into the sea as can be seen in the video. As can be seen in the video, the other few Israelis who had not been thrown overboard were in the process of being beaten to death by an enraged mob armed with steel clubs. Some small caliber handgun sidearms brought by the Israelis for personal protection were stripped from the Israelis by the passengers during the beatings. The passengers used these handguns to open fire on the next Israelis to come down the ropes from the helicopter. At this point, after life fire had been first opened on the Israelis by the passengers, and only in order to save their own lives, the Israelis who still had their own handguns reluctantly returned fire, which lead to the tragic deaths.
5)The Israelis had been promised and planned for an encounter with absolute non-violent civil disobedience and therefore the Israelis were naively armed with paintball rifles. As the video evidence clearly shows without question, instead of non-violence the civilians were the first to use violence and were clearly attempting to kidnap and/or murder the Israelis which is why the tragedy occurred.
6)
After the Hamas government a few years ago took power in a violent civil war in which hundreds of Palestinians were brutally murdered by other Palestinians, and then Hamas officially renounced all previously signed peace agreements with Israel and then Hamas officially declared a war to the death against Israel until all historic Palestine and the whole middle east what so ever was ethnically cleansed of Jews, Israel is under no international legal obligation to allow economic commerce into Gaza. Israel is required under international law only to allow in humanitarian necessities. As reported by the United Nations each month more than 2500 heavy transport trucks packed with basic necessities such as food, clothing, medicine passes into Gaza from Israel each month. Additional thousands of truckloads of diesel fuel are delivered to Gaza each month, and 75% of Gaza's electricity is delivered by way of direct connection to the Israeli power grid. According to World Health Organization, in terms of infant/child/maternal mortality, access to clean water, shelter, medical care Gaza is among the best of in the entire 3rd world, Gaza, according to the WHO, is even better than many other Arab countries. Nearly a billion people in the continent of Africa alone, including hundreds of millions of Muslims live in humanitarian conditions far worse than Gaza, with infant/ child/maternal mortality rates, and access to food and water and shelter, up to 10 or 20 or even 30 times worse than Gaza, but why don't they don't ever get aid convoys? Haiti had 200,000 people killed just a few months ago yet Gaza, with the fastest population growth on earth, with shops and UN warehouses bursting with food still gets an aid convoy but not Haiti.
Why I wonder? Could someone tell me please?
SHAME SHAME SHAME ON ISRAEL !!
Not a word more of lies from this lying government & ITS LYING APOLOGISTS !!
For years Israel has made any normal approach to lifting the siege & alleviating the suffering of the people impossible, & now, in international waters, attacks an international group of peace activists !!
This government vies with sri lanka in flaunting its open illegalities !!!
EXPOSE THIS INCIDENT OF BUTCHERY !!
EXPOSE THE TOTALLY UNPROVOKED ISRAELI ATTACK ON THE USS LIBERTY !!!
SHAME ON AMERICA FOR SHIELDING & FATTENING THIS CRIMINAL COUNTRY FOR DECADES !!
& JEWISH SISTERS & BROTHERS EVERYWHERE, DISASSOCIATE YOURELVES COMPLETELY FROM THIS COUNTRY THAT CONTINUES TO COMMIT SUCH ATROCITIES IN YOUR NAME !!
Any fair investigation will conclude the following:
1) The convoy organizer spokespersons repeatedly gave public assurances in the media over the last week that that they would not react with violence to an Israeli intervention, only with absolute peaceful non-violent disobedience.
2) The Israeli boarding soldiers were armed primarily with ridiculous paint ball rifles. Yes, you read this correctly, PAINT BALL RIFLES.
3) On 5 out of the 6 ships boarded, the civilians did respond just as promised with non-violent disobedience and were in turn not abused or harmed in any way shape or form by the Israelis.
4)On only one of the 6 ships, the Marmara, the civilians did not react to the Israelis with non-violence.
As is clearly shown in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYjkLUcbJWo
A group of about 50 men from among the ships passengers, armed with steel clubs, axes and knives lay hidden in wait and ambushed with extreme violence the first Israeli who came down the rope from the helicopter. The few Israelis were then trapped on the deck of the ship and outnumbered dozens to 1. The Israelis tried defending themselves with their idiotic paint guns to no effect. Several Israelis were thrown overboard into the sea as can be seen in the video. As can be seen in the video, the other few Israelis who had not been thrown overboard were in the process of being beaten to death by an enraged mob armed with steel clubs. Some small caliber handgun sidearms brought by the Israelis for personal protection were stripped from the Israelis by the passengers during the beatings. The passengers used these handguns to open fire on the next Israelis to come down the ropes from the helicopter. At this point, after life fire had been first opened on the Israelis by the passengers, and only in order to save their own lives, the Israelis who still had their own handguns reluctantly returned fire, which lead to the tragic deaths.
5)The Israelis had been promised and planned for an encounter with absolute non-violent civil disobedience and therefore the Israelis were naively armed with paintball rifles. As the video evidence clearly shows without question, instead of non-violence the civilians were the first to use violence and were clearly attempting to kidnap and/or murder the Israelis which is why the tragedy occurred.
6)
After the Hamas government a few years ago took power in a violent civil war in which hundreds of Palestinians were brutally murdered by other Palestinians, and then Hamas officially renounced all previously signed peace agreements with Israel and then Hamas officially declared a war to the death against Israel until all historic Palestine and the whole middle east what so ever was ethnically cleansed of Jews, Israel is under no international legal obligation to allow economic commerce into Gaza. Israel is required under international law only to allow in humanitarian necessities. As reported by the United Nations each month more than 2500 heavy transport trucks packed with basic necessities such as food, clothing, medicine passes into Gaza from Israel each month. Additional thousands of truckloads of diesel fuel are delivered to Gaza each month, and 75% of Gaza’s electricity is delivered by way of direct connection to the Israeli power grid. According to World Health Organization, in terms of infant/child/maternal mortality, access to clean water, shelter, medical care Gaza is among the best of in the entire 3rd world, Gaza, according to the WHO, is even better than many other Arab countries. Nearly a billion people in the continent of Africa alone, including hundreds of millions of Muslims live in humanitarian conditions far worse than Gaza, with infant/ child/maternal mortality rates, and access to food and water and shelter, up to 10 or 20 or even 30 times worse than Gaza, but why don’t they don’t ever get aid convoys? Haiti had 200,000 people killed just a few months ago yet Gaza, with the fastest population growth on earth, with shops and UN warehouses bursting with food still gets an aid convoy but not Haiti.
Why I wonder? Could someone tell me please?
Statement by US Department of State:
"The United States deeply regrets the tragic loss of life and injuries suffered among those involved in the incident today aboard the Gaza-bound ships. We are working to ascertain the facts, and expect that the Israeli government will conduct a full and credible investigation.
The United States remains deeply concerned by the suffering of civilians in Gaza. We will continue to engage the Israelis on a daily basis to expand the scope and type of goods allowed into Gaza to address the full range of the population’s humanitarian and recovery needs(…)" http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/05/142386.h…
More on US response http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N3126763…
Statement by US Department of State:
"The United States deeply regrets the tragic loss of life and injuries suffered among those involved in the incident today aboard the Gaza-bound ships. We are working to ascertain the facts, and expect that the Israeli government will conduct a full and credible investigation.
The United States remains deeply concerned by the suffering of civilians in Gaza. We will continue to engage the Israelis on a daily basis to expand the scope and type of goods allowed into Gaza to address the full range of the population’s humanitarian and recovery needs(…)" http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/05/142386.h…
More on US response http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N3126763…
Statement by US Department of State:
"The United States deeply regrets the tragic loss of life and injuries suffered among those involved in the incident today aboard the Gaza-bound ships. We are working to ascertain the facts, and expect that the Israeli government will conduct a full and credible investigation.
The United States remains deeply concerned by the suffering of civilians in Gaza. We will continue to engage the Israelis on a daily basis to expand the scope and type of goods allowed into Gaza to address the full range of the population’s humanitarian and recovery needs(…)" http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/05/142386.h…
More on US response http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N3126763…
How can we even think of trusting the Israeli government to do anything but prove their "innocence" in an internal investigation? I don't think this is a question they'll answer honestly.
Yup, You must not believe the Israeli side of the story.
Even the live streamed video originating from the cameras operated by the pro-Palestinian activists on the boat which also clearly show Israelis armed with paintball air guns being beaten to near to death by the mob on the boat. All this evidence must be ignored.
We must instead believe only the Turkish side of the story because after all Turkey is so trustworthy and such a great shining example of pure humanitarian values and total respect of innocent human life. Turkey must therefore be telling the absolute truth about everything and would never ever ever lie.
Source:
BBC World Service http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/1013…
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Turkish jets bomb Kurds in northern Iraq
"Turkish fighter jets have bombed dozens of Kurdish targets in neighboring Iraq.
Some 20 planes bombed dozens of targets in the Kurdish northern autonomous region, Turkish television station NTV reported."
SHAME SHAME SHAME ON ISRAEL !!
Not a word more of lies from this lying government & ITS LYING APOLOGISTS !!
For years Israel has made any normal approach to lifting the siege & alleviating the suffering of the people impossible, & now, in international waters, attacks an international group of peace activists !!
This government vies with sri lanka in flaunting its open illegalities !!!
EXPOSE THIS INCIDENT OF BUTCHERY !!
EXPOSE THE TOTALLY UNPROVOKED ISRAELI ATTACK ON THE USS LIBERTY !!!
SHAME ON AMERICA FOR SHIELDING & FATTENING THIS CRIMINAL COUNTRY FOR DECADES !!
& JEWISH SISTERS & BROTHERS EVERYWHERE, DISASSOCIATE YOURELVES COMPLETELY FROM THIS COUNTRY THAT CONTINUES TO COMMIT SUCH ATROCITIES IN YOUR NAME !!
Yup, You must not believe the Israeli side of the story.
Even the live streamed video originating from the cameras operated by the pro-Palestinian activists on the boat which also clearly show Israelis armed with paintball air guns being beaten to near to death by the mob on the boat. All this evidence must be ignored.
We must instead believe only the Turkish side of the story because after all Turkey is so trustworthy and such a great shining example of pure humanitarian values and total respect of innocent human life. Turkey must therefore be telling the absolute truth about everything and would never ever ever lie.
Source:
BBC World Service http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/1013…
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Turkish jets bomb Kurds in northern Iraq
"Turkish fighter jets have bombed dozens of Kurdish targets in neighboring Iraq.
Some 20 planes bombed dozens of targets in the Kurdish northern autonomous region, Turkish television station NTV reported."
Yup, You must not believe the Israeli side of the story.
Even the live streamed video originating from the cameras operated by the pro-Palestinian activists on the boat which also clearly show Israelis armed with paintball air guns being beaten to near to death by the mob on the boat. All this evidence must be ignored.
We must instead believe only the Turkish side of the story because after all Turkey is so trustworthy and such a great shining example of pure humanitarian values and total respect of innocent human life. Turkey must therefore be telling the absolute truth about everything and would never ever ever lie.
Source:
BBC World Service http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/1013…
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Turkish jets bomb Kurds in northern Iraq
"Turkish fighter jets have bombed dozens of Kurdish targets in neighboring Iraq.
Some 20 planes bombed dozens of targets in the Kurdish northern autonomous region, Turkish television station NTV reported."
Ok, so first my main language is not english so pardon me for any grammer mistakes.
But I would like to say a few things about living here in Israel,
and more, would even wellcome a forum I can speak at, if anyone can offer a good one I'll be happy to go and make my case there.
So, as I started to say,
We in Israel, we always try.
We try to make the world see we are doing our best to never harm innocent people.
Furthermore, we are not doing it for the world to see. We are, truly and absolutly doing it because we VALUE humen life.
We thing everyone desserves to have the right for honest living, education and of course freedom of speach.
We suffer greatly from all of those qualities apparently.
The world seems to see only the worst in a bizarre twisted kind of way and I think that's what eventualy will bring to our downfall.
the feeling of disappointment, that there is no point to even TRY,
Because eventualy we will get to the same situation.
this site is about humen rights, about the value of life and honest living.
where are thos rights when it comes to israel?
Don't WE deserve this right from birth?
We are under constant theart for our lives, from every directtion.
Do you think it's humen to be FORCED to join the army?
but we have NO CHOISE, WE MUST, because if not we will not survive here.
And what do you expect Israel to do? To open up the gate for hamas?
let fanatics who think it's scared and holy to kill jews just come into israel and do whatever they like?
Why not just buy them weapons and say "Hi come and shoot us all we can't respond because you are weak and oppressed".
Actually I don't know why do I even post this.
probably it will have no effect, at least in the way of dabate and understanding.
you are coming to judge with a biased opinion and not with clarity.
I just hope that things won't go for the worse from here.
For all of our sake.
Just a regualer Israely guy.
Statement by US Department of State:
“The United States deeply regrets the tragic loss of life and injuries suffered among those involved in the incident today aboard the Gaza-bound ships. We are working to ascertain the facts, and expect that the Israeli government will conduct a full and credible investigation.
The United States remains deeply concerned by the suffering of civilians in Gaza. We will continue to engage the Israelis on a daily basis to expand the scope and type of goods allowed into Gaza to address the full range of the population’s humanitarian and recovery needs(…)”
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/05/142386.htm
More on US response
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N31267638.htm
How can we even think of trusting the Israeli government to do anything but prove their “innocence” in an internal investigation? I don’t think this is a question they’ll answer honestly.
Yup, You must not believe the Israeli side of the story.
Even the live streamed video originating from the cameras operated by the pro-Palestinian activists on the boat which also clearly show Israelis armed with paintball air guns being beaten to near to death by the mob on the boat. All this evidence must be ignored.
We must instead believe only the Turkish side of the story because after all Turkey is so trustworthy and such a great shining example of pure humanitarian values and total respect of innocent human life. Turkey must therefore be telling the absolute truth about everything and would never ever ever lie.
Source:
BBC World Service
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10133158.stm
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Turkish jets bomb Kurds in northern Iraq
“Turkish fighter jets have bombed dozens of Kurdish targets in neighboring Iraq.
Some 20 planes bombed dozens of targets in the Kurdish northern autonomous region, Turkish television station NTV reported.”
I invite a "credible investigation" because it will show the same that is clearly visible in the video.
Everytime Israel is forced to defend itself, groups like Amnesty International are so quick to condemn.
When the facts point blame on this tragedy to the "activitists" will you condemn this obvious setup?
Ok, so first my main language is not english so pardon me for any grammer mistakes.
But I would like to say a few things about living here in Israel,
and more, would even wellcome a forum I can speak at, if anyone can offer a good one I’ll be happy to go and make my case there.
So, as I started to say,
We in Israel, we always try.
We try to make the world see we are doing our best to never harm innocent people.
Furthermore, we are not doing it for the world to see. We are, truly and absolutly doing it because we VALUE humen life.
We thing everyone desserves to have the right for honest living, education and of course freedom of speach.
We suffer greatly from all of those qualities apparently.
The world seems to see only the worst in a bizarre twisted kind of way and I think that’s what eventualy will bring to our downfall.
the feeling of disappointment, that there is no point to even TRY,
Because eventualy we will get to the same situation.
this site is about humen rights, about the value of life and honest living.
where are thos rights when it comes to israel?
Don’t WE deserve this right from birth?
We are under constant theart for our lives, from every directtion.
Do you think it’s humen to be FORCED to join the army?
but we have NO CHOISE, WE MUST, because if not we will not survive here.
And what do you expect Israel to do? To open up the gate for hamas?
let fanatics who think it’s scared and holy to kill jews just come into israel and do whatever they like?
Why not just buy them weapons and say “Hi come and shoot us all we can’t respond because you are weak and oppressed”.
Actually I don’t know why do I even post this.
probably it will have no effect, at least in the way of dabate and understanding.
you are coming to judge with a biased opinion and not with clarity.
I just hope that things won’t go for the worse from here.
For all of our sake.
Just a regualer Israely guy.
Brian,
Amnesty International does not 'condemn' the raid because not all the facts are in yet. AI does feel that Israeli forces appear to use excessive force.
Even if Israel acted in self-defense as is the contention, the level of lethal force used by Israeli troops on civilians is hard to justify. A transparent, credible, independent investigation needs to take place as AI has recommended.
AI recognizes that the Israeli authorities have the primary responsibility to investigate lethal use of force by its forces as well as claims that their forces were attacked by passengers, but given the international nature of the incident and the lack of credible investigation by the Israeli authorities in the context of the Gaza conflict, AI urges Israel to invite relevant UN experts for full credibility and transparency. The rules of engagement issued to soldiers prior to raid on flotilla must be made public as well.
Everyone claims to have hold of the 'facts', but its much too early to base any judgement on the information made public yet. Passengers from the flotilla haven't even been released yet for their testimony. An international inquiry on the events of May 31st is the logical starting point.
And at the end of the day, it really all comes back to the illegal blockade on Gaza and the failure of the international community (the governments) to end the blockade and alleviate the suffering of the 1.5 million people living there:
Failing Gaza: http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/Oxf…
Brian,
Amnesty International does not 'condemn' the raid because not all the facts are in yet. AI does feel that Israeli forces appear to use excessive force.
Even if Israel acted in self-defense as is the contention, the level of lethal force used by Israeli troops on civilians is hard to justify. A transparent, credible, independent investigation needs to take place as AI has recommended.
AI recognizes that the Israeli authorities have the primary responsibility to investigate lethal use of force by its forces as well as claims that their forces were attacked by passengers, but given the international nature of the incident and the lack of credible investigation by the Israeli authorities in the context of the Gaza conflict, AI urges Israel to invite relevant UN experts for full credibility and transparency. The rules of engagement issued to soldiers prior to raid on flotilla must be made public as well.
Everyone claims to have hold of the 'facts', but its much too early to base any judgement on the information made public yet. Passengers from the flotilla haven't even been released yet for their testimony. An international inquiry on the events of May 31st is the logical starting point.
And at the end of the day, it really all comes back to the illegal blockade on Gaza and the failure of the international community (the governments) to end the blockade and alleviate the suffering of the 1.5 million people living there:
Failing Gaza: http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/Oxf…
Brian,
Amnesty International does not 'condemn' the raid because not all the facts are in yet. AI does feel that Israeli forces appear to use excessive force.
Even if Israel acted in self-defense as is the contention, the level of lethal force used by Israeli troops on civilians is hard to justify. A transparent, credible, independent investigation needs to take place as AI has recommended.
AI recognizes that the Israeli authorities have the primary responsibility to investigate lethal use of force by its forces as well as claims that their forces were attacked by passengers, but given the international nature of the incident and the lack of credible investigation by the Israeli authorities in the context of the Gaza conflict, AI urges Israel to invite relevant UN experts for full credibility and transparency. The rules of engagement issued to soldiers prior to raid on flotilla must be made public as well.
Everyone claims to have hold of the 'facts', but its much too early to base any judgement on the information made public yet. Passengers from the flotilla haven't even been released yet for their testimony. An international inquiry on the events of May 31st is the logical starting point.
And at the end of the day, it really all comes back to the illegal blockade on Gaza and the failure of the international community (the governments) to end the blockade and alleviate the suffering of the 1.5 million people living there:
Failing Gaza: http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/Oxf…
Edie:
Do you and/or Amnesty accept that Israel has the legal right to impose an military arms embargo on Gaza?
Does Israel, or any other nation in a similar circumstance have, under international law, the right to prevent military supplies from reaching an entity it shares borders with, given that entity has disavowed all previously signed internationally recognized peace agreements, and has sworn a fight to the death till Israel is destroyed and the middle east is 100% ethnically cleansed of Jews?
Or is it your position that under International Law Israel is required to commit suicide by allowing completely free unrestricted access to Gaza to anything and anyone so Iran can turn Gaza into a military base of the Iranian Army exactly as Iran has already done with Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon?
Does Amnesty agree that Israel has the right to prevent Iran from smuggling in explosives and heavy caliber long distance rockets into Gaza, given Amnesty has in the past repeatedly condemed Hamas for the war crime of randomly targeted rocketing of Israeli civilian targets, and Amnesty has many times condemned Hamas's massive grave violations of the 1949 Geneva Convention, the war crimes and Crimes against Humanity of hundreds of suicide bombings over the last decade ordered at the highest levels of the Hamas leadership, whose targeted victims were primarily Israeli women and children?
Edie, I would like to understand your opinion on this question. If not coastal and border blockade, what alternate method exactly do you then propose Israel use to prevent Gaza from becoming nothing more than an Iranian Army base ?
I invite a “credible investigation” because it will show the same that is clearly visible in the video.
Everytime Israel is forced to defend itself, groups like Amnesty International are so quick to condemn.
When the facts point blame on this tragedy to the “activitists” will you condemn this obvious setup?
Brian,
Amnesty International does not ‘condemn’ the raid because not all the facts are in yet. AI does feel that Israeli forces appear to use excessive force.
Even if Israel acted in self-defense as is the contention, the level of lethal force used by Israeli troops on civilians is hard to justify. A transparent, credible, independent investigation needs to take place as AI has recommended.
AI recognizes that the Israeli authorities have the primary responsibility to investigate lethal use of force by its forces as well as claims that their forces were attacked by passengers, but given the international nature of the incident and the lack of credible investigation by the Israeli authorities in the context of the Gaza conflict, AI urges Israel to invite relevant UN experts for full credibility and transparency. The rules of engagement issued to soldiers prior to raid on flotilla must be made public as well.
Everyone claims to have hold of the ‘facts’, but its much too early to base any judgement on the information made public yet. Passengers from the flotilla haven’t even been released yet for their testimony. An international inquiry on the events of May 31st is the logical starting point.
And at the end of the day, it really all comes back to the illegal blockade on Gaza and the failure of the international community (the governments) to end the blockade and alleviate the suffering of the 1.5 million people living there:
Failing Gaza: http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/Oxfam_FailingGaza_OneYearAfterCastLead.pdf
First off: I am not an expert, and am not presenting myself as such. I'm a student. I’m sorry this is long, but I have a lot of questions and concerns. Israeli/Palestinian relations are something I’ve watched all of my life, yet still feel I know so little about. It is such a complex issue, and each agreement reached is so tenuous. As an observer, I’m always left feeling that the leaders pulling the strings for peace have far more political interests than human ones.
I feel rather strongly that the United States (of which I am a citizen) should not be allowed to participate in the independent investigation. Our special diplomatic relations with Israel present a conflict of interest. Should our government, or agents of, contribute to the investigation it would diminish the credibility of any findings.
For those of you who support the blockade of Gaza due to safety threats (I'm assuming there may be others after I post this): I do understand that concern, as much as an American with no ties to either Israel or Palestine can. That is to say, I understand what that means. I make no claims to understand how it feels to fear for your safety every day. However, I also know that blockading Gaza is wrong. It is, in short, a tough situation. If there was an easy answer, the international community wouldn't be so focused on it in the first place. It would’ve been reached & peace maintained.
But the blockade is still wrong. Impeding people’s ability to find work, feed their families, acquire decent affordable housing of their choosing – these things are all wrong. Not to simplify a very complex problem – but people go nuts when they cannot feed their children. Simple economic indicators are fairly accurate predictors of where violence will erupt, and where it will escalate.
I don’t know what the answer is. I feel certain that no one person does. But I think that honest, open dialogues are the first step. And that means admitting when each side is doing right, and when each side is doing wrong. I do think that the answers to these problems will be found amongst academics and humanitarians, not politicos.
Can anyone with more knowledge of the subject recommend some reading on the subject? As mentioned above, I am American, and I feel that our history is a little… lacking. I would love to read material recommended from both sides. I may find something that isn’t in the information I find on my own. Thanks to you all.
Edie:
Do you and/or Amnesty accept that Israel has the legal right to impose an military arms embargo on Gaza?
Does Israel, or any other nation in a similar circumstance have, under international law, the right to prevent military supplies from reaching an entity it shares borders with, given that entity has disavowed all previously signed internationally recognized peace agreements, and has sworn a fight to the death till Israel is destroyed and the middle east is 100% ethnically cleansed of Jews?
Or is it your position that under International Law Israel is required to commit suicide by allowing completely free unrestricted access to Gaza to anything and anyone so Iran can turn Gaza into a military base of the Iranian Army exactly as Iran has already done with Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon?
Does Amnesty agree that Israel has the right to prevent Iran from smuggling in explosives and heavy caliber long distance rockets into Gaza, given Amnesty has in the past repeatedly condemed Hamas for the war crime of randomly targeted rocketing of Israeli civilian targets, and Amnesty has many times condemned Hamas’s massive grave violations of the 1949 Geneva Convention, the war crimes and Crimes against Humanity of hundreds of suicide bombings over the last decade ordered at the highest levels of the Hamas leadership, whose targeted victims were primarily Israeli women and children?
Edie, I would like to understand your opinion on this question. If not coastal and border blockade, what alternate method exactly do you then propose Israel use to prevent Gaza from becoming nothing more than an Iranian Army base ?
Judo-
You won't get an answer. The mind is made up. According to A.I. Israel doesn't have a right to defend itself (and you must include the blockade to realistically defend).
It is unfortunate that the ships ignored the blockade and that only 5 of the 6 boats complied and the sixth began beating Soldiers with pipes and attacking with knifes. Blame the activists, not the Soldiers defending themselves. The video is the only unbiased source of information…WATCH IT.
First off: I am not an expert, and am not presenting myself as such. I’m a student. I’m sorry this is long, but I have a lot of questions and concerns. Israeli/Palestinian relations are something I’ve watched all of my life, yet still feel I know so little about. It is such a complex issue, and each agreement reached is so tenuous. As an observer, I’m always left feeling that the leaders pulling the strings for peace have far more political interests than human ones.
I feel rather strongly that the United States (of which I am a citizen) should not be allowed to participate in the independent investigation. Our special diplomatic relations with Israel present a conflict of interest. Should our government, or agents of, contribute to the investigation it would diminish the credibility of any findings.
For those of you who support the blockade of Gaza due to safety threats (I’m assuming there may be others after I post this): I do understand that concern, as much as an American with no ties to either Israel or Palestine can. That is to say, I understand what that means. I make no claims to understand how it feels to fear for your safety every day. However, I also know that blockading Gaza is wrong. It is, in short, a tough situation. If there was an easy answer, the international community wouldn’t be so focused on it in the first place. It would’ve been reached & peace maintained.
But the blockade is still wrong. Impeding people’s ability to find work, feed their families, acquire decent affordable housing of their choosing – these things are all wrong. Not to simplify a very complex problem – but people go nuts when they cannot feed their children. Simple economic indicators are fairly accurate predictors of where violence will erupt, and where it will escalate.
I don’t know what the answer is. I feel certain that no one person does. But I think that honest, open dialogues are the first step. And that means admitting when each side is doing right, and when each side is doing wrong. I do think that the answers to these problems will be found amongst academics and humanitarians, not politicos.
Can anyone with more knowledge of the subject recommend some reading on the subject? As mentioned above, I am American, and I feel that our history is a little… lacking. I would love to read material recommended from both sides. I may find something that isn’t in the information I find on my own. Thanks to you all.
Amy – Under international law, Israel is the primary party responsible for investigating alleged violations by their military forces in a credible, transparent and independent way. Amnesty Int’l recognizes this fact, but due to the international nature of the events of May 31st and Israel’s failure to date to conduct credible and independent investigations as demanded by the UN, into alleged war crimes and other serious violations by its forces during Operation "Cast Lead", the 22-day conflict in Gaza and southern Israel which ended January 18, 2009, AI is urging Israel to invite relevant UN experts to actively participate in and contribute to the investigation, in order to ensure its independence and credibility.
Usually ‘relevant UN experts’ do not act as proxies of governments (like the United States), but act in an independent manner based on their own areas of expertise and experience. For instance, the team that made up the fact finding mission to Gaza included Justice Goldstone, who is a former South African Constitutional judge that served as chief prosecutor during the UN International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda. Christine Chinkin is a professor and internationally respected scholar of public international law, alternative dispute resolution, human rights, international criminal law, etc … Hina Jilani is a prominent lawyer and civil society activist in Pakistan and special representative of the UN Secretary General on human rights defenders. Desmond Travers is a retired Colonel of the Army of the Irish Defence Forces. He is also Director of the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI) based in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Concerning what to read, may I suggest that you read everything, then think critically.
As far as current events, there are many credible and well respected NGO’s that issue regular reports such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Gisha, Rabbis for Human Rights, B’tselem, Al Haq among many others. Please don't pre-judge an organization simply because it is 'Palestinian' or 'Israeli'. You can go to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights at http://www.ohchr.org or http://www.ochaopt.org for the UN Office on Humanitarian Affairs for the occupied Palestinian territories.
There are too many good books to list, but no matter who the author is, when it comes to books there’s going to be some bias, either political or simply personal. I’m not saying there are intentional agendas in the work, just to keep in mind that everyone has their own perspective. Make sure to examine works cited to decide for yourself if their arguments are adequately supported. I hate to suggest a book when there are so many good ones out there, but personally – I would suggest you start with Phyllis Bennis’ ‘Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict – A Primer’. (Then check her cited works.) 😉
Judo (and Keith) – Amnesty International recognizes that Israel not only has the right, but duty to defend its citizens. AI does not judge whether an action is defensive or offensive. It is also not up to me or AI to suggest defense strategies to any country, but any action taken, whether defensive or offensive, must abide by international law.
Israel’s policy of blockade on the Gaza Strip goes beyond stopping arms from entering the strip and does not just target Hamas, the de facto administration in the strip, but adversely affects the 1.5 million inhabitants of the strip.
Not only is the blockade collective punishment which contravenes international law, but Israel as the occupying power (effectively maintains power over land, sea and airspace) has a duty under international law to ensure the welfare of Gaza’s inhabitants, including their rights to health, education, food and adequate housing.
The blockade restricts vitally needed supplies and equipment, traps Gazans within the small strip of land and prevents rebuilding and recovery even one and a half years after the Gaza action of December 2008 – January 2009.
This – Israel does not have the right to do.
Israel is not 'defending itself': the Naqba was not self-defense. The massacre of the USS Liberty was nowhere near self-defense. Sabra and Shatila were not self-defense. Nothing 'Israel' has ever done has been in 'self-defense'. 'Israel' claimed its savage attacks on Lebanese civilians in 2006 and its monstrous televised mass murder of Gazans in January 2009 using white phosphorous and depleted uranium (including attacks on the United Nations) were 'self-defense'. 'Israel''s incalculable catalogue of False Flag Operations and Doublethink Propaganda stunts come straight out of the Nazi playbook (e.g. Reichstag burning blamed on enemies, etc.): Mossad was an offshoot of the SS, most of which was recruited by the American Military Industrial Complex to begin the long assault on Washington and the rest of the globe from inside the Pentagon. Carter fired the 800 most savage CIA agents, and Reagan/Bush orchestrated the 'Hostage Crisis' as revenge. This oil 'leak' in the G of M is a perfect metaphor for the fascist paramilitary 'shadow government' (Xe/Blackwater [from SchwarzWasser], Aegis, etc.) that is emerging from/killing for the US/Israel/UK triangle of death (BP, Boeing, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Exxon, Royal Dutch Shell, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, General Electric, AT&T, Halliburton, NewsCorp, etc.) with clear designs on constant global terror emanating from Jerusalem and Central Asia but operating everywhere at all times. 99% of 'Israelis' are ignorant tools caught in the brainwashing industry that passes for their 'society'. Netanyahu Corp. is the pretending global corporate mafia don, but his disposability will become all too apparent all too soon; he has almost served his purpose, like Hariri, Hussein, Arafat, Begin, Sadat, Pahlavi, Mossadegh: good or bad (most are a mix), they all get axed eventually. Unfortunately it will take a long time and lots of bitter pills will be shoved down our throats, indeed many will die and many more will almost die, but the Goldstone Report and the other products of so many patient, righteous, humble heroes will eventually be recognized and ratified globally as milestones and functioning guidelines of human civilization.
Amy – Under international law, Israel is the primary party responsible for investigating alleged violations by their military forces in a credible, transparent and independent way. Amnesty Int’l recognizes this fact, but due to the international nature of the events of May 31st and Israel’s failure to date to conduct credible and independent investigations as demanded by the UN, into alleged war crimes and other serious violations by its forces during Operation "Cast Lead", the 22-day conflict in Gaza and southern Israel which ended January 18, 2009, AI is urging Israel to invite relevant UN experts to actively participate in and contribute to the investigation, in order to ensure its independence and credibility.
Usually ‘relevant UN experts’ do not act as proxies of governments (like the United States), but act in an independent manner based on their own areas of expertise and experience. For instance, the team that made up the fact finding mission to Gaza included Justice Goldstone, who is a former South African Constitutional judge that served as chief prosecutor during the UN International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda. Christine Chinkin is a professor and internationally respected scholar of public international law, alternative dispute resolution, human rights, international criminal law, etc … Hina Jilani is a prominent lawyer and civil society activist in Pakistan and special representative of the UN Secretary General on human rights defenders. Desmond Travers is a retired Colonel of the Army of the Irish Defence Forces. He is also Director of the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI) based in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Concerning what to read, may I suggest that you read everything, then think critically.
As far as current events, there are many credible and well respected NGO’s that issue regular reports such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Gisha, Rabbis for Human Rights, B’tselem, Al Haq among many others. Please don't pre-judge an organization simply because it is 'Palestinian' or 'Israeli'. You can go to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights at http://www.ohchr.org or http://www.ochaopt.org for the UN Office on Humanitarian Affairs for the occupied Palestinian territories.
There are too many good books to list, but no matter who the author is, when it comes to books there’s going to be some bias, either political or simply personal. I’m not saying there are intentional agendas in the work, just to keep in mind that everyone has their own perspective. Make sure to examine works cited to decide for yourself if their arguments are adequately supported. I hate to suggest a book when there are so many good ones out there, but personally – I would suggest you start with Phyllis Bennis’ ‘Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict – A Primer’. (Then check her cited works.) 😉
Amy – Under international law, Israel is the primary party responsible for investigating alleged violations by their military forces in a credible, transparent and independent way. Amnesty Int’l recognizes this fact, but due to the international nature of the events of May 31st and Israel’s failure to date to conduct credible and independent investigations as demanded by the UN, into alleged war crimes and other serious violations by its forces during Operation "Cast Lead", the 22-day conflict in Gaza and southern Israel which ended January 18, 2009, AI is urging Israel to invite relevant UN experts to actively participate in and contribute to the investigation, in order to ensure its independence and credibility.
Usually ‘relevant UN experts’ do not act as proxies of governments (like the United States), but act in an independent manner based on their own areas of expertise and experience. For instance, the team that made up the fact finding mission to Gaza included Justice Goldstone, who is a former South African Constitutional judge that served as chief prosecutor during the UN International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda. Christine Chinkin is a professor and internationally respected scholar of public international law, alternative dispute resolution, human rights, international criminal law, etc … Hina Jilani is a prominent lawyer and civil society activist in Pakistan and special representative of the UN Secretary General on human rights defenders. Desmond Travers is a retired Colonel of the Army of the Irish Defence Forces. He is also Director of the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI) based in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Concerning what to read, may I suggest that you read everything, then think critically.
As far as current events, there are many credible and well respected NGO’s that issue regular reports such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Gisha, Rabbis for Human Rights, B’tselem, Al Haq among many others. Please don't pre-judge an organization simply because it is 'Palestinian' or 'Israeli'. You can go to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights at http://www.ohchr.org or http://www.ochaopt.org for the UN Office on Humanitarian Affairs for the occupied Palestinian territories.
There are too many good books to list, but no matter who the author is, when it comes to books there’s going to be some bias, either political or simply personal. I’m not saying there are intentional agendas in the work, just to keep in mind that everyone has their own perspective. Make sure to examine works cited to decide for yourself if their arguments are adequately supported. I hate to suggest a book when there are so many good ones out there, but personally – I would suggest you start with Phyllis Bennis’ ‘Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict – A Primer’. (Then check her cited works.) 😉
Edie:
Thank you for the response! And for your concise explanation of how the independant investigation works. I've read many news stories of the years, some textbooks, the AI website, and the Human Rights Watch website. I'm completely unfamiliar with the additional websites you mentioned, and will gladly look into them as well. It's strange how, over the course of my years of reading (mostly news accounts) about the strained relation, I've picked up on some of the more complicated details. But it seems the basics are often skimmed over in stories. I don't recall ever reading about how a UN fact-finding panel is assembled, or whom it would consist of.
As for pre-judging, I won't. I want to read from both sides. Each party has a reason for thinking and feeling the way that they do. And there is so much emotion on both sides of the issue. I appreciate the recommendations, and look forward to learning more about the people and issues involved on all sides.
Thank you.
Judo-
You won’t get an answer. The mind is made up. According to A.I. Israel doesn’t have a right to defend itself (and you must include the blockade to realistically defend).
It is unfortunate that the ships ignored the blockade and that only 5 of the 6 boats complied and the sixth began beating Soldiers with pipes and attacking with knifes. Blame the activists, not the Soldiers defending themselves. The video is the only unbiased source of information…WATCH IT.
Amy:
I suggest you should start by studying the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, the world's oldest and largest Islamic political group. The Hamas regime which rules Gaza was founded as the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Banned in Egypt, an unknown number, many thousands, of Muslim Brotherhood political prisoners currently sit in Egyptian jails, routinely subjected to unimaginable torture according to Amnesty International.
In 1982 in the town of Hama in the Arab country of Syria, the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood attempted to start an insurrection to overthrow the dictatorship still ruling Syria to this very day. According to Amnesty International and journalist eye-witness Robert Fisk over a period of 3 days, Feb. 2 1982 to Feb. 5, 1982, the Syrian Army, an Arab Muslim army, using artillery, tanks, fighter aircraft and poison cyanide gas, completely destroyed the unarmed civilian town of Hama and massacred at least 30,000 of their own Arab Muslim civilian Syrian citizens. By the way, this 3 day Muslim Arab death toll at the hands of the Muslim Arab Syrian Army in Feb. 1982 is far higher than all the deaths of both sides combined in the Israeli vs Palestinian fighting over the last 40 years.
The Turkish group, IHH, which purchased and owns the Marmara, the large boat with 600 passengers that tried to get into Gaza this week is claimed by Israel to be a member of a group called "The Union of Good" which the United States Government has banned for financially supporting Hamas, an officially designated terrorist group in the United States.
reference: United States Department of the Treasury http://treas.gov/press/releases/hp1267.htm
The single most important and influential book describing the worldview of the Muslim Brotherhood is a book entitled “Ma'alim fi al-Tariq” in Arabic or “Milestones” in English by Egyptian author Sayyid Qutb. Written in Egyptian prison, “Milestones” was published in 1964, two years before the author Qutb was put to death in 1966 by the Egyptian Nasser government. In a nutshell this book calls for “offensive jihad” across the entire Muslim world, in order to overthrow all current ruling Muslim governments, kings, and dictators, whom Qutb considered not to be Muslims but in fact takfir (infidels), to be replaced with a single Islamic super state stretching from Indonesia to Morocco ruled under ultra strict Islamic Sharia law of “True Islam”. Once the Muslim world is thus united it would naturally spread out to eventually cover the rest of the world, with “Superior Islam” wiping away all remnants of modern western culture.
Amy:
I suggest you should start by studying the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, the world's oldest and largest Islamic political group. The Hamas regime which rules Gaza was founded as the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Banned in Egypt, an unknown number, many thousands, of Muslim Brotherhood political prisoners currently sit in Egyptian jails, routinely subjected to unimaginable torture according to Amnesty International.
In 1982 in the town of Hama in the Arab country of Syria, the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood attempted to start an insurrection to overthrow the dictatorship still ruling Syria to this very day. According to Amnesty International and journalist eye-witness Robert Fisk over a period of 3 days, Feb. 2 1982 to Feb. 5, 1982, the Syrian Army, an Arab Muslim army, using artillery, tanks, fighter aircraft and poison cyanide gas, completely destroyed the unarmed civilian town of Hama and massacred at least 30,000 of their own Arab Muslim civilian Syrian citizens. By the way, this 3 day Muslim Arab death toll at the hands of the Muslim Arab Syrian Army in Feb. 1982 is far higher than all the deaths of both sides combined in the Israeli vs Palestinian fighting over the last 40 years.
The Turkish group, IHH, which purchased and owns the Marmara, the large boat with 600 passengers that tried to get into Gaza this week is claimed by Israel to be a member of a group called "The Union of Good" which the United States Government has banned for financially supporting Hamas, an officially designated terrorist group in the United States.
reference: United States Department of the Treasury http://treas.gov/press/releases/hp1267.htm
The single most important and influential book describing the worldview of the Muslim Brotherhood is a book entitled “Ma'alim fi al-Tariq” in Arabic or “Milestones” in English by Egyptian author Sayyid Qutb. Written in Egyptian prison, “Milestones” was published in 1964, two years before the author Qutb was put to death in 1966 by the Egyptian Nasser government. In a nutshell this book calls for “offensive jihad” across the entire Muslim world, in order to overthrow all current ruling Muslim governments, kings, and dictators, whom Qutb considered not to be Muslims but in fact takfir (infidels), to be replaced with a single Islamic super state stretching from Indonesia to Morocco ruled under ultra strict Islamic Sharia law of “True Islam”. Once the Muslim world is thus united it would naturally spread out to eventually cover the rest of the world, with “Superior Islam” wiping away all remnants of modern western culture.
Amy:
I suggest you should start by studying the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, the world's oldest and largest Islamic political group. The Hamas regime which rules Gaza was founded as the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Banned in Egypt, an unknown number, many thousands, of Muslim Brotherhood political prisoners currently sit in Egyptian jails, routinely subjected to unimaginable torture according to Amnesty International.
In 1982 in the town of Hama in the Arab country of Syria, the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood attempted to start an insurrection to overthrow the dictatorship still ruling Syria to this very day. According to Amnesty International and journalist eye-witness Robert Fisk over a period of 3 days, Feb. 2 1982 to Feb. 5, 1982, the Syrian Army, an Arab Muslim army, using artillery, tanks, fighter aircraft and poison cyanide gas, completely destroyed the unarmed civilian town of Hama and massacred at least 30,000 of their own Arab Muslim civilian Syrian citizens. By the way, this 3 day Muslim Arab death toll at the hands of the Muslim Arab Syrian Army in Feb. 1982 is far higher than all the deaths of both sides combined in the Israeli vs Palestinian fighting over the last 40 years.
The Turkish group, IHH, which purchased and owns the Marmara, the large boat with 600 passengers that tried to get into Gaza this week is claimed by Israel to be a member of a group called "The Union of Good" which the United States Government has banned for financially supporting Hamas, an officially designated terrorist group in the United States.
reference: United States Department of the Treasury http://treas.gov/press/releases/hp1267.htm
The single most important and influential book describing the worldview of the Muslim Brotherhood is a book entitled “Ma'alim fi al-Tariq” in Arabic or “Milestones” in English by Egyptian author Sayyid Qutb. Written in Egyptian prison, “Milestones” was published in 1964, two years before the author Qutb was put to death in 1966 by the Egyptian Nasser government. In a nutshell this book calls for “offensive jihad” across the entire Muslim world, in order to overthrow all current ruling Muslim governments, kings, and dictators, whom Qutb considered not to be Muslims but in fact takfir (infidels), to be replaced with a single Islamic super state stretching from Indonesia to Morocco ruled under ultra strict Islamic Sharia law of “True Islam”. Once the Muslim world is thus united it would naturally spread out to eventually cover the rest of the world, with “Superior Islam” wiping away all remnants of modern western culture.
Judo (and Keith) – Amnesty International recognizes that Israel not only has the right, but duty to defend its citizens. AI does not judge whether an action is defensive or offensive. It is also not up to me or AI to suggest defense strategies to any country, but any action taken, whether defensive or offensive, must abide by international law.
Israel’s policy of blockade on the Gaza Strip goes beyond stopping arms from entering the strip and does not just target Hamas, the de facto administration in the strip, but adversely affects the 1.5 million inhabitants of the strip.
Not only is the blockade collective punishment which contravenes international law, but Israel as the occupying power (effectively maintains power over land, sea and airspace) has a duty under international law to ensure the welfare of Gaza’s inhabitants, including their rights to health, education, food and adequate housing.
The blockade restricts vitally needed supplies and equipment, traps Gazans within the small strip of land and prevents rebuilding and recovery even one and a half years after the Gaza action of December 2008 – January 2009.
This – Israel does not have the right to do.
Israel is not ‘defending itself’: the Naqba was not self-defense. The massacre of the USS Liberty was nowhere near self-defense. Sabra and Shatila were not self-defense. Nothing ‘Israel’ has ever done has been in ‘self-defense’. ‘Israel’ claimed its savage attacks on Lebanese civilians in 2006 and its monstrous televised mass murder of Gazans in January 2009 using white phosphorous and depleted uranium (including attacks on the United Nations) were ‘self-defense’. ‘Israel”s incalculable catalogue of False Flag Operations and Doublethink Propaganda stunts come straight out of the Nazi playbook (e.g. Reichstag burning blamed on enemies, etc.): Mossad was an offshoot of the SS, most of which was recruited by the American Military Industrial Complex to begin the long assault on Washington and the rest of the globe from inside the Pentagon. Carter fired the 800 most savage CIA agents, and Reagan/Bush orchestrated the ‘Hostage Crisis’ as revenge. This oil ‘leak’ in the G of M is a perfect metaphor for the fascist paramilitary ‘shadow government’ (Xe/Blackwater [from SchwarzWasser], Aegis, etc.) that is emerging from/killing for the US/Israel/UK triangle of death (BP, Boeing, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Exxon, Royal Dutch Shell, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, General Electric, AT&T, Halliburton, NewsCorp, etc.) with clear designs on constant global terror emanating from Jerusalem and Central Asia but operating everywhere at all times. 99% of ‘Israelis’ are ignorant tools caught in the brainwashing industry that passes for their ‘society’. Netanyahu Corp. is the pretending global corporate mafia don, but his disposability will become all too apparent all too soon; he has almost served his purpose, like Hariri, Hussein, Arafat, Begin, Sadat, Pahlavi, Mossadegh: good or bad (most are a mix), they all get axed eventually. Unfortunately it will take a long time and lots of bitter pills will be shoved down our throats, indeed many will die and many more will almost die, but the Goldstone Report and the other products of so many patient, righteous, humble heroes will eventually be recognized and ratified globally as milestones and functioning guidelines of human civilization.
Amy – Under international law, Israel is the primary party responsible for investigating alleged violations by their military forces in a credible, transparent and independent way. Amnesty Int’l recognizes this fact, but due to the international nature of the events of May 31st and Israel’s failure to date to conduct credible and independent investigations as demanded by the UN, into alleged war crimes and other serious violations by its forces during Operation “Cast Lead”, the 22-day conflict in Gaza and southern Israel which ended January 18, 2009, AI is urging Israel to invite relevant UN experts to actively participate in and contribute to the investigation, in order to ensure its independence and credibility.
Usually ‘relevant UN experts’ do not act as proxies of governments (like the United States), but act in an independent manner based on their own areas of expertise and experience. For instance, the team that made up the fact finding mission to Gaza included Justice Goldstone, who is a former South African Constitutional judge that served as chief prosecutor during the UN International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda. Christine Chinkin is a professor and internationally respected scholar of public international law, alternative dispute resolution, human rights, international criminal law, etc … Hina Jilani is a prominent lawyer and civil society activist in Pakistan and special representative of the UN Secretary General on human rights defenders. Desmond Travers is a retired Colonel of the Army of the Irish Defence Forces. He is also Director of the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI) based in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Concerning what to read, may I suggest that you read everything, then think critically.
As far as current events, there are many credible and well respected NGO’s that issue regular reports such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Gisha, Rabbis for Human Rights, B’tselem, Al Haq among many others. Please don’t pre-judge an organization simply because it is ‘Palestinian’ or ‘Israeli’. You can go to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights at http://www.ohchr.org or http://www.ochaopt.org for the UN Office on Humanitarian Affairs for the occupied Palestinian territories.
There are too many good books to list, but no matter who the author is, when it comes to books there’s going to be some bias, either political or simply personal. I’m not saying there are intentional agendas in the work, just to keep in mind that everyone has their own perspective. Make sure to examine works cited to decide for yourself if their arguments are adequately supported. I hate to suggest a book when there are so many good ones out there, but personally – I would suggest you start with Phyllis Bennis’ ‘Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict – A Primer’. (Then check her cited works.) 😉
Edie:
Thank you for the response! And for your concise explanation of how the independant investigation works. I’ve read many news stories of the years, some textbooks, the AI website, and the Human Rights Watch website. I’m completely unfamiliar with the additional websites you mentioned, and will gladly look into them as well. It’s strange how, over the course of my years of reading (mostly news accounts) about the strained relation, I’ve picked up on some of the more complicated details. But it seems the basics are often skimmed over in stories. I don’t recall ever reading about how a UN fact-finding panel is assembled, or whom it would consist of.
As for pre-judging, I won’t. I want to read from both sides. Each party has a reason for thinking and feeling the way that they do. And there is so much emotion on both sides of the issue. I appreciate the recommendations, and look forward to learning more about the people and issues involved on all sides.
Thank you.
Hey… go figure. Terrorists and others with a variety of ties with terror found on the Gaza "aid ship". Hmmm… who knew or suspected THAT would happen?
I doubt you'll post a blog about that.
What does Israel possibly have to gain if this was in fact a wonton action (that you suggest…whether you admit it or not)? Why would they choose with no reason to "attack" the aid ship?
Read what lead up to the encounter… face facts of what is going on in that part of the World EVERYDAY. Watch the video!! Have leaders of Israel ever been quoted saying things such as "Wipe so and so off the face of the earth"?
Get real A.I.
I hope when the dust settles and this very well orchestrated PR stunt comes more into focus you condemn the action of the "activists".
I support Israel and all the Ahmadinejad worshipers can go you know where. You want to point fingers—-start with Hamas. When the bombs stop flying from Gaza incidents like this will cease.
Amy:
I suggest you should start by studying the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, the world’s oldest and largest Islamic political group. The Hamas regime which rules Gaza was founded as the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Banned in Egypt, an unknown number, many thousands, of Muslim Brotherhood political prisoners currently sit in Egyptian jails, routinely subjected to unimaginable torture according to Amnesty International.
In 1982 in the town of Hama in the Arab country of Syria, the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood attempted to start an insurrection to overthrow the dictatorship still ruling Syria to this very day. According to Amnesty International and journalist eye-witness Robert Fisk over a period of 3 days, Feb. 2 1982 to Feb. 5, 1982, the Syrian Army, an Arab Muslim army, using artillery, tanks, fighter aircraft and poison cyanide gas, completely destroyed the unarmed civilian town of Hama and massacred at least 30,000 of their own Arab Muslim civilian Syrian citizens. By the way, this 3 day Muslim Arab death toll at the hands of the Muslim Arab Syrian Army in Feb. 1982 is far higher than all the deaths of both sides combined in the Israeli vs Palestinian fighting over the last 40 years.
The Turkish group, IHH, which purchased and owns the Marmara, the large boat with 600 passengers that tried to get into Gaza this week is claimed by Israel to be a member of a group called “The Union of Good” which the United States Government has banned for financially supporting Hamas, an officially designated terrorist group in the United States.
reference: United States Department of the Treasury
http://treas.gov/press/releases/hp1267.htm
The single most important and influential book describing the worldview of the Muslim Brotherhood is a book entitled “Ma’alim fi al-Tariq” in Arabic or “Milestones” in English by Egyptian author Sayyid Qutb. Written in Egyptian prison, “Milestones” was published in 1964, two years before the author Qutb was put to death in 1966 by the Egyptian Nasser government. In a nutshell this book calls for “offensive jihad” across the entire Muslim world, in order to overthrow all current ruling Muslim governments, kings, and dictators, whom Qutb considered not to be Muslims but in fact takfir (infidels), to be replaced with a single Islamic super state stretching from Indonesia to Morocco ruled under ultra strict Islamic Sharia law of “True Islam”. Once the Muslim world is thus united it would naturally spread out to eventually cover the rest of the world, with “Superior Islam” wiping away all remnants of modern western culture.
hey man, this is ridiculous stuff here. israel murdered. had blood on its hands.. the idf needs to be finally punished with a Nuremberg style punishment and hang the guilty.
Judo:
Thank you! I will read those as well. I make no assumptions as to where you live or have lived, but can only speak for myself. As a child growing up in a rural Texas town, I always felt that we were lacking in a global education. I am 33, so this was before the global society was easily accessable to all. Now as an adult, I realize exactly how lacking it was.
I also realize how slanted my history / government lessons were. I'm sure every country teaches from an angle that best serves it's own interests. But now that I'm back in school, preparing for a second career, I realize how important the pursuit of truth is. This is also the time in my life when I have the absolute least time for 'recreational' reading. So recommendations from others more knowledgable than myself are invalueable.
Thank you for the information.
Hey… go figure. Terrorists and others with a variety of ties with terror found on the Gaza “aid ship”. Hmmm… who knew or suspected THAT would happen?
I doubt you’ll post a blog about that.
What does Israel possibly have to gain if this was in fact a wonton action (that you suggest…whether you admit it or not)? Why would they choose with no reason to “attack” the aid ship?
Read what lead up to the encounter… face facts of what is going on in that part of the World EVERYDAY. Watch the video!! Have leaders of Israel ever been quoted saying things such as “Wipe so and so off the face of the earth”?
Get real A.I.
I hope when the dust settles and this very well orchestrated PR stunt comes more into focus you condemn the action of the “activists”.
I support Israel and all the Ahmadinejad worshipers can go you know where. You want to point fingers—-start with Hamas. When the bombs stop flying from Gaza incidents like this will cease.
Let's review:
o Hamas fires 8,000 to 10,000 missiles a year into Israel (from GAZA). Those missiles are smuggled in.
o Israel's blockade of the Gaza Coast is to stop as many missiles coming in as possible (we also know missiles are smuggled in underground tunnels).
o Six ships ignore the blockade, ignore offers to land in the port of Ashdod to deliver legitimate aid
o One of the six ships boarded by Israeli Troops armed with paintguns decided to brutally attack the Soldiers.
o Israeli forces defend themselves
o Activists are deported and Aid from the ships is delivered.
I'm sure you would prefer Israel to allow unfiltered, unscreened ships full of anti-semites, terrorists and potential weapons to go unchecked.
Those on that ship wanted a fight and unfortuneatly they got one… Israel responded accordingly. Watch the video. When the investigation is complete I hope those condemning Israel will reckognize the error in their own judgement.
Unreal.
hey man, this is ridiculous stuff here. israel murdered. had blood on its hands.. the idf needs to be finally punished with a Nuremberg style punishment and hang the guilty.
Judo:
Thank you! I will read those as well. I make no assumptions as to where you live or have lived, but can only speak for myself. As a child growing up in a rural Texas town, I always felt that we were lacking in a global education. I am 33, so this was before the global society was easily accessable to all. Now as an adult, I realize exactly how lacking it was.
I also realize how slanted my history / government lessons were. I’m sure every country teaches from an angle that best serves it’s own interests. But now that I’m back in school, preparing for a second career, I realize how important the pursuit of truth is. This is also the time in my life when I have the absolute least time for ‘recreational’ reading. So recommendations from others more knowledgable than myself are invalueable.
Thank you for the information.
So AI believes that Israel does NOT have the right to defend itself? Is this correct? They should allow any and all shipments to known terrorist organizations without even a simple inspection?
And if a ship is warned not to break a blockade, ignores this, is told they will be boarded and then attacks the military personnel who are boarding the ship, what should they do? Please let me know what AI would do in that situation.
I believe in human rights and that people should not be persecuted, but at some point people need to face a reality. When an entity is at war with you, you must have a blockade to prevent the importation of military supplies.
Dan – Please read the blog post by Christoph Koettl carefully and then my comments June 1st at 10:28am and then again June 1st at 10:02pm. I believe your questions will be answered.
Edie — In your posting on June 1st at 10:02pm you stated :
"The blockade restricts vitally needed supplies and equipment"
Which supplies exactly are being restricted? Could you explain that to me please.
Also, why is it that your complaints are not aimed at Egypt? Up until a couple of days ago they had the exact same restrictions and they too share a border with Gaza? Why only interest in Israel's blockade when Egypt did the EXACT same thing?
Let’s review:
o Hamas fires 8,000 to 10,000 missiles a year into Israel (from GAZA). Those missiles are smuggled in.
o Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Coast is to stop as many missiles coming in as possible (we also know missiles are smuggled in underground tunnels).
o Six ships ignore the blockade, ignore offers to land in the port of Ashdod to deliver legitimate aid
o One of the six ships boarded by Israeli Troops armed with paintguns decided to brutally attack the Soldiers.
o Israeli forces defend themselves
o Activists are deported and Aid from the ships is delivered.
I’m sure you would prefer Israel to allow unfiltered, unscreened ships full of anti-semites, terrorists and potential weapons to go unchecked.
Those on that ship wanted a fight and unfortuneatly they got one… Israel responded accordingly. Watch the video. When the investigation is complete I hope those condemning Israel will reckognize the error in their own judgement.
Unreal.
Two main humanitarian needs, food and medicine, are not in short supply in Gaza. The food shops and UN food warehouses in Gaza are full and have no more storage room for more food, according to the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs. As far as medicine, any medicine shortages in Gaza result solely because for the last 2 years a ridiculous bureaucratic turf war fight has been ongoing between the rival Hamas Ministry of Health in Gaza on the one hand that places orders for medicines to be imported into Gaza and on the other hand the rival Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health that rules in the West Bank that also claims sole authority to select and approve all medicines that are imported into Gaza and so the PA Ministry of Health each month goes through the medicine order lists for Gaza adding and removing at will medicines that were ordered by the Gaza Hamas Ministry of Health. The result is chaos in the medical stocks in Gazan Pharmacies with some random medicines are in huge oversupplies and have had to disposed of in garbage dumps after their dates expired while other needed medicines are in short supply. The United Nations office of Humanitarian Affairs that oversees the transfer of more than 2500 trucks of humanitarian supplies into Gaza from Israel each month ( not including the additional 2000 tankers of diesel fuel also imported to Gaza from Israel each month) has repeatedly affirmed Israel does not unduly place any obstacles in the way of any medicine imported into Gaza, and it is instead the nutty inter-Palestinian rivalries between the two competing groups of lunatics in the rival Palestinian Ministries of Health that results in any medicine shortages in Gaza.
So AI believes that Israel does NOT have the right to defend itself? Is this correct? They should allow any and all shipments to known terrorist organizations without even a simple inspection?
And if a ship is warned not to break a blockade, ignores this, is told they will be boarded and then attacks the military personnel who are boarding the ship, what should they do? Please let me know what AI would do in that situation.
I believe in human rights and that people should not be persecuted, but at some point people need to face a reality. When an entity is at war with you, you must have a blockade to prevent the importation of military supplies.
Dan – Please read the blog post by Christoph Koettl carefully and then my comments June 1st at 10:28am and then again June 1st at 10:02pm. I believe your questions will be answered.
Edie — In your posting on June 1st at 10:02pm you stated :
“The blockade restricts vitally needed supplies and equipment”
Which supplies exactly are being restricted? Could you explain that to me please.
Also, why is it that your complaints are not aimed at Egypt? Up until a couple of days ago they had the exact same restrictions and they too share a border with Gaza? Why only interest in Israel’s blockade when Egypt did the EXACT same thing?
Judo-
They are not interested in facts… especially undisputable and against the premise that Israel did anything wrong in this situation.
Blame the culprits and instigators.
Stand firm Israel… the sensible, sain, and non anti-semites are with you.
Two main humanitarian needs, food and medicine, are not in short supply in Gaza. The food shops and UN food warehouses in Gaza are full and have no more storage room for more food, according to the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs. As far as medicine, any medicine shortages in Gaza result solely because for the last 2 years a ridiculous bureaucratic turf war fight has been ongoing between the rival Hamas Ministry of Health in Gaza on the one hand that places orders for medicines to be imported into Gaza and on the other hand the rival Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health that rules in the West Bank that also claims sole authority to select and approve all medicines that are imported into Gaza and so the PA Ministry of Health each month goes through the medicine order lists for Gaza adding and removing at will medicines that were ordered by the Gaza Hamas Ministry of Health. The result is chaos in the medical stocks in Gazan Pharmacies with some random medicines are in huge oversupplies and have had to disposed of in garbage dumps after their dates expired while other needed medicines are in short supply. The United Nations office of Humanitarian Affairs that oversees the transfer of more than 2500 trucks of humanitarian supplies into Gaza from Israel each month ( not including the additional 2000 tankers of diesel fuel also imported to Gaza from Israel each month) has repeatedly affirmed Israel does not unduly place any obstacles in the way of any medicine imported into Gaza, and it is instead the nutty inter-Palestinian rivalries between the two competing groups of lunatics in the rival Palestinian Ministries of Health that results in any medicine shortages in Gaza.
Judo-
They are not interested in facts… especially undisputable and against the premise that Israel did anything wrong in this situation.
Blame the culprits and instigators.
Stand firm Israel… the sensible, sain, and non anti-semites are with you.
Most of the posters on here are obviously either Mossad operatives or brainwashed Zionist lunatics who are ignorant of the basic history of the illegitimate 'state' –really an artificial, solipsistic, and imperious enclave of religious fanatics– of 'Israel' –Zion– as well as the simple moral parameters that most of the great civilian movements of history accept and try to follow (indeed, how ironic is it that the first of the Ten Commandments is so easily and frequently brushed away like a pesky mosquito? 'Thou shalt not kill'? Except in the name of Zion, and especially against defenseless victims!). The invasion of Deir Yassin was a heinous cowardly act of completely unjustifiable hostile aggression against peaceful and unsuspecting villagers as well as a smarmy act of robbery: land, lodgings, possessions appropriated by violence in the name of petty greed passed off as religion. The unilateral declaration of 'Israeli' sovereignty in 1948 was not ratified by the United Nations, and all 'Israeli' and American actions in the General Assembly for more than 60 years now have been in direct criminal scorn and sabotage of international cooperation and legal procedure not to mention majority opinion. The Palestinian Intifadas, acts of 'shaking off' illegitimate and violent oppression, are the only justifiable 'self-defense' being undertaken in this disgusting melodrama. The Palestinians are sanctified heroes of resistance, patience, hope, and trust in the goodness of the global community. Of course Mossad and the Netanyahu/Sharon (BTW where is that monster these days, calling the shots from his coma?) propagandists want to dominate the chatting on the Amnesty International website: the whole world is 'Yahweh's' incoherent self-aggrandizing babble-book. But look at Isaiah, Jeremiah, what do they have to say…?
Your version and perspective of history has little to do with "peace activists" ignoring a blockade and drawing first blood, savagely beating Israeli troops (armed with paint guns).
Israel will continue to enforce it's justified blockade. The flotilla's can follow directions and port in Ashdod (where "aid" will be inspected) or they can pick a fight and face the consequences.
Sorry for you, ahmadinjad and anti-semites.
Clause 3, Treaty of Rome defining international maritime law — says ALL ARMED BOARDING & TAKEOVERS OF VESSELS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS are ILLEGAL & VIOLATIONS OF INTENATIONAL MARITIME LAW.
Even had the activists actually resisted, THE RIGHT TO RESIST IN THIS SITUATION IS THEIRS & THEIRS ALONE.
If Somali pirates had boarded the ships — or North Korea — or Iran — imagine the reaction of the US, the West, in iran's case think of israel's response , which would vewry likely be bombers & missile strikes !
So israel sends blackclad commandos — armed with paintballs & paintguns ? They send their A-TEAM, THEIR ELITE SPECIAL FORCES — & they get "overpowered", & have their guns SEIZED from their hands ?? This is the skill & expertise of their A-TEAM ??
WHY BOARD THE SHIPS AT ALL ??
EVEN WITHOUT BOARDING, THE ISRAELI NAVY COULD HAVE EASILY BLOCKED THEIR LANDING.
BOARDING WASN'T NECESSARY — UNLESS THEY CAME WITH A CLEAR & DIFFERENT PURPOSE !!
The timing, & what followed, was a PREPLANNED MILITARY OPERATION .
AIMED AT INFLICTING CRUSHINGTERROR.
TO DETER ALL FUTURE ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL NONVIOLENCE.
They surround the ships at 4 am
They open fire even before abseiling onto them.
Their Uzis are blazing as their feet hit the decks, aiming not at the legs as they LATER claimed, but at heads & chests, as the wounds show.
A 19 year old Turkish american boy, shot dead not with paintballs but with 4 shots to the head, one to the chest.
70 activist casualties.
Two die of bleeding while the commandoes block off medical aid, even as locked in activists hold up signs in Hebrew at the windows asking for medical treatment — cutting off assistance to the injured, an israeli war practice well known to all Palestinians.
Israel is "defending" itself — from 700 men & women from 35 countries, all "terrorists"!!!
Defending itself from ships searched & cleared by Turkey as weaponfree, as Ireland has also done for the followup vessel.
Hening Mankell, the renowned Swedish crime novelist, also on board — a "terrorist" like his companions !!
israel defending itsaelf — even in Gaza, from which israel allegedly disengaged itself !!
And why not — israel is THE WORLD'S ONLY COUNTRY WITHOUT ANY DEFINED BORDERS AT ALL — it can defend itself ANYWHERE IT FEELS LIKE, even in INTERNATIONAL WATERS, EVEN ON THE HIGH SEAS, & BY ALL & ANY MEANS IT CARES TO USE !
& the CONSEQUENCE ?
ALL EYES RIVETTED ON GAZA. NOW.
& ISRAEL LOSES HER MOST POWERFUL ALLY IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD.
You will know more of the consequences, even from within the ranks of your "friends".
Most of the posters on here are obviously either Mossad operatives or brainwashed Zionist lunatics who are ignorant of the basic history of the illegitimate ‘state’ –really an artificial, solipsistic, and imperious enclave of religious fanatics– of ‘Israel’ –Zion– as well as the simple moral parameters that most of the great civilian movements of history accept and try to follow (indeed, how ironic is it that the first of the Ten Commandments is so easily and frequently brushed away like a pesky mosquito? ‘Thou shalt not kill’? Except in the name of Zion, and especially against defenseless victims!). The invasion of Deir Yassin was a heinous cowardly act of completely unjustifiable hostile aggression against peaceful and unsuspecting villagers as well as a smarmy act of robbery: land, lodgings, possessions appropriated by violence in the name of petty greed passed off as religion. The unilateral declaration of ‘Israeli’ sovereignty in 1948 was not ratified by the United Nations, and all ‘Israeli’ and American actions in the General Assembly for more than 60 years now have been in direct criminal scorn and sabotage of international cooperation and legal procedure not to mention majority opinion. The Palestinian Intifadas, acts of ‘shaking off’ illegitimate and violent oppression, are the only justifiable ‘self-defense’ being undertaken in this disgusting melodrama. The Palestinians are sanctified heroes of resistance, patience, hope, and trust in the goodness of the global community. Of course Mossad and the Netanyahu/Sharon (BTW where is that monster these days, calling the shots from his coma?) propagandists want to dominate the chatting on the Amnesty International website: the whole world is ‘Yahweh’s’ incoherent self-aggrandizing babble-book. But look at Isaiah, Jeremiah, what do they have to say…?
It was Rome, 1988.
By Article 3 of the Rome Convention for the SUPPRESSION OF UNLAWFUL ACTS AGAINST THE SAFETY OF MARITIME NAVIGATION, it was declared that it is an INTERNATIONAL CRIME to SEIZE OR EXERCISE CONTROL over a ship BY FORCE, & it's also a crime TO INJURE OR KILL ANYONE IN THE PROCESS.
The treaty is crystal clear. One cannot attack a ship & THEN CLAIM SELF – DEFENSE IF THE PEOPLE ON BOARD RESIST THE UNLAWFUL USE OF VIOLENCE.
Any RIGHTS to self – defense in such circumstances RESTS PURELY WITH THE PASSENGERS & CREW ON BOARD.
Under international maritime law, YOU ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED TO RESIST UNLAWFUL CAPTURE, ABDUCTION & DETENTION.
Astudillo speaks for me !
A true & blistering Jeremiad,
& richly merited !
Your version and perspective of history has little to do with “peace activists” ignoring a blockade and drawing first blood, savagely beating Israeli troops (armed with paint guns).
Israel will continue to enforce it’s justified blockade. The flotilla’s can follow directions and port in Ashdod (where “aid” will be inspected) or they can pick a fight and face the consequences.
Sorry for you, ahmadinjad and anti-semites.
Stop Crime against Humanity
Clause 3, Treaty of Rome defining international maritime law — says ALL ARMED BOARDING & TAKEOVERS OF VESSELS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS are ILLEGAL & VIOLATIONS OF INTENATIONAL MARITIME LAW.
Even had the activists actually resisted, THE RIGHT TO RESIST IN THIS SITUATION IS THEIRS & THEIRS ALONE.
If Somali pirates had boarded the ships — or North Korea — or Iran — imagine the reaction of the US, the West, in iran’s case think of israel’s response , which would vewry likely be bombers & missile strikes !
So israel sends blackclad commandos — armed with paintballs & paintguns ? They send their A-TEAM, THEIR ELITE SPECIAL FORCES — & they get “overpowered”, & have their guns SEIZED from their hands ?? This is the skill & expertise of their A-TEAM ??
WHY BOARD THE SHIPS AT ALL ??
EVEN WITHOUT BOARDING, THE ISRAELI NAVY COULD HAVE EASILY BLOCKED THEIR LANDING.
BOARDING WASN’T NECESSARY — UNLESS THEY CAME WITH A CLEAR & DIFFERENT PURPOSE !!
The timing, & what followed, was a PREPLANNED MILITARY OPERATION .
AIMED AT INFLICTING CRUSHINGTERROR.
TO DETER ALL FUTURE ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL NONVIOLENCE.
They surround the ships at 4 am
They open fire even before abseiling onto them.
Their Uzis are blazing as their feet hit the decks, aiming not at the legs as they LATER claimed, but at heads & chests, as the wounds show.
A 19 year old Turkish american boy, shot dead not with paintballs but with 4 shots to the head, one to the chest.
70 activist casualties.
Two die of bleeding while the commandoes block off medical aid, even as locked in activists hold up signs in Hebrew at the windows asking for medical treatment — cutting off assistance to the injured, an israeli war practice well known to all Palestinians.
Israel is “defending” itself — from 700 men & women from 35 countries, all “terrorists”!!!
Defending itself from ships searched & cleared by Turkey as weaponfree, as Ireland has also done for the followup vessel.
Hening Mankell, the renowned Swedish crime novelist, also on board — a “terrorist” like his companions !!
israel defending itsaelf — even in Gaza, from which israel allegedly disengaged itself !!
And why not — israel is THE WORLD’S ONLY COUNTRY WITHOUT ANY DEFINED BORDERS AT ALL — it can defend itself ANYWHERE IT FEELS LIKE, even in INTERNATIONAL WATERS, EVEN ON THE HIGH SEAS, & BY ALL & ANY MEANS IT CARES TO USE !
& the CONSEQUENCE ?
ALL EYES RIVETTED ON GAZA. NOW.
& ISRAEL LOSES HER MOST POWERFUL ALLY IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD.
You will know more of the consequences, even from within the ranks of your “friends”.
It was Rome, 1988.
By Article 3 of the Rome Convention for the SUPPRESSION OF UNLAWFUL ACTS AGAINST THE SAFETY OF MARITIME NAVIGATION, it was declared that it is an INTERNATIONAL CRIME to SEIZE OR EXERCISE CONTROL over a ship BY FORCE, & it’s also a crime TO INJURE OR KILL ANYONE IN THE PROCESS.
The treaty is crystal clear. One cannot attack a ship & THEN CLAIM SELF – DEFENSE IF THE PEOPLE ON BOARD RESIST THE UNLAWFUL USE OF VIOLENCE.
Any RIGHTS to self – defense in such circumstances RESTS PURELY WITH THE PASSENGERS & CREW ON BOARD.
Under international maritime law, YOU ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED TO RESIST UNLAWFUL CAPTURE, ABDUCTION & DETENTION.
Astudillo speaks for me !
A true & blistering Jeremiad,
& richly merited !
Stop Crime against Humanity
Aaahh, yes! Anyone who points out the illogicalities and injustices of 'Israeli' ideology and policy IS AN 'ANTI-SEMITE'! This constant, perfunctory accusation against any observer and articulator of the barbaric crimes and contradictions of 'Israel' is another (i.e. besides the primary behavior patterns themselves) manifestation of the psychopathological self-absorption that primarily constitutes Zionist religious fanaticism (which is the primary tool of the super-rich financiers –Rothschilds/Rockefellers, etc.– engineering global techno-fascist domination). Until Mossad gets the official dictionaries changed (don't doubt it), the definition of the noun 'Semite' is as follows: "a member of any of a group of peoples of southwestern Asia chiefly represented now by the Jews AND Arabs but in ancient times also by the Babylonians, Assyrians, Aramaeans, Canaanites [modern Palestinians], and Phoenicians." And the adjective 'Semitic' is not even an ethnic/genetic term but a LINGUISTIC one: "of, relating to, or constituting a subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic language family that includes Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, and Ethiopic." The greatness of the ancient Hebrew literary, philosophical, and religious tradition has always been subject to the obsession with monarchical power and greed afflicting the Judaic potentates like Ahab, Gehazi, 'even' David (oh no!) who put Bathsheba's husband on the front lines so he could get his hands on her after the husband was killed in battle, but now, with multimedia (image/sound) communication technology deluding the entire globe via instantaneous electronic transmission, the written word and the study thereof are of secondary importance, and the wizards of digital propaganda fabricate and manipulate moving pictures to profess their insanely ridiculous 'visions' of reality, like "terrorist mobs masquerading as peace activists on a Turkish flotilla attacked peaceful 'Israeli' navy commandos while they were boarding the vessels in international waters". The evil divine comedy stretches on into eternity…
BTW, shout out to a.savage for the details of the INTERNATIONAL LAW!!
Somali Pirates, North Korea and Iran aren't being attacked from HAMAS (WHO IS IN CONTROL OF GAZA). Your comparison is WEAK.
Somali Pirates wouldn't be boarding the vessel for the sole-purpose of inspecting and protecting it's citizens from potential weapons. They would be boarding to take hostages and steal or hold ransom the contents of the ship.
Interesting that you bring up North Korea… hardly a peep about that little incident… but Israeli Soldiers defending themselves AFTER being attacked with pipes and knifes and suddenly we have an international incident.
Neither of you have pointed out any injustices (as pertains to the subject at hand… the "peace flotillas").
Good luck spinning this and turning true victims into criminals.
If the REAL purpose of the "peace flotillas" was to deliver "aid"… why not follow directions and just allow the inspection? Why stab and beat Soldiers armed with paint guns?
Aaahh, yes! Anyone who points out the illogicalities and injustices of ‘Israeli’ ideology and policy IS AN ‘ANTI-SEMITE’! This constant, perfunctory accusation against any observer and articulator of the barbaric crimes and contradictions of ‘Israel’ is another (i.e. besides the primary behavior patterns themselves) manifestation of the psychopathological self-absorption that primarily constitutes Zionist religious fanaticism (which is the primary tool of the super-rich financiers –Rothschilds/Rockefellers, etc.– engineering global techno-fascist domination). Until Mossad gets the official dictionaries changed (don’t doubt it), the definition of the noun ‘Semite’ is as follows: “a member of any of a group of peoples of southwestern Asia chiefly represented now by the Jews AND Arabs but in ancient times also by the Babylonians, Assyrians, Aramaeans, Canaanites [modern Palestinians], and Phoenicians.” And the adjective ‘Semitic’ is not even an ethnic/genetic term but a LINGUISTIC one: “of, relating to, or constituting a subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic language family that includes Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, and Ethiopic.” The greatness of the ancient Hebrew literary, philosophical, and religious tradition has always been subject to the obsession with monarchical power and greed afflicting the Judaic potentates like Ahab, Gehazi, ‘even’ David (oh no!) who put Bathsheba’s husband on the front lines so he could get his hands on her after the husband was killed in battle, but now, with multimedia (image/sound) communication technology deluding the entire globe via instantaneous electronic transmission, the written word and the study thereof are of secondary importance, and the wizards of digital propaganda fabricate and manipulate moving pictures to profess their insanely ridiculous ‘visions’ of reality, like “terrorist mobs masquerading as peace activists on a Turkish flotilla attacked peaceful ‘Israeli’ navy commandos while they were boarding the vessels in international waters”. The evil divine comedy stretches on into eternity…
BTW, shout out to a.savage for the details of the INTERNATIONAL LAW!!
Somali Pirates, North Korea and Iran aren’t being attacked from HAMAS (WHO IS IN CONTROL OF GAZA). Your comparison is WEAK.
Somali Pirates wouldn’t be boarding the vessel for the sole-purpose of inspecting and protecting it’s citizens from potential weapons. They would be boarding to take hostages and steal or hold ransom the contents of the ship.
Interesting that you bring up North Korea… hardly a peep about that little incident… but Israeli Soldiers defending themselves AFTER being attacked with pipes and knifes and suddenly we have an international incident.
Neither of you have pointed out any injustices (as pertains to the subject at hand… the “peace flotillas”).
Good luck spinning this and turning true victims into criminals.
If the REAL purpose of the “peace flotillas” was to deliver “aid”… why not follow directions and just allow the inspection? Why stab and beat Soldiers armed with paint guns?
source: LA Times
June 4, 2010
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/mid…
"Some passengers aboard the Rachel Corrie, which is carrying Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire and a Malaysian parliamentarian, have said they will not resist an Israeli takeover.
One criticized the actions of the Marmara activists, who fought with Israeli soldiers, throwing one commando off a deck.
"That is not part of the game," former U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Denis Halliday told Al Jazeera television Friday from aboard the Rachel Corrie. "The Turkish peace [activists] broke the rules. If you do that, you lose control, and you get panic and chaos and death. We are not going to do that."
source: LA Times
June 4, 2010
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/mid…
"Some passengers aboard the Rachel Corrie, which is carrying Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire and a Malaysian parliamentarian, have said they will not resist an Israeli takeover.
One criticized the actions of the Marmara activists, who fought with Israeli soldiers, throwing one commando off a deck.
"That is not part of the game," former U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Denis Halliday told Al Jazeera television Friday from aboard the Rachel Corrie. "The Turkish peace [activists] broke the rules. If you do that, you lose control, and you get panic and chaos and death. We are not going to do that."
source: LA Times
June 4, 2010
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/mid…
"Some passengers aboard the Rachel Corrie, which is carrying Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire and a Malaysian parliamentarian, have said they will not resist an Israeli takeover.
One criticized the actions of the Marmara activists, who fought with Israeli soldiers, throwing one commando off a deck.
"That is not part of the game," former U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Denis Halliday told Al Jazeera television Friday from aboard the Rachel Corrie. "The Turkish peace [activists] broke the rules. If you do that, you lose control, and you get panic and chaos and death. We are not going to do that."
The 'Israeli' propagoonda line: "If we didn't have the [illegal and universally condemned] blockade on Gaza, bajillions of rockets would blah blah blah blah lies contradicitons hypocrisy anti-Islamic anti-Arabic racist hatespeech and torturously preposterous self-justifiying mad-dog-with-its-teeth-bared drivel…"
How about a dose of reality?
If 'Israel' were not brutally occupying Palestinian land and violating international law and murdering, torturing, robbing, humiliating, and severely inconveniencing the Palestinians 62 years down the road since the savage cowardly invasion of Deir Yassin, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY RESISTANCE TO BRUTAL AND COWARDLY OPPRESSION BEING RETURNED IN 'ITS' DIRECTION BECAUSE 'IT' WOULDN'T BE VISITING BRUTAL AND COWARDLY OPPRESSION ON 'ITS' PEACEFUL AND DEFENSELESS NEIGHBORS!!!
Now there's the word that really gets some people's proverbial goats, isn't there? This modern 'Zionist' 'movement', an actually quite recent and artificial phenomenon, betrays its complete lack of a demonstrable and communicable concept of identity in as much as this fictitious entity referred to as 'Israel' HAS NO DEFINED GEOGRAPHICAL BORDERS and refuses to articulate anything such: obviously the 1967 UN-ratified CONCESSION, COMPROMISE with the outrageous insatiable demands of the Dayan Inc. cabal for the sake of a gesture toward peaceful coexistence, was not only not enough for the militarized 'religious' fanatics, but simply represented another opportunity to defy, scorn, insult, backstab as much of the global political leadership as possible by almost immediately overruning those borders (Front 242) and invading, attacking, seizing, occupying, strangling, the Golan Heights, the West Bank, etc. Although the vast majority of Jews worldwide are peaceful cooperative citizens of other countries, one must pause at the fact that one of the major points of difference between classical Judaism and its unwanted offshoot is an annoying little quote like "Love thy neighbor as thyself."
The absolute absudity of the religious-political crisis blowing up on the world stage is painful and frightening and unfortunately it does not look like it's going to resolve itself smoothly or quickly. The rabid aggression with which the present fascist cabal has hijacked the citizenship of Jerusalem and its satellites (Tel Aviv, Haifa) along with the ideologies and sensibilities of the Hebrew tradition is threatening a long and macabre –threatening? already carrying out, since 1948– spectacle of unimaginable cruelty, greed, and straight-faced insanity, perhaps like nothing the world has ever seen before.
Maybe, however, in its apparently last and darkest hour, the human race, with its most rarefied aspirations toward freedom, democratic justice, and creative diplomacy, will miraculously organize and face down these raging monsters, this many-headed Golem being played with such gusto by Netanyahu.
source: LA Times
June 4, 2010
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-fg-gaza-flotilla-20100605,0,7757373.story
“Some passengers aboard the Rachel Corrie, which is carrying Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire and a Malaysian parliamentarian, have said they will not resist an Israeli takeover.
One criticized the actions of the Marmara activists, who fought with Israeli soldiers, throwing one commando off a deck.
“That is not part of the game,” former U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Denis Halliday told Al Jazeera television Friday from aboard the Rachel Corrie. “The Turkish peace [activists] broke the rules. If you do that, you lose control, and you get panic and chaos and death. We are not going to do that.”
The ‘Israeli’ propagoonda line: “If we didn’t have the [illegal and universally condemned] blockade on Gaza, bajillions of rockets would blah blah blah blah lies contradicitons hypocrisy anti-Islamic anti-Arabic racist hatespeech and torturously preposterous self-justifiying mad-dog-with-its-teeth-bared drivel…”
How about a dose of reality?
If ‘Israel’ were not brutally occupying Palestinian land and violating international law and murdering, torturing, robbing, humiliating, and severely inconveniencing the Palestinians 62 years down the road since the savage cowardly invasion of Deir Yassin, THERE WOULDN’T BE ANY RESISTANCE TO BRUTAL AND COWARDLY OPPRESSION BEING RETURNED IN ‘ITS’ DIRECTION BECAUSE ‘IT’ WOULDN’T BE VISITING BRUTAL AND COWARDLY OPPRESSION ON ‘ITS’ PEACEFUL AND DEFENSELESS NEIGHBORS!!!
Now there’s the word that really gets some people’s proverbial goats, isn’t there? This modern ‘Zionist’ ‘movement’, an actually quite recent and artificial phenomenon, betrays its complete lack of a demonstrable and communicable concept of identity in as much as this fictitious entity referred to as ‘Israel’ HAS NO DEFINED GEOGRAPHICAL BORDERS and refuses to articulate anything such: obviously the 1967 UN-ratified CONCESSION, COMPROMISE with the outrageous insatiable demands of the Dayan Inc. cabal for the sake of a gesture toward peaceful coexistence, was not only not enough for the militarized ‘religious’ fanatics, but simply represented another opportunity to defy, scorn, insult, backstab as much of the global political leadership as possible by almost immediately overruning those borders (Front 242) and invading, attacking, seizing, occupying, strangling, the Golan Heights, the West Bank, etc. Although the vast majority of Jews worldwide are peaceful cooperative citizens of other countries, one must pause at the fact that one of the major points of difference between classical Judaism and its unwanted offshoot is an annoying little quote like “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”
The absolute absudity of the religious-political crisis blowing up on the world stage is painful and frightening and unfortunately it does not look like it’s going to resolve itself smoothly or quickly. The rabid aggression with which the present fascist cabal has hijacked the citizenship of Jerusalem and its satellites (Tel Aviv, Haifa) along with the ideologies and sensibilities of the Hebrew tradition is threatening a long and macabre –threatening? already carrying out, since 1948– spectacle of unimaginable cruelty, greed, and straight-faced insanity, perhaps like nothing the world has ever seen before.
Maybe, however, in its apparently last and darkest hour, the human race, with its most rarefied aspirations toward freedom, democratic justice, and creative diplomacy, will miraculously organize and face down these raging monsters, this many-headed Golem being played with such gusto by Netanyahu.
So what your saying is Israel is Palestinian territory and you aré going on and on about 1948. Are you suggesting Hamas attacks are justified? Are you so angry about 1948 that you side with ahmadinijad and like
minded individuals? What is your proposed solution and does your hatred for israelis stem from your accounts of 1948? Your rambling speaks volumes and i'm certain you are not at all interested in israels right to exist.
No crew member of the Rachel Corrie was harmed.
Israeli forces boarded the ship, no pipe or knife attacks. The ship peacefully to dock in Ashdod where cargo can be inspected.
Now wasn't that easy!?? Had those on the Mavi Marmara behaved and complied the same as those on the Rachel Corrie… we'd all be better off, dozens and dozens of people wouldn't have been injured and the nine people killed would still be alive.
Take notes.
So what your saying is Israel is Palestinian territory and you aré going on and on about 1948. Are you suggesting Hamas attacks are justified? Are you so angry about 1948 that you side with ahmadinijad and like
minded individuals? What is your proposed solution and does your hatred for israelis stem from your accounts of 1948? Your rambling speaks volumes and i’m certain you are not at all interested in israels right to exist.
Video of Turkish flotilla passengers on board the Marmura at sea days before the clash chanting:
“Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return.”
Background:
The Battle of Khaybar was fought in the year 629 between Muhammad and his followers against the Jews living in the oasis of Khaybar, located 150 kilometers (95 miles) from Medina in the north-western part of the Arabian peninsula, in modern-day Saudi Arabia. According to Muslim sources, the Muslims attacked Jews who had barricaded themselves in a fort. The Jews of Khaybar finally surrendered and were allowed to live in the oasis on the condition that they would give one-half of their produce to the Muslims. Jews continued to live in the oasis for several more years until they were finally expelled by caliph Umar. The imposition of tribute upon the conquered Jews served as a precedent for provisions in the Islamic law requiring the exaction of tribute known as jizya from non-Muslims under Muslim rule, and confiscation of land belonging to non-Muslims into the collective property of the Muslim community.
source:
Al-Jazeera TV Report from "Freedom Flotilla" Before Its Departure for Gaza: Activists on Board Chant Intifada Songs and Praise Martyrdom
to watch the video clip from Al Jezeera: http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2489.htm
transcript:
The following excerpts are from an Al-Jazeera TV report on the “Freedom Flotilla” before its departure toward Gaza. The report aired on May 28, 2010.
Reporter: Despite the Israeli threats and some unexpected obstacles, the arrival of the ships at the rendezvous, in preparation to set sail to Gaza, has kindled the emotions and enthusiasm of the participants.
Crowd chanting: “Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return.”
Reporter: Through songs about the Palestinian Intifada, the participants expressed their longing to reach Gaza.
Participant 1: The brothers here are shouting and are full of enthusiasm. They are waiting to leave soon, with the ships around us in the sea. Allah willing, we will make our way to Gaza.
Participant 2: We are now waiting for one of two good things – either to achieve martyrdom, or to reach Gaza.
Video of Turkish flotilla passengers on board the Marmura at sea days before the clash chanting:
“Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return.”
Background:
The Battle of Khaybar was fought in the year 629 between Muhammad and his followers against the Jews living in the oasis of Khaybar, located 150 kilometers (95 miles) from Medina in the north-western part of the Arabian peninsula, in modern-day Saudi Arabia. According to Muslim sources, the Muslims attacked Jews who had barricaded themselves in a fort. The Jews of Khaybar finally surrendered and were allowed to live in the oasis on the condition that they would give one-half of their produce to the Muslims. Jews continued to live in the oasis for several more years until they were finally expelled by caliph Umar. The imposition of tribute upon the conquered Jews served as a precedent for provisions in the Islamic law requiring the exaction of tribute known as jizya from non-Muslims under Muslim rule, and confiscation of land belonging to non-Muslims into the collective property of the Muslim community.
source:
Al-Jazeera TV Report from "Freedom Flotilla" Before Its Departure for Gaza: Activists on Board Chant Intifada Songs and Praise Martyrdom
to watch the video clip from Al Jezeera: http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2489.htm
transcript:
The following excerpts are from an Al-Jazeera TV report on the “Freedom Flotilla” before its departure toward Gaza. The report aired on May 28, 2010.
Reporter: Despite the Israeli threats and some unexpected obstacles, the arrival of the ships at the rendezvous, in preparation to set sail to Gaza, has kindled the emotions and enthusiasm of the participants.
Crowd chanting: “Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return.”
Reporter: Through songs about the Palestinian Intifada, the participants expressed their longing to reach Gaza.
Participant 1: The brothers here are shouting and are full of enthusiasm. They are waiting to leave soon, with the ships around us in the sea. Allah willing, we will make our way to Gaza.
Participant 2: We are now waiting for one of two good things – either to achieve martyrdom, or to reach Gaza.
Video of Turkish flotilla passengers on board the Marmura at sea days before the clash chanting:
“Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return.”
Background:
The Battle of Khaybar was fought in the year 629 between Muhammad and his followers against the Jews living in the oasis of Khaybar, located 150 kilometers (95 miles) from Medina in the north-western part of the Arabian peninsula, in modern-day Saudi Arabia. According to Muslim sources, the Muslims attacked Jews who had barricaded themselves in a fort. The Jews of Khaybar finally surrendered and were allowed to live in the oasis on the condition that they would give one-half of their produce to the Muslims. Jews continued to live in the oasis for several more years until they were finally expelled by caliph Umar. The imposition of tribute upon the conquered Jews served as a precedent for provisions in the Islamic law requiring the exaction of tribute known as jizya from non-Muslims under Muslim rule, and confiscation of land belonging to non-Muslims into the collective property of the Muslim community.
source:
Al-Jazeera TV Report from "Freedom Flotilla" Before Its Departure for Gaza: Activists on Board Chant Intifada Songs and Praise Martyrdom
to watch the video clip from Al Jezeera: http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2489.htm
transcript:
The following excerpts are from an Al-Jazeera TV report on the “Freedom Flotilla” before its departure toward Gaza. The report aired on May 28, 2010.
Reporter: Despite the Israeli threats and some unexpected obstacles, the arrival of the ships at the rendezvous, in preparation to set sail to Gaza, has kindled the emotions and enthusiasm of the participants.
Crowd chanting: “Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return.”
Reporter: Through songs about the Palestinian Intifada, the participants expressed their longing to reach Gaza.
Participant 1: The brothers here are shouting and are full of enthusiasm. They are waiting to leave soon, with the ships around us in the sea. Allah willing, we will make our way to Gaza.
Participant 2: We are now waiting for one of two good things – either to achieve martyrdom, or to reach Gaza.
No crew member of the Rachel Corrie was harmed.
Israeli forces boarded the ship, no pipe or knife attacks. The ship peacefully to dock in Ashdod where cargo can be inspected.
Now wasn’t that easy!?? Had those on the Mavi Marmara behaved and complied the same as those on the Rachel Corrie… we’d all be better off, dozens and dozens of people wouldn’t have been injured and the nine people killed would still be alive.
Take notes.
Thanks for posting judo nimh. Puts a good spotlight on the mentality and intentions of the "peace flotilla"
Video of Turkish flotilla passengers on board the Marmura at sea days before the clash chanting:
“Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return.”
Background:
The Battle of Khaybar was fought in the year 629 between Muhammad and his followers against the Jews living in the oasis of Khaybar, located 150 kilometers (95 miles) from Medina in the north-western part of the Arabian peninsula, in modern-day Saudi Arabia. According to Muslim sources, the Muslims attacked Jews who had barricaded themselves in a fort. The Jews of Khaybar finally surrendered and were allowed to live in the oasis on the condition that they would give one-half of their produce to the Muslims. Jews continued to live in the oasis for several more years until they were finally expelled by caliph Umar. The imposition of tribute upon the conquered Jews served as a precedent for provisions in the Islamic law requiring the exaction of tribute known as jizya from non-Muslims under Muslim rule, and confiscation of land belonging to non-Muslims into the collective property of the Muslim community.
source:
Al-Jazeera TV Report from “Freedom Flotilla” Before Its Departure for Gaza: Activists on Board Chant Intifada Songs and Praise Martyrdom
to watch the video clip from Al Jezeera:
http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2489.htm
transcript:
The following excerpts are from an Al-Jazeera TV report on the “Freedom Flotilla” before its departure toward Gaza. The report aired on May 28, 2010.
Reporter: Despite the Israeli threats and some unexpected obstacles, the arrival of the ships at the rendezvous, in preparation to set sail to Gaza, has kindled the emotions and enthusiasm of the participants.
Crowd chanting: “Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return.”
Reporter: Through songs about the Palestinian Intifada, the participants expressed their longing to reach Gaza.
Participant 1: The brothers here are shouting and are full of enthusiasm. They are waiting to leave soon, with the ships around us in the sea. Allah willing, we will make our way to Gaza.
Participant 2: We are now waiting for one of two good things – either to achieve martyrdom, or to reach Gaza.
Thanks for posting judo nimh. Puts a good spotlight on the mentality and intentions of the “peace flotilla”
A. Savage, Edie, etc.:
Israel's actions are to the letter exactly in compliance with the Red Cross's San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea.
Hamas has declared an armed conflict against Israel. Israel has declared a naval blockade on Gaza to prevent importation of weapons from Iran. Israel exercises the right under San Remo to board and search ships running the blockade. Israel ensures, after search, that the humanitarian cargo arrives in Gaza. Goods that have both military and civilian use like concrete that Hamas uses to protect missile launch pads are allowed in for specific humanitarian projects under UN supervision.
Where exactly is the Israeli violation under San Remo?
Source:
International Committee of the Red Cross
San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea.
Full text. Prepare d by International Lawyers and Naval Experts. Convened by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law. Adopted in June 1994.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57J…
Part IV : Methods and means of warfare at sea
Section II : Methods of warfare
Blockade
93. A blockade shall be declared and notified to all belligerents and neutral States.
94. The declaration shall specify the commencement, duration, location, and extent of the blockade and the period within which vessels of neutral States may leave the blockaded coastline.
95. A blockade must be effective. The question whether a blockade is effective is a question of fact.
96. The force maintaining the blockade may be stationed at a distance determined by military requirements.
97. A blockade may be enforced and maintained by a combination of legitimate methods and means of warfare provided this combination does not result in acts inconsistent with the rules set out in this document.
98. Merchant vessels believed on reasonable grounds to be breaching a blockade may be captured. Merchant vessels which, after prior warning, clearly resist capture may be attacked.
102. The declaration or establishment of a blockade is prohibited if:
(a) it has the sole purpose of starving the civilian population or denying it other objects essential for its survival; or
(b) the damage to the civilian population is, or may be expected to be, excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated from the blockade.
103. If the civilian population of the blockaded territory is inadequately provided with food and other objects essential for its survival, the blockading party must provide for free passage of such foodstuffs and other essential supplies, subject to:
(a) the right to prescribe the technical arrangements, including search, under which such passage is permitted; and
(b) the condition that the distribution of such supplies shall be made under the local supervision of a Protecting Power or a humanitarian organization which offers guarantees of impartiality, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross.
104. The blockading belligerent shall allow the passage of medical supplies for the civilian population or for the wounded and sick members of armed forces, subject to the right to prescribe technical arrangements, including search, under which such passage is permitted.
A. Savage, Edie, etc.:
Israel's actions are to the letter exactly in compliance with the Red Cross's San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea.
Hamas has declared an armed conflict against Israel. Israel has declared a naval blockade on Gaza to prevent importation of weapons from Iran. Israel exercises the right under San Remo to board and search ships running the blockade. Israel ensures, after search, that the humanitarian cargo arrives in Gaza. Goods that have both military and civilian use like concrete that Hamas uses to protect missile launch pads are allowed in for specific humanitarian projects under UN supervision.
Where exactly is the Israeli violation under San Remo?
Source:
International Committee of the Red Cross
San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea.
Full text. Prepare d by International Lawyers and Naval Experts. Convened by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law. Adopted in June 1994.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57J…
Part IV : Methods and means of warfare at sea
Section II : Methods of warfare
Blockade
93. A blockade shall be declared and notified to all belligerents and neutral States.
94. The declaration shall specify the commencement, duration, location, and extent of the blockade and the period within which vessels of neutral States may leave the blockaded coastline.
95. A blockade must be effective. The question whether a blockade is effective is a question of fact.
96. The force maintaining the blockade may be stationed at a distance determined by military requirements.
97. A blockade may be enforced and maintained by a combination of legitimate methods and means of warfare provided this combination does not result in acts inconsistent with the rules set out in this document.
98. Merchant vessels believed on reasonable grounds to be breaching a blockade may be captured. Merchant vessels which, after prior warning, clearly resist capture may be attacked.
102. The declaration or establishment of a blockade is prohibited if:
(a) it has the sole purpose of starving the civilian population or denying it other objects essential for its survival; or
(b) the damage to the civilian population is, or may be expected to be, excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated from the blockade.
103. If the civilian population of the blockaded territory is inadequately provided with food and other objects essential for its survival, the blockading party must provide for free passage of such foodstuffs and other essential supplies, subject to:
(a) the right to prescribe the technical arrangements, including search, under which such passage is permitted; and
(b) the condition that the distribution of such supplies shall be made under the local supervision of a Protecting Power or a humanitarian organization which offers guarantees of impartiality, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross.
104. The blockading belligerent shall allow the passage of medical supplies for the civilian population or for the wounded and sick members of armed forces, subject to the right to prescribe technical arrangements, including search, under which such passage is permitted.
A. Savage, Edie, etc.:
Israel's actions are to the letter exactly in compliance with the Red Cross's San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea.
Hamas has declared an armed conflict against Israel. Israel has declared a naval blockade on Gaza to prevent importation of weapons from Iran. Israel exercises the right under San Remo to board and search ships running the blockade. Israel ensures, after search, that the humanitarian cargo arrives in Gaza. Goods that have both military and civilian use like concrete that Hamas uses to protect missile launch pads are allowed in for specific humanitarian projects under UN supervision.
Where exactly is the Israeli violation under San Remo?
Source:
International Committee of the Red Cross
San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea.
Full text. Prepare d by International Lawyers and Naval Experts. Convened by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law. Adopted in June 1994.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57J…
Part IV : Methods and means of warfare at sea
Section II : Methods of warfare
Blockade
93. A blockade shall be declared and notified to all belligerents and neutral States.
94. The declaration shall specify the commencement, duration, location, and extent of the blockade and the period within which vessels of neutral States may leave the blockaded coastline.
95. A blockade must be effective. The question whether a blockade is effective is a question of fact.
96. The force maintaining the blockade may be stationed at a distance determined by military requirements.
97. A blockade may be enforced and maintained by a combination of legitimate methods and means of warfare provided this combination does not result in acts inconsistent with the rules set out in this document.
98. Merchant vessels believed on reasonable grounds to be breaching a blockade may be captured. Merchant vessels which, after prior warning, clearly resist capture may be attacked.
102. The declaration or establishment of a blockade is prohibited if:
(a) it has the sole purpose of starving the civilian population or denying it other objects essential for its survival; or
(b) the damage to the civilian population is, or may be expected to be, excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated from the blockade.
103. If the civilian population of the blockaded territory is inadequately provided with food and other objects essential for its survival, the blockading party must provide for free passage of such foodstuffs and other essential supplies, subject to:
(a) the right to prescribe the technical arrangements, including search, under which such passage is permitted; and
(b) the condition that the distribution of such supplies shall be made under the local supervision of a Protecting Power or a humanitarian organization which offers guarantees of impartiality, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross.
104. The blockading belligerent shall allow the passage of medical supplies for the civilian population or for the wounded and sick members of armed forces, subject to the right to prescribe technical arrangements, including search, under which such passage is permitted.
A. Savage, Edie, etc.:
Israel’s actions are to the letter exactly in compliance with the Red Cross’s San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea.
Hamas has declared an armed conflict against Israel. Israel has declared a naval blockade on Gaza to prevent importation of weapons from Iran. Israel exercises the right under San Remo to board and search ships running the blockade. Israel ensures, after search, that the humanitarian cargo arrives in Gaza. Goods that have both military and civilian use like concrete that Hamas uses to protect missile launch pads are allowed in for specific humanitarian projects under UN supervision.
Where exactly is the Israeli violation under San Remo?
Source:
International Committee of the Red Cross
San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea.
Full text. Prepare d by International Lawyers and Naval Experts. Convened by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law. Adopted in June 1994.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57JMSU#2
Part IV : Methods and means of warfare at sea
Section II : Methods of warfare
Blockade
93. A blockade shall be declared and notified to all belligerents and neutral States.
94. The declaration shall specify the commencement, duration, location, and extent of the blockade and the period within which vessels of neutral States may leave the blockaded coastline.
95. A blockade must be effective. The question whether a blockade is effective is a question of fact.
96. The force maintaining the blockade may be stationed at a distance determined by military requirements.
97. A blockade may be enforced and maintained by a combination of legitimate methods and means of warfare provided this combination does not result in acts inconsistent with the rules set out in this document.
98. Merchant vessels believed on reasonable grounds to be breaching a blockade may be captured. Merchant vessels which, after prior warning, clearly resist capture may be attacked.
102. The declaration or establishment of a blockade is prohibited if:
(a) it has the sole purpose of starving the civilian population or denying it other objects essential for its survival; or
(b) the damage to the civilian population is, or may be expected to be, excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated from the blockade.
103. If the civilian population of the blockaded territory is inadequately provided with food and other objects essential for its survival, the blockading party must provide for free passage of such foodstuffs and other essential supplies, subject to:
(a) the right to prescribe the technical arrangements, including search, under which such passage is permitted; and
(b) the condition that the distribution of such supplies shall be made under the local supervision of a Protecting Power or a humanitarian organization which offers guarantees of impartiality, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross.
104. The blockading belligerent shall allow the passage of medical supplies for the civilian population or for the wounded and sick members of armed forces, subject to the right to prescribe technical arrangements, including search, under which such passage is permitted.
Dear Astudillo,
Immensely beholden for your definition(s) of "Semite".
We see the real antiSemites, now.
Ask Jewish women, too, sk them who are the real antiSemites, & the internal female / male situation. Hear them define the term.
But now i must criticise myself.
i simplified the real issue here when i said israel never intended the aid ships to reach Gaza.
Of course she didn't — but we must see her REAL GAME here.
It's not just about israel's blockade.
Or its refusal to let the ships in.
Insrtead, look at the Turkish factor here.
Turkey infuriated israel PRIMARILY by TRYING TO DEFUSE israel's drive against Iran's nuclear program, in an attempt to NORMALISE IRAN – WESTERN RELATIONS, & secondarily by STANDING AS GUARANTOR FOR the aid ships.
Turkey had to pay the price.
The attack on the ships was a public slap in Turkey's face, blowing up her attempts as a MEDIATOR who was trying to normalise relations.
But what's wrong with normalisation of relations ?
Everything, as far's israel's concerned.
Here's a settler imperialist state whose SOLE GOAL IS EXPANSION, as Ben Gurion defined.
israel's enemy here isn't the activists as such, but ANY normalisation of relations.
Normalisation means derailing israel's war plans against Iran.
Normalisation means talks with Hamas, Syria, Lebanon.
Normalisation means giving up Golan.
Giving up the settlements.
Means israel as secular & multicommunal, multiracial state, not a Jewish state.
Means unravelling the entire fabric of settler imperialism & regional expansion & domination.
Means giving up the game that gets Netanyahu, Lieberman, et al elected.
Giving up the monopoly on the wealth & the lands of Palestine & all her neighbors, whose territories & resources are held in tantalizingly weak grips.
Normalisation EVEN means a possible NUCLEAR FREE Middle East, & an end to israel's nuclear arsenal of 300 missiles.
The same strategy is applied to Hamas.
Hamas is the only well organised Palestinian which can guarantee peace with israel.
But every time she makes a truce, israel sends missiles killing Hamas activists.
For peace is the box canyon for a settlerstate's imperialist expansion.
So, while focusing on the peace ships, let's keep our eyes on the BIG PICTURE.
On the israeli Big Game.
As for the ship takeover …
No one mentioned "hostage taking".
Just armed boardings & occupations of ships in internat'l waters VIOLATES the Law of the Sea.
Oh, israel was enforcing a blockade ?
The UN has already DECLARED ISRAEL'S GAZA BLOCKADE ILLEGAL.
As for my scenarios re Somalis , Iran, or N Korea …
Point was, if IRAN had stormed the ships & killed 9 in internat't waters, US prob'ly would've given israel green light for missile strikes in48 hrs.
If SOMALIS, US warships would be heading for the Horn of Africa.
IF N Korea, sanctions at the least.
As for N Korea firing at a ship, 'least she fired on a MILITARY ship.
Only in israel's case, as usual the US media & politicians came & backed her up, to their own further isolation ( not that isarael cares about US islolation )…
idf came with "paintballs" ?
If paintballs, why send black clad, elite A – TEAM commandoes ?
The autopsies are out.
The forensics team didn't report any casualties from "paintballs".
The 9 dead were killed with a total of 30 BULLETS between them.
All the bullets except one are 9 mm caliber.
5 men were killed with head shots.
Many of the dead shot at close range.
A 60 year old elder.
Killed with 4 shots.
Temple, chest, hip, & back.
19 year old youth, shooting a video camera at idf.
5 shots hit him from less than 18 inches away.
In forehead, back of head, back of the body, twice in leg.
2 other men, shot 4 times each.
5 shot in back of heads.
Can people be shot in SELF DEFENSE in the BACK of the head ?
48 activists with gunshot wounds IN THE BACK.
6 still missing…
Australians, mostly women & press, shot, beaten, tasered — ALSO in self def ?
Is this the same sort of self def israel uses — with 10 million USD aid a day from USA — against starved, besieged, tunnelling Gazans ?
No wonder the world sees idf as a force of overarmed, overbulked cowardly hulks.
Keep on piling your ship of state with crimes & corpses.
Your own weight will, one night of flight, tell on you.
Torpedo all & any normalisations.
Continue the bloackade, & ready for regional war.
israel's "strategy" continues … towards Hamas, Gaza, Iran, & now Turkey, the world …
A. Savage:
Of course it goes without saying you wholeheartedly approve of Iran and Turkey's horrific racist oppression of the Kurds. You must agree that it is just fine for Kurdish parents end up tortured in Turkish and Iranian prisons for the crime of teaching their children the Kurdish language or giving them Kurdish names? That must seems perfectly fair to you. And of course the Kurds don't deserve their own country do they, since your heroes, the racist supremacist Iran and racist supremacist Turkey wants to crush this minority group out of existence.
source:Amnesty International
IRAN's HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST THE KURDISH MINORITY http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/088…
Source:
BBC World Service http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/1013…
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Turkish jets bomb Kurds in northern Iraq
“Turkish fighter jets have bombed dozens of Kurdish targets in neighboring Iraq.
Some 20 planes bombed dozens of targets in the Kurdish northern autonomous region, Turkish television station NTV reported.”
According to International Committee of the Red Cross’s San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea. http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57J…
the one and only basis for a sea blockade imposed on an enemy to be deemed illegal is under article 102.
102. The declaration or establishment of a blockade is prohibited if:
(a) it has the sole purpose of starving the civilian population or denying it other objects essential for its survival; or
(b) the damage to the civilian population is, or may be expected to be, excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated from the blockade.
Here is a nice video advertisement posted to youtube last year by a luxurious Night Club and Resort in Gaza City called Roots The Club:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_puiuvWHQ4
“May 10, 2009 — A unique blend of contemporary design and urban chic, Roots Club is an icon in the heart of Gaza City. This multi-use complex – which includes an international cuisine fine dining restaurant, an elegant banquet hall and a terrace café – is just minutes from Gaza's key attractions, shopping facilities, and business center. It is only 200 meters away from the white sand Gaza beach.”
Dear Astudillo,
Immensely beholden for your definition(s) of “Semite”.
We see the real antiSemites, now.
Ask Jewish women, too, sk them who are the real antiSemites, & the internal female / male situation. Hear them define the term.
But now i must criticise myself.
i simplified the real issue here when i said israel never intended the aid ships to reach Gaza.
Of course she didn’t — but we must see her REAL GAME here.
It’s not just about israel’s blockade.
Or its refusal to let the ships in.
Insrtead, look at the Turkish factor here.
Turkey infuriated israel PRIMARILY by TRYING TO DEFUSE israel’s drive against Iran’s nuclear program, in an attempt to NORMALISE IRAN – WESTERN RELATIONS, & secondarily by STANDING AS GUARANTOR FOR the aid ships.
Turkey had to pay the price.
The attack on the ships was a public slap in Turkey’s face, blowing up her attempts as a MEDIATOR who was trying to normalise relations.
But what’s wrong with normalisation of relations ?
Everything, as far’s israel’s concerned.
Here’s a settler imperialist state whose SOLE GOAL IS EXPANSION, as Ben Gurion defined.
israel’s enemy here isn’t the activists as such, but ANY normalisation of relations.
Normalisation means derailing israel’s war plans against Iran.
Normalisation means talks with Hamas, Syria, Lebanon.
Normalisation means giving up Golan.
Giving up the settlements.
Means israel as secular & multicommunal, multiracial state, not a Jewish state.
Means unravelling the entire fabric of settler imperialism & regional expansion & domination.
Means giving up the game that gets Netanyahu, Lieberman, et al elected.
Giving up the monopoly on the wealth & the lands of Palestine & all her neighbors, whose territories & resources are held in tantalizingly weak grips.
Normalisation EVEN means a possible NUCLEAR FREE Middle East, & an end to israel’s nuclear arsenal of 300 missiles.
The same strategy is applied to Hamas.
Hamas is the only well organised Palestinian which can guarantee peace with israel.
But every time she makes a truce, israel sends missiles killing Hamas activists.
For peace is the box canyon for a settlerstate’s imperialist expansion.
So, while focusing on the peace ships, let’s keep our eyes on the BIG PICTURE.
On the israeli Big Game.
A. Savage:
Of course it goes without saying you wholeheartedly approve of Iran and Turkey's horrific racist oppression of the Kurds. You must agree that it is just fine for Kurdish parents end up tortured in Turkish and Iranian prisons for the crime of teaching their children the Kurdish language or giving them Kurdish names? That must seems perfectly fair to you. And of course the Kurds don't deserve their own country do they, since your heroes, the racist supremacist Iran and racist supremacist Turkey wants to crush this minority group out of existence.
source:Amnesty International
IRAN's HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST THE KURDISH MINORITY http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/088…
Source:
BBC World Service http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/1013…
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Turkish jets bomb Kurds in northern Iraq
“Turkish fighter jets have bombed dozens of Kurdish targets in neighboring Iraq.
Some 20 planes bombed dozens of targets in the Kurdish northern autonomous region, Turkish television station NTV reported.”
A. Savage:
Of course it goes without saying you wholeheartedly approve of Iran and Turkey's horrific racist oppression of the Kurds. You must agree that it is just fine for Kurdish parents end up tortured in Turkish and Iranian prisons for the crime of teaching their children the Kurdish language or giving them Kurdish names? That must seems perfectly fair to you. And of course the Kurds don't deserve their own country do they, since your heroes, the racist supremacist Iran and racist supremacist Turkey wants to crush this minority group out of existence.
source:Amnesty International
IRAN's HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST THE KURDISH MINORITY http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/088…
Source:
BBC World Service http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/1013…
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Turkish jets bomb Kurds in northern Iraq
“Turkish fighter jets have bombed dozens of Kurdish targets in neighboring Iraq.
Some 20 planes bombed dozens of targets in the Kurdish northern autonomous region, Turkish television station NTV reported.”
According to International Committee of the Red Cross’s San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea. http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57J…
the one and only basis for a sea blockade imposed on an enemy to be deemed illegal is under article 102.
102. The declaration or establishment of a blockade is prohibited if:
(a) it has the sole purpose of starving the civilian population or denying it other objects essential for its survival; or
(b) the damage to the civilian population is, or may be expected to be, excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated from the blockade.
Here is a nice video advertisement posted to youtube last year by a luxurious Night Club and Resort in Gaza City called Roots The Club:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_puiuvWHQ4
“May 10, 2009 — A unique blend of contemporary design and urban chic, Roots Club is an icon in the heart of Gaza City. This multi-use complex – which includes an international cuisine fine dining restaurant, an elegant banquet hall and a terrace café – is just minutes from Gaza's key attractions, shopping facilities, and business center. It is only 200 meters away from the white sand Gaza beach.”
According to International Committee of the Red Cross’s San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea. http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57J…
the one and only basis for a sea blockade imposed on an enemy to be deemed illegal is under article 102.
102. The declaration or establishment of a blockade is prohibited if:
(a) it has the sole purpose of starving the civilian population or denying it other objects essential for its survival; or
(b) the damage to the civilian population is, or may be expected to be, excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated from the blockade.
Here is a nice video advertisement posted to youtube last year by a luxurious Night Club and Resort in Gaza City called Roots The Club:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_puiuvWHQ4
“May 10, 2009 — A unique blend of contemporary design and urban chic, Roots Club is an icon in the heart of Gaza City. This multi-use complex – which includes an international cuisine fine dining restaurant, an elegant banquet hall and a terrace café – is just minutes from Gaza's key attractions, shopping facilities, and business center. It is only 200 meters away from the white sand Gaza beach.”
As for the ship takeover …
No one mentioned “hostage taking”.
Just armed boardings & occupations of ships in internat’l waters VIOLATES the Law of the Sea.
Oh, israel was enforcing a blockade ?
The UN has already DECLARED ISRAEL’S GAZA BLOCKADE ILLEGAL.
As for my scenarios re Somalis , Iran, or N Korea …
Point was, if IRAN had stormed the ships & killed 9 in internat’t waters, US prob’ly would’ve given israel green light for missile strikes in48 hrs.
If SOMALIS, US warships would be heading for the Horn of Africa.
IF N Korea, sanctions at the least.
As for N Korea firing at a ship, ‘least she fired on a MILITARY ship.
Only in israel’s case, as usual the US media & politicians came & backed her up, to their own further isolation ( not that isarael cares about US islolation )…
idf came with “paintballs” ?
If paintballs, why send black clad, elite A – TEAM commandoes ?
The autopsies are out.
The forensics team didn’t report any casualties from “paintballs”.
The 9 dead were killed with a total of 30 BULLETS between them.
All the bullets except one are 9 mm caliber.
5 men were killed with head shots.
Many of the dead shot at close range.
A 60 year old elder.
Killed with 4 shots.
Temple, chest, hip, & back.
19 year old youth, shooting a video camera at idf.
5 shots hit him from less than 18 inches away.
In forehead, back of head, back of the body, twice in leg.
2 other men, shot 4 times each.
5 shot in back of heads.
Can people be shot in SELF DEFENSE in the BACK of the head ?
48 activists with gunshot wounds IN THE BACK.
6 still missing…
Australians, mostly women & press, shot, beaten, tasered — ALSO in self def ?
Is this the same sort of self def israel uses — with 10 million USD aid a day from USA — against starved, besieged, tunnelling Gazans ?
No wonder the world sees idf as a force of overarmed, overbulked cowardly hulks.
Keep on piling your ship of state with crimes & corpses.
Your own weight will, one night of flight, tell on you.
Torpedo all & any normalisations.
Continue the bloackade, & ready for regional war.
israel’s “strategy” continues … towards Hamas, Gaza, Iran, & now Turkey, the world …
Perhaps the ones shot in the back of the head were approaced from behind as they were clubbing away at an injured Soldier laying on the floor of the boat.
What happened on the Rachel Corrie COULD have happened on the Mavi Marmara… it was the choice of the pipe swinging lunatics.
There are enough people who won't let you and like minded individuals twist this and turn the victims into criminals. There are enough people that will defend Israel's right to exhist. You will not succeed.
Rid Gaza of Hamas (a terrorist organization) and you solve 90% of this problem… until then Israel has no choice but to inspect cargo into Gaza.
A. Savage:
Of course it goes without saying you wholeheartedly approve of Iran and Turkey’s horrific racist oppression of the Kurds. You must agree that it is just fine for Kurdish parents end up tortured in Turkish and Iranian prisons for the crime of teaching their children the Kurdish language or giving them Kurdish names? That must seems perfectly fair to you. And of course the Kurds don’t deserve their own country do they, since your heroes, the racist supremacist Iran and racist supremacist Turkey wants to crush this minority group out of existence.
source:Amnesty International
IRAN’s HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST THE KURDISH MINORITY
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/088/2008/en/d140767b-5e45-11dd-a592-c739f9b70de8/mde130882008eng.pdf
Source:
BBC World Service
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10133158.stm
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Turkish jets bomb Kurds in northern Iraq
“Turkish fighter jets have bombed dozens of Kurdish targets in neighboring Iraq.
Some 20 planes bombed dozens of targets in the Kurdish northern autonomous region, Turkish television station NTV reported.”
According to International Committee of the Red Cross’s San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57JMSU
the one and only basis for a sea blockade imposed on an enemy to be deemed illegal is under article 102.
102. The declaration or establishment of a blockade is prohibited if:
(a) it has the sole purpose of starving the civilian population or denying it other objects essential for its survival; or
(b) the damage to the civilian population is, or may be expected to be, excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated from the blockade.
Here is a nice video advertisement posted to youtube last year by a luxurious Night Club and Resort in Gaza City called Roots The Club:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_puiuvWHQ4
“May 10, 2009 — A unique blend of contemporary design and urban chic, Roots Club is an icon in the heart of Gaza City. This multi-use complex – which includes an international cuisine fine dining restaurant, an elegant banquet hall and a terrace café – is just minutes from Gaza’s key attractions, shopping facilities, and business center. It is only 200 meters away from the white sand Gaza beach.”
Perhaps the ones shot in the back of the head were approaced from behind as they were clubbing away at an injured Soldier laying on the floor of the boat.
What happened on the Rachel Corrie COULD have happened on the Mavi Marmara… it was the choice of the pipe swinging lunatics.
There are enough people who won’t let you and like minded individuals twist this and turn the victims into criminals. There are enough people that will defend Israel’s right to exhist. You will not succeed.
Rid Gaza of Hamas (a terrorist organization) and you solve 90% of this problem… until then Israel has no choice but to inspect cargo into Gaza.
Dear Mr Nimh,
Why talk to me about the Kurds, when your government was planning to hold military exercises with Turkey before turning around against her ?
One doesn't have to support Turkey or Iran's genocidal repression of the Kurds when one sides with those countries when their citizens are wrongfully slaughtered or collectively punished with sanctions. Different issues are treated differently, unless they manifest symptoms of a uniform disease.
Thank you for the San Remo Manual. i find your government condemned by the very clauses you cite, routinely condemned by, among others, the United Nations organisation overseeing the ongoing Gaza disaster.
As for the Roots Club, how did your policy makers, who can joke about putting Palestinians on a diet, miss such a landmark during their Gaza blitz ?
Dear Brian,
Your unquestioning assuming that "the ones" shot in the back of the head executionstyle…
or in the back, in the style of the Spanish colonial "ley de fuga", the shooting of "fugitives" trying to escape ….
your assuming that MAYBE these people were too busy trying to club a fallen soldier to watch their own backs,
brought to my mind the stories the 7th US Cavalry told after their 1890 Massacre of Wounded Knee, in which over 250 Lakota Indian women, children, old people, & men were slughtered.
After the Massacre was over, the Cavalry, & their apologists — the cavalry ALWAYS has its apologists, you know ?? — told how the savage Lakota women had ATTACKED THE SOLDIERS WITH KNIVES & CLUBS.
"Pipe wielding lunatics"? A bit like that ?
The Lakota were also called religious lunatics, "maddened" by the Ghost Dance religion.
Like the "Army of Mohammad" ?
GATLING GUNS opened fire on the exposed masses of defenceless Lakota.
The People remember.
And they relate THEN to NOW.
The International Committee of the Red Cross’s San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea. http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57J…
clause 112) states a sea blockade of an enemy port is illegal only if the main intent is to cause starvation or massive suffering on the population.
Israel's main intent in blockading the Gaza port is to prevent arms importation and not to cause the population to suffer, so therefore the sea blockade is 100% legal under San Remo.
Therefore boarding of ships on their way to run the blockade is l00% legal under San Remo , and diverting them to Ashdod, inspecting for weapons, and then forwarding the humanitarian goods on to Gaza is all 100% legal under San Remo. All these procedures the Israeli Navy is following are exactly spelled out line by line in ICRC San Remo handbook. The San Remo rules were successfully followed to the letter by the Israeli Navy with the Rachel Corrie ship and all other ships, They followed them with the Marmura too but the boarding party was stabbed, shot, and nearly murdered, and 3 were taken hostage.
Israel does not want to cause suffering in Gaza which is why they allow their enemy aid overland.
source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Occupied Palestinian territory
======================================
During the month of April 2010:
-In total, 2,647 truckloads of goods entered Gaza from Israel. -76 percent of all imports were made up of food supplies and hygiene and cleaning materials.
-Nine percent of this month’s imports were designated for humanitarian aid agencies.
-15 truckloads of aluminum and 25 truckloads of wood were allowed into Gaza for commercial purposes,
-181 truckloads carrying approximately 117,600 sheets of glass have been imported to Gaza since Dec. 2009.
-24 truckloads of electricity spare parts designated to the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCO) were allowed into Gaza since Jan 2010.
-Industrial fuel imports into Gaza designated for the Gaza Power Plant were approximately 5.2 million liters allowing it to produce 40 megawatts of electricity.
-120 megawatts of electricity was transferred from the Israeli electricity power grid to Gaza.
-20 megawatts of electricity was transferred from the Egyptian electricity power grid to Gaza.
-A total of 3,210 tonnes of cooking gas entered through the Kerem Shalom fuel pipeline into Gaza.
-1,578 persons entered Gaza from Egypt and 112 persons left Gaza into Egypt.
-2,074 persons left Gaza and entered Israel.
-The majority of the Palestinians who entered into Israel (over 60 percent) were patients and their accompaniments, while most of the remaining were people conducting family visits.
=========================================
There is of course poverty in Gaza but that is due to Hamas starting a war with Israel instead of living in peace. The Palestinian Authority on the West Bank lives in peace with Israel and they have a huge a 8% growth rate in the economy and a standard of living about as good as any neighboring Arab country.
UNRWA, the United Nations department that cares for the poverty stricken in Gaza says its budget shortfall is 100 million dollars this year and it is having no luck getting nations to donate enough money to allow it to assist the poor of Gaza. Among the many Muslim and Arab nations that refuse to donate significant funds to UNRWA to help alleviate Palestinian poverty is Turkey which has a most abysmal record of ignoring UN fund-raising appeals for Gaza poverty relief. Turkey donates almost nothing to UNRWA compared to the size of its economy. But they sure have plenty of money for fancy boats, don't they ?
Dear Mr Nimh,
Why talk to me about the Kurds, when your government was planning to hold military exercises with Turkey before turning around against her ?
One doesn’t have to support Turkey or Iran’s genocidal repression of the Kurds when one sides with those countries when their citizens are wrongfully slaughtered or collectively punished with sanctions. Different issues are treated differently, unless they manifest symptoms of a uniform disease.
Thank you for the San Remo Manual. i find your government condemned by the very clauses you cite, routinely condemned by, among others, the United Nations organisation overseeing the ongoing Gaza disaster.
As for the Roots Club, how did your policy makers, who can joke about putting Palestinians on a diet, miss such a landmark during their Gaza blitz ?
The International Committee of the Red Cross’s San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea. http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57J…
clause 112) states a sea blockade of an enemy port is illegal only if the main intent is to cause starvation or massive suffering on the population.
Israel's main intent in blockading the Gaza port is to prevent arms importation and not to cause the population to suffer, so therefore the sea blockade is 100% legal under San Remo.
Therefore boarding of ships on their way to run the blockade is l00% legal under San Remo , and diverting them to Ashdod, inspecting for weapons, and then forwarding the humanitarian goods on to Gaza is all 100% legal under San Remo. All these procedures the Israeli Navy is following are exactly spelled out line by line in ICRC San Remo handbook. The San Remo rules were successfully followed to the letter by the Israeli Navy with the Rachel Corrie ship and all other ships, They followed them with the Marmura too but the boarding party was stabbed, shot, and nearly murdered, and 3 were taken hostage.
Israel does not want to cause suffering in Gaza which is why they allow their enemy aid overland.
source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Occupied Palestinian territory
======================================
During the month of April 2010:
-In total, 2,647 truckloads of goods entered Gaza from Israel. -76 percent of all imports were made up of food supplies and hygiene and cleaning materials.
-Nine percent of this month’s imports were designated for humanitarian aid agencies.
-15 truckloads of aluminum and 25 truckloads of wood were allowed into Gaza for commercial purposes,
-181 truckloads carrying approximately 117,600 sheets of glass have been imported to Gaza since Dec. 2009.
-24 truckloads of electricity spare parts designated to the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCO) were allowed into Gaza since Jan 2010.
-Industrial fuel imports into Gaza designated for the Gaza Power Plant were approximately 5.2 million liters allowing it to produce 40 megawatts of electricity.
-120 megawatts of electricity was transferred from the Israeli electricity power grid to Gaza.
-20 megawatts of electricity was transferred from the Egyptian electricity power grid to Gaza.
-A total of 3,210 tonnes of cooking gas entered through the Kerem Shalom fuel pipeline into Gaza.
-1,578 persons entered Gaza from Egypt and 112 persons left Gaza into Egypt.
-2,074 persons left Gaza and entered Israel.
-The majority of the Palestinians who entered into Israel (over 60 percent) were patients and their accompaniments, while most of the remaining were people conducting family visits.
=========================================
There is of course poverty in Gaza but that is due to Hamas starting a war with Israel instead of living in peace. The Palestinian Authority on the West Bank lives in peace with Israel and they have a huge a 8% growth rate in the economy and a standard of living about as good as any neighboring Arab country.
UNRWA, the United Nations department that cares for the poverty stricken in Gaza says its budget shortfall is 100 million dollars this year and it is having no luck getting nations to donate enough money to allow it to assist the poor of Gaza. Among the many Muslim and Arab nations that refuse to donate significant funds to UNRWA to help alleviate Palestinian poverty is Turkey which has a most abysmal record of ignoring UN fund-raising appeals for Gaza poverty relief. Turkey donates almost nothing to UNRWA compared to the size of its economy. But they sure have plenty of money for fancy boats, don't they ?
The International Committee of the Red Cross’s San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea. http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57J…
clause 112) states a sea blockade of an enemy port is illegal only if the main intent is to cause starvation or massive suffering on the population.
Israel's main intent in blockading the Gaza port is to prevent arms importation and not to cause the population to suffer, so therefore the sea blockade is 100% legal under San Remo.
Therefore boarding of ships on their way to run the blockade is l00% legal under San Remo , and diverting them to Ashdod, inspecting for weapons, and then forwarding the humanitarian goods on to Gaza is all 100% legal under San Remo. All these procedures the Israeli Navy is following are exactly spelled out line by line in ICRC San Remo handbook. The San Remo rules were successfully followed to the letter by the Israeli Navy with the Rachel Corrie ship and all other ships, They followed them with the Marmura too but the boarding party was stabbed, shot, and nearly murdered, and 3 were taken hostage.
Israel does not want to cause suffering in Gaza which is why they allow their enemy aid overland.
source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Occupied Palestinian territory
======================================
During the month of April 2010:
-In total, 2,647 truckloads of goods entered Gaza from Israel. -76 percent of all imports were made up of food supplies and hygiene and cleaning materials.
-Nine percent of this month’s imports were designated for humanitarian aid agencies.
-15 truckloads of aluminum and 25 truckloads of wood were allowed into Gaza for commercial purposes,
-181 truckloads carrying approximately 117,600 sheets of glass have been imported to Gaza since Dec. 2009.
-24 truckloads of electricity spare parts designated to the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCO) were allowed into Gaza since Jan 2010.
-Industrial fuel imports into Gaza designated for the Gaza Power Plant were approximately 5.2 million liters allowing it to produce 40 megawatts of electricity.
-120 megawatts of electricity was transferred from the Israeli electricity power grid to Gaza.
-20 megawatts of electricity was transferred from the Egyptian electricity power grid to Gaza.
-A total of 3,210 tonnes of cooking gas entered through the Kerem Shalom fuel pipeline into Gaza.
-1,578 persons entered Gaza from Egypt and 112 persons left Gaza into Egypt.
-2,074 persons left Gaza and entered Israel.
-The majority of the Palestinians who entered into Israel (over 60 percent) were patients and their accompaniments, while most of the remaining were people conducting family visits.
=========================================
There is of course poverty in Gaza but that is due to Hamas starting a war with Israel instead of living in peace. The Palestinian Authority on the West Bank lives in peace with Israel and they have a huge a 8% growth rate in the economy and a standard of living about as good as any neighboring Arab country.
UNRWA, the United Nations department that cares for the poverty stricken in Gaza says its budget shortfall is 100 million dollars this year and it is having no luck getting nations to donate enough money to allow it to assist the poor of Gaza. Among the many Muslim and Arab nations that refuse to donate significant funds to UNRWA to help alleviate Palestinian poverty is Turkey which has a most abysmal record of ignoring UN fund-raising appeals for Gaza poverty relief. Turkey donates almost nothing to UNRWA compared to the size of its economy. But they sure have plenty of money for fancy boats, don't they ?
Dear Brian,
Your unquestioning assuming that “the ones” shot in the back of the head executionstyle…
or in the back, in the style of the Spanish colonial “ley de fuga”, the shooting of “fugitives” trying to escape ….
your assuming that MAYBE these people were too busy trying to club a fallen soldier to watch their own backs,
brought to my mind the stories the 7th US Cavalry told after their 1890 Massacre of Wounded Knee, in which over 250 Lakota Indian women, children, old people, & men were slughtered.
After the Massacre was over, the Cavalry, & their apologists — the cavalry ALWAYS has its apologists, you know ?? — told how the savage Lakota women had ATTACKED THE SOLDIERS WITH KNIVES & CLUBS.
“Pipe wielding lunatics”? A bit like that ?
The Lakota were also called religious lunatics, “maddened” by the Ghost Dance religion.
Like the “Army of Mohammad” ?
GATLING GUNS opened fire on the exposed masses of defenceless Lakota.
The People remember.
And they relate THEN to NOW.
The International Committee of the Red Cross’s San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57JMSU
clause 112) states a sea blockade of an enemy port is illegal only if the main intent is to cause starvation or massive suffering on the population.
Israel’s main intent in blockading the Gaza port is to prevent arms importation and not to cause the population to suffer, so therefore the sea blockade is 100% legal under San Remo.
Therefore boarding of ships on their way to run the blockade is l00% legal under San Remo , and diverting them to Ashdod, inspecting for weapons, and then forwarding the humanitarian goods on to Gaza is all 100% legal under San Remo. All these procedures the Israeli Navy is following are exactly spelled out line by line in ICRC San Remo handbook. The San Remo rules were successfully followed to the letter by the Israeli Navy with the Rachel Corrie ship and all other ships, They followed them with the Marmura too but the boarding party was stabbed, shot, and nearly murdered, and 3 were taken hostage.
Israel does not want to cause suffering in Gaza which is why they allow their enemy aid overland.
source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Occupied Palestinian territory
======================================
During the month of April 2010:
-In total, 2,647 truckloads of goods entered Gaza from Israel. -76 percent of all imports were made up of food supplies and hygiene and cleaning materials.
-Nine percent of this month’s imports were designated for humanitarian aid agencies.
-15 truckloads of aluminum and 25 truckloads of wood were allowed into Gaza for commercial purposes,
-181 truckloads carrying approximately 117,600 sheets of glass have been imported to Gaza since Dec. 2009.
-24 truckloads of electricity spare parts designated to the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCO) were allowed into Gaza since Jan 2010.
-Industrial fuel imports into Gaza designated for the Gaza Power Plant were approximately 5.2 million liters allowing it to produce 40 megawatts of electricity.
-120 megawatts of electricity was transferred from the Israeli electricity power grid to Gaza.
-20 megawatts of electricity was transferred from the Egyptian electricity power grid to Gaza.
-A total of 3,210 tonnes of cooking gas entered through the Kerem Shalom fuel pipeline into Gaza.
-1,578 persons entered Gaza from Egypt and 112 persons left Gaza into Egypt.
-2,074 persons left Gaza and entered Israel.
-The majority of the Palestinians who entered into Israel (over 60 percent) were patients and their accompaniments, while most of the remaining were people conducting family visits.
=========================================
There is of course poverty in Gaza but that is due to Hamas starting a war with Israel instead of living in peace. The Palestinian Authority on the West Bank lives in peace with Israel and they have a huge a 8% growth rate in the economy and a standard of living about as good as any neighboring Arab country.
UNRWA, the United Nations department that cares for the poverty stricken in Gaza says its budget shortfall is 100 million dollars this year and it is having no luck getting nations to donate enough money to allow it to assist the poor of Gaza. Among the many Muslim and Arab nations that refuse to donate significant funds to UNRWA to help alleviate Palestinian poverty is Turkey which has a most abysmal record of ignoring UN fund-raising appeals for Gaza poverty relief. Turkey donates almost nothing to UNRWA compared to the size of its economy. But they sure have plenty of money for fancy boats, don’t they ?
When will you stupid people will learn? We are the Jewish people the chosen people. We inherity the holy Land from the god of our Fathers. We rule the earth in the time of ages. Don't excuse me F*ck with us, because time is proven again and again God will punish you. The Gaza get what ehy deserve, the 911 get what they deserve, we give you Obama Amerca because you want the liberal fantasy but truth is money, technology land and we have it and we know how to get more of it and you waste your times with stupid fantasies. Keep trying to mess us, see what you get.
Whatever you say about 1890 is fine, has zero to do with the "peace activists" looking for a fight and finding one.
Recognize Israel's right to exist PERIOD. They are not the instigators. Blame the terrorist HAMAS.
God forgive you.
When will you stupid people will learn? We are the Jewish people the chosen people. We inherity the holy Land from the god of our Fathers. We rule the earth in the time of ages. Don’t excuse me F*ck with us, because time is proven again and again God will punish you. The Gaza get what ehy deserve, the 911 get what they deserve, we give you Obama Amerca because you want the liberal fantasy but truth is money, technology land and we have it and we know how to get more of it and you waste your times with stupid fantasies. Keep trying to mess us, see what you get.
Whatever you say about 1890 is fine, has zero to do with the “peace activists” looking for a fight and finding one.
Recognize Israel’s right to exist PERIOD. They are not the instigators. Blame the terrorist HAMAS.
God forgive you.
israeli spokespersons repeatedly state :
The Gaza blockade's aim is to ECONOMICALLY weaken that territory so the Hamas government [ the SOLE elected Palestinain government ] can be overthrown.
An ECONOMIC blockade is COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT for an entire population.
israel's control over Gaza's border, land, air & sea constitutes a FOREIGN OCCUPATION.
The United Nations & international law see the Gaza blockade AS WELL AS foreign occupation as ILLEGAL.
israeli spokespersons repeatedly state :
The Gaza blockade’s aim is to ECONOMICALLY weaken that territory so the Hamas government [ the SOLE elected Palestinain government ] can be overthrown.
An ECONOMIC blockade is COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT for an entire population.
israel’s control over Gaza’s border, land, air & sea constitutes a FOREIGN OCCUPATION.
The United Nations & international law see the Gaza blockade AS WELL AS foreign occupation as ILLEGAL.
Then we shall pray that Hamas Government is overthrown sooner then later.
United Nations isn't surrounded and isn't the target that Israel is.
Gaza has money to advertise tourist industry, 5-star like resorts, etc…
I hope that an international inquiry into the deaths caused by the raid on the aid flotilla in international waters outside Gaza .
Then we shall pray that Hamas Government is overthrown sooner then later.
United Nations isn’t surrounded and isn’t the target that Israel is.
Gaza has money to advertise tourist industry, 5-star like resorts, etc…
I hope that an international inquiry into the deaths caused by the raid on the aid flotilla in international waters outside Gaza .
AFTA, the Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations through its Media Release of 11.06.10 have questioned the suitability of Dr. Palitha Kohana the current resident representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New Yoke, to investigate the human rights violation charges against Israel. . It is now well documented that Dr Palitha Kohona was involved in the alleged war crime committed by the Sri Lankan Forces in the Tamil Homeland of Sri Lanka during the last days of the war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during May 2009.
AFTA, through the media release have requested the International Community in general and the Australian and New Zealand governments in particular to express their concerns and reservation on UN’s inclusion of Dr. Palitha Kohona in the Special Commitee to investigate the human rights violation charges against Israel.
It is now well documented that Dr Palitha Kohona was involved in the alleged war crime committed by the Sri Lankan Forces in the Tamil Homeland of Sri Lanka during the last days of the war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during May 2009.
Dr. Palitha Kohona, who was the Sri Lankan foreign secretary during the last phase of the brutal war in Sri Lanka, has been the Sri Lankan government’s point man in the negotiations with the LTTE in drawing up modalities for the surrender of two LTTE political leaders but later shot dead by the Sri Lankan soldiers at point blank range according to eyewitness accounts.
Dr Kohona, is implicated in this internationally unacceptable criminal act that still has many questions unanswered. As such it is highly questionable that he could be allowed to, not only participate, but lead an investigating team into Israel’s human rights violation. While the UN is contemplating a full scale investigation into Sri Lanka’s conduct of the war in 2009 and its human rights violations, it is ludicrous that its former Foreign Secretary should be appointed to investigate human rights violation charges against Israel.
Therefore AFTA has called on the International Community, particularly the Australian and New Zealand governments, to express their concerns and reservation on UN’s inclusion of Dr. Palitha Kohona in this Special Committee investigating Israeli practices affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian people. http://www.tamilcanadian.com/page.php?cat=145&…
Former Foreign Minister Palitha Kohona:, now UN ref of Sri lanka ‘Victorious soldiers could have raped every single woman’ (july-3-2009) http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
AFTA, the Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations through its Media Release of 11.06.10 have questioned the suitability of Dr. Palitha Kohana the current resident representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New Yoke, to investigate the human rights violation charges against Israel. . It is now well documented that Dr Palitha Kohona was involved in the alleged war crime committed by the Sri Lankan Forces in the Tamil Homeland of Sri Lanka during the last days of the war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during May 2009.
AFTA, through the media release have requested the International Community in general and the Australian and New Zealand governments in particular to express their concerns and reservation on UN’s inclusion of Dr. Palitha Kohona in the Special Commitee to investigate the human rights violation charges against Israel.
It is now well documented that Dr Palitha Kohona was involved in the alleged war crime committed by the Sri Lankan Forces in the Tamil Homeland of Sri Lanka during the last days of the war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during May 2009.
Dr. Palitha Kohona, who was the Sri Lankan foreign secretary during the last phase of the brutal war in Sri Lanka, has been the Sri Lankan government’s point man in the negotiations with the LTTE in drawing up modalities for the surrender of two LTTE political leaders but later shot dead by the Sri Lankan soldiers at point blank range according to eyewitness accounts.
Dr Kohona, is implicated in this internationally unacceptable criminal act that still has many questions unanswered. As such it is highly questionable that he could be allowed to, not only participate, but lead an investigating team into Israel’s human rights violation. While the UN is contemplating a full scale investigation into Sri Lanka’s conduct of the war in 2009 and its human rights violations, it is ludicrous that its former Foreign Secretary should be appointed to investigate human rights violation charges against Israel.
Therefore AFTA has called on the International Community, particularly the Australian and New Zealand governments, to express their concerns and reservation on UN’s inclusion of Dr. Palitha Kohona in this Special Committee investigating Israeli practices affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian people. http://www.tamilcanadian.com/page.php?cat=145&…
Former Foreign Minister Palitha Kohona:, now UN ref of Sri lanka ‘Victorious soldiers could have raped every single woman’ (july-3-2009) http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
AFTA, the Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations through its Media Release of 11.06.10 have questioned the suitability of Dr. Palitha Kohana the current resident representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New Yoke, to investigate the human rights violation charges against Israel. . It is now well documented that Dr Palitha Kohona was involved in the alleged war crime committed by the Sri Lankan Forces in the Tamil Homeland of Sri Lanka during the last days of the war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during May 2009.
AFTA, through the media release have requested the International Community in general and the Australian and New Zealand governments in particular to express their concerns and reservation on UN’s inclusion of Dr. Palitha Kohona in the Special Commitee to investigate the human rights violation charges against Israel.
It is now well documented that Dr Palitha Kohona was involved in the alleged war crime committed by the Sri Lankan Forces in the Tamil Homeland of Sri Lanka during the last days of the war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during May 2009.
Dr. Palitha Kohona, who was the Sri Lankan foreign secretary during the last phase of the brutal war in Sri Lanka, has been the Sri Lankan government’s point man in the negotiations with the LTTE in drawing up modalities for the surrender of two LTTE political leaders but later shot dead by the Sri Lankan soldiers at point blank range according to eyewitness accounts.
Dr Kohona, is implicated in this internationally unacceptable criminal act that still has many questions unanswered. As such it is highly questionable that he could be allowed to, not only participate, but lead an investigating team into Israel’s human rights violation. While the UN is contemplating a full scale investigation into Sri Lanka’s conduct of the war in 2009 and its human rights violations, it is ludicrous that its former Foreign Secretary should be appointed to investigate human rights violation charges against Israel.
Therefore AFTA has called on the International Community, particularly the Australian and New Zealand governments, to express their concerns and reservation on UN’s inclusion of Dr. Palitha Kohona in this Special Committee investigating Israeli practices affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian people. http://www.tamilcanadian.com/page.php?cat=145&…
Former Foreign Minister Palitha Kohona:, now UN ref of Sri lanka ‘Victorious soldiers could have raped every single woman’ (july-3-2009) http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
AFTA, the Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations through its Media Release of 11.06.10 have questioned the suitability of Dr. Palitha Kohana the current resident representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New Yoke, to investigate the human rights violation charges against Israel. . It is now well documented that Dr Palitha Kohona was involved in the alleged war crime committed by the Sri Lankan Forces in the Tamil Homeland of Sri Lanka during the last days of the war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during May 2009.
AFTA, through the media release have requested the International Community in general and the Australian and New Zealand governments in particular to express their concerns and reservation on UN’s inclusion of Dr. Palitha Kohona in the Special Commitee to investigate the human rights violation charges against Israel.
It is now well documented that Dr Palitha Kohona was involved in the alleged war crime committed by the Sri Lankan Forces in the Tamil Homeland of Sri Lanka during the last days of the war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during May 2009.
Dr. Palitha Kohona, who was the Sri Lankan foreign secretary during the last phase of the brutal war in Sri Lanka, has been the Sri Lankan government’s point man in the negotiations with the LTTE in drawing up modalities for the surrender of two LTTE political leaders but later shot dead by the Sri Lankan soldiers at point blank range according to eyewitness accounts.
Dr Kohona, is implicated in this internationally unacceptable criminal act that still has many questions unanswered. As such it is highly questionable that he could be allowed to, not only participate, but lead an investigating team into Israel’s human rights violation. While the UN is contemplating a full scale investigation into Sri Lanka’s conduct of the war in 2009 and its human rights violations, it is ludicrous that its former Foreign Secretary should be appointed to investigate human rights violation charges against Israel.
Therefore AFTA has called on the International Community, particularly the Australian and New Zealand governments, to express their concerns and reservation on UN’s inclusion of Dr. Palitha Kohona in this Special Committee investigating Israeli practices affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian people.
http://www.tamilcanadian.com/page.php?cat=145&id=5912
Former Foreign Minister Palitha Kohona:, now UN ref of Sri lanka ‘Victorious soldiers could have raped every single woman’ (july-3-2009)
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29705
Oh. My. God. The Eelamists are everywhere.
After having being crushed in Sri Lanka, they're intent on taking on Israel. Good luck! 🙂
Obviously they're suckers for punishment — especially "a. savage".
Dr Kohona is an accredited diplomat to the UN and not a 'war criminal'. If the child-abusing LTTE's idiot leaders wanted to surrender, they had plenty of opportunities during the ceasefires arranged specifically for that purpose. Instead, they sent in suicide bombers along with civilians escaping their hell hole, to disrupt the escape process.
The whining from the Eelamists and their fellow travellers will continue till the end of time and they still won't get their 'separate state.'
Oh. My. God. The Eelamists are everywhere.
After having being crushed in Sri Lanka, they’re intent on taking on Israel. Good luck! 🙂
Obviously they’re suckers for punishment — especially “a. savage”.
Dr Kohona is an accredited diplomat to the UN and not a ‘war criminal’. If the child-abusing LTTE’s idiot leaders wanted to surrender, they had plenty of opportunities during the ceasefires arranged specifically for that purpose. Instead, they sent in suicide bombers along with civilians escaping their hell hole, to disrupt the escape process.
The whining from the Eelamists and their fellow travellers will continue till the end of time and they still won’t get their ‘separate state.’
"The Jewish state demands its neighborsmake amends for crimes they did not commit — to cower before the steel-toemight of its military and make perpetual penitence for the sins of Europe.
Even if they did so: Such an act wouldnot restore my mother’s childhood … would not return to flesh the ashen remainsof the millions who made their graves in the winds of twentieth century Europe.
For the Jewish people, as is the casewith all humanity, survival in the present age is not dependent on militaryprowess nor the blessing of an imaginary father in the sky. Awakening to newrealities restores meaning and resonance to our lives. Felicity to the putrid,Bronze Age admonitions of a savage sky spirit involving the ownership of desertreal-estate only entombs the heart and mummifies the mind.
Accordingly, the most putrefied andpernicious of these fallacies — the delusion that there exists a “ChosenPeople” — must be the first to be toppled.
God’s Chosen People? Chosen for whatreason: First, divinely bestowed entitlement to a parcel of parched landscape,then exile, persecution, extermination? And now for what purpose: Simply tojoin the brutal ranks of history’s bullies?
When the ashes of the Holocaustcleared, this is the world my mother’s tribe built: A right-wing state thatbelieves its godly mission is to lord over and oppress a militarily weakerpeople. Moreover, if they resist — starve them, murder them in their homes,drive them into exile. The Israelis seem to be demanding this of thePalestinian people: Why don’t you simply accept your lot as being compliantlessors and stay confined to your ghettos?
Furthermore, if you object, then leave— go into exile — wander the earth without a home. It would seem, over thecourse of the lives of the last few generations of Jewish believers, theancient myth has morphed: The desert god has become more of an earthly ironistthan wrathful sky-daddy.
In fact,mirroring the ways of their invented father in heaven, some of my bloodrelatives have become such inadvertent ironists, as they, at this moment, squatin Palestine, bristling with misplaced rage, manic with delusional entitlement,and, on the whole, casting a curse upon future generations that will poisontheir hearts and cascade through the generations with a terrible symmetry." http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2…
"The Jewish state demands its neighborsmake amends for crimes they did not commit — to cower before the steel-toemight of its military and make perpetual penitence for the sins of Europe.
Even if they did so: Such an act wouldnot restore my mother’s childhood … would not return to flesh the ashen remainsof the millions who made their graves in the winds of twentieth century Europe.
For the Jewish people, as is the casewith all humanity, survival in the present age is not dependent on militaryprowess nor the blessing of an imaginary father in the sky. Awakening to newrealities restores meaning and resonance to our lives. Felicity to the putrid,Bronze Age admonitions of a savage sky spirit involving the ownership of desertreal-estate only entombs the heart and mummifies the mind.
Accordingly, the most putrefied andpernicious of these fallacies — the delusion that there exists a “ChosenPeople” — must be the first to be toppled.
God’s Chosen People? Chosen for whatreason: First, divinely bestowed entitlement to a parcel of parched landscape,then exile, persecution, extermination? And now for what purpose: Simply tojoin the brutal ranks of history’s bullies?
When the ashes of the Holocaustcleared, this is the world my mother’s tribe built: A right-wing state thatbelieves its godly mission is to lord over and oppress a militarily weakerpeople. Moreover, if they resist — starve them, murder them in their homes,drive them into exile. The Israelis seem to be demanding this of thePalestinian people: Why don’t you simply accept your lot as being compliantlessors and stay confined to your ghettos?
Furthermore, if you object, then leave— go into exile — wander the earth without a home. It would seem, over thecourse of the lives of the last few generations of Jewish believers, theancient myth has morphed: The desert god has become more of an earthly ironistthan wrathful sky-daddy.
In fact,mirroring the ways of their invented father in heaven, some of my bloodrelatives have become such inadvertent ironists, as they, at this moment, squatin Palestine, bristling with misplaced rage, manic with delusional entitlement,and, on the whole, casting a curse upon future generations that will poisontheir hearts and cascade through the generations with a terrible symmetry." http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2…
"The Jewish state demands its neighborsmake amends for crimes they did not commit — to cower before the steel-toemight of its military and make perpetual penitence for the sins of Europe.
Even if they did so: Such an act wouldnot restore my mother’s childhood … would not return to flesh the ashen remainsof the millions who made their graves in the winds of twentieth century Europe.
For the Jewish people, as is the casewith all humanity, survival in the present age is not dependent on militaryprowess nor the blessing of an imaginary father in the sky. Awakening to newrealities restores meaning and resonance to our lives. Felicity to the putrid,Bronze Age admonitions of a savage sky spirit involving the ownership of desertreal-estate only entombs the heart and mummifies the mind.
Accordingly, the most putrefied andpernicious of these fallacies — the delusion that there exists a “ChosenPeople” — must be the first to be toppled.
God’s Chosen People? Chosen for whatreason: First, divinely bestowed entitlement to a parcel of parched landscape,then exile, persecution, extermination? And now for what purpose: Simply tojoin the brutal ranks of history’s bullies?
When the ashes of the Holocaustcleared, this is the world my mother’s tribe built: A right-wing state thatbelieves its godly mission is to lord over and oppress a militarily weakerpeople. Moreover, if they resist — starve them, murder them in their homes,drive them into exile. The Israelis seem to be demanding this of thePalestinian people: Why don’t you simply accept your lot as being compliantlessors and stay confined to your ghettos?
Furthermore, if you object, then leave— go into exile — wander the earth without a home. It would seem, over thecourse of the lives of the last few generations of Jewish believers, theancient myth has morphed: The desert god has become more of an earthly ironistthan wrathful sky-daddy.
In fact,mirroring the ways of their invented father in heaven, some of my bloodrelatives have become such inadvertent ironists, as they, at this moment, squatin Palestine, bristling with misplaced rage, manic with delusional entitlement,and, on the whole, casting a curse upon future generations that will poisontheir hearts and cascade through the generations with a terrible symmetry." http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2…
“The Jewish state demands its neighborsmake amends for crimes they did not commit — to cower before the steel-toemight of its military and make perpetual penitence for the sins of Europe.
Even if they did so: Such an act wouldnot restore my mother’s childhood … would not return to flesh the ashen remainsof the millions who made their graves in the winds of twentieth century Europe.
For the Jewish people, as is the casewith all humanity, survival in the present age is not dependent on militaryprowess nor the blessing of an imaginary father in the sky. Awakening to newrealities restores meaning and resonance to our lives. Felicity to the putrid,Bronze Age admonitions of a savage sky spirit involving the ownership of desertreal-estate only entombs the heart and mummifies the mind.
Accordingly, the most putrefied andpernicious of these fallacies — the delusion that there exists a “ChosenPeople” — must be the first to be toppled.
God’s Chosen People? Chosen for whatreason: First, divinely bestowed entitlement to a parcel of parched landscape,then exile, persecution, extermination? And now for what purpose: Simply tojoin the brutal ranks of history’s bullies?
When the ashes of the Holocaustcleared, this is the world my mother’s tribe built: A right-wing state thatbelieves its godly mission is to lord over and oppress a militarily weakerpeople. Moreover, if they resist — starve them, murder them in their homes,drive them into exile. The Israelis seem to be demanding this of thePalestinian people: Why don’t you simply accept your lot as being compliantlessors and stay confined to your ghettos?
Furthermore, if you object, then leave— go into exile — wander the earth without a home. It would seem, over thecourse of the lives of the last few generations of Jewish believers, theancient myth has morphed: The desert god has become more of an earthly ironistthan wrathful sky-daddy.
In fact,mirroring the ways of their invented father in heaven, some of my bloodrelatives have become such inadvertent ironists, as they, at this moment, squatin Palestine, bristling with misplaced rage, manic with delusional entitlement,and, on the whole, casting a curse upon future generations that will poisontheir hearts and cascade through the generations with a terrible symmetry.”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25753.htm
First of all UN made a big mistake by appoiting Dr Palitha Kohona to investigate the flotilla ship incident. He is a representative of Sri Lanka and justifyed the killing of 30,000 people within a short period by the name of eliminating terrorism.
First of all UN made a big mistake by appoiting Dr Palitha Kohona to investigate the flotilla ship incident. He is a representative of Sri Lanka and justifyed the killing of 30,000 people within a short period by the name of eliminating terrorism.
Helen Thomas should not have retired, and she should be reinstated.
Helen Thomas should not have retired, and she should be reinstated.