RESPONSE TO NETANYAHUS TESTIMONY ON THE FLOTILA

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

ISRAEL UPSET AT ITS NEW NAZI IMAGE

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

FROM GAZA TO IRELAND AND BACK

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.

TURKISH STATEMENT ON FLOTILLA INVESTIGATION

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.”

NO WAY

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.

FLOTILLA TAKE ACTION NOW!!!!

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."

ISRAEL MAKING IT UP AS THEY GO ALONG

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

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

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

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.