Irish4Palestine

FRIDAY COMEDY

2011-07-29T00:13:00.006+01:00

I think this falls under the heading of "you couldn't make this stuff up"

Introducing ‘Judoku’: Sudoku for Jews

Instead of simply lining up the numbers one through nine in that familiar 81-cell matrix, puzzle-doers can choose to arrange Hebrew letters or Jewish symbols instead.

Charon promises all users a good time, regardless of religious origin, claiming, “Not Jewish? Don’t worry, you’ll still have fun with this unique and educational puzzle game

Um, no, I dont think so..................

Israel, Dinosaurs, and Amy Winehouse

2011-07-26T15:37:00.010+01:00

So there I was listening to the report of the horrendous manifesto written by the Christian Terrorist, Pro Israel, islamophobic, Anders Behring Breivik, and then suddenly scrolling across the bottom of my screen I read that Amy Winehouse was found dead in her flat.

Wow, just wow! Poof, another one gone, just like Michael Jackson, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and so many others who all suffered from a disease that happens to the rich, famous or "out of control." When the disease strikes, it causes them to alienate from everyone who tells them "no" even if it’s for their own good, and instead, they seek out only those who agree with their over indulgence, all the time, no matter what, just agree and say "yes"

So Amy Winehouse, like so many others, is now dead and gone from over indulgence, a mentality that says nothing can hurt me, I am powerful, and I am invincible.

.....................not!

So, this brings me to the evil rogue state of israel, which, funnily enough, as it turns out, has quite a lot in common with Amy Winehouse, exept she had a great voice and didnt kill people constantly, they both suffered from the same affliction.

Israel over indulges,it suffers terribly from over indulgence, it is a monster that is now utterly and totally out of control. It kills and murders at will, anywhere in the world, it steals passports from other countries to commit extra judicial murder, it spies on it’s best friend America, it holds an entire population of 1.5 million Palestinian people captive in a 20 by 5 mile strip of land and punishes them almost weekly by using them for target practice. And no one tells Israel “no” not even America, ever, never. And because they are never told “no” they are like spoilt brats who slap someone and then get away with it, so next time they punch them, and get away with it, but punching is no longer “fun” it’s time to escalate, next time they shoot someone, just because they can. It’s fun to be this powerful, almost like God.

But, guess what? Israel is not “God” and ultimately what killed Amy Winehouse will also kill off israel as well. All we have to do is wait, and just keep on chip, chip, chipping away at the out of control, over excessive, over indulgent, spoilt brat killer bully that we now know as Israel.

Once upon a time the mighty dinosaurs ruled the earth, and smaller life forms trembled at their feet, but nothing lasts forever, and just as the path chosen by Amy Winehouse caused her death, the path chosen by Israel will also cause it's ultimate destruction.

Just ask the Dinosaurs, remember, nothing lasts forever.

Another Misconception About Israel is Exposed

2011-07-08T19:39:00.004+01:00

Poor wee israel, so very misunderstood by the world, and I agree. Countless arguments many have said "It's the israeli Government, not the population" well, there's another myth exposed, because except for a very small quantity of decent Jewish people the majority are absolute lawless nutters who are simply so used to literally "getting away with murder" that they know no boundaries, never a good thing. What happens when a journalist from the Jerusalem Post arrives at Ben Gurion Airport to cover the "Flytilla" So lets' all take a look at what un-checked lawlessness looks like:

Jerusalem Post's Larry Derfner surrounded at Ben Gurion airport (photo: Joseph Dana)

Anybody who believes the platitude that the people want peace, it’s just the leaders who want war, should have been at Ben-Gurion Airport today. It’s a good thing those Free Palestine activists got arrested; otherwise, the little mob that formed spontaneously would have punched them up pretty good.

Only minutes after I got to the Arrivals hall, a few activists stood in front of the phalanx of reporters and cameramen, held up their little signs and started chanting “Israel Apartheid” and ”Free Palestine!” The cops tore the signs from their hands and started pushing them toward the exit.

A couple of dozen people, mainly men but also a few women, followed very close behind the tightly-bunched demonstrators, cops and reporters to the police van. “Throw them in the garbage,” shouted one woman. An old man tried to get at one of the activists, but the police stopped him.

I was there ostensibly as a journalist, and I was scribbling notes, but I felt cowardly not saying anything to these nationalist hooligans, so I started telling them in Hebrew, “What are these people doing?” The woman who wanted them thrown in the garbage said, “They’re hurting us!” I said, “They’re talking,” and the little mob turned on me, a couple of the men raised their fists. The woman told me, “Go back home, get out of here,” I said, “I live here.” The cops mistook me for a demonstrator, put me in the police van, but when I showed them my press card, they let me go.

Let me repeat – the police started off arresting the demonstrators, but very shortly their main task was to keep them from being assaulted. They had to hold back the herd = and that’s what these people were, a herd incited by the idea that these protesters, non-violent protesters trying to get to the West Bank, were a menace, an immediate threat to their security.

Which is why these foreign activists on these flotillas, whatever I or anybody else thinks of the totality of their politics, are absolutely vital not only to the Palestinians, but to Israel. They’re bringing oxygen to a suffocating nation.

more HERE:

We are Back!!!

2011-06-04T15:25:00.002+01:00

Yo heads up peeps we are coming back soon and we are covering the flotilla, so follow us here and on twitter.........................

see ya soon!!!!
FREEDOM FLOTILLA 2

ISRAELI MILITARY CRACKING DOWN ON CRIME

2010-12-28T16:26:00.001Z

It’s an approved crime to murder a 10 year old Palestinian child in cold blood…..

Abir Aramin, murdered by Israeli forces four years ago as she was heading home from school…. one of over 100 Palestinian children killed by Israelis in 2007.

Click HERE to see many other photos of the victims.

It’s also approved to board a ship bringing humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip and brutally murder 9 of the (unarmed) passengers on board…..

Approved also is shooting out the eye of an American (Jew) protesting the above….

Emily Henochowicz lost an eye at a protest at the Qalandiyah checkpoint – she was struck by a teargas grenade

The list of approved crimes is endless. No charges were ever levied against any of the criminals involved in the examples cited above.

BUT……

The following was reported yesterday;

Israeli soldier jailed for stealing one pita

JERUSALEM – An Israeli soldier was sentenced to 20 days in jail for stealing a piece of pita bread from a Palestinian vendor in the West Bank town of Tulkarem, military sources said on Monday.

The incident took place in front of his fellow soldiers at a military checkpoint near the city.

The soldier expressed his regret and has since paid the vendor the price of the bread — one shekel (30 US cents).

Reported AT

Sam Bahour added the following…

Now I’ve heard it all!

Remembering Gaza: the dead, the living, and the living dead.

Can we put a price on the lives that were stolen?

APPEAL TO SUPPORT LIVE REPORTING FROM PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMPS

2010-11-02T18:23:00.003Z

We want to inform our readers of an exciting development. One of the best Pro-Palestinian websites on the net, e.g. PoliticalTheatrics is planning to travel to Lebanon in order to take up the task of “on the ground” reporting.

PoliticalTheatrics will not only be assessing and reporting on Lebanese politics, BUT they will also be interning in Palestinian Refugee camps and of course keeping us all updated online with the brilliant reporting we have come to know and love!

You support for this worthy cause is much appreciated, please visit PoliticalTheatrics and give a few dollars, pounds, or Euros so that we can enjoy the chance to hear direct from Palestinians in Lebanon as well as the political reporting!!

Go HERE to donate and lend your support!!

ISRAEL RESPONDS TO THE UN's 'GUILTY VERDICT'

2010-09-23T13:57:00.001+01:00

Murder apparently is not an act of extremism, neither is piracy….. but condemning them is…..

Cutting off an entire area from the outside world and denying the residents basic human needs is not an act of extremism ….. but attempting to end this blockade is…..

The Israeli Foreign Ministry responded late Wednesday by saying the Human Rights Council had a biased, politicized and extremist approach.

Israel has maintained that its soldiers acted in self-defense when they shot and killed eight Turkish activists and one Turkish-American aboard the Mavi Marmara on May 31. Israel Defense Forces released footage showing its troops coming under attack as they tried to board the boat.

Did anyone expect a different reaction to the Human Rights Council’s report on the Flottila raid?

Israel refused to cooperate with the panel, preferring instead to work with a separate UN group under New Zealand’s former Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and Colombia’s former President Alvaro Uribe that is also examining the incident but has yet to publish its findings

“Israel is a democratic and law abiding country that carefully observes international law and, when need be, knows how to investigate itself,” the Foreign Ministry statement said.

“That is how Israel has always acted, and that is the way in which investigations were conducted following Operation Cast Lead, launched to protect the inhabitants of southern Israel from rockets and terror attacks carried out by Hamas from Gaza,” said the statement.

Full text (unedited) of the UN Report can be found HERE

The paragraphs in parenthesis were taken from THIS AP Report

Posted by DesertPeace

Ireland's Dirty Deal with Israel

2010-09-07T14:50:00.001+01:00

This is a disgrace, the Irish Government should be disbanded

Israeli firm in second Irish army contract

John Downes, News Investigations Correspondent
A controversial Israeli defence company which was awarded a multimillion-euro contract by the Irish government before last May's attack on the Gaza aid flotilla received another lucrative contract from Ireland in the past three years.

A spokesman for the Department of Defence confirmed that the company, Elbit Systems, supplied an artillery fire control system to the defence forces for €3.2m between 2007 and 2009.

The contract to supply the system was in addition to a €2.37m contract to provide surveillance and target acquisition equipment to four light tactical armoured vehicles.

Defence minister Tony Killeen recently confirmed that this more recent contract will not be subject to any sanctions in light of the Israeli attack on the aid flotilla.

Elbit was dropped from Norway's pension fund last year over ethical concerns, after it emerged that it was involved in work on the separation wall between Israel and the West Bank. The company supplies surveillance equipment to monitor the barrier.

Norway's then finance minister Kristin Halvorsen said it did not wish "to fund companies that so directly contribute to violations of international humanitarian law".

However, a spokesman for the Department of Defence said Killeen does not intend to review his decision to award the contract.

Last week the government persuaded the EU Commission to withdraw a plan to allow Israel access to private information on European citizens in protest at the misuse of Irish passports by suspected Israeli agents.
September 5, 2010

IDF document: "Separating Gaza from West Bank”

2010-09-06T07:47:00.004+01:00

This is a MUST read:

source An IDF Powerpoint slideshow, presented before the Turkel committee for the investigation of the Israeli raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla, reveals the official goals of the Israeli policy regarding the Gaza strip.

The slideshow, prepared by The Administration for the Coordination of Government Policy in the Territories – the IDF body in charge of carrying out Israeli government policies regarding the civilian population in the West Bank and Gaza – deals with the humanitarian conditions in the strip; with food, water, fuel and electricity supply and with the condition of medical facilities in Gaza.

download the IDF slideshow [Hebrew] here

The first set of slides details the background for the current activities of The Administration for the Coordination of Government Policy in the Territories. Slide number 15 details the principles of Israeli policy:

Responding to the humanitarian needs of the population.
- Upholding civilian and economic limitations on the [Gaza] strip.
- Separating [or differentiating, בידול] Judea and Samaria [i.e. West Bank] from Gaza – a security and diplomatic objective.
- Preserving the Quartet’s conditions on Hamas (Hamas as a terrorist entity).

Slide 20 deals with freedom of movement from and to the Gaza strip. Policy objectives are:

- Limiting people from entering or exiting the strip, in accordance with the government’s decision.
- Separating [differentiating] Judea and Samaria from Gaza.
- Dealing with humanitarian needs.
- Preserving the activity of humanitarian organizations in the strip.
- Keeping a coordinating mechanism with the Palestinian Authority.

The Israeli policy regarding Gaza could be seen as violation of official and unofficial principles of previous agreements and negotiations with the Palestinians and other parties. Gaza and the West Bank were regarded as “one entity” – though not officially declared as such – already in the 1978 peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. The Oslo Declaration of Principles, signed in September 1993 and still an abiding document, specifically states that:

The two sides view the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as a single territorial unit, whose integrity will be preserved during the interim period.

This declaration was ratified in following agreements from 1994 and 1995.

The recent IDF slideshow is the first time an Israeli official document publicly declares that the current policy objective is to create two separate political entities in the Palestinian territories.

Nirit Ben-Ari, spokeswoman for Gisha, an Israeli NGO dealing with the freedom of movement, export and import to and from the Palestinian territories, said that “while in Washington a Palestinian state is being negotiated and people are already discussing ‘a train line between Gaza and Ramallah‘, in reality Israel is working to separate Gaza from the West bank even further than the separation already caused by the split in the Palestinian leadership.

“This policy is aimed against civilian population and against people who have nothing to do with Israel’s security concerns. It hurts family ties, and harms any future possibility to develop commerce, education and economical life in the Palestinian society. Those policies should raise concerns regarding the intentions of the Israeli government in Gaza.”

Other slides in the IDF slideshow deals with the ways the IDF gather information on the humanitarian situation in the strip (mainly through NGO’s and media reports), how food and fuel supply is evaluated, and how the needs of the local population are calculated. According to the IDF assumptions, there are 1,600,000 people living in Gaza. The army does not occupy itself with the distribution of supply, so there is no way of knowing if the population’s needs are actually met – only that according to the IDF, enough food and water is entering Gaza.

The slideshow doesn’t deal with the export of goods from the strip, nor does it explains the mechanism that is used to determine which civilian goods could be brought in.

Slide 50 details the goods found on the Gaza-bound flotilla: medical supply, toys, school gear, construction materials and powered wheelchairs.

Almost Killed by Israel, Tristan finally Goes Home

2010-09-05T22:08:00.002+01:00

Tristan is Back!

source Berkeley-After more than a year in a Tel Aviv hospital, Bay Area activist and photo-journalist Tristan Anderson has returned home to California. Tristan was critically injured when he was shot in the head at close range with a metal high-velocity tear gas canister at the Israeli Separation Wall on March 13, 2009, while taking photos following a demonstration against the apartheid wall in the West Bank village of Ni’lin. The shooting caused severe traumatic brain injury and blindness in his right eye. Tristan, 39 years old, has not yet regained the use of the left side of his body and faces a long period of cognitive and physical rehabilitation and remains in a wheelchair. However, in the last several months he has made significant strides forward, including regaining his ability to speak. He is currently staying at his family’s home in the Sierra foothills, and looking forward to reuniting with his extensive community in the Bay Area.

Tristan’s partner Gabrielle Silverman said, “After a very long period of hospitalization, Tristan is ready to finally re-enter the world. His injury has profoundly affected our community and changed our lives. In the winter of 2009, Tristan and I traveled to the Occupied Territories because we had an understanding of the role the U.S. government plays in the Israel/Palestine conflict and power dynamics there. We both support a free Palestine and a just peace and stability in the Middle East and see it as a defining struggle of our generation.

Just prior to the one-year mark of the shooting, Israel released its official report of the incident, calling it “an act of war”, with no concomitant liability, bringing no charges, and then closed the case. An appeal to reopen the investigation has been filed, since the report was inconsistent with the injuries Tristan sustained and with eyewitness testimony. In addition, his parents have brought a civil case against the Israeli military, in part to deal with the lifetime of medical expenses, lost wages and continuing care that Tristan will need as a result of the military action.

On May 31, 21-year-old New York art student Emily Henochowicz lost an eye in a similar act of aggression by Israeli military when she was shot in the face with a tear gas canister at a demonstration in the West Bank. She was protesting the Israeli commando raid on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla during which nine Flotilla human rights activists were killed.

Tristan Anderson has participated as a photo-journalist and as a dedicated activist in a variety of local and international campaigns over the years, including Latin American solidarity work, anti-war activism, involvement in forest campaigns including Headwaters Forest and the 2-year long Save the Oaks tree-sit campaign on UC Berkeley campus, as well as serving food to the homeless with Food Not Bombs for years, and riding with Critical Mass bicycle activists.

MOSQUE AT GROUND ZERO

2010-09-01T18:00:00.001+01:00

This is a must see:

A CALL TO ACT, FREEDOM FLOTILLA 2 NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW

2010-08-28T13:49:00.008+01:00

DO IT FOR PALESTINE, DO IT FOR IRELAND DO IT FOR FREEDOM, BUT DO IT NOW!!

The I4P writers group rarely ask for help, but we are asking all our supporters, readers and fellow blog friends for urgent help today.

As many of you are aware, Ireland took part on the last Freedom Flotilla to Gaza which came under attack from Israeli Commando Pirates and resulted in the deaths of nine Humanitarian aid workers. Several Irish people were injured,one fairly seriously.

There is another flotilla going to Gaza in early October, organised by the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, they were co-organisers of the last flotilla.

You may have noticed we have been posting less on the blog lately. The reason is that several members of our blog are helping to raise money for the Irish Ship to Gaza and some friends will be going on one of the boats in the flotilla. As always, this blog will keep you up to date as the flotilla prepares to break the siege. If Ireland is to be represented on this next flotilla then we need the support of everyone sympathetic to Ireland or Palestine to help us get there.

If you can organise a fundraising event in your area of the world and donate the proceeds to our cause GREAT, we love you and hereby proclaim you as an Honorary Irishmen no matter where you live! If you can’t do fundraising or donate then please re-post this page to your own blog or website along with our wee Irish Ship to Gaza button (code below to copy and paste) so that your readers and supporters can help us. We want Ireland to help brake the siege so help us make it happen! The more boats the flotilla have, the better chance we have of ending this terrible siege.

Listen folks, the reality is that the only place the siege has NOT been broken since the invasion is by sea. Gaza’s seaport remains closed to the world and under siege by Israel. Several convoys have been successful in entering Gaza since the invasion with some aid, the most recent one just weeks ago. Since the flotilla attack on May 31st Rafah has been open more often. However, the amount of aid taken in by convoys may appear large to us, but the fact that Gaza’s population is 1.5 million means that it’s only a wee tiny drop in the bucket and really offers little long term help because it keeps Gazan’s dependant on aid from convoys, humanitarian orgs and the UN. They don’t want to live this way!!

What is needed now is to break the siege by sea, open Gaza’s seaport, so that people in Gaza can get back to work and export their goods and wares to the world, and import building supplies by cargo ships from the world. This will not only ease the humanitarian suffering but will put Gaza people back to work and help their economy become self sufficient so people there can live normal lives like the rest of the free world.

We need everyone to spread the word and help us with this. So, DO IT for Ireland, DO IT for Palestine, DO IT for FREEDOM and DO IT for an end to the Siege!

PLEASE POST THE FOLLOWING CODE INTO YOUR BLOG OR WEBSITE'S SIDEBAR, JUST COPY AND PASTE THIS CODE BELOW:

<a href="http://irishshiptogaza.org/?page_id=10" target="_blank">
<img src=" http://irishshiptogaza.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/istglogo21.jpg" width="119" height="94" border="0" alt="Irish Ship to Gaza"</a>

And Wa La, you will get this lovely wee button below complete with a link to where people can donate to help us:)

FOR BLOGGER BLOGS:For blogger, use the “add text” gadget in “design” mode, then click the top right and make sure it says “rich text” then paste the code into the box, after that go back and click the “rich text” link again and go to html mode and the button with link should appear in the box and also when you click save it will appear on your blog’s sidebar.

FOR WORDPRESS BLOGS: do a text/html widget and copy the code into it then click save.

Go on, click it, it works!! and Whilst you are there get the bank info and send a donation by cheque, wire transfer (c'mon all you rich Irish Americans out there!! Help your fellow Irishmen!), in Europe you can do a bank transfer, in Ireland cold hard cash is also accepted, or if yur in England or Ireland you can do a weekly standing order or transfer or cheque deposit!! There now that's all covered, no excuses now;-)

HELP IRELAND BREAK THE SIEGE
FREEDOM FLOTILLA 2
IRISH SHIP TO GAZA

THANK YOU!!

FOR MY LEBANESE FRIENDS

2010-08-26T17:43:00.001+01:00

The Ground Zero Synagogue—Lebanon Becoming More American than America

Has Lebanon officially become more tolerant and progressive than the United States?

Let's talk about Lebanon’s Ground Zero and you can decide for yourself.

One must first understand what “Ground Zero” means to most Lebanese.

In a country with about the same land mass as Los Angeles County which has been at war off and on for nearly four decades, “Ground Zero” for the Lebanese is arguably their entire country—and at the center of their Ground Zero is downtown Beirut, captured and occupied by the Israeli Defense Force in 1982 and which was almost entirely reduced to rubble from Muslim West Beirut to Christian East Beirut, and all points in between.

Once upon a time not too long ago, there was scarcely a building left standing or unscarred by shrapnel in all of Beirut. I know, because I was in Beirut in 1991, and witnessed first hand a city once described as "the Paris of the Middle East" reduced to ruins, pot marked with unexploded munitions and a haphazzard "network" of open sewers.

Miraculously, Beirut was rebuilt and reclaimed its prominence. It once again became the jewel of the Arab world, remarkably able to bridge the ancient mystique of the east with the modern allure of the west.

Upon the first completion of its "rebuilding" process however--after 15 years and tens of billions of dollars spent on reconstructing Lebanon and its Ground Zero from rubble to splendor, Israel did what Israel does...

In July and August of 2006, Israel again followed through on its promise to “bomb Lebanon back into the Stone Age,” and in so doing displaced 1,000,000 Lebanese civilians (nearly a quarter of the country’s population), completely destroyed the country’s infrastructure (again), its only airport, at least 64 bridges, leveled entire buildings and neighborhoods to rubble (again), including the country's largest milk factory, a food factory, two pharmaceutical plants, water treatment centers, power plants, grain silos, a Greek Orthodox Church, several mosques, and a handful of hospitals (in a country which only had a handful of hospitals to begin with).

Over 1,200 hundred Lebanese civilians were killed and over 5,000 wounded.

Israel routinely talks about “proportionality” when comparing their “terrorism deaths” to American 9/11 deaths. In order to shock the sensibilities of a gullible American public, they portray a figure “in American terms,” by multiplying their dead by a number which reflects their population in comparison to the American population.

Well, what’s good for the Israeli goose is good for the Lebanese gander. I will play their game: 1,200 dead Lebanese civilians are the “proportional equivalent” to 90,000 American dead when accounting for the two countries’ population differences. Therefore, according to Israeli goose math, that’s the equivalent of roughly thirty 9/11’s Israel exacted on Lebanon in July and August 2006 over the course of 34 days—nearly one 9/11 a day for an entire month without relent.

Incidentally, July and August of 2006 only tell a small part of the story when it comes to Israeli aggression against Lebanon. There have been decades of invasion, devastation, and occupation which predated 2006. Several thousands of Lebanese have been killed at the hands of the Israeli Defense Force. Tens of billions of dollars of damage have been levied on the Lebanese infrastructure and private and public property courtesy of the IDF over the course of decades.

“Ground Zero” for Lebanon is an ever expanding, never ending, open wound that never heals.

So what now Newt?

Should you expect the Lebanese to allow a synagogue to be built on their Ground Zero, in the aftermath of a 9/11 that occurred 5 years after ours and which, “proportionately” speaking, was 30 times the size of ours?

Well guess what you hateful, misguided, twit?

THEY DID.

In the process of re-building Beirut yet again, in 2008, renovations began and have now been completed on the Maghden Abraham Synagogue located in the middle of newly renovated downtown Beirut in an area known as the “Solidere" which has become the focal point and showcase of Lebanon’s rebirth.

This isn’t some hole in the wall, nondescript, “excuse me” synagogue hidden out of view so as to not “offend” Lebanese non-Jews—this is an elaborate, ornate, beautifully designed, cathedral-style house of worship built for a Lebanese Jewish population that totals less than 500 in a country of more than 4,000,000 (in stark contrast to the eight million American Muslims living in the United States).

And wait until you hear Hezbollah’s response to the building of this Ground Zero Synagogue.

(To those expecting a Newt Gingrich equivalent response, prepare to be woefully disappointed).

Courtesy of Hassan Nasrallah himself: "We respect Judaism, just as we respect Christianity. Our only problem is with Israel."

Did you hear that Newt (and the rest of you idiots)?

An Arab democracy, with a Muslim Prime Minister and a Christian President, allowed the building of a synagogue, squarely in the center of their “Ground Zero” in the heart and pride of downtown Beirut which used to be a dumping ground for Israeli military ordinances.

An Arab democracy allowed this, without so much as a protest being made by its citizens, or allegations by politicians that this was sacrilege, or hateful commentary by the media that the Jewish faith was barbaric, or any of the other stupidity I have seen and heard plastered all over American television, talk radio, and internet-blogs regarding a certain “Ground Zero Mosque” and the Islamic faith.

Regardless of whether you perceive Israel to be justified in perpetrating the devastation it did on Lebanon is irrelevant. The purpose of this article is not to debate that. What cannot be debated, is that Israel (a Jewish State, flying a Jewish flag) unleashed hell on Lebanon for 34 straight days in July and August of 2006 (and for decades prior in its wars against Lebanon). Regardless of whether or not you feel Israel had a right to do that, you cannot deny that Lebanese civilians harbored, and continue to harbor, a very real resentment against the government of Israel—this Jewish state—for those actions and the devestation those actions caused.

Yet these very Lebanese, who are so quickly labeled as “blood thirsty terrorists” by Newt Gingrich and his army of xenophobic morons, were able to draw a distinction between the Jews “flying those planes” in July and August of 2006 working at the behest of the Israeli government, and the Jews whom are citizens of Lebanon who had no connection with those attacks.

Lebanon rebuilt that Ground Zero Synagogue for its Jews.

Not for Israel. Not for the world’s Jewry. Not as a monument to mark a “Jewish victory” over Lebanon.

Lebanon rebuilt that Ground Zero Synagogue because its Jews lived in that neighborhood and they had every right to build a house of worship in a place they called home.

For crying out loud, Hassan Nassrallah and Hezbollah can even draw the distinction between a Lebanese Jew and an Israeli soldier who happens to be a Jew. So how is it that Americans can’t distinguish between American Muslims who were victims of 9/11 and Saudi Muslims who were the perpetrators of 9/11?

Thank you Mr. Gingrich for allowing Hassan Nasrallah and Hezbollah to outclass you and the Republican Party (and you Democrats aren't too far behind--yes Harry Reid, I'm talking to you). When the former Republican Speaker of the House and the current Democratic Senate Majority Leader start sounding less tolerant and less reasonable than a "terrorist," we need to start sounding the alarm bells.

What a sad state of affairs for America.

OOOPSIE, WHAT WAS ISRAEL UP TO?

2010-08-16T19:55:00.002+01:00

Well well, what have we here? Remember those non-existant terrorist weapons Israel claimed were on the Freedom Flotilla so they could murder nine muslims? Perhaps Israle should look closer to home, because it was not the Freedom flotiall loaded with terrorist weapons but rather Israeli boats that are loaded with terrorist weapons from the terrorist state.

link Egyptian security forces seized a ship loaded with explosives coming from Israel and arrested its owner in Port Said, Egypt's independent Al-Shorouk daily reported on Monday.

The explosives were loaded inside containers on board of the ship, the newspaper reported without providing further details about the ship and explosives.

COUNTDOWN TO WAR BEGINS

2010-08-14T15:32:00.000+01:00

Watch this video:

SECOND COMING OF THE NAKBA

2010-08-13T13:24:00.007+01:00

Well, well, looks like Obama might get that big pre-election boost after all. You know his ratings are in the tank, the economy is shite and he needs a big-ass Obama miracle, and quickly! He's got to start running his re-election campaign very soon as the teabaggers are arming themselves and the neocons and Repugs are nipping at his ankles. He needs a serious popularity boost, some headlines filled with praise and worship to confirm he IS the the world's hero. Hmmmm what can he do, wave a magic O-wand and repair the world banking crisis and US debt, create immediate jobs for all those Americans, end the two useless wars. No, the "Big O" is looking elsewhere for his "miracle" and me thinks it has something to do with that "Nobel Peace Prize" joke, awarded to him for "future" achievements.

Flashback to July, remember this little ditty?

link
1. U.S. warns Abbas: Direct talks or lose backing for state.

2. An Arab League subcommittee on the Arab peace initiative is expected to support the Palestinian position of continued indirect negotiations with Israel, and not a move toward direct talks.

3.The PA has asked the monitoring committee to recommend allowing the U.S. shuttle diplomacy between Ramallah and Jerusalem run its course until September (Check those calendars, it's almost September folks!)and then consider the PA's future moves.

So there I was checking up on the news regarding the evil rogue state today, and at first glance of reading the "Malarkey" below, thought I found the tooth fairy and Santa Claus instead, BUT, then Satan emerged!! What am I talking about? THIS:

London-based al-Hayat newspaper quotes Ramallah sources as saying prime minister (Netanyahu) has prepared plan for evacuation of 50,000 settlers.

Yeah, I hear you laughing, tooth fairy right? Wrong, now it gets serious there's more, and pay close attention to the part I have made "bold"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has prepared a "tempting" plan to be presented to the Palestinians in the direct negotiations, as part of which Israel will offer to withdraw from up to 90% of the West Bank, excluding east Jerusalem, the London-based Arabic-language al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Friday.

Listen, can you hear that sound? That's the Whooosh of East Jerusalem going to Israel. And...............this nasty deal won't even be a final one, just merely a wee "agreement" not a "Final Peace Agreement" So the evil rogue state can come back at any time and re-populate all those 50,000 settlers right back into their former homes on Palestinian land. Because, after all, it's only a "temporary" agreement to confiscate the whole of Jerusalem. There's more:

"knowledgeable sources" in Ramallah as saying that the prime minister's plan will be in the form of a new interim agreement, similar to the 1993 Oslo Accords. According to the sources, Netanyahu informed the Western delegates he met with recently that the current situation was not right for reaching a final peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, and that he planned to present a proposal for a new interim agreement, which would be "extensive and tempting" to the Palestinians.

And what about that "Arab League subcommittee" mentioned earlier who were backing Abbas to "not" have talks with Israel? Well Catherine Ashton, the US Quartet member is all over this one:

link Abbas "has requested a few more days for final consultations with Arab partners as well as with the Fatah and PLO executive bodies," Ashton wrote, and "should be in a position to give a definitive answer by Sunday or early next week."

And lastly, what's the plan Stan?

One of the ideas raised by Netanyahu's associates, the sources said, was coming up with a formula linking the future Palestinian state with its temporary borders to Jordan.

And there you have it, Wa Laa, in one fell swoop you have Obama's big-ass miracle and re-election gift, the "future" nobel peace prize thingie, and Isarel is all happy with stealing the whole of Jerusalem, and poor Palestine gets the shaft again. Nakba #2 begins.

RESPONSE TO NETANYAHUS TESTIMONY ON THE FLOTILA

2010-08-09T20:25:00.004+01:00

ECESG Response to Israeli PM Netanyahu’s testimony to the Turkel
Commission: Statement is a “pointless pantomime of political propaganda.”

For Immediate Release

Date: 09-08-2010, 15:30 GMT

London, UK: The European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza today describes the statements of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as a “pointless pantomime of political propaganda.”

In light of PM Netanyahu’s statement that “Israel is a liberal, democratic country governed by the rule of law, with independent courts, a bona fide parliament, and a free press,” we wish to highlight a number of issues, including:

-Why the footage, cameras and electronic devices of the civilians onboard the humanitarian “Freedom Flotilla” were illegally taken by Israeli authorities and have yet to be returned/or were instantly wiped. All footage should be immediately released and private property returned.

-Why the Mavi Marmara was not preserved as a potential crime scene. Under international law, as the Mavi Marmara was a Turkish flagged vessel, Turkey is responsible for conducting any investigation into any violence which took place on the boat.

-While he legitimately calls for the Third Geneva Convention rights of Gilad Shalit to be observed why does he continue to enact a policy violating the Fourth Geneva Convention rights of 1.5 million civilians in Gaza – which the International Red Cross described on the 14/06/10 as constituting “a collective punishment imposed in clear violation of Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law”SOURCE HERE

-Why his desire to continue “the previous government’s policy of preventing the entry of weapons and war materiel into the Gaza Strip,” meant he should also continue the policy of allowing (according to the UN OCHA) only a “weekly average of 553 truckloads” of goods into Gaza before the “Freedom Flotilla” took place. This is 19.7% of the “weekly average of truckloads that entered Gaza during the first five months of 2007 (2,807).” SOURCE HERE

-Why, though he claims “there was no hunger in Gaza,” UNWRA has stated that “80 per cent of Gazan households are dependent on food aid” and that “207,000 pupils at UNRWA schools receive basic nutrition” in school as they cannot be guaranteed to receive this at home. Thus he has abjectly failed to ensure that implementation of the “the fourth principle of [Israel government] policy [which] was to avoid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.” SOURCE HERE

-Why, even since the Israeli government has been embarrassed into taking some small-scale actions after the “Freedom Flotilla” it only allowed “979 truckloads” of goods into Gaza between the 18th to 24th of July 2010 or 34.8% of the 2007 level. Moreover, it is still banning virtually all exports from Gaza at a time when unemployment rates are above 50%. SOURCE HERE

Notes:

The European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza (ECESG) is an umbrella group of 34 European human rights and humanitarian organisations who have come together to collectively pressure the international community and Israel to end the siege on Gaza’s civilian population.

The “Freedom Flotilla” comprised boats from the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza (ECESG), Free Gaza Movement (FG), Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), Ship to Gaza Greece, Ship to Gaza Sweden, and the International Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza

ALL ABOARD THE MAVI MARMARA

2010-08-09T12:39:00.000+01:00

David Rovics has written an evocative song called "All Aboard the Mavi Marmara." The Free Gaza team has added images in tribute to the nine brave men on board who gave their lives in pursuit of justice for the Palestinians.

THE WEASEL-THAL CENTER'S EQUALITY AGENDA

2010-08-07T19:46:00.006+01:00

The Simon Weasel-thal Racist Anti Muslim Centre is hard at work pushing it’s special form of “equality.”

Wiesenthal center opposes building mosque near Ground Zero because 'it's a cemetery,' but ok with Jewish museum on top of Muslim cemetery (go figure!!)

In a move one might call supremely ironic, the Wiesenthal Center opposes building the mosque near Ground Zero because, it now claims, the former site of the World Trade Center "is a cemetery." The irony comes from the fact that the Wiesenthal Center is currently building a new "Museum of Tolerance" in Jerusalem on top of an old Muslim cemetery, in spite of the complaints of Muslims who have family members buried there.
[F]ifteen of the oldest families in Jerusalem filed a case before the United Nations in Geneva and held news conferences there, also in Los Angeles and Jerusalem. Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies at Columbia University has members of his family buried there and calls it further desecration of a cemetry that they have been nibbling away at for over three decades, despite many protests. "the fact that it was desecrated in the ’60s doesn’t mean that it’s right to desecrate it further. What happened in the 1960s was that part of the cemetery was paved over for this parking lot. What they have now done is to dig down and disinter four layers, according to the chief archaeologist for the Israeli Archaeological Authority, four layers of graves."
Yes, a Jewish tolerance museum built on top of dead Muslims. Think that makes anyone uncomfortable?

Oh, and it's not like the museum is about promoting tolerance between Jews and Muslims. It's about promoting tolerance between Jews.

So, to summarize. Mosque near cemetery, bad. Jewish museum on top of cemetery, good.

Entire story, sick.

source

A HERO'S WELCOME AWAITS THEM

2010-08-07T19:17:00.002+01:00

From IHH:

Nine survivors of Israeli raid to visit Gaza
Nine activists who were injured in the Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara boat have headed for Gaza.

The vehicle convoy set out from Spain and the humanitarian aid volunteers will meet in Egyptian port city al-Arish and cross into Gaza through Rafah border crossing.

The activists were seen to be quite happy about the trip as they said they were excited about visiting Palestine.

Yavuz Dede, deputy head of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, noted the nine activists got the opportunity to go on this trip by winning in a raffle among the 54 who were wounded in the Mavi Marmara incident.

The names of the nine activists are as follow: Alper Mutlu, Ayetullah Tekin, Cevdet Ökenek, Halim Yazıcı, İlyas Yılmaz, İsmail Hakkı Vehapoglu, Mehmet Ali Akdeniz, Mikail Kurt and Canip Tunç.

SHOCK TREATMENT, WE'RE BACK!!

2010-08-02T11:36:00.004+01:00

Ok, we know we've been very bad and neglected the blog lately. Truth is some were on vacation (It's that time in Ireland) and another had computer problems. But no worries, we're back to slam the evil rogue state, so without further adieu, we bring you more proof Israel needs a healthy does of prozac and a months stay in a mental health facility for some serious shock treatment administered by Nurse Ratched:

Israel President Shimon Peres has denied calling Britishers "anti-Semites," Peres said he views Israeli relations with Britain as "of the greatest importance" and has the "highest regard" for the way in which the latter stood alone against Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

"President Peres never accused the British people of anti-Semitism, the president does not believe that British governments are motivated by anti-Semitism, nor were they in the past,"

Not so fast, you lying psychotic snivelling war mongering twerp, lest we forget this:

MPs outraged by Peres's tirade against English. Israel president Shimon Peres has angered British MPs with an astonishing outburst in which he accused the English of being anti-Semitic. The comments come just days after David Cameron angered many in Israel by referring to the occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza as a ‘prison camp’.

Last night British MPs reacted with fury at the slur on Britain, which stood alone in 1940 to fight the Nazis who were committing genocide against the Jews. In the interview, Mr Peres, who was awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen in 2008, said England’s attitude towards the Jews was Israel’s ‘next big problem’. He also insisted: ‘There is in England a saying that an anti-Semite is someone who hates the Jews more than is necessary.

‘They abstained in the 1947 UN partition resolution, they maintained an arms embargo against us in the 1950s, they always worked against us. They think the Arabs are the underdogs.’

Now taking donations for a humanitarian aid convoy to Israel, filled with prozac and lots of Nurse Ratcheds

HA HA HA HA HA

2010-07-15T23:45:00.002+01:00

The best video ever:

SHHHH, LISTEN...CAN YOU HEAR IT???

2010-07-13T12:47:00.005+01:00

When due pressure is put upon a solid immovable object, it ultimately breaks into pieces. Israel is self destructing, it's inability to budge one millimetre is causing it to crack!! There are creaking cracks engulfing Israel. They are running around like the little Dutch boy trying to plug all the holes,throwing hasbara and propaganda at every charge, not having much success because every day another hole appears in the dam, bigger and more outrageous than the last hole. With all the money they have it's still not enough to plug the dam. The worm has turned, the tide is changing, the bloom is off the rose, reality has reached critical mass. Israel is exposed and under the world's microscope. The party is over folks:

link Israel's diplomatic and defense establishments will hold several meetings this week on how to contend with what some officials described as a "barrage" of international investigations into Israel's conduct.

The most disconcerting among them, officials said, is the United Nations committee charged with examining the credibility of Israel's court system in the wake of the Goldstone report on last winter's conflict in Gaza.

Two other international probes are soon set to begin over Israel's May raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla - one appointed by the UN's secretary general and the other by the organization's Human Rights Council.

The inquiry into the Israeli court system was decided on at a March meeting of the UNHRC in Geneva as part of its

continuing effort to monitor Israel's response to the Goldstone report. The panel is charged with examining the efficiency, independence and professionalism of Israel's court system and its adherence to internationally accepted standards. Some Israeli officials have already begun describing it as "a second Goldstone committee."

Over the next few days, Israel is expected to decide whether or not to cooperate with the probe. The foreign and justice ministries are pushing for a policy change that would lead to Israeli recognition of the probe and full cooperation with it. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to decide what Israel's official response should be.

The committee is headed by the German jurist Christian Tomuschat; its other members are Mary McGowan Davis, a former justice of the New York State Supreme Court, and Malaysia's Param Cumaraswamy. The three are tasked with monitoring any legal steps taken by the Israeli or Palestinian authorities to implement the Goldstone report's recommendations.

The committee is set to begin its work in the next few weeks and submit a final report in October.

Israeli officials are concerned because this is the first time UN bodies have investigated Israel's military and civilian legal systems, and a harsh report by the committee could stain the reputation of Israel's legal system all the way to the Supreme Court. A negative report could also lead to various countries around the world ignoring Israeli court rulings or filing indictments against Israeli soldiers and officers.

High-ranking officials said that Netanyahu would meet with key ministers this week on whether to cooperate with the UNHRC investigation. The decision could ultimately be made in the diplomatic-security cabinet.

A decision to cooperate with the committee would represent an about-face in Israel's policy toward the Goldstone report: Until now, Jerusalem has resisted recognizing the legitimacy of either the report or the UNHRC. But officials in the foreign and justice ministries believe Israel must cooperate with the new probe in order to influence its findings.

Moreover, they argue, the new panel's mandate is not one-sidedly anti-Israel, as that of the Goldstone Committee was, nor are its members seen as holding particularly anti-Israel views.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said last week that he hopes to create a "review panel" to monitor investigations conducted in both Israel and Turkey over the May flotilla raid. Ban said he hopes the committee will include one representative from each of the two countries. Eight Turkish citizens and one Turkish-American were killed in the incident.

Ban reportedly told Netanyahu the panel could help prevent other international attempts to take legal steps against Israel over the raid and obviate the need for an emergency session of the UN General Assembly or Security Council on the incident. Ban also reportedly described the initiative as "a clear Israeli interest."

Netanyahu is expected to accede to the UN chief's request, but also to insist that the panel not begin its work before the Turkel Committee - the Israeli panel investigating the raid - finishes its report.

The third international committee of inquiry into Israel's conduct was set up by the UNHRC in Geneva to probe the flotilla incident. That panel is charged with determining whether Israel violated international law and committed war crimes in taking over the Gaza-bound vessel.

I HOPE THIS MAKES YOU SICK

2010-07-11T15:57:00.010+01:00

HOMELESS, THANKS TO ISAREL

Are people still angry? Are you still outraged? Yeah, here I come to ruin your Sunday World Cup Final party. As you go out into your kitchen, and pull open the fridge door for a nice cold drink, remember this:

But lets have a dose of reality by remembering that 24,145 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israel. How many Israeli homes have Palestinians demolished? Answer=Zero!

Now let's look at this in the context of other Israeli aggression, shall we? Like the endless bombings in Gaza, more homes destroyed, along with Hospitals, schools and places of worship. Not to mention all those dead civilians and children. How about all the businesses that have had to close, thanks to the evil rogue state? How about all the people who have died needlessly because they can't get out for medical treatment that could easily save their lives? What about the children being born sick due to the chemicals Israel showered down upon the entire population? What about the disfigured and burnt people, or those now confined to life in a wheelchair because their legs are missing, thanks to Israel.

This is one big massive ethnic cleansing project, be it removal of homes, death or disfigurement. It's all meant to take land off of Palestinians and reduce their population. Ethnic cleansing by removal or murder. Remember these statistics below, never forget, never stop caring, never stop fighting for justice, never stop working for a free free Palestine!!

link 0 Israeli homes have been demolished by Palestinians and 24,145 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israel since 1967.

In addition to the homes demolished by Israel, thousands of Palestinian homes have been destroyed or significantly damaged by Israeli bombing and shelling. On the flip side, while Palestinians have not demolished any Israeli homes, there is one known case of a Palestinian destroying an Israeli home in an explosion.

“Any humanitarian looking at the sheer number of innocent civilians who have lost their homes can only condemn Israel’s house demolition policy as a hugely disproportionate military response by an occupation army... It is a policy that creates only hardship and bitterness, and in the end can only undermine hope for future reconciliation and peace.”

– Peter Hansen, Commissioner General of UNRWA

Statistics Source: The Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions estimates that 24,145 houses have been demolished in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza since 1967 (as of July 4, 2009). (Read ICAHD's latest analysis of demolished homes (pdf format).

Summary of Israel’s Home Demolition Policy
B’Tselem
Excerpts from “Through No Fault of Their Own,”
Nov 15, 2004.
(Read the Synopsis and Full Report.)

Watch B’Tselem Video on Home Demolitions

“During the course of the al-Aqsa intifada, which began in September 2000, Israel has implemented a policy of mass demolition of Palestinian houses in the Occupied Territories. In that period, Israel has destroyed some 4,170 Palestinian homes.

“The IDF carries out three types of house demolitions. Most are carried out in the framework of what Israel calls ‘clearing operations,’ which are intended to meet what Israel defines as ‘military needs.’ These operations take place primarily in the Gaza Strip: along the Egyptian border, which passes through Rafah and its refugee camps; around settlements and army posts; alongside roads used by settlers and IDF forces; and in the northern part of the Gaza Strip [...]

“The second type of demolition are administrative demolitions of houses built without a permit. These demolitions take place in Area C in the West Bank, where Israel retains authority over planning and building even after the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, and in East Jerusalem. [...]

“The third kind of house demolitions are those intended to punish the relatives and neighbors of Palestinians who carried out or are suspected of involvement in attacks against Israeli civilians or soldiers. These punitive demolitions are intended for the homes in which these suspects lived. However, in many cases, adjacent homes are also destroyed.”

IRELAND TAKES STAND AGAINST ISRAEL

2010-07-11T12:41:00.003+01:00

GO ON IRELAND!!!
No, you evil rogue state, you do not get to steal our identities and passports to murder people you don't like. You don't get to have access to information about all our citizens so you can harm them and drag us into your war mongering psycho world of hatred. We say "no" to Israel!!

link Ireland is seeking to stop a European Union initiative that would enable Israel to receive sensitive information about European citizens, due to concerns about the use that Israel would make of this information, the Irish minister for justice said over the weekend.

In what may be another blow to Israel's international status, Dermott Ahern said that since Israel allegedly used forged Irish passports to carry out the hit on Hamas official Mohammed al-Mabhouh in Dubai, Israel should not be allowed access to this data.

Under a plan put forward at the beginning of the year, the European organizations for protecting individuals' privacy agreed that Israeli companies and European companies should be able to exchange information about customers.

For example, this would mean that an Israeli customer of a local cell phone company, say, Pelephone, would be able to use his phone to connect to the Internet, say, in Italy, and the Italian telecom would be able to receive his personal data from Pelephone and charge his account accordingly. The same would be true for people with European cell phones in Israel who wanted to use Israeli networks.

In addition, multinational corporations would be able to entrust Israeli companies to secure their databases, and the data could be stored on servers in Israel. Plus, information about employees could be passed freely between European and Israeli branches of the same company.

In agreeing to grant this access, the EU authorities decided that Israel had proper information protection systems in place.

However, the plan still needs to be ratified by the government of each individual EU member country before it can take force.

Guess what? This means you need Ireland's vote for this to pass

Currently, passing data between Israel and Europe is dependent on explicit contracts, which fund many a lawyer's income. The initiative would do away with one of the last remaining trade barriers with Europe.

HAVING YOUR CAKE AND EATING IT TOO

2010-07-09T12:17:00.003+01:00

Dear misguided America, stop being a doormat for Israel, and stop helping them to create and fill more illegal settlements. You send them 3 Billion a year whilst your people cannot afford Health Care or housing. They drag you into war after war, have ruined your standing in the world and still this is not enough. They've now got another way to use America, you see, America is not good enough to actually live in, but because they can make more money in America, they work in the US and live in Israel, where they spend the money they make in America, off of Americans. So read this then ask youself how does it feel to be used and abused like a doormat:

link On late Saturday nights at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, a handful of regulars on the El Al flight to New York gather and wave to each other in recognition. They make this trans-Atlantic journey every week, returning each Friday morning to be home with their families for Shabbat. They belong to a small but growing subculture of mostly Orthodox American men who have moved with their families to Israel but have kept their jobs in the United States.

The group estimates that some 20 to 30 percent of the more than 16,000 Americans of working age who moved to Israel in the past five years are commuters. In cities like Raanana and Modiin, which are home to large Modern Orthodox American communities, there is a critical mass of such families. Danny Block, 46, a dentist who maintains his practice in Forest Hills, Queens and has done so for the past four years, though he says this is not a permanent situation. “The point is to live in Israel. I’m not doing it because I’m nuts.”

Among the “ultra-commuters,” as Block calls his tribe, are doctors, lawyers, real-estate brokers, school principals, and small-business owners who work all over the country, from Los Angeles to Baltimore.

Even with the relatively high cost of flying and the expense of maintaining two households, the math still adds up in favor of commuting, the families say. Some of the commuters are in frequent-flyer programs and get free trips. Some live with roommates or crash with family members to keep costs down while they are in the United States.

Salaries are significantly lower in Israel. “The joke is whatever you make in the United States, take off a zero,” said David Gichton, 47, an anesthesiologist from Baltimore who made aliyah last summer. Physicians, for example, who make up a significant number of the commuting population, estimate that many of them, particularly specialists, who can command $200,000 to $300,000 salaries in the United States would make about a third of that in Israel. A family doctor earning about $100,000 in the United States could expect about half as much.

“There is a very big support system,” said Esther Morris, 43, and a mother of five living in Raanana, a city near Tel Aviv. “It’s become a lifestyle,” Morris made aliyah in 2004 from Boca Raton, Florida. Her husband, a physician, used to fly back there two weeks of every month. Recently he left his practice and began work as an American company’s medical director, which has allowed him to commute less frequently and spend more time in Israel.

In Hashmonim, a settlement just inside the West Bank, roughly half the families come from the United States and other English-speaking countries. Gigi Tover, who made aliyah six years ago from Los Angeles, figures about a third to even one half of those have a commuting spouse.

Her husband, meantime, “continues with his regular contacts and a salary much higher than the one he would have in Israel. “But I hope this is not the 21st-century version of aliyah. I would love Israel to have the type of economy that can sustain its citizens. I just don’t understand how Israelis live on the average income here.” The median yearly household income is $37,000. In the United States it is just over $50,000.

Like so many similar commuters, Gichton would eventually like to work more locally. “That’s the hope, but the reality of the situation is that you have to pay to put food on the table,” he said.

ANOTHER SELF HATING JEW

2010-07-08T12:42:00.002+01:00

Israels constant aggression, murdering and refusal to respect international laws is creating more "Self Hating Jews" here's the latest hero to join the ranks for justice:

link Jewish actor Dustin Hoffman halted arrangements to attend the Jerusalem Film Festival in the wake of the Gaza flotilla clash, one of the organisers has claimed.

Meg Ryan has also pulled out of the event, which begins in Jerusalem on July 8 and is expected to attract more than 70,000 people.

The associate director of the Cinematheque, the location of the annual festival, told the Jerusalem Post he had been “very close to reaching an agreement” for Mr Hoffman to appear at the event.

Yigal Molad Hayo said: “Then the flotilla happened and correspondence was ended.”

He said arrangements for the When Harry Met Sally star to visit the city had “all been closed with her people,” when the flotilla raid happened in May.

Mr Molad Hayo said: “A day after we got an email saying she was not going to attend.

“Although they claimed it was because she was too busy, it was clear to me that it probably had something to do with what had happened.”

He said it was sad that “many people are swayed by the political situation.”

MUST SEE IDF RAID

2010-07-05T18:55:00.001+01:00

On Sunday July 4th at 2:30am three IDF jeeps invaded Bil'in village searching for Bil'in resident Jaber Mustafa Abu Rahme. It was unclear why they had come looking for him. They came to the first house with battering rams, knocking again and again, then the commander gave an order to break down the door. At this point a man who had been asleep opened the door. They asked for his ID and determined that he wasnt the man they were looking for. After checking their maps the soldiers went to another house of an American english teacher who works in the village. They searched her house and then left.

WE INVENTED IT

2010-07-05T13:04:00.004+01:00

So you can't fool us, don't even try it:

link The term ‘occupation’ conjures up painful memories in a land forced to endure centuries of English conquest.

The etymological origins of the term "boycott" are being dug back out of the bog of Irish history due to recent events in Gaza. Pro-Palestinian campaigners in Dublin delight in recounting how a certain Capt. Charles Boycott was socially ostracized for serving as estate manager for an absentee landlord during the bitter "Land War" that raged on Ireland's windswept Atlantic coast in the late 19th century. "Today the Irish must send a message to the Israelis - we invented boycotting and we're still bloody good at it," bellowed one rabble-rouser at a recent rally in the Irish capital.

The event had been billed on every available lamppost as a public debate - "Israel: Is Boycott the Answer?" - but the few critical voices evidently found convenient excuses to duck out, leaving a cocky, young Jewish student from New York to utter the only pro-Israel sentiments.

He'll soon learn Ireland is not America LOLOL, more:

To say Irish eyes aren't smiling on Israel would be an immense understatement. A Southern Irish vessel (the MV Rachel Corrie ) was among those intercepted by the Israel Navy and its crew were instantly hailed as national heroes. Dublin's doddery and dwindling Jewish community stays shtum about what is now, alongside Sweden, probably the most pro-Palestinian state in Western Europe.

And Damn proud of it!!

The only pro-Israel demonstrations on this island have been staged by Christian Zionists, but they are to be found in sizable numbers only in British-controlled Northern Ireland. Bible-bashing Protestants up in Belfast - whose slogan is "no surrender" - stem from (mainly Scottish Presbyterian ) settlers: Steeped in Old Testament scripture, their 17th-century ancestors, the Covenanters, believed they were creating a "New Israel" and colonized Catholic land in the north of Ireland with a bloody ferocity that would make even the modern Israeli settler movement flinch.

Anti-Zionist fervor on the European Union's westernmost fringe had already been inflamed by Irish passports being forged in the recent assassination of a Hamas leader in Dubai. In response, the Irish duly copied their former imperial overlords in London by expelling an Israeli diplomat. Earlier this year, Dublin's foreign minister, Michael Martin, defiantly slipped into Gaza via the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing after Israel denied him entry to the enclave.

Why do the Irish get so agitated about a small sliver of land in the Middle East that most of them have never clapped eyes on? Gathering anti-Zionism across the globe is part of the explanation, but the real answer lies in the deep historical scars on this small country's collective psyche. The term "occupation" conjures up painful folk memories in a land forced to endure centuries of English conquest. The Irish instinctively side in any conflict situation with whoever they perceive to be the underdog.

Wrong-o, we side with those who are oppressed, tortured, have their land stolen are murdered by the state, who hunger for freedom and justice and equality. got it?

Gerry Adams, a northern Catholic who has led the Irish Republican movement for four decades, donned a kaffiyeh when he went to the Holy Land to make a TV documentary about Jesus earlier this year. More recently, he likened the shootings aboard the Mavi Marmara to Bloody Sunday, when members of the British parachute battalion shot dead 13 demonstrators on the streets of Derry. His comparison could not be more timely or emotive, coming on the back of an official UK inquiry which has finally, after 38 years, concluded that the British Army's actions on that day were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

Still, Israel's Foreign Ministry will be keeping a close eye on Ireland, which has always punched above its weight in Brussels.

Go on Bairbre DeBrun!!!!

It may step up its diplomatic effort in Dublin when Evrony moves on to a new posting in the autumn. Some would like to see this cautious career diplomat replaced by a more serious political appointee, although there is a severe danger that any emissary selected by the Netanyahu government could antagonize the Irish further. Whoever becomes the new ambassador here would do well to remember the words of that rabble-rouser: The Irish invented the boycott and haven't lost the knack for it.

RACIST COMPUTER

2010-07-04T23:46:00.001+01:00

sorry, not about Palestine, but this is the weirdest thing ever

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

2010-07-03T22:29:00.004+01:00

Well this is not something you see everyday. Good ole American politics, you have the Democrats, majority up the arse of Israel due to all those nice fat AIPAC donations. And then you have the Republicans, almost 100% up the arse of Israel because they hate Muslims, love Jesus, (and everyone knows you can't love Jesus and love Muslims, so they believe) they also support the slaughter in Iraq, Afghanistan and any other country where they can send their sons and daughters to kill people who are not exactly like they are. But, there is a shifting of the sands apparently. Not all the Pugs are into tea parties evidently there are a few who, despite their war mongering bigoted ways towards all non born again, flag waving neocons, are starting to think about America, instead of Israel. This could spell trouble for the evil rogue state.

Michael Steele, the RNC Chair, is a Republican lite, and now he's under attack from the AIPAC Israeli loving war mongering loonies in his own party. But, other lites are coming to his defense, and starting to question why Republicans have their head so far up the arse of Israel, instead of supporting America first. Good Question! I smell trouble in paradise:

I see the neocons have their "Stand with Israel" group going. I'm not an Israelophobe, but how about a "Stand with America" group instead? These same America-hating neocons are now out to get RNC Chair Michael Steele.

Why are these neocons upset with Steele? He "gaffed". In the political world, a "gaffe" means lurching uncontrollably into the truth.

Perhaps Mr. Steele might be out of touch with the minority of Republican neocons who doth protest too much. However, he is in touch with the majority of Americans. Furthermore, it's rather insulting to watch a bunch of chickenhawks explain how Michael Steele is undermining the troops. Supporting the troops shouldn't be conflated with support for keeping them in harm's way in perpetuity. I can think of nothing better for we disabled veterans than to stop adding to our numbers at once.

sorry, can't bring myself to post the rest of the article as I despise the Pugs, but the point is that even to the Pugs, America comes first, and the more they grasp that their blind support for Israel takes them away from their own country's interest the better. If you have the stomach for the rest of the article it can be found HERE

SCORE ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS

2010-07-03T22:11:00.004+01:00

A group of radical activists who broke into an arms factory near Brighton last year causing damage of up to £180,000 ($275,000) were acquitted by a British court last week after a jury found them not guilty of causing criminal damage.

In a lawsuit which began last October, seven British activists claimed they were legally justified to break in and sabotage the factory of EDO MBM Technology near Brighton, the south coast of England, in January 2009, at the time of Operation Cast Lead.

Believing that the company was breaking export license regulations and exporting arms components to Israel, the activists, heralding from a group called “Smash EDO”, said they wanted to “slow down” the manufacture of components that were allegedly being sold to Israel.

The protesters threw computers and filing cabinets out of the factory windows and smashed machinery using hammers claiming they were seeking to prevent “Israeli war crimes in Gaza.”

The seven admitted breaking in and causing the damage but were acquitted after the jury found them not guilty of conspiring to cause criminal damage, despite also video-taped interviews of the activists which outlined their intention to cause criminal damage and “smash up” the factory.

The activists used the “lawful excuse” tactic as defense – committing an offense to prevent a more perceived serious crime because EDO was “complicit in war crimes.”

Judge George Bathurst-Norman told the jury: “You may well think that hell on earth would not be an understatement of what the Gazans suffered in that time.”

EDO managing director Paul Hills denied in court that the company supplied components to Israel but said they did make parts for F-16 planes.

Judge George Bathurst-Norman said that, despite Hill’s denials, it was clear that there was enough evidence to the contrary and said that the certificates required for arms export licenses were “not worth the paper they are written on” as they can be easily manipulated.

According to The Guardian, the judge highlighted the testimony by Green Party MP and anti-Israel activist Caroline Lucas who had tried to justify the action by saying “all democratic paths had been exhausted and, crucially, that their actions were driven by the responsibility to prevent further suffering in Gaza.”

And "Ho Hum, Yawn" of course Israel is peeved:

Israeli ambassador to Britain criticizes judge

Israel’s ambassador to Britain, Ron Prosor said that this was not a great era for the British justice system.

“After reading the judge's statement, there is no doubt that this is not a great era of the British justice system. I assume that Sderot's children, who have lived under thousands of missiles, for years, will be able to enlighten the judge as to the meaning of “hell on earth”.

“I am convinced that the judge would have ruled differently had he been sitting in the Sderot youth cultural center, rather than on Brighton's sunny shores,” the ambassador said.

Sorry but HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa as if that canb e compared to 1400 dead in 22 days, including almost 400 children. Oh how they lvoe to play the "victim" more whinging and paranoid hasbara:

“What we have here is yet another example of how the hysterical campaign against the State of Israel is not merely resulting in gross injustice against the Middle East’s only western-style democracy, (sorry but again HaHaHaHaHaHaHa) it is undermining western-style democracy at home,” said Robin Shepherd, from the London-based think tank Henry Jackson Society and author of ‘A State Beyond the Pale: Europe’s Problem with Israel’.

“Bigotry does not merely cause pain and suffering to its victims, it degrades its perpetrators from within. The rule of law itself is now under threat in Britain, and judges and juries are applauding as it goes,” Shepherd said.

After verdict, one of the activists, Robert Nicholls, 52, told the Guardian: “I’m joyful really, at being a free man...we just wanted to do something that would make a real difference to the people of Palestine.”

“I’ve felt very peaceful all the way through the trial because I'm proud of what I've done. It was the right thing to do,” another activist, Ornella Saibene, 50, said.

“We’re very happy that a jury of ordinary people confronted with the facts recognised that our actions were justified,” Saibene told the Bristol Evening News. “Presented with the facts of what was going on in Palestine they have backed our action. It's a victory for justice and for both British and Palestinian people.”

On Friday, two more of the activists were acquitted Elijah Smith, 42, and Chris Osmond, 30.

Osmond, an anti-Israel activist from a group called 'Boycott Israeli Goods', said the destruction was because of EDO’s “illegal supply of weapons” to Israel.

Prior to the attack, Smith said on the group’s website that he was going to going to “smash up the factory to the best of my ability.”

“I don't feel I'm going to do anything illegal tonight, but I'm going to go into an arms factory and smash it up to the best of my ability so that it cannot actually produce munitions and these very dirty bombs that have been provided to the Israeli army so that they can kill children. The time for talking has gone too far. I'm not a writer, I'm just a person from the community and I'm deeply disgusted,” Smith said.

Smash EDO campaign spokesperson Chloe Marsh accused Israel of committed “genocide” and called for EDO directors to be tried for war crimes.

“The citizens of Britain are no longer prepared to stand idly by whilst Israel commits genocide with the backing of our own government. Brighton is a peace messenger city. EDO is an obscenity that must be removed from Brighton and the directors of this foul company ought to be tried for war crimes by the International Criminal Court,” she articulated.

THERE'S ALWAYS ONE ASSHOLE

2010-07-02T22:34:00.004+01:00

Wow, just Wow! The American state of New Jersey, you know the state where all that corruption went on, where 44 people were arrested including a gang of Rabbis selling human organs on the black market and money laundering to the tune of 1.5 million? Yeah, THAT New Jersey has, wait for it.............elected a new mayor, and wait for it...............he's a Muslim!! And he was elected in a predominately Jewish area:

link Democrat Mohammed Hameeduddin Is First For Bergen County; Residents Mostly Agree: 'He's American, Right?'

Voters in Teaneck have chosen the first Muslim mayor in Bergen County.

And while he said his religion wasn't a factor, it's still a major mark of tolerance for a place with a huge Jewish population.

sounds good so far, let's keep going:

"He seems to be somebody who is putting Teaneck first and not necessarily religion first, looking at what's good for the community, which is what he is supposed to do," resident Shari Baran added.

Good, now let's keep going...

Teaneck has 14 synagogues and lots of stores catering to the town's large Jewish population. And now they have a new mayor, Mohammed Hameeduddin, who is Muslim.

"What's wrong with that?" asked resident Art Ekelchik. "He's an American citizen. Isn't he? That's all that counts, right."

Ooops, starting to slip a wee bit there, with that "He's an American Citizen isn't he?" remark.......but let's keep going because I think we are about to head south:

An employee of a local kosher bakery said: "I'm not happy about it. I don't think it's right, but everyone has a chance to be whatever they want. But Muslims are against us Jews and I think it's horrible," Eddie Loeb said.

See? there's always an asshole, told you so!!

THE RAPING OF PALESTINE

2010-07-02T22:30:00.002+01:00

Israel steals Palestinian gas reserves, no surprise there, it's what evil rogue states like Israel do, steal, murder, break international law and stick their middle finger up to the civilised world:

IT JUST DOES YOUR HEAD IN

2010-06-30T15:53:00.004+01:00

As Israel readys its apartheid armies to tear down more Palestinian homes for a Jewish Tourist Attraction. Fatah perpares to meet Ehud Barak. The word "insanity" springs to mind:

link A Palestinian official announced Wednesday that Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad will meet with Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak in the coming days.

Ghassan al-Khatib, spokesman for the Palestinian government in Ramallah, told Xinhua that though no date has been set for the meeting, he expected it might be held in the next few days.

NAZI BORG OBSTACLE TO PEACE

2010-06-30T15:45:00.003+01:00

Well folks, there at it again, doing what they do best. Destroying peoples lives and inflicting racist apartheid polices on all thsoe they deem lesser human beings.Palestinians have no peace partner:

link Calling Israel "an obstacle to peace", EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday criticized Tel Aviv's "King's Garden" plan and called on Israel to refrain from measures undermining the ongoing peace talks.

Under the controversial plan, 22 Palestinian homes in Silwan area will be destroyed to make way for a tourist park.

CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD

2010-06-30T15:02:00.002+01:00

HAMAS DON'T GIVE IN ON SHALIT From Desertpeace
In the final analysis, Hamas has a huge moral responsibility toward thousands of Palestinian families whose children are languishing in Israeli concentration camps and dungeons.

Needless to say, these people have spent the prime of their lives in Israeli prisons so that their people will be able to live in dignity and in order to maintain the hope for freedom and liberation from evil Zionism.

Hence, we must not hesitate to proclaim and reassert the Palestinian position in this regard, namely that Shalit must stay behind bars as long as Israel insists on keeping our men, and women and children behind bars.
Commentary by Khalid Amayreh

The cruel Israeli regime is organizing a fresh campaign to demand the release of one of its occupation soldiers, detained in a secret Gaza location.

The new campaign, publicized by the Jewish-controlled media in Europe and North America, is assuming many expressions, including protests led by the soldier’s family, a propaganda ship organized by the American Jewish followers of the Nazi-minded rabbi Meir Kahana, and a call by happy-go-lucky French President Nicolas Sarkozy for the unconditional release of the Israeli soldier.

This is the same Sarkozy who kept silent during the murderous Israeli onslaught against the defenseless people of Gaza eighteen months ago. He is now invoking humanitarianism and charity as if the thousands of Gaza children, men and women, annihilated or maimed by the Israeli army were non-humans.

It is true that Gilad Shalit is not being accorded a five-star treatment. But this is not due to any presumed sadistic urges on Hamas’s part to torment the young soldier who is likely to have the blood of many children on his hand.

In Israel, it is difficult to find an adult Israeli male whose hands have not been stained with Palestinian blood. After all, Israel is a society of murderers and child-killers. It is a society whose members Zionism has transformed into racists, cannibals and Nazi-minded murderers and child killers.

Indeed, were it not for the fact that Israel has been making constant and meticulous efforts to discover his whereabouts and liberate him by force, there is no doubt that Hamas would allow the International Commission of the Red Cross, even his family, to visit him.

But Israel, a country that murders peace activists on high seas and then calls the cold-blooded murder “armed confrontations with terrorists,” can’t be trusted.

Palestinians have had a long and bitter experience with Israeli treachery. This is why Hamas can’t allow itself to make the slightest risk in this regard. Yes, one might sympathize with Shalit at a certain human level. However, Shalit is only one person while the entire Palestinian people are held hostage by an evil regime that can only be compared with history’s worst.

There are, of course, other aspects to this sensitive issue. Israel detains thousands of Palestinian political and resistance prisoners in its dungeons. And as the recently-freed Palestinian Islamic leader Sheikh Nayef Rajoub revealed, many of these prisoners are being subjected to Medieval savagery at the hands of those claiming to be “a light upon the nations.”

For those who have forgotten, Shalit was taken prisoner in battlefield. Moreover, had Israel succeeded in carrying out a rescue operation, he would have most likely got killed.

This is probably the endgame that Israel wishes for its imprisoned soldier. A dead Shalit would be a Hasbara bonanza for the Zionist propaganda machine. On the one hand, it would allow Israel to torture and kill more Palestinian political prisoners (several Palestinian prisoners died recently due to torture, medical negligence and other causes). It would also absolve Israel from freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as demanded by Hamas and insisted by the vast bulk of the Palestinian masses, irrespective of their political orientation.

To be sure, Hamas had been negotiating in good faith with Israel, hoping to reach a dignified breakthrough that would see the repatriation of Shalit to his family in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees to their families. That would be a win-win formula for everyone.

However, the Israeli government consistently and arrogantly rejected this logical proposal, making racist arguments which even the leaders and ideologues of the Third Reich didn’t dare to make.

For example, Israeli leaders routinely invoke the mendacious canard that the Judeo-Nazi state cannot free prisoners who have Jewish blood on their hands. Well, what about the thousands or tens thousands of Israelis who have Palestinian, Lebanese and now Turkish blood on their hands? Is non-Jewish blood less red than Jewish blood?

Israel doesn’t dare indulge in a genuine argument in this regard. The reason is simple. Israel views the blood and lives of non-Jews as insignificant, at least in comparison to Jewish blood and Jewish lives. Just try to have a brief conversation with a rabbi and you will be more than shocked hearing what he will be saying in this regard.

In any case, Hamas must not show the slightest sign of fatigue vis-à-vis Israel because the lives and freedom of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are at stake. Hamas has been successfully managing this Shalit affair for over three years. Israel committed untold massacres and has been imposing a manifestly criminal siege on 1.7 million human beings, in the hope of creating a crack in Hamas’s wall of steadfastness. But neither Israeli pressure, nor western conspiracy, nor Arab collusion and Palestinian Authority treachery, have succeeded in pressurizing Hamas to give in or give up.

In the final analysis, Hamas has a huge moral responsibility toward thousands of Palestinian families whose children are languishing in Israeli concentration camps and dungeons.

Needless to say, these people have spent the prime of their lives in Israeli prisons so that their people will be able to live in dignity and in order to maintain the hope for freedom and liberation from evil Zionism.

Hence, we must not hesitate to proclaim and reassert the Palestinian position in this regard, namely that Shalit must stay behind bars as long as Israel insists on keeping our men, and women and children behind bars.

This position may not be popular in New York and Paris. But why show the slightest concern about what Paris and New York think in the firs place. They have always been and continue to be our direct or indirect tormentors. Our responsibility is first and foremost toward these tortured Palestinian prisoners and their suffering families who have kept our national just cause alive.

In a nutshell, our prisoners are not children of a lesser God

ISRAEL UPSET AT ITS NEW NAZI IMAGE

2010-06-29T11:08:00.004+01:00

Posted by Desertpeace

Yesterday I posted a piece which made reference to Israel’s Foreign Minister being a nazi… Today Israel sent a protest to an Egyptian newspaper for publishing a cartoon linking Israel to nazis…. Instead of protesting, perhaps they should stop acting as such.

The Toon in question (BTW, By Carlos Latuff)
See his statement in the article that follows….

Israel protests Nazi cartoon
Egyptian caricature published by ruling party’s newspaper features swastika-bearing flag

Reuters

The Israeli embassy has sent a complaint to the newspaper of Egypt’s ruling party about a cartoon that linked Israel and Nazis, an unusual step from a mission that tends to ignore its Egyptian media critics.

Al-Watani al-Youm (the National Today) published a cartoon on June 15 showing an aid ship apparently bound for Gaza being grabbed by an octopus carrying an Israeli flag with a Nazi swastika in place of the Star of David symbol.

The weekly is the mouthpiece of President Hosni Mubarak’s National Democratic Party.

“The Israeli Embassy chose to comment on this caricature specifically because of the comparison between Israel and Nazism,” spokeswoman Shani Cooper-Zubida told Reuters.

“There are a lot of anti-Semitic comments and caricatures in the Egyptian media that we prefer not to comment on. This one didn’t present legitimate opposition to Israeli policy, but defamation,” she said in an e-mailed response.

“Using the Nazi swastika symbol in the heart of the cartoon, and even the idea of using it, is an insult to humanity and is tantamount to an anti-Semitic statement,” said the letter sent to the newspaper and that was passed to Reuters by the embassy.

Editor Mohamed el-Alfy defended his newspapers position in an editorial saying it was a matter of freedom of expression.

Source

~~~~~

Israeli mission complains over Egypt press cartoon
CAIRO (Reuters) – The Israeli embassy has sent a complaint to the newspaper of Egypt’s ruling party about a cartoon that linked Israel and Nazis, an unusual step from a mission that tends to ignore its Egyptian media critics.

Al-Watani al-Youm (the National Today) published a cartoon on June 15 showing an aid ship apparently bound for Gaza being grabbed by an octopus carrying an Israeli flag with a Nazi swastika in place of the Star of David symbol.

The weekly is the mouthpiece of President Hosni Mubarak’s National Democratic Party.

“The Israeli Embassy chose to comment on this caricature specifically because of the comparison between Israel and Nazism,” spokeswoman Shani Cooper-Zubida told Reuters.

“There are a lot of anti-Semitic comments and caricatures in the Egyptian media that we prefer not to comment on. This one didn’t present legitimate opposition to Israeli policy, but defamation,” she said in an emailed response.

The cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, a Brazilian, said in an email to Reuters: “The Israeli ambassador could show the same interest, that he shows for my cartoons, for the lives of the activists lost in the Freedom flotilla.”

“Allegations of anti-Semitism are a well-known strategy of the Israeli government and its supporters in order to neutralise any criticism against the Israeli apartheid. These malicious allegations will not prevent me keeping on making my cartoons on behalf of the brave Palestinian people,” he added.

Egypt in 1979 became the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel, but ties have often been chilly. The storming of a Gaza aid flotilla in May by Israeli forces in which nine activists died drew Egyptian and world criticism.

The flotilla had sought to break an Israeli blockade of Gaza. Egypt, the only Arab state to border Gaza, had been criticised by the Arab public for also imposing restrictions on border crossings. Those restrictions have now been partially lifted.

“Using the Nazi swastika symbol in the heart of the cartoon, and even the idea of using it, is an insult to humanity and is tantamount to an anti-Semitic statement,” said the letter sent to the newspaper and passed to Reuters by the embassy.

Editor Mohammad el-Alfy defended his newspaper’s position in an editorial, saying it was a matter of freedom of expression.

Egypt’s president and other officials hold frequent meetings with top Israelis, but the government is often critical of Israeli policies.

Egyptian media and the public are more vocal critics, particularly over Israel’s dealings with Palestinians. The flotilla raid drew critical articles in Egypt’s press.

(Reporting by Yasmine Saleh, editing by Edmund Blair and Peter Graff)

Source

ISRAEL STEALS OUR BOAT

2010-06-23T12:33:00.002+01:00

LINK Gaza aid ship Rachel Corrie may never be returned to Irish
Irish activists say it's unlikely that Israel will return their boat. Peace activists who were on the Rachel Corrie have said they do not hold out much hope of ever getting the ship back after Israel continues to detain the vessel indefinitely.

Campaigners believe that the boats are being held by Israel in order to deter further activists from attempting to block the state’s naval blockade of the coastal territory.

Two other vessels that were detained and held by Israeli authorities remain in Israel with an indefinite fate. The Arion has been sitting in the Israeli port of Ashdod for a year and its fate remains unclear while the Challenger 1, which was detained just days before the Rachel Corrie, remains in Israel.

"We are in the process [of trying to get the ships back] but that is done through the international stage," said Derek Graham, the first mate of the Rachel Corrie.

Graham remains undeterred, though, in his efforts to break the naval blockade of Gaza:

"The next flotillas are planned for September but the operations are so big you can't hold them to a date," he said.

Ireland-Israeli diplomatic relations are thought to be nearing an all-time low after the Irish government expelled an official for the Israeli Embassy over the passport-faking scandal.

ANOTHER ISRAELI PROPAGANDA FAIL

2010-06-21T20:03:00.004+01:00

ANOTHER ISRAELI FAIL PROPAGANDA MISSION
We have a good one for you today. Anyone remember the major propaganda mission where Israel used the Haiti disaster to try and deflect away from Gaza? how quickly they mobilised and shot into gear then proclaimed themselves humanitarian hero's to the world. Whilst back at home in the Middle East they continued to treat Palestinians living in Israel and the West Bank as 2nd class citizens by demolishing their homes and shooting and beating them. The Palestinians in Gaza remain in what the world describes as an open air prison in starvation condition under an illegal siege of collective punishment. This on the heels of Cast Lead which left 1400 dead, including almost 400 children. Yeah, Israel, the king of human rights.

So, now the mighty propaganda hasbara team have another big idea, but as always, it's another "FAIL" as there is a big "Israeli" problem. First check this out:

Israel gets rare opportunity to lead an international battle against violation of human rights: A convention of the Kimberley Process, an initiative that has been fighting against trade of blood diamonds since 2000, will open on Monday in Tel Aviv and representatives from dozens of countries will gather to discuss the recent trouble with Zimbabwe.

The Kimberly Process, with Israel as its current president, has aimed at putting an end to trade of blood diamonds, and ensuring that diamonds that are sent to jewelry companies across the world are extracted in a fair process

Ooops not so fast there little Israeli hasbara people, you forgot one big fat glaring thing, THIS:

Lev Avnerovich Leviev is a Bukharian-Israeli[2] billionaire businessman, with a net worth of roughly $1.5 billion following the 2008 global financial crisis.[3] Leviev has been described as one of the wealthiest Jewish individuals in the world [4] and has been a major philanthropist for Jewish causes in Eastern Europe and Israel.[5] His diamond mining investments in Angola and his investments in Israeli settlements have been the target of protests.[6]

New York Magazine reported in 2007 that a security company hired by Leviev had been accused by a local human rights group that year "of participating in practices of 'humiliation, whipping, torture, sexual abuse, and, in some cases, assassinations.'[14] Leviev did not directly respond to the charges, but noted his charitable activities in Angola.[14

And here's more on how he treats his Blood Diamond employees:

link Support Striking Namibian Workers at Lev Leviev Diamonds! Protest Firing Threats, Abusive Managers Management at Lev Leviev Diamond Polishing Company (LLD) in Windhoek, Namibia is threatening to fire 153 diamond polishers who have been on strike since June 19th protesting abusive managers as well as overdue job appraisals, promotions, wages and outstanding overtime pay. The company, owned by Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev, whose companies are already a target of global condemnation for building Israeli settlements in the West Bank in violation of international law, has suspended the 153 strikers and is threatening to begin disciplinary hearings to fire them, claiming the strike is illegal.

Also Sabbah wrote about Mr Blood Diamond in 2008 HERE

Israel cares about "Human Rights" and "Blood Diamonds" sure...yet another Israeli Propaganda FAIL!!!!

THE SAGA CONTINUES AND WE ARE WINNING

2010-06-21T19:52:00.003+01:00

AWESOME:

LINK Victory as protesters and union block Israeli ship unloading at Oakland Port

June 20, 2010 In a historic action and unprecedented action today, more 800 worker and community activists blocked the gates of the Oakland docks in the early morning hours, prompting longshore workers to refuse to cross the picketlines where they were scheduled to unload an Israeli ship.

From 5:30 am to 9:30 am, a militant and spirited protest was held in front of four gates of the Stevedore Services of America, with people chanting non-stop, “Free, free Palestine, don’t cross the picket line” and “An injury to one is an injury to all, bring down the apartheid wall".

Citing the health and safety provisions of their contract, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union workers refused to cross the picketline to report for duty. more after this:

Between 8:30 am and 9:00 am, an emergency arbitration was conducted at the Maersk parking lot nearby, with an “instant” arbitrator called to the site to rule on whether the workers could refuse to cross the picketline without disciplinary measure.

At 9:15 a.m, after again reviewing the protests of hundreds at each gate, the arbitrator ruled in favour of the union that it was indeed unsafe for the workers to enter the docks.

To loud cheers of “Long live Palestine!” Jess Ghannam of Free Palestine Alliance and Richard Becker of the ANSWER Coalition announced the victory. Ghannam said, “This is truly historic, never before has an Israeli ship been blocked in the United States!”

The news that a container ship from the Zim Israeli shipping line was scheduled to arrive in the Bay Area today has sparked a tremendous outpouring of solidarity for Palestine, especially in the aftermath of the Israeli massacre of volunteers bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza on May 31.

With 10 days advance notice of the ship’s arrival, the emergency Labor/Community Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People was set up. On June 16, some 110 people from unions and community came to help organise logistics, outreach and community support. Initiating organisations included the Al-Awda Palestine Right to Return Coalition, the ANSWER Coalition, the Bay Area Labor Chapter of USLAW and the Bay Area Labor Committee for Peace & Justice.

The Labor/Community Committee in Solidarity with the People of Palestine also included: Arab American Union Members Council, Palestine Youth Network, US Palestine Community Network, Arab Youth Organization, MECA -- Middle East Children's Alliance, Students for Justice in Palestine, Arab Resource and Organizing Center, International Action Center, International Solidarity Movement, San Jose Peace and Justice Center, International Socialist Organization, Peace and Freedom Party -- SF, Transport Workers Solidarity Committee and many labor activists in the Bay Area.

This week the San Francisco Labor Council [see below] and Alameda Labor Council passed resounding resolutions denouncing Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Both councils sent out public notices of the dock action.

The ILWU has a proud history of extending its solidarity to struggling peoples the world over. In 1984, as the Black masses of South Africa were engaged in an intense struggle against South African apartheid, the ILWU refused for a record-setting 10 days to unload cargo from the South African Ned Lloyd ship. Despite million-dollar fines imposed on the union, the longshore workers held strong, providing a tremendous boost to the anti-apartheid movement.

Today’s Oakland action, in the sixth largest port in the United States, is the first of several protests and work stoppages planned around the world, including Norway, Sweden and South Africa. It is sure to inspire others to do the same.

The goal is for a 24-hour shutdown of the docks where the Israeli ship is docked, so the protest is planned again for 4:30 pm. more after this:

San Francisco Labor Council Resolution regarding the attack on the Gaza Aid Flotilla, calling for an independent international investigation, and opening of the Gaza border
Adopted June 14, 201

Whereas many labour organisations, including:

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)

International Dockworkers Council (IDC)

International Federation of Journalists

Public Services International (PSI)

Education International (EI)

Trades Union International -- Building, Wood, Building Materials & Allied Industries

Australian Council of Trade Unions

Canadian Union of Postal Workers

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) -- Ontario

Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and National Union of Mineworkers (S. Africa)

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

Irish Congress of Trade Unions and IMPACT, Ireland's largest public and services union

Maritime Union of Australia

National Union of Journalists in UK

Greek General Confederation of Labor (GSEE)

Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU)

Swedish Dock Workers Union

Norwegian Dock Workers Union, and Norwegian Labor Federation LO

Trades Union Congress UK

UNISON, the largest public sector union in Britain

UNITE, Britain's largest union

U.S. Labor Against the War

Arab American Union Members Council

Bay Area Labor Committee for Peace & Justice

International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU), Local 10

Alameda County Central Labor Council

have condemned the May 31st Israeli commando attack on the Gaza Aid Flotilla, which killed at least nine unarmed people and seized and detained some 700 passengers and crew. Many of these labor organizations, as well as the U.N. and Amnesty International, have also called for an independent international investigation of the attack and for a permanent opening of the Gaza border in accordance with international law; and

Whereas the Elders, a group started by Nelson Mandela including six Nobel peace prize winners (former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, former US President Jimmy Carter, detained Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and former Archbishop Desmond Tutu) described as "completely inexcusable" the Israeli attack on the Gaza Aid Flotilla and stated: "This tragic incident should draw the world's attention to the terrible suffering of Gaza's 1.5 million people, half of whom are children under the age of 18," and also noted that "the treatment of the people of Gaza is one of the world's greatest human rights violations and that the blockade is Š illegal"; and

Whereas the aid carried on the ship was strictly humanitarian in nature, containing materials such as wheelchairs, medical, school and building supplies and non-perishable foods -- items that Israel has refused to allow into Gaza since 2007, or only in insufficient amounts to meet the pressing needs of Gaza's people; and

Whereas the military assault on the Gaza Aid Flotilla was carried out in the dead of night in international waters in violation of accepted norms of state conduct regarding use of the open ocean for non-military purposes; and

Whereas, in solidarity with the people of Gaza, the Swedish Dock Workers Union is refusing to work Israeli ships from June 22-29, and the Norwegian dock workers have agreed not to work Israeli cargo from June 15-29 -- in response to the attack on the Gaza Aid Flotilla; and

Whereas the San Francisco Labor Council has previously adopted two resolutions calling for the lifting of the blockade against Gaza.

Therefore be it resolved that the San Francisco Labor Council join the long list of labor organizations around the world and the International Committee of the Red Cross, in condemning the unwarranted May 31st attack by the Israeli military on the unarmed humanitarian aid flotilla sailing in international waters; and

Be it further resolved that the council join the UN, Amnesty International, ITUC, COSATU and the many other labor and civil society organizations in calling for an independent international investigation of the attack on the Gaza Aid Flotilla; and

Be it further resolved that the council reaffirms its position in calling on Israel to lift the blockade, so the people of Gaza can have normal communication, travel and commerce with the rest of the world; and

Be it finally resolved that the council communicate this resolution to affiliated unions, area labor councils, community allies, the California Federation of Labor, the AFL-CIO, Change to Win, all members of the House and Senate who represent the jurisdiction of this council, and to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

[Resolution adopted near-unanimously by the San Francisco Labor Council at the regular delegates meeting held June 14, 2010 in San Francisco, California.]

SIRAELI SHIP BLOCKED AT CALIFORNIA DOCKS

2010-06-20T22:55:00.003+01:00

Three Gates Blocked to Israeli Ship NOW @ Oakland Docks; Live Webcam Updates

Update 1 - Now 500 people blocking 3 gates.

Update 2 - Longshoreworkers meeting with arbitrator

Update 3 - Longshore workers going home for the 1st shift.

Comment: The alliance of organizations was much bigger than ANSWER. It included many Palestinian families (what a wonderful Dad's day gift) the Middle East Childrens Alliance, many unions e.g. teachers, various Bay Area left groups, Jewish Voice for Peace, Veterans for Peace, Code Pink etc.. Some oosters have accused ANSWER of anti-semitism or being anti-Jewish; this was not evident this morning. The messaging was focused and monitored; it focused on Israeli policies. There was no anti-semitism or anti-Jewish signs or symbols.

This could be history; a first in the United States; joining actions in many countries.

Just left the Oakland Docks where 300 people are blocking the entrances to two gates into the berth where the Israeli Zim cargo ship is to be unloaded. The action started this morning at 5:30am PST. The longshore workers are scheduled to start their shift at 7:00 and 8:00 am this morning.

When the workers find the way blocked with a labor-community picket they will meet and vote as to whether to cross that picket line. As I left the West Oakland BART station people were continuning to slowly stream in and shuttles were taking people to the picket line. BART will start operating at 8 am.
live updates here if available

MUST SEE AMERICA BECOMES FACIST STATE

2010-06-20T14:44:00.003+01:00

When peaceful protesting against Israel becomes a threat to the state.

The Joint Terrorism Task Force Division of the FBI Visits an Austin Peace Activist to Question About Pre-Crimes! On April 21, 2010, two agents of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) came to my house to talk to me, a part time peace volunteer for Palestine. After verifying that they really were with the FBI, I asked them to wait. I shut my door, took a deep breath, and grabbed my video camera. PLEASE see this HERE

FROM GAZA TO IRELAND AND BACK

2010-06-18T18:59:00.003+01:00

From Ireland's Bloody Sunday martyrs to those of Palestine

link After 38 years, the martyrs of Bloody Sunday have been vindicated in an investigation that has spanned more than a decade. The Bloody Sunday Inquiry released its ten volume report on 15 June 2010, exonerating the 13 massacred and scores of others injured during a march organized by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association in Derry on 30 January 1972. The report laid blame where it rightfully belonged: with those British soldiers who committed the atrocity. When shall the martyrs of Palestine be vindicated and the blame rightly placed on the door of Apartheid Israel?

The final Report released by the Bloody Sunday Inquiry situates the massacre within the historical context in which the dreadful event occurred. Looking at events leading up to Bloody Sunday, as well as Northern Ireland’s struggle with the British government during that time, one will find parallels between its actions and that of Apartheid Israel. Parallels will be found not just between the actions committed against Palestinians, but also by the Apartheid Entity’s treatment of internationals supporting the Palestinian struggle against occupation, suppression, repression and for the right of self-determination.

The British government proclaimed direct rule over Northern Ireland, which was followed by resistance in all its forms to end domination, occupation, subjugation and repression. Similarly, Apartheid Israel proclaimed direct military rule over the occupied Palestinian Territories in 1967 and Palestinian resistance followed in the footsteps of the Northern Irish resistance. The people of Northern Ireland wanted the right to govern themselves, and the Palestinians continue to want a state to call their home.

In 1971, the British government banned nonviolent protests and began a policy of internment without the right to trial. Apartheid Israel has a long standing history of interring Palestinians without trial. One need only look at the various reports issued by human rights groups inside and outside of Palestine, international governmental organizations such as the United Nations, or nongovernmental organizations such as the Carter Foundation for the statistics on the harsh treatment and lack of due process afforded to Palestinian detainees by the Apartheid Entity.

Another policy implemented by the British government in the 1970s was a ban on protests. During times of direct Israeli-Apartheid military occupation, protests were often banned and Palestinians interred. Following an end to direct military rule of the Palestinian territories, protests and marches have occurred where Palestinians and internationals were stopped and incarcerated. People need only look to this year’s Palm Sunday protest in the West Bank for an example and they may recall that not only did the Apartheid Entity detain internationals and Palestinians but a horse and donkey were also held. There have been many other incidents over the span of 62 years where Palestinians have suffered from not only interment, but also expulsion and systematic extermination through small and large scale campaigns of intentional targeting by the Apartheid Entity.

While the United States condemned British action during Bloody Sunday and supported resistance to British colonization of Northern Ireland, it, among some others in the International Community, has supported Apartheid Israel’s occupation of Palestinians, a policy of the internment of Gazans that began following the Apartheid military’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the systematic killing of Palestinians in the name of so-called security. Should we have really expected a different reaction from the United States and some others in the International Community?

The reaction by some states in the International Community are similar to the reactions during the rule of the South African Apartheid Government, the events following the win of the democratically elected Islamic Salvation Front and those afterward in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Algeria. History, however, demonstrates that a combination of support from at least some states in the International Community and concerned humanitarians worldwide led to the convening of commissions to investigate state actions.

The Bloody Sunday Inquiry was commissioned in 1998 under the Trial of Inquiry Act of 1921. It was established to uncover the truth of the events that occurred leading up to and on the day of the Derry March in 1972; however, it was not the first commission established. The first commission was established on the day following the massacre. Its biased findings were released 11 weeks later, where upon the commission claimed that shots had been fired at British soldiers, who in turn responded killing 13 and injuring scores of others. One later died of the injuries sustained, thereby bringing the total number of martyrs to 14. Following the 1972 commission, the British government regretted the massacre and the report of the first commission justified the actions of the British soldiers, implying they were taken in the name of security.

Apartheid-Israel’s government claimed it regretted the actions taken by its soldiers with the Freedom Flotilla, but claimed there was no choice. Action against the flotilla was taken in the name of security; unarmed men, women and children accompanying humanitarian aid violate the security of the Apartheid Entity. A careful perusal of statements issued by the Apartheid Entity from 1973 to the present, using any newswire database, one will find utterances of regret for having to take actions against the Palestinians. These expressions of regret are given only following international criticism of its actions, while simultaneously placing the blame upon those martyred or injured. Apartheid Israel failed to participate in the Tribunal convened following its massacre of Palestinians during the 2008-2009 Gaza War. It has, however, with pressure from the International Community, including the United States, agreed to convene a commission to investigate the Freedom Flotilla Massacre.

Will the Apartheid's commission end in a manner similar to the first Bloody Sunday Commission? Will the commission be quickly concluded and biased? Will the commission take more than a decade like that of the second Bloody Sunday Inquiry? There is another question that should also be asked: why have states in the International Community pressured the Apartheid Entity to convene and participate in a commission to investigate the events on the Freedom Flotilla, but not for it to participate in an investigation of the massacre of Palestinians during the Gaza War? Are the states that represent us in the International Community declaring that the lives of Palestinians are not equal to that of others? Will concerned humanitarians worldwide continue allowing their governments to assign unequal values to life, liberty and justice?

Maybe the silence concerning the massacre of Palestinians by some states in the International Community is because they have their own bloody history. Regardless of whether that is the case, history demonstrates that when concerned humanitarians join forces against policies of domination, occupation, subjugation and repression, the people are triumphant and governments are forced into action. Like the martyrs of Bloody Sunday, one day the martyrs of Palestine, including those internationals who have given their life or were injured, will be vindicated and commemorated worldwide. They will be forever remembered for their heroic actions because the voice of the voiceless will not relent until injustice is reversed and justice as prevailed, and until the Gaza siege has been completely lifted and a Palestinian state declared. The battle will be long and hard, but one day Palestinians and concerned humanitarians from around the world shall overcome.

THAT HORN

2010-06-18T16:32:00.004+01:00

South Africa better hold onto it's Vuvuzela:

link If the Jews ever lose the Shofar during Yom Kippur, the Vuvuzela is a solid back up. Re-name it the Jewjewzela.

UN SLAMS ISRAEL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

2010-06-18T16:25:00.000+01:00

UN team calls for end to systematic rights violations by Israel in occupied territories

18 June 2010 – A three-member United Nations body has called for an end to human rights violations by Israel in the occupied territories of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the Syrian Golan Heights, after hearing from dozens of witnesses during a recent visit to the region.

“The testimonies that we have heard attest to a failure to address the long-standing pattern of serious violations of human rights,” said Ambassador Palitha Kohona of Sri Lanka, who serves as Chairman of the UN Special Committee on Israeli Practices in the Occupied Territories.

“Victims of the systematic and often arbitrary restrictions on human rights and basic freedoms have the right to see justice prevail,” he added. “Violations must cease.”

Mr. Kohona’s comments came at the end of a 13-day fact-finding visit to Cairo, Amman and Damascus, during which the Committee heard from witnesses from across the occupied Palestinian territory and the occupied Syrian Golan, recounting their first-hand experiences of life under occupation.

Witnesses from Gaza stressed the urgency to put an end to the deliberate assaults on the civilian population, according to a news release issued in Damascus.

They spoke about not being able to reconstruct homes and schools destroyed during Israel’s 2009 military offensive, due to the three-year-old blockade imposed against Gaza, as well as the alarming situation of the water and sanitation systems, which has serious implications for the health of Gaza’s 1.5 million residents.

Testimonies from the West Bank highlighted issues of forced displacement, settler violence, home demolitions and evictions, notably in East Jerusalem, and the targeting of peaceful activists.

The Committee also heard about discriminatory policies relating to, among others, the continuing violations of the right to freedom of movement resulting from the Gaza blockade, the separation barrier, checkpoints, roadblocks and other physical obstacles; restricted access to education, health and water resources; and the treatment of prisoners, including over 300 children, held in Israeli jails.

Regarding the occupied Syrian Golan, testimonies highlighted settlement building and problems in the fields of education and health, which witnesses and officials said were aimed at altering the Syrian Arab identity of the population under occupation.

The Committee also heard about an unequal and discriminatory distribution of water between Israeli settlers and Syrian inhabitants, as well as the ongoing threat resulting from Israel’s failure to clear landmines in the area, and the ill-treatment of prisoners from the Golan held in Israeli jails.

Members of the Committee, which also include Ambassador Hamidon Ali of Malaysia and Momar Gueye from the Permanent Mission of Senegal to the UN in Geneva, also met with the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan and Syria, and with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, during their visit.

The Committee will present its report to the General Assembly, which set up the body in 1968, in November with its observations and recommendations to improve the human rights situation for those living under the occupation. source

TURKISH STATEMENT ON FLOTILLA INVESTIGATION

2010-06-16T20:53:00.005+01:00

The following is from the Turkish Foreign Ministry:

Regarding the Investigation Commission of Israeli Raid against the Freedom Flotilla

Israel's declaration that it will establish a commission, composed of Israeli citizens and two foreign observers, in order to investigate the Israeli raid against the Freedom Flotilla does not in any way meet Turkey's clear demand or international community's expectations, which were expressed in the Presidential Statement of the United Nations Security Council.

Israel does not have the authority to assign a national commission to investigate a crime perpetrated in international waters. An inquiry to be conducted by such a commission cannot be impartial, fair, transparent and credible.

Turkey has indeed already agreed to the proposal by the UN Secretary General to establish an international commission to be composed of one Turkish, one Israeli and three international experts. We strongly condemn Israel's disregard of this proposal to date.

We expect that the international community, above all, the USA that lost a citizen of her own, support this constructive proposal by the UN Secretary General and take action in that direction without delay

More:

And here is the text from the UN Security Council document pictured above:

10-38279 (E) 010610
*1038279*

Statement by the President of the Security Council

At the 6326th meeting of the Security Council, held on 1 June 2010, in
connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “The situation in
the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, the President of the Security
Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries
resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation in
international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza. The Council, in this
context, condemns those acts which resulted in the loss of at least ten civilians
and many wounded, and expresses its condolences to their families.

“The Security Council requests the immediate release of the ships as well
as the civilians held by Israel. The Council urges Israel to permit full consular
access, to allow the countries concerned to retrieve their deceased and
wounded immediately, and to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance
from the convoy to its destination.

“The Security Council takes note of the statement of the UN Secretary-
General on the need to have a full investigation into the matter and it calls for
a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to
international standards.

“The Security Council stresses that the situation in Gaza is not
sustainable. The Council re-emphasizes the importance of the full
implementation of Resolutions 1850 and 1860. In that context, it reiterates its
grave concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and stresses the need for
sustained and regular flow of goods and people to Gaza as well as unimpeded
provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.

“The Security Council underscores that the only viable solution to
Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an agreement negotiated between the parties and
re-emphasizes that only a two-State solution, with an independent and viable
Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its
other neighbours, could bring peace to the region.

“The Security Council expresses support for the proximity talks and
voices concern that this incident took place while the proximity talks are
underway and urges the parties to act with restraint, avoiding any unilateral
and provocative actions, and all international partners to promote an
atmosphere of cooperation between the parties and throughout the region.”

PROBLEMS

2010-06-16T12:48:00.001+01:00

Hey people we're not gone just having computer problems!! We will all be back to posting on Thursday after the computer doctor performs his surgery LOL

NO WAY

2010-06-14T14:22:00.002+01:00

In Ireland, we are not having it. This farce of an "investigation" into the murders of the Mavi Marmara civilians by the people who committed the murders and their newly added so called "international" observer pals. We have so much to "tell" about the "new friends" assisting Israel in the farce. So do check back tomorrow when we lay out all the surprises for you. But for now this:

link The Republic's minister for foreign affairs Micheal Martin will renew calls for an international probe into Israel's bloody raid on the Gaza aid flotilla when he meets with EU counterparts

Mr Martin has requested that the deadly May 31 attack be added to the agenda at the monthly gathering of foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

"The key issue on the foreign policy side is Gaza and the Middle East peace process, in the aftermath of the Israeli seizure of the humanitarian flotilla," a spokeswoman said.

"The Minister will stress the need for a credible, transparent international investigation of the events, and re-emphasise the urgent need for Israel to lift the blockade to ease the humanitarian suffering of the people of Gaza."

Meanwhile, campaigners have called for a boycott of Israeli goods until the blockade ends.

ISRAEL MAKES PARTY FOR ITSELF

2010-06-11T22:42:00.002+01:00

Well, this is just the most insane thing ever, and the FUNNIEST THING ever!! Israel is depressed, poor little Israel. Major entertainers are cancelling their gigs again and again. No one wants to be associated with the evil rogue state, even more so after the Flotilla massacre. The pariah state is depressed, never mind, Israeli government to the rescue. How you say? Why they are giving a concert for themselves, to cheer themselves up. And no, I'm not kidding. How sad and pathetic these people are:

source Gov't plans mass 'morale lifting' concert. Culture Ministry, Tel Aviv City Hall organizing voluntary show meant to cheer up public following cancellation of foreign artists' performances. The international hostility toward Israel following the Gaza flotilla incident, along with the cancellation of many performances by foreign artists, prompted the government to organize a morale-lifting concert in Tel Aviv.

Ynet learned that the Culture Ministry and Tel Aviv City Hall were planning a massive concert meant to lift the national morale following the harsh consequences of the flotilla incident.

But heres' the best bit, the Israeli taxpayers will pay for it. So, in other words they are paying themselves to cheer up. Hard to type laughing so hard right now. here it is:

However, the large production is estimated to cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of shekels, and possibly millions

GOOD BAD AND UGLY NEWS 11 JUNE

2010-06-11T22:06:00.004+01:00

THE GOOD:

Rabbi That Filmed Helen Thomas's Gets 25,000 Hate Emails, well done to all who sent them, send more, keep em coming!!!

THE BAD:

And in Canada a strange mental disorder has taken hold of the government which has actually placed a band called the "Pixies" on a terrorist list? Why? Because they cancelled a concert in Isra-Hell, no shit, read it here I expect Canada will be adding Leprechauns and Faires to the list next.....

THE UGLY:

America, becoming a cesspool of racist bigots read THIS

ISRAEL PISSES OFF JOURNALIST-PRICELESS

2010-06-11T21:35:00.005+01:00

Australian journalist Mike Carlton has had enough and is taking on the Zionist Lobby attacking him:

It is a ferocious beast, the Jewish lobby. Write just one sentence even mildly critical of Israel and it lunges from its lair, fangs bared. ''I rejoice every time a f---ing Palestinian dies, f--- them!!!! Israel should flatten Gaza with a nuclear strike and be done with it,'' said one of hundreds of Jewish emailers this week. ''How dare you insult Israel you over priviledged [sic] racist white moron, f--- you and your stupid article. I wish I could smash your dumb face in.''

The stupid article was last week's column, which suggested that Israel's attack on the Gaza flotilla was lethal idiocy and that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was an unprincipled thug addicted to the use of military force.

WELL SAID!!

Few of the emails were as brisk as that one. Many, though, were nakedly racist, such as this from a man named Schwarz. ''Do Jews do drive-by shootings every other day like in Sydney's south-west? Do Jews or Arabs make up a large proportion of the Australian jail population? Do Jews gang rape young girls in Sydney?'' he mused.

Others like to threaten. A travel agent from Double Bay drafted an apoplectic denunciation and circulated it to his friends. ''The more of us write with a copy [sic] to The Sydney Morning Herald, the more chance we may have that the Herald will change its one-eyed view of the situation and give us a more balanced reporting and maybe even sack Mike Carlton,'' he said hopefully. One of his chaverim mistakenly forwarded it to me.

It's standard operating procedure for the lobby to hurl accusations of anti-Semitism with that peculiar Israeli blend of paranoia and belligerence. ''That you are happy to indulge in hate-mongering makes you quite the sadist,'' wrote a man from Melbourne. ''Your article gives you away as an anti-Semite and as much as you may hide behind the guise of a pro-Palestinian humanitarian, your Holocaust revisionism in comparing the conflict of the modern era to the systematic extermination of the Jews shows your true colours.''

That is just plain dumb. My Jewish friends would confirm that I am not a sadistic, anti-Semitic, hate-mongering Holocaust denier. But I did enjoy the sneers about my manifold failings as a journalist. ''You are a cheap hack making money out of lies,'' was typical. ''Journalists are generally recruited if they have an IQ larger that their shoe size,'' was another. Yuk yuk, guffaw.

None of this is accidental. The Israel lobby, worldwide, is orchestrated in Jerusalem by a department in the Prime Minister's office with the rather Orwellian name of the Ministry for Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs. Less than 24 hours after the attack on the Mavi Marmara, the ministry hit the internet with ''important talking points'' for Jews around the world, the first of which was - surprisingly - that ''the Palestinian people are not under blockade''.

''Write letters to your local newspapers, comment on blogs and news websites, call in to radio programs and post links to social networking sites to help spread the real version of events,'' urged the deliciously named Mr Ronen Plot, the Ministry Director-General.

more here

DEJA VU

2010-06-10T23:35:00.001+01:00

Please watch this all the way though:

HEAD BANGING

2010-06-10T14:50:00.005+01:00

Countless Movies, books, documentaries, not enough. What can I say, it's the Holocaust again. The world can never pay Israel enough, gotta keep giving to Israel, and giving and giving and giving and giving for all of eternity, because they are the only victims in the entire world:

Britain appointed its first-ever envoy to deal with post-Holocaust issues on Wednesday. Foreign Secretary William Hague announced that Andrew Burns, a former ambassador to Israel, would take the job. Hague said Britain is committed to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and will support efforts to make sure that the lessons of this period in history are not forgotten. He would also take part in education efforts and promote remembrance and research about the Holocaust.

Burns' appointment was applauded in Israel.(No really????????????)

"We think it's a very positive and important step ... and we wish him a lot of success in his work in promoting Holocaust education and fighting for the rights of the survivors,"

So what about a special Envoy to deal with the Irish holocaust? Our population was halved three times in History. Oh sorry, only Israel is a victim.

THEY ARE WATCHING YOU

2010-06-10T10:33:00.003+01:00

UK is part of this European surveillance programme to "watch" and gather details of people like us who support a free and independent Palestinian state and who speak out against Israel and it's tactics and war crimes. Why dont they "get it?" We are not "Radicals" what we ARE is a massive group of international people who are sick to death of Israel being allowed to do whatever it likes without consequences! Without having to adhere to the same laws as everyone else, who get away with stealing peoples identities and passports to commit murder, to be unanswerable to war crimes, to be allowed to have nuclear weapons, hide them, jail their scientists for admitting this fact and who are NOT required to even sign the Nuclear Non Proliferation treaty and to make peace with ALL their neighbours!! To STOP bringing the world into war after war!! What right does Isarel have to make the entire world a danger for ALL of us??? All people like us want is for Israel to stop receiving special treatment, to pay for their crimes, to make peace with it's neighbours, to agree to the 67 borders as the America, the UN and EVEN Hamas want in order to agree a peace deal and future Palestinian state!! Seriously, if they want to get rid of us then force Israel to do the right thing, that's all any of us want! I wonder how many of these "watchers" are assigned to watch the Zionist neocon nutters who fund and arm the radical settler groups who steal more Palestinian land and make peace impossible???

link Police keep tabs on activists from across the political spectrum, documents obtained by EU civil liberties NGO reveal

The UK is taking part in a European surveillance programme which is designed to gather personal information about suspected "radicals" from across the political spectrum.

Confidential documents reveal how an initiative to gather data on "radicalisation and recruitment" in Islamic terrorist groups has been expanded to incorporate other organisations.

Political activists who have no association with terrorism could now find themselves monitored by authorities mandated to discover information about their friends, family, neighbours, political beliefs, use of the internet and even psychological traits.

Police and security agencies have agreed to monitor "agents" who adhere to ideologies potentially involving violence. The documents define targets for the surveillance as people involved in "extreme right/left, Islamist, nationalist, anti-globalisation" groups.

Europol, a EU law enforcement agency, has been asked to produce a list of people involved in either promoting such groups, or in trying to recruit members.

The documents, obtained by Statewatch, the EU civil liberties monitoring NGO, set out a programme of "systematic data collection" ostensibly geared towards terrorism. But the inclusion of such a broad array of political interests will add to growing concerns that legitimate protest organisations are being subjected to state surveillance.

In the UK, the police have developed a centralised monitoring apparatus to spy on "domestic extremists", an umbrella term with no legal definition which, in practice, includes law-abiding environmental protesters, anti-war activists, and anti-racist campaigners.

The scheme has a central database held by the national public order intelligence unit, a secretive body funded by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo). Monitoring of political activists is a task filled by the terrorism and allied matters division of Acpo.

The advice lists "environmental extremists" alongside far-right activists, dissident Irish republicans, loyalist paramilitaries, and al-Qaida inspired extremists, as among those "currently categorised as extremist [that] may include those who have committed serious crime in pursuit of an ideology or cause".

The UK government has also been criticised over Prevent, a programme aimed at stopping Muslims being lured into violent extremism. The initiative was branded a mass surveillance project after it was found it was being used to gather intelligence on innocent people who were not suspected of involvement in terrorism.

Under the new, approved, EU scheme, states have acquired a 70-question list on "agents of radicalisation" under their watch. Much of the information presumes a high-degree of intrusive monitoring, obtainable only via covert surveillance techniques, such as phone tapping.

It is assumed, for example, that law enforcement agencies will obtain information about a person's "feelings" about a group that could be "considered as the enemy". One section asks for information about "oral comments" made by targets, while others ask about religious knowledge, behaviour, and socio-economic status.

Under "relevant psychological traits", law enforcement agencies are asked to collate and share information on "psychological disorders, charismatic personality, weak personality, etc". Another question asks: "Is there a prior relationship between the agents? Schoolmates, friends, relatives, shared time in prison, etc."

This latest data-sharing agreement is the culmination of long-standing attempts to create a pan-European database of individuals whom police suspect could cause trouble at large demonstrations.

EU officials, principally led by Germany, have tried repeatedly to widen the shared data on suspected terrorists and serious criminals to include political activists, defined in documents as "troublemakers" who attend "large public gatherings".

The moves were stalled by objections from some member states, including the UK, concerned about civil liberties and data protection. But they reappeared as a firm commitment in the EU's five-year Stockholm programme.

FLOTILLA TAKE ACTION NOW!!!!

2010-06-09T09:47:00.004+01:00

TAKE ACTION!

Please TAKE ACTION and DEMAND that the United Nations launch an independent investigation into the Israeli attack against unarmed relief ships in the Freedom Flotilla. DEMAND that the international community stop simply condemning Israel's brutal and illegal blockade of Gaza - and start doing something to end it!

CONTACT
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon
The United Nations, New York NY 10017
tel: +1 212 963 5012
fax: +1 212 963 2155
email: sg@un.org

For three days as they were held in captivity last week and unable to speak on their own behalf, Israel presented the massacre against civilian passengers on the Mavi Marmara as self-defense against a “lynching.” Now that the passengers are returning to their home nations, the global community is hearing a much different story, not just regarding the May 31st attack but also new allegations of brutality in the treatment of several passengers afterwards once they were in custody inside Israel. Free Gaza is posting these survivor testimonies on our website, and we will continue to provide updates as more passengers share their experiences.

As the passenger accounts trickle in, survivors portray the Israeli military as using excessive and disproportionate force against activists not just on the Mavi Marmara but the other passenger ships as well. Use of tasers, electric shocks, rubber bullets and live ammunition (both on board and from the helicopter hovering above) are documented. Multiple passengers tell eyewitness accounts of soldiers refusing to allow medical treatment of injured passengers, specific and focused targeting of journalists on board and beatings of passengers after their arrival in Israel, causing at least two passengers to need hospitalization.

“Keeping passengers held in captivity so that they could not share their perspective was a deliberate attempt by Israel to cover up what really happened on the Mavi Marmara that fateful night,” notes Free Gaza co-founder Greta Berlin. “They knew what the passengers would be recounting, but they hoped that by delaying the release of their testimony until days after the immediate incident, media coverage would be buried as backpage follow-up stories or dismissed purely as old news.” She adds.

In her testimony, Annette Groth, a German Parliamentarian who was a passenger on Mavi Marmawa validates that assertion saying “The scandal is that we have to fight the Israeli images only with words. The Israelis confiscated all the activists' cameras, computers, and mobile phones.”

These accounts reveal an “alternative narrative” of the attack on the Freedom Flotilla that cannot be reconciled with the Israeli version. CONTACT Secretary General Ban Ki Moon today and DEMAND an independent investigation!

Updated survivor testimonies available here

Testimony from passengers aboard the Freedom Flotilla

Haneen Zuabi
Member of Parliament, Israeli Knesset

“Israel had days to plan this military operation. They wanted many deaths to terrorise us and to send a message that no future aid convoys should try to break the siege of Gaza.”

Sarah Colborne
Director of campaigns and operations, PSC, United Kingdom

"I couldn't even count the amount of ships that were in the water. It was literally bristling with ships, helicopters and gunfire. It was horrific, absolutely horrific. ...Israeli forces handcuffed members of the activists' medical team who were sent to help treat the injured. It was terrifying...If you talked they pointed a gun at you. ...We wrote a sign in Hebrew saying, 'SOS! Need medical assistance. People are dying. Urgent' Hanin Zoabi, who’s a Knesset member, an Israeli Knesset member, took that sign to the front—to the back of the boat, where the soldiers were pointing at her. They ordered her to go back."

Henning Mankell
Bestselling Swedish crime author

"It was an act of piracy. We were actually kidnapped. ...On the ship I was on, they found one weapon: my razor. And they actually came up and showed it off, my razor, so you see what level this was at."

Professor Norman Paech
Member of Parliament (ret.), Germany

"We had not prepared in any way to fight. We didn't even consider it because we knew very well that we would have absolutely no chance against soldiers like this. ...The Israeli government justifies the raid because they were attacked. This is absolutely not the case."

Annette Groth
Member of Parliament, Germany

"It was like war. They had guns, taser weapons, some type of tear gas and other weaponry, compared to two-and-a-half wooden sticks we had between us. [For Israel] to talk of self-defence is ridiculous. ...The scandal is that we have to fight the Israeli images only with words. The Israelis confiscated all the activists' cameras, computers, and mobile phones."

Iara Lee
Brazilian Filmmaker (based in San Francisco)

"(The attack) was a surprise, because it happened in the middle of the night, in the darkness, in international waters, because we knew there would be a confrontation but not in international waters. Their first tactic was to cut all of our satellite communications and then they attacked. All I witnessed first hand was the shooting. They came on board and started shooting at people. ...We expected them to shoot people in the legs, to shoot in the air, just to scare people, but they were direct. Some of them shot in the passengers' heads. Many people were murdered – it was unimaginable."

Jamal El-Shayyal
Journalist from Al Jazeera

"...as this attack started I was on the top deck and within just a few minutes there were live shots being fired from above the ship from above from where the helicopters were. The first shots that were fired were some sort of sound grenades. There was some tear gas that was fired as well as rubber coated steel bullets. They were fired initially and the live bullets came roughly about five minutes after that, after those initial shots were fired.

"There was definitely fire from the air because one of the people who was killed was clearly shot from above. He was...the bullet targeted him at the top of his head. There was also fire coming from the sea as well. Most of the fire initially from the sea was tear gas canisters and sound grenades. But then it became live fire. There is no doubt from what I saw that live ammunition was fired before any Israeli soldier was on deck.

"[From the top deck] you could almost see the soldiers pointing their guns down through some sort of hole or compartment at the bottom side of the helicopter, firing almost indiscriminately without even looking where they were firing and those bullets were definitely live bullets. There was a Knesset member who approached the Israeli soldiers saying we have injured, she was saying they have injured people, please come and take them. Yet the Israelis refused. Three hours later all three of those people that were injured ended up dying on the spot because no one came to take them."

TODAY'S NEWS RUNDOWN

2010-06-08T22:25:00.004+01:00

Perusing the news on Israel today,so much to choose from, it's like a giant pu pu platter, alas have to pick, so here are my favourites to poke fun at:

Israel decides to investigate itself:

The Israeli military said Tuesday it has set up an internal team of experts to examine last week's deadly commando raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla

Seriously, that’s like Bernie Madoff investigating himself on the 65 BILLION fraud he perpetuated. Much like Israel’s victory celebrations after murdering those flotilla passengers, Bernie is now bragging to his cellmates about how he got his victims.

Oh look:

The United Nations nuclear agency is expected to discuss Israel's nuclear capabilities at its board of governors meeting in the Austrian capital, Vienna. It is the first time since 1991 that Israel's nuclear issue is included in the five-day meeting of the International Atomic Engery Agency (IAEA), which began on Monday.

To which the Zionist’s response will be thus: “Anti-Semites, Anti-Semites, Anti-Semites!!!” as usual. A lunatic country who is not content with having enough hidden nukes to wipe out the entire planet. Oh no, now they want MORE weapons from America, the country Israel also intends to drag into the abyss. Israel wants to get busy again, there are still living and breathing non-Jewish people left surrounding it, quick get more weapons:

Israel is seeking arms and ammunitions in bulk from its close ally America, triggering speculation of a possible outbreak of a military confrontation in the region.

One Question: Why are we in this handbasket and where are we going? Next: Israel is facing the music, and not liking it. Good that musicians respond to what lines their pockets……..money!! And how do they make that money? By appealing to the most popular parts of society and responding to those who buy and support their music. Clearly we are winning this battle.

And speaking of music, Rafah crossing has been open for 8 days now. Pssst, there’s a party going on in Egypt. 5,000 Palestinians crossed though and were heard to be singing THIS:

lastly, I will leave you with this

GOOD NEWS~TRISTAN ANDERSON COMES HOME

2010-06-08T12:39:00.002+01:00

BEFORE:

AFTER

After more than a year in a Tel Aviv hospital, Bay Area activist and photo-journalist Tristan Anderson has returned home to California. Tristan was critically injured when he was shot in the head at close range with a metal high-velocity tear gas canister at the Israeli Separation Wall on March 13, 2009, while taking photos following a demonstration against the apartheid wall in the West Bank village of Ni’lin. The shooting caused severe traumatic brain injury and blindness in his right eye. Tristan, 39 years old, has not yet regained the use of the left side of his body and faces a long period of cognitive and physical rehabilitation and remains in a wheelchair. However, in the last several months he has made significant strides forward, including regaining his ability to speak. He is currently staying at his family’s home in the Sierra foothills, and looking forward to reuniting with his extensive community in the Bay Area.

Tristan’s partner Gabrielle Silverman said, “After a very long period of hospitalization, Tristan is ready to finally re-enter the world. His injury has profoundly affected our community and changed our lives. In the winter of 2009, Tristan and I traveled to the Occupied Territories because we had an understanding of the role the U.S. government plays in the Israel/Palestine conflict and power dynamics there. We both support a free Palestine and a just peace and stability in the Middle East and see it as a defining struggle of our generation.

Just prior to the one-year mark of the shooting, Israel released its official report of the incident, calling it “an act of war”, with no concomitant liability, bringing no charges, and then closed the case. An appeal to reopen the investigation has been filed, since the report was inconsistent with the injuries Tristan sustained and with eyewitness testimony. In addition, his parents have brought a civil case against the Israeli military, in part to deal with the lifetime of medical expenses, lost wages and continuing care that Tristan will need as a result of the military action.

On May 31, 21-year-old New York art student Emily Henochowicz lost an eye in a similar act of aggression by Israeli military when she was shot in the face with a tear gas canister at a demonstration in the West Bank. She was protesting the Israeli commando raid on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla during which nine Flotilla human rights activists were killed.

Tristan Anderson has participated as a photo-journalist and as a dedicated activist in a variety of local and international campaigns over the years, including Latin American solidarity work, anti-war activism, involvement in forest campaigns including Headwaters Forest and the 2-year long Save the Oaks tree-sit campaign on UC Berkeley campus, as well as serving food to the homeless with Food Not Bombs for years, and riding with Critical Mass bicycle activists.

http://justicefortristan.org/

MUST READ "GOD'S CHOSEN ROGUES"

2010-06-08T12:31:00.001+01:00

An excellent Op-Ed piece:

GOD'S CHOSEN ROGUES

source
There is no country in the world — perhaps in history — like Israel. It has done wonderful things like turning deserts into lush agricultural farms. It has also turned itself into a singularly evil State. Its resort to cruelty against Palestinians has few parallels in modern history. Its nuclear hypocrisy is unparalleled too.

Israel's greatest exceptionality is the immunity it commands in the world. It can do pretty much what it likes — and get away with it. Other countries get damned by "the international community" for all kinds of assorted sins: India is attacked for not signing the nuclear proliferation treaty; Iran is threatened for following a nuclear policy; Iraq was blown up for possessing nuclear arms it never possessed; China and Russia are criticised for persecuting their dissidents; Serbs and African leaders are tried for war crimes.

Israel commits all these sins, but we hardly hear the international community making a noise about it. Israelis have secretly assembled 100 to 200 nuclear weapons. That makes it the biggest nuclear power in the world after the so-called Big Five ( US, Russia, UK, France and China). The Americans who want all kinds of guarantees and inspection rights to participate even in civilian nuclear power programmes in India actually gave clandestine help to Israel to build its arsenal. That help was channeled through apartheid South Africa with which, officially, the US was supposed to have no contacts. It was a march of multiple hypocrisies all the way.

Immunity and double standards were again in evidence when the Israelis used massive military force to attack multinational aid ships going from Turkey to the Gaza Strip. The world's most persecuted population, huddled in the world's most crowded strip of territory, has been suffering Israeli terror for decades. According to UN estimates 70 per cent of Gazans live on less than one dollar a day, 60 percent have no daily access to water. Hundreds have died for want of medicine.

The ships were carrying water purification systems, wheelchairs, construction materials and so on. Admittedly, there were anti-Israeli and perhaps even jehadi-supporting activists among the 700 passengers on board. But there were also scientists and journalists and an archbishop and three German MPs. There were citizens from the US, UK, Australia, Sweden, Greece, Canada, Belgium, Ireland. These were the people who were attacked by machinegun-wielding Israeli commandos who dropped down from helicopters. Some of the commandos were attacked as they slithered down the rope. Israel cited this to describe the commando attack as "self-defence."

Israel gets away with international criminal activity on one strength, and one strength alone: American support. Obama, aware of this, had made promises of an even-handed approach to Israel. But that was during his glory days of campaigning. In the less-than-glory days of power, he seems to have understood that the American Goliath is slave to the Israeli David. The Jewish lobby is so powerful in America that no President can ignore it and survive. The Jewish lobby has the power to paralyse American economy.

The current Prime Minister of Israel happens to be the most rigidly hawkish in Israeli history. Benjamin Netanyahu, son of a Zionist extremist, considers himself a professional patriot and defender of Jews. He believes, like many of his countrymen, that Jews are God's chosen children.

It is also useful to remember that the concept of using terrorism as a political weapon originated with Jews when they started the Zealot Movement (hence the term) against Roman occupiers in the 7th century. It grew steadily into modern times when, in 1946, the early Zionists bombed the famous King David Hotel in Jerusalem where the British administration had its headquarters.

Netanyahu's Israel can only be a rogue State — and proudly so. World condemnation will mean nothing to it. This can only lead to more terrorism by the terrorised and still more terrorism by immunised State terrorists. One day one patriotic terrorist will use a nuclear bomb. Then?

JEWS BOYCOTTING ISRAEL WELL DONE

2010-06-07T12:13:00.002+01:00

source Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods - A Spearheading New Initiative
by Ruth Tenne
(Sunday, April 1, 2007)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"...the viability of a future Palestinian economy depends significantly on its trading opportunities."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The latest report [1] of the International Development Select Committee regarding the Occupied Palestinian Territories (31 January 2007) makes for very distressing reading. In its section on trade, it refers to the ongoing restrictions in movements and access faced by the OPT, citing an OXFAM [2] report which points out "that transaction costs for Palestinians wishing to export products are up to 70% higher than for Israelis exporting the same product. This market benefit is also true of products produced by Israeli settlers in the West Bank who can get direct access to markets in or through Israel without the disruptive road blocks and back-to-back transfers faced by the Palestinians. In addition, Palestinians face a range of regulations which do not appear to be linked to security. Moreover, the Palestinians are obliged to rely on Israeli intermediaries to transport their goods and therefore, do not pay purchase taxes and customs to the Palestinian Authority, which creates further losses to the economy of 3% of the GDP a year." The report concludes that "the viability of a future Palestinian economy depends significantly on its trading opportunities."

In order to challenge the stronghold Israel has on Palestine and its fledgling economy, a group of Jewish and Israeli residents in Britain was set up as a subsection of the campaign undertaken by Boycott Israeli Goods – BIG. [3] The new group, J-BIG, is an outcome of the deep frustration Jewish peace activists feel towards the inaction displayed by the Jewish community and its liberal wing with regard to Israel's repressive occupation of Palestinian land. J-BIG members believe that Israel's policies "constitute a betrayal of the best trends in Jewish ethical tradition" and operate a form of racism which is reminiscent of South African Apartheid - inflaming hatreds that render impossible the achievement of a just peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. Like ‘Enough!’ - the new coalition of trade unions, peace, faith and human rights organisations in Britain. J-BIG believes that the British Government fails to stand up for the right of the Palestinian people and thus, calls for a consorted grass roots action. Along with the wider BIG campaign, members take part in direct action aiming to prevent the marketing and selling of goods and produce originating from the illegal settlements in the West Bank and from Israeli companies, especially those which are known to profit from the unlawful occupation. J-BIG’s strength is in the fact that being Jewish we are unlikely to encounter charges of Anti-Semitism made frequently by the Jewish community against those who criticise Israel's policies. At the same time, we hope that our stance will act as a "wake- up" call for the Jewish community in Britain and offer some symbolic support to the Palestinians who tend to regard the Jewish community as a keen champion of Israel's policies. We hope that our actions will help attract greater publicity for the BIG campaign. Indeed, a recent picketing of Carmel- Agrexco, an Israeli marketing company, gained much publicity in the Jewish and Israeli press.

Carmel-Agrexco [4] is a 50% Israeli state-owned export company which is responsible for exporting the majority of fruit and vegetables from illegal settlements in the West Bank to the UK. The UK forms a large part of the market for settlement produce, making up 60% of Carmel-Agrexco's total exports. Carmel-Agrexco profits from Israel's illegal occupation and entrenched system of racial apartheid in the occupied Palestinian territories. In the Jordan Valley of the West Bank, Carmel-Agrexco set its farms on confiscated Palestinian land offering Palestinian farmers less than a living wage. Carmel-Agrexco can deliver fruits and vegetables to Europe in 24 hours while the produce of Palestinian farmers cannot get through the illegal Israeli military checkpoints and has to be left to rot in the field.

The picket of Carmel-Agrexco took place shortly before Valentine Day when the demand for Agrexco's flowers are at its highest. Although the number of those picketing was just above 100, the attendance of J-BIG attracted special attention by the Israeli press. Interviewed by the Jerusalem Post, Deborah Fink - the convener of J-BIG, contended: "This is a grass roots action. It is a way the ordinary person can put pressure on Israel... It’s also to tell Jews that what Israel is doing is wrong. What Israel is doing is going against Jewish ethics. Uprooting olive trees is against Jewish law." Although the representative of Carmel-Agrexco-UK dismissed the disruptive action, there is no doubt that such an action has a cumulative effect which help to turn consumers and the public against Israel, whose 2006 bombardment of Lebanon, "summer rain" shelling of Gaza and continued military incursions into the West Bank are etched in the public consciousness. Indeed, the results of a recent worldwide BBC's poll of 28,000 people in 27 countries show that Israel is the most negatively viewed county. 56% of interviewees felt that Israel has a mostly negative influence on the world - a rating which is higher than any other country, including Iran and North Korea (Jewish News 8 March 2007).

J-BIG's campaign however, is not focused on one-off events. It is in the process of launching an ongoing campaign which will put pressure on supermarkets by informing them and their customers about Israel's violation of human rights in the Occupied Territories, and of Israel's use of unethical and exploitative methods in marketing the produce of its illegal settlements in the West Bank - taking advantage of Palestinian labour and produce. In addition, J-BIG members will be requesting supermarkets to clearly label all goods which originate from the West Bank and Israel in order to help consumers make an ethical choice.

An additional aim of J-BIG is to promote Palestinian produce, especially extra virgin, organic, olive oil which is marketed by Zaytoun [5] in accordance with the Fair Trade's code of practice. The olive oil comes directly from the West Bank and from Israeli-Palestinian farmers who suffer from restrictions on their land ownership and use of water resources in Israel, (for a full account of the restrictions and discrimination suffered by Israeli-Palestinians see Susan Nathan's book: The Other Side of Israel: My Journey Across the Jewish/Arab Divide [6]). J-BIG members are promoting the sale of Zaytoun oil by giving it greater publicity through the media and by direct contact with potential vendors . They also aim to improve the market penetration of Zaytoun by selling the oil directly to friends, family relatives and members of the public. Palestine is the origin of the olive tree with some of the oldest olive groves in the world dating as far back as 1500 to 2000 years. This fact combined with the Mediterranean climate, rich fertile soil and the use of organic traditional farming methods makes Zaytoun's Palestinian olive oil a world beating product, with which Israeli olive oil that is produced mostly from younger olive trees, will find hard to compete.

On a political level, members of J-BIG have joined the wider campaign for abolishing the special trade and economic benefits granted to Israel as part of its trade agreement with the European Union . Indeed a significant number of British MPs appear to support this campaign. In February 2007 an Early Day Motion (EDM) submitted to Parliament by Derek Wyatt notes that Israel "has routinely prevented the free movement of Palestinian goods and people and has withheld Palestinian funds from their people...... These and other grievous human rights abuses represent a clear breach of Article Two of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which calls for adherence to human rights." The EDM goes on to commend the International Development Select Committee's recommendation that "the UK should urge the EU to use the Association Agreement with Israel as a lever for change and to consider suspending the Agreement until there are further improvements in access arrangements."

J-BIG and other activists have been writing to their respective MPs and requesting them to support Wyatt's EDM. It appears that the number of British MPs who have been signing the EDM is indeed growing, and the campaign for bearing pressure on Israel is taking root .

Being an Israeli-born citizen I hope, like the rest of my colleagues, that our campaign of boycotting Israel's produce of repression and "fruits of injustice" will successfully spearhead a grass roots action within the Jewish community against a brutal occupation which seeks to stamp out the Palestinians' legitimate aspirations for nationhood.

Notes:

[1]. "Development Assistance and the Occupied Palestinian Territories"
House of Commons - International Development Committee, Published on 31 January 2007 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/
cm200607/cmselect/cmintdev/114/114i.pdf
http://tinyurl.com/3cffjgtarget

[2]. Oxfam International
http://www.oxfam.org.uk

[3]. Boycott Israeli Goods – BIG
http://www.bigcampaign.org.uk

[4]. Carmel Agrexco Agricultural
http://www.agrexco.co.il/
http://www.virtualmarket.fruitlogistica.de/index.php5
id=45551&highlight=&fid=436&offset=0&Action=
showCompany&bmp=945ae36cf31a55e
1392cc50c0ebd2f8a&locale=en_GB
http://tinyurl.com/yv53n5

[5]. Zaytoun
http://www.zaytoun.org/

[6]. "The Other Side of Israel : My Journey Across the Jewish/Arab Divide"
by Susan Nathan
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385514565/mmn-20/

ISRAEL MAKING IT UP AS THEY GO ALONG

2010-06-06T21:21:00.006+01:00

I have to had it to Israel, they wouldn't know how to tell the truth if their life depended on it, they are the kind of lunatics who would keep telling the lie over and over with the truth staring them in the face. Insane people! Check the lunacy:

link Israel released the names on Sunday of the Turkish passengers (there's the first lie) aboard the Marvi Marmara who it claims have been involved in terror activities.

Among those named was Fatima Mohammadi (31), from Iran,(not turkey) who lives in the US (Again not Turkey) and is active in the group Viva Palestine. Mahmadi tried to bring electronic components into the Gaza Strip, which Israel has forbidden. (what electronic equipment? An Ipad????? Israel bans them you know, they are only used by terrorists)

Here's the maths,Israel's proof:
Viva Palestina+Ipad=Terrorist
More utter insanity and bullshit:

Ken O'Keefe (also not Turkish) was also accused by the IDF of having ties to terror. O'Keefe (41), who holds US and British citizenship, was described by the IDF as an "extreme Israel-hating activist, Hamas activist. (sorry but LOLOLOLOLOLOL an ex-US Marine and Gulf War veteran ) and more comedy:His aim was to reach Gaza for training and to set up commando units for Hamas." (Ken was one of the people on board the first boat to break the siege years ago, Israel hates him)

Read about Ken's "deadly weapons" used in Iraq HERE. So according to Israel anyone who uses their "unarmed body" to shield children is a terrorist using a deadly weapon. You know why ole Ken warranted all those Zionist lies being flung at him? Because he was beaten up at the airport by cowardly IDF wankers.

And he's suing Israel and he retained the proof: And Ken, being Irish and smart, did not wash himself or any of the blood off, so when he arrived home (not in Turkey) safely out of the terrorist state of Israel, he was still covered with dried blood which was the proof of the attack he sustained by the Israeli terrorists.

AND ANOTHER COUNTRY IS HEARD FROM

2010-06-06T20:51:00.005+01:00

Apologise for not posting much last few days, we've all been attending the massive protests being held all over Ireland. Dublin, Derry, Belfast and many others this week, one after another, the turn out has been fantastic. Check out London, Ewa is speaking, MORE after this:

And in Dublin activists managed to keep the Israeli embassy closed the other day by surrounding it, does the heart proud.

So, this wee flotilla has opened the flood gate, excuse the pun. It's like the new "must have" thing, Lebanon is sending a boat next week, ECESG has three boats going soon, Viva Palestina is organising one as well as many others. I just read where German Jews are making their own flotilla.And of course we remember that Turkey says it will do another one and it is rumoured that their Prime Minister will be on it

Not to be outdone, here comes the bog boy on the block. Problem solved, got a flotilla? Need some protection? No problem:

link Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards are ready to provide a military escort to cargo ships trying to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

"Iran’s Revolutionary Guards naval forces are fully prepared to escort the peace and freedom convoys to Gaza with all their powers and capabilities,"

The Iranian state news agency IRNA said on Sunday Iran would try to send humanitarian aid to Gaza in ships under an Iranian flag. It said Iran had decided to ditch previous plans to send its aid in ships flying the flag of another state.

"The Iranian humanitarian assistance will include foodstuffs, medicines and medical equipment," the head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society

NOT SO FAST~MV RACHEL CORRIE FLOTILLA

2010-06-05T03:36:00.011+01:00

FALSE REPORTS FILED LAST NIGHT
THE RACHEL CORRIE IS NOT STOPPED, IT'S STILL ON THE WAY TO GAZA!!!

After following the course of the ship and all reports, during a live interview with Irish Passenger Mairead Maguire, the person interviewing her stated that Israeli navy ws approaching and the ended the phonecall. Another hour of reports stated the boat was bing surrounded, (two israeli gunboats and then smaller boats) including one report from a Malaysian passenger. Then Irish Organisations HERE and many reliable sources began confiriming this on Twitter reporting the boat being boarded were CONFIRMED, then began confirming that the boat was not only being boarded but, shortly after that confirmation that it has been "taken" by Israel. That was my last update in the post below it was close to 4AM and I went on to bed. Then 4 hours later I find out the so caled "confirmations" were instead wrong reports by numerous people who and organisations which are usually reliable. This is what I reported at 3:36 AM Irish time but it is NOT TRUE!!!

THE PRIOR REPORT BELOW FROM LATE LAST NIGHT IS TOALLY INCORRECT:

35 miles from Gaza at 3:36 AM Irishtime, been following things for hours now forgot to post it here, apologies. Over the lsat hour two large gunboats arrived, followed by smaller boats, people are having troble contacting the passengers now. Mairead Magurie was doing an interview when the ships apporached the Rachel Corrie. Communications on Rachel Corrie are now jammed I am told now that they are being boarded UPDATE they are currently being boarded right now.

UPDATE, Israel has taken control of the ship

MV RACHEL CORRIE UPDATE

2010-06-04T21:31:00.003+01:00

Latest news is there was just a live interview with the ship and they are now only 80 miles from Gaza. If people recall the Zionist murderers attacked the Turkish ship 90 miles out. Here's the interview:

And in other news the Irish free state government said this today:

04/06/2010
Statement by Minister Micheál Martin on the Rachel Corrie

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin, T.D. has issued the following statement:

“The Government has made clear that it believes that the Rachel Corrie should be allowed to proceed to Gaza and to unload its humanitarian cargo. Those on board the Rachel Corrie have indicated that they are ready to accept inspection of their cargo at sea, prior to docking in Gaza. However, the Israeli government has stated that it is not willing to allow any breach of their naval blockade of Gaza.

As the Rachel Corrie continues to approach Gaza, the Government’s primary concern is the safety of Irish citizens and others on board. We are also conscious of the urgent need to address the humanitarian concerns of the people of Gaza, the desirability of reducing international tensions following the violent storming of humanitarian supply vessels by Israeli commandos earlier this week, and the obligation of States to respect the right to peaceful protest.

Acting on these considerations, I sought through various contacts to secure an agreement which would ensure the safety of those on board the Rachel Corrie, allow them to make their protest, and provide for the delivery to Gaza of the Rachel Corrie’s full cargo.

On Friday morning, an understanding was reached with the Israeli government whereby the Rachel Corrie would have approached the Israeli exclusion zone before accepting diversion to the Israeli port of Ashdod. At Ashdod, the cargo would have been unloaded and inspected under the supervision of UN and officials from the Irish Aid Division of my Department. The entire cargo, including what is understood to be 550 tonnes of cement, would then have been transported to Gaza. Two persons from the Rachel Corrie would have been permitted to accompany the cargo to the Israeli border crossing into Gaza at Erez.

In my view, such an arrangement would have offered a useful precedent for future humanitarian shipments, pending the complete lifting of the blockade.

This proposal was put to those on board the Rachel Corrie who, on Friday afternoon, after careful consideration and having thanked the Government for its efforts, declined to accept it. I fully respect their right to do so and to continue their protest action by seeking to sail to Gaza.

If, as is their stated intention, the Israeli government intercepts the Rachel Corrie, the Government demands that it demonstrate every restraint. Those on board the Rachel Corrie have made clear their peaceful intentions and have stated that they will offer no resistance to Israeli forces. Based on these assurances, there can be no justification for the use of force against any person on board the Rachel Corrie.

The Government also urges the Israeli Government to ensure the transfer to Gaza of the entire cargo of the Rachel Corrie, including cement which is urgently needed for the reconstruction of Gaza. The Government continues to call on Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza. Pending that, Israel should immediately facilitate the import into Gaza of all goods, other than weapons.”

ENDS

04 June 2010

IRELAND HAS BEEN BUSY

2010-06-04T16:44:00.003+01:00

Got the Israeli Embassy closed for the day, up da Irish:

link Members of the Irish Anti-war Movement gathered outside the embassy on Pembroke Road in Ballsbridge last night following a protest and have remained there in an attempt to keep the building closed for the day.

No security staff or officials had arrived at the embassy today. “It looks as if they won’t try to get in while we’re here.”

Calls to the embassy’s reception and press office this morning were not answered.

The protest may resume if the passage of the aid ship MV Rachel Corrie to Gaza was interfered with.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign affairs said the Israeli embassy had been in contact today and that their concerns were passed on to An Garda Síochána.

A Garda spokesman said the protests were peaceful, no arrests had been made and that the situation was being monitored.

REST IN PEACE YOU BRAVE FLOTILLA MARTYRS

2010-06-04T12:30:00.004+01:00

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
(Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!

REMEMBER THEM ALL:

Cevdet Kılıçlar (38)

Necdet Yıldırım (32)

İbrahim Bilgen (61)

Ali Heyder Bengi (39)

Cengiz Akyüz (41)

Cengiz Topçuoğlu (54)

Cengiz Songür (47)

Fahri Gündüz (43)

Furkan Dogan (19) Turkish/USA

ABBAS MORPHS INTO MILITANT

2010-06-04T10:12:00.004+01:00

Tricky situation this; So there's the old no longer legally elected, US Israeli puppet President of Palestine, sitting there wondering how he can claim some of the limelight after the deaths of the Freedom Flotilla civilians. Comes up with this:

link President Mahmoud Abbas granted Palestinian nationality to all participants of the Freedom Flotilla on Wednesday.

"Jerusalem is under siege, Gaza is under siege, Hebron is torn apart, Bethlehem is isolated and our lands are occupied," Abbas said, asking the world

Stunning, This from a man who is directly invovled in keeping Rafah closed for years no less!! More:

"When will this tyranny and occupation end? When will Israel respect the laws of international legitimacy, so bloodshed ends and true peace prevails?"

Answer: When you stop playing party politics, unite with Hamas and all other parties, and then collectively as a Palestinian nation stand up to both Israel AND the US, that's when!

FLOTILLA SURVIVOR STORIES vs ISRAEL

2010-06-03T22:45:00.004+01:00

Although we will never see the video footage filmed by the 36 journalists on board the massacred boat, the truth beings to finally come out, now that the surviving innocent civilians have been freed. There is a website collecting all their testimonies here

Not to be outdone, Israel, as usual, has assembled it's online flying monkey liars to smear the dead and the survivors, do they ever learn? Nah...............

PALESTINE VICTORY, CHECK THIS OUT

2010-06-03T22:03:00.007+01:00

HACKED
Today's comedy. Was just on facebook talking to a friend and noticed all these posts about an Isareli page being hacked, so took a wee look and sure enough, the "I (heart) Israel" facebook page was hacked by Palestine supporters, they've changed the flag, the info and people are generally spamming it with truth and all of Israels crimes, way funny. Here's a few screenshots I took:

check it out here before they fix it.

DAMN MUSLIMS WANT TO CONVERT US ALL TO ISLAM

2010-06-02T14:58:00.001+01:00

Just kidding, actually it's the other way round:

link Ahmed was born to Muslim parents. However, Ahmed was separated from his natural parents and placed with a Christian foster family even though Muslim foster parents were available, including Ahmed’s paternal uncle, who completed all the paperwork and the training required to qualify to provide foster care. More recently, Ahmed has been denied all visitations with his natural parents, even though they continue to seek reunification through the courts.

The foster parents have stated their intent to adopt Ahmed and have apparently begun the adoption process. CAIR-NJ has been informed that Ahmed’s name has been changed and he is being raised as a Christian. DYFS policy specifically mandates the requirements on foster families to continue the religion of the parents or obtain written permission for a child to attend services of a different religion. Such permission has never been obtained from Ahmed’s natural parents.

HEY ISRAEL....GUESS WHAT? WE'RE COMING!!

2010-06-01T21:12:00.005+01:00

THE IRISH ARE COMING TO GAZA BY BOAT!!

Message to Israel:
Are you looking around you? Can you see outside of your self made walled and heavily armed prison? Have you noticed anything? Can you see it? There is a revolution taking place, a worldwide revolution against YOU and your terrorist actions. It comes from all walks of life, all countries, all nationalities, including some of your own people. You murdered some of our brothers already, but you didn't get all of us. Guess what? Now the Irish are coming, we are coming to break the siege by boat. We are coming, we are on the way..........

Remember this Israel; You can kill the revolutionary, But you can't kill the revolution! The siege WILL be broken, and we will KEEP coming until Gaza is free from YOU!

The MV Rachel Corrie is an Irish ship named after the 23 year old American student and member of the International Solidarity Movement who was killed by the Israeli army in March 2003 as she attempted to prevent the Israeli army demolishing a home in the Gaza Strip.

The Rachel Corrie is currently en route to Gaza. The ship was slightly behind the rest of the flotilla due to having to dock in Malta to undergo some engine repairs. It was further delayed on hearing the news of the attack on the Mavi Marmara but made the decision to continue their journey to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

Those sailing on the Rachel Corrie are very clear that they are not seeking a confrontation; they seek only to deliver their cargo and bring hope to the people of Gaza.

[Figures below in tons and not kilos]

5 PASSENGERS FROM IRELAND

Mairead Maguire (66) [Belfast, Ireland]
A Nobel Peace Laureate (l976) and Co-founder of Peace People, Northern Ireland, She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work for peace and a nonviolent solution to the Ethnic/political conflict in Northern Ireland. Mairead has travelled many times to the occupied territories of Palestine to support the nonviolent peoples’ movement for Human Rights, International Law, and Self Determination of the Palestinian people. Maguire was shot with a plastic bullet whilst participating with Palestinians/Israelis/Internationals in a peaceful protest March to the Wall in Bilin, in April, 2007. Mairead went on the maiden Voyage of Dignity in October, 2008, the second successful voyage for the Free Gaza Movement. She was also on Board ‘Spirit’ when Israel hijacked the Boat in International Waters, taking all 2l humanitarian passengers to Israel, where they were arrested, detained for a week in an Israeli prison and then deported.

Denis Halliday [Manhattan, NYC and Connemara, Ireland]
UN Assistant Secretary-General from 1994-98. Appointed by SG Boutros Ghali, he served as ASG UN Human Resources Management in New York and in mid 1997 to end 1998 as Head, Humanitarian Programme in Iraq to support the Iraqi people struggling under the genocidal impact of UN Sanctions. Prior to that, as a development manager, Halliday served UNDP from 1964-94 in Iran, New York Hqts, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Samoa, New York again and finally as head of the UNDP Regional Office in Thailand. Since resigning from the UN in 1998, Halliday has delivered numerous parliamentary briefings, provided extensive media inputs and has given public/university lectures on Iraq, human rights, and the UN, in particular its reform. He was a visiting professor at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and teaches/speaks at universities in Ireland, Canada, UK and USA. Halliday is a graduate of TCD, has an honorary PhD, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and was awarded the UK Gandhi Peace Prize.

Derek Graham [Ballina, County Mayo]
Derek has been a qualified electrician for 20 years. He was a member of the reserve defence forces in Ireland for 21 years and was the first member of the reserves to make the Army sailing team. He has been sailing all of his life and is a crew member on the MV Rachel Corrie. He has participated in many previous Free Gaza boat trips to Gaza and has been on four of the five voyages that landed in Gaza. He is married to Jenny, who is also on the MV Rachel Corrie.

Jenny Graham [County Mayo]
A member of the Free Gaza Movement, Jenny has participated in previous boat trips to Gaza and is a member of the crew of the MV Rachel Corrie. She is married to Derek Graham.

Fiona Thompson [ Dundalk] Film maker

5 PASSENGERS FROM MALAYSIA

Matthias Chang Wen Chieh (60) [Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia]
Matthias Chang is a Malaysian of Chinese descent. He is a Barrister of 32 years standing and once served as the Political Secretary to the Fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. He is the author of three bestsellers, “Future FastForward”, “Brainwashed for War, Programmed to Kill”, and “The Shadow Money-Lenders and the Global Financial Tsunami”, published in the US and in Malaysia. Since his student days in England in the late 1960s, he was and still is, actively involved in the anti-war movement spanning a period of 41 years. He is a Catholic but enjoins all to promote inter-faith understanding.

Abdul Halim Bin Mohamed (29) [Selangor, Malaysia]
Abdul Halim is a broadcast journalist for news and current affairs Malaysia TV3

Mohd Jufri Bin Mohd Judin (33) [Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia]
Mohd Jufri is a cameraman for news and current affairs Malaysia TV3.

Shamsul Akmar bin Musa Kamal (46) [Selangor, Malaysia]
Mr. Shamsul Akmar bin Musa Kamal is a journalist for over two decades, Columnist for The New Straits Times and The Star newspapers and is currently the Special Officer to Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the Fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. He holds a Masters Degree in War Studies from King's College, University of London.

Mohd Nizar bin Zakaria (41) [Perak, Malaysia]
MP Mohd Nizar bin Zakaria is a Member of the Malaysian Parliament.

ISRAEL-MAKING FRIENDS WORLDWIDE

2010-06-01T00:00:00.000+01:00

Israel should read THIS book. HERE'S WHY:

LONDON

link Waving Palestinian flags and placards saying "Disarm Israel" and accusing Israel of "war crimes", the protesters had earlier marched through the capital and stopped outside the prime minister's Downing Street residence and then marched across London to gather near the Israeli embassy which stands in a road blocked off by security gates which were guarded by hundreds of police.

IRAQ

link Thousands of protesters carried Palestinian flags, Iraqi flags, banners and pictures of al-Sadr.

They chanted: "No, no Israel, no, no America, yes, yes Palestine."

Some of the banners were written in English and strongly criticized Isreal's response to the flotilla.

LEBANON

link Thousands of activists gathered in Beirut, Tripoli and Sidon on Monday to lend their voices to the international outcry over Israel’s attack on an aid ship bound for Gaza, which killed at least nine aid workers.

TEL AVIV ISRAEL

link Several hundred left-wing activists held a demonstration outside the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv on Monday, protesting a raid by IDF troops on the Gaza flotilla that left at least nine foreign activists dead

IRELAND

link About 1,700 people have attended a demonstration in Dublin this evening against the Israeli attack on an aid ship bound for Gaza.

Earlier today, Taoiseach Brian Cowen called for an international inquiry into the attack which left 10 pro-Palestinian activists dead.

Mr Cowen said he believed Israel’s blockade of humanitarian assistance to Gaza was illegal under international law.

TURKEY

link People throughout Turkey staged angry protests Monday in the wake of a deadly Israeli military attack earlier in the day on a flotilla bringing aid to Gaza.

NETHERLANDS

link A demonstration near the Israeli embassy in The Hague was dispersed by riot police when some of the more than 300 protesters began throwing objects at the building.

The demonstration was in protest against the Israeli military operation against a convoy of ships which had sailed from Cyprus with a shipment of aid goods for the Gaza Strip. At least 10 people were killed when Israeli commandos boarded the convoy.

IRAN

link In Tehran, dozens of angry students pelted the U.N. offices with stones and eggs in protest, burning Israeli flags and chanting, "death to Israel" and "down with U.S." Police blocked them from reaching the building.

NEW YORK

link The group left Times Square Monday afternoon and started marching, heading to the United Nations. People marched around holding signs saying "free Gaza" and "Palestinians hunger for justice". and.....SAN FRANCISCO link BOSTON link

GREECE

link Protest rallies outside the Israeli embassy in Athens are planned later Monday and Tuesday.

JORDAN

link More than 2,000 people took to the streets of Amman Monday to protest Israel's deadly raid on a group of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip, dubbed a "heinous crime" by Jordan's information minister. The protesters chanted "Down with Israel," and carried banners that read 'We Will not Surrender' and 'Break Gaza Blockade.' They demanded Jordan shut down the Jewish state's embassy in Amman and expel the Israeli ambassador.

EGYPT

link Dozens of Egyptians protested outside the foreign ministry in Cairo criticizing the Egyptian government holding pictures of late President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

FRANCE

link Riot police used tear gas to drive back hundreds of protesters demonstrating outside the Israeli Embassy in Paris.

SYRIA

link In neighboring Syria, more than 200 Syrian and Palestinian protesters staged a sit-in before the offices of the United Nations

Ok, tired of pasting links, many more countries including demonstrations in Rome, Sweden, Norway, Cyprus and more than 20 cities in Greece. Israel's is the most hated country in the world and considered a terrorist state ,DON'T BELIEVE ME? Well check out the first result from Google

Congratulations to the Zionist terrorist killing machine!!!!!!

IRISH PETITION TO EXPEL ISRAELI AMBASSADOR

2010-05-31T10:50:00.002+01:00

If you're Irish spread this around and be sure to sign it!!

We, the undersigned, call on the Irish government to expel the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, following the kilings of unarmed civilians by the Israeli navy.

The civilians were part of an international peace flotilla that was attempting to sail to Gaza with much needed humanitarian assistance.

We, the undersigned, believe this is an outrageous act, and that the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland must be just the first in a series of punishment against Israel for said act.

SIGN IT HERE

FLOTILLA MASSACRE

2010-05-31T09:02:00.001+01:00

Great article at Arab News:

Gaza Flotilla Massacre

Terrible news: dozens of our friends and comrades are dead and wounded in the pirate attack in the high seas on humanitarian aid boats by crazed Israeli Jews. This is a dreadful crime that will forever be remembered. The details are not fully available yet; the massacre toll stands meanwhile on 15, but it can go up or down.

What is clear that the Israeli pirates attacked the humanitarian aid flotilla in the international waters over 90 miles (150 km) out of their territorial waters. The boats carried no arms, but the Jewish modus operandi was already well established in their recent attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. They can’t see blood, that is their blood. Others’ blood is not blood at all, in their eyes. Apparently, the pirates boarded the boats in the high seas, and when one of the pirates was scratched by a “sharp object”, they turned the boats into killing fields.

The flotilla of six small and medium boats was on its way to deliver and distribute food and children toys for the besieged Gaza. Among them there was the Turkish boat, which was apparently boarded first. There was also a boat bought and equipped by a great friend of Palestine, Mahathir Mohammad of Malaysia. A boat from Greece, boats flying American and Irish flags were boarded and people massacred as well.

Free Gaza did sail boats to Gaza over the past two years with differing results; they had some important persons aboard, notably our friend, the wonderful Cynthia McKinney, but this is the first time that the steering of this freedom regatta has passed from the hands of nice European volunteers to the locals, to the peoples of the region. This is a vast change, and a change that means a lot. While the Palestinian cause was only the cause celebré of Europeans with conscience, it was containable. Now, when it has become the concern of the local region, the countdown for the freak Zionist mini-Empire has begun.

The beasts understood it and decided to install fear in the hearts of peoples of the Middle East with their simple slogan: do not meddle with Jews but at your peril. This is the day to demonstrate against them.

Our demands:

- send Israeli ambassadors packing,

- send the navy to open Gaza for navigation,

- seize and hang the pirates, including the pirate “president” Peres and pirate “prime-minister” Netanyahu.

- No diplomatic relations, no place in the UN, no place in the international community for the murderers.

ISRAEL MURDERS CIVILIANS ON FLOTILLA

2010-05-31T06:55:00.002+01:00

So far hearing between 10-25 murdrered by armed israeli terrorists who boarded the ships in international waters. WAR CRIME!!! below you can see video frmo the Turkish shiip of some of the murders and chaos as the terrorists attacked them. Worldwide protests happening today

#3 CONTINUING FLOTILLA UPDATES

2010-05-30T20:52:00.011+01:00

LOOKS LIKE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CARE THAT THEIR PEOPLE ARE UNDER THREAT OF ATTACK FROM ISRAELI GUN BOATS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS, EVEYONE IN LIFEJACKETS NOW

things are moving fast now

20:56 GMT From the IHH ship...3 boats are coming, not two, 3 israeli boats, we are 78 mile from Israel people here put there life jackets, every body preparing here. We are in international waters

21:02 two israeli ships coming toward us. they contacted the ship and asked who we are and then disappeared, they are getting close to the ship and we can see them

21:11 just heard that the ability to broadcast from the flotilla has been disabled not sure if this is temporary or not

21:14 The Challenger 2 boat has been contacted by IDF Radio and is being approached by the IDF

21:27 Someone just spoke now live to one of the ships. They said they were approached by an Israeli warship who asked the captain to identify themselves.
During the interview the line died!

21:48 boats being told they will be towed to israel or boarded by IDF
PLEASE NOTE THEY ARE IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS

22:23 BREAKING, gaza being bombed in the north on the shoreline by Israel, people inside Gaza can hear it. And on the flotilla boats people are in a bit of a panic now as they are 90 miles out in internatinal waters being terrorised by Israel on radio and by military boats. meanwhile another report says israeli navy will use divers and inflatable boats to sneak on board the ships, stay tuned for more.....

00:15 things ahve calmed donw some now, the Zionist pirates are moved back some, the flotilla plans to stay the course but not go closer until daylight. They are currently in international waters 90-100 km off coast, yet rogue Israel threatens them!! hopefully it remains calm until morning ishallah. Anymore news and i will post it here.

#2 FLOTILLA UPDATE LATEST NEWS

2010-05-30T17:00:00.001+01:00

Still feeling angry that Hedy Epstein the 86 year old holocaust survivor won't get to Gaza yet again!! Neither will any of our Irish TD's and many other dignitaries and politicians who were banned from leaving Cyprus!! If you missed that earlier update report it's here. Few things to report since the post this morning. Firstly an update from a passenger onboard the ship:

Salaam I will have to make this quick as I have snuck into the press room and i am not meant to be here!

The last 3 days have been very difficult as we have been stationary in international waters awaiting the arrival of all the other ships. The Irish ship is too far behind so will not be joining us but we are now 6 ships in total. Times have been hard but we expect them to get even harder. The showdown with the Israelis is expected tonight.

we need as much help from you guys as possible send emails write try and create as much awareness as you can we need the international community to stand up against this injustice.

Keep checking the IHH website for live streams on the boat but we are also expecting the israelis to jam our communications.

Most of all remember us in your duas inshallah!

Salaam your Brother Tauqir

And this:

the ships are 58 nm from the Lebanese coasts. They changed direction so that they move SW in order to be out of the 65 nm and approach the costs again when they will be much southern and closer to GAZA.

Below is a map of where the boats are right now at 16:00 GMT and this map shows where the Zionist Pirates intercepted the ships the last time (red marker), the blue markers are the boats, click to enlarge detail:

you can follow that map for updates here

Also, You can watch the live streaming from the Turkish Boat the "Mavi Marmara" below, which is carrying about 700 people. Although the broadcast is in Turkish when anyone speaks, mostly, still you can watch the passengers and see the ocean ahead when they begin to near Gazan waters and the scumbag Zionist pirates enter the scene:

Watch live streaming video from insaniyardim at livestream.com

For all you Greeks, you can follow the Greek ships here where there is also a live updating map.

It's going to be a long night and an even longer day starting tomorrow morning when this gets critical. If the flotilla are smart they will stay well away from nearing the Gaza waters in darkness, forcing Israel to make it's move in daylight, so the world can at least see them approaching on the live feed above. I expect the Zionist pirates on approach to disable the flotilla's sat navigantional systems and transmissions, rendering the boats unable to move, dead in the water like the USS Liberty. Then the terrorists will attempt to board and kidnap the passengers and crew without media coverage available as transmission will be disabled so the terrorist pirates can do as they like with the world not witnsessing anything. So, in the morning people will need to be ready and on their game, good luck to them all!!!