ZIONIST LOBBY GOING AFTER GALLOWAY AGAIN

Heads up all you freedom loving Americans. The "American Jewish Committee" for "Global Jewish Advocacy" are trying to get America to become like Canada and censor free speech.

link AJC expressed serious concern at the arrival in the United States of George Galloway. He is slated to speak at events hosted by American Muslims for Palestine and the Muslim Legal Fund of America in a number of locations, beginning in northern California on May 16.

And here comes the typical diatribe of Islamophobic fear mongering nonsense:

"Only a few days after voters ousted George Galloway from the British Parliament, has he returned to our country to seek additional funds for Hamas, which the U.S. government has designated a terrorist organization?" asked AJC Executive Director David Harris. "We trust the authorities will scrutinize Galloway's activities while here, since any money raised for and transferred to terrorist groups is a violation of U.S. law."

Shall I remind people that Hamas was elected in a Democratic election that was monitored by the international community, including the US of A? Even George Bush said with glee, we hail this democratic election, that is, until he saw who won. It's called democracy, you either support it or you support dictatorship, if you support democracy then you must accept the results, end of.

TRUTH ABOUT EGYPT, VIVA PALESTINA & GAZA FREEDOM MARCH

Before you get the shock of your life, first, check out these photos of the March to Rafah, the hunger strike, and the convoy to Gaza:







Well have I got a shocking story for you today. Those photos you just viewed above are NOT from the Viva Palestina Convoy OR the Code Pink Gaza Freedom March. The answer to be revealed shortly:

1. We all remember after the recent Gaza genocide January 2009 that George Galloway took the first convoy into Gaza in March 2009. We all watched, cried and cheered for them. It was NOT the first convoy to break the siege.

2. Remember the recent Code Pink Gaza Freedom March and hunger strike? Well that wasn’t the first either.

Remember when Egypt attacked the peaceful Code Pink marchers? Remember how Egypt blocks convoys from entering Gaza, usually when they reach Al Arish, where they play their little games with the convoys.

Regarding Egypt, remember how we never see any Egyptians organising “on the street” rallies in support for their Palestinian neighbours suffering under an illegal siege? Notice how there is NO outward sympathy or solidarity being displayed by the Egyptian public or Egyptian politicians? Well that actually WAS a First!

What am I talking about? Get ready for a shock….. I‘m talking about how much Egypt has changed. Because those photos you viewed above are ACTUALLY photos of Egyptians holding various rallies for Gaza and also a rally at Al Arish when they were blocked (like Viva Palestina) whilst taking a convoy into Gaza, also they held a hunger strike during the course of one of the TWENTY-FIVE convoys they took into Gaza!!! You may want to re-read that sentence after the shock wears off.

I’m asking what has happened to Egyptians. I’m asking this because it was an Egyptian Convoy that broke the siege first, and it was Egyptians who organised the first solidarity March to Rafah. And it was Egyptians who first staged a hunger strike in solidarity with the people of Gaza. And it was Egyptians who first organised themselves en masse to help the Palestinians trapped in Gaza. Don’t believe me? Well check this out:

Link The Egyptian Popular Committee for Solidarity with the Palestinian Uprising (the "Lagna") was created on the 12th of September 2000, two weeks after the second Intifada started. At first, 360 intellectuals and public personalities signed a fundamental text stating the main objectives of the "Lagna". It is aimed to gather all representatives and activists of the Egyptian civil society, the professional unions, the political parties. For four years now, it has been coordinating and organizing collective actions of solidarity.

It started with two petitions: The first one was addressed to the Egyptian President Husni Mubarak and stated the urge to cut diplomatic and economic relations with Israel. The second one was presented to Kofi Anan, general secretary of the United Nations, and asked for the application of the UN resolutions and the protection of the Palestinian people. These two petitions collected more than 100,000 signatures.

The "Lagna" started first in Cairo but the mobilization and the solidarity network have spread all over Egypt, in the Delta region in particular. Today, the "Lagna" has 12 local committees in the country which organize concerts, exhibitions, meetings and political rallies.

In four years, the "Lagna" has organised 25 convoys of medicine and food, for a total cost of 15 millions of Egyptian pounds. Each convoy is an act of popular and political solidarity, coordinated by a delegation of the "Lagna", whose members are representatives of the Civil society in Egypt.

When convoys were blocked at the border, protests turn into sit-in in front of the Red Crescent office, the UN office and the ministry of Foreign Affairs. A hunger strike was held for ten days, in order to pressure the officials and lift the ban on the convoy.

The "Lagna" helps also the wounded Palestinians who are treated in Cairo Hospitals. It provides them with money, medicine and housing..

So have you picked yourself up off the floor yet? There’s even more. Witness their last effort in 2004 and note the similarities to the Code Pink March just this January:

Link As the Palestinian Intifada enters into its fifth year of existence, the Palestinian people continue to suffer the most inhumane and cruel living conditions. The killing of Palestinian martyrs continues, and so does the demolition and destruction of Palestinian houses, infrastructure and agricultural land through the systematic, barbaric and murderous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation army, including the last attack on Jabalia and the Gaza strip where more than 110 Palestinians were killed - including a large number of children, and hundreds were injured.

In protest to those tragic conditions and in solidarity with the Intifada of the Palestinian people, supporting the heroic resistance of the Palestinian people, its right to self determination and its Right to Return, the Egyptian Popular Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian Uprising calls upon all intellectuals, activists, human rights and civil society organizations, anti-globalisation and antiwar activists to share in the protest rally in front of the Rafah crossing on the 10th of December 2004.

The choice of the 10th of December is not insignificant. This date carries the anniversary of the launching of the International Declaration for Human Rights. Our protest rally, organized on the anniversary of that day is an attempt to remind the world of the values which that declaration carried, and to express our protest regarding the continuous and systematic violation of those human rights values by the barbaric Israeli military in the occupied Palestinian territories.

We invite all activists of the world, all those who struggle against the ugliness of war and the violations of human rights of peoples to join us in front of the Rafah Crossing on December the 10th, 2004

So this has left me with a few gnawing questions.. Firstly what in the name of GOD has happened to the population in Egypt! Clearly they are capable of helping the Palestinians. Clearly within their society they have hundreds and thousands of people who are capable of organizing and carrying off massive events to aid people trapped in the open air prison Israel has created and they would NOT be alone, as WE would happily JOIN with them! Imagine the scale of events that could take place if we ALL worked together. We could make a difference alongside the people of Egypt and the WORLD would listen and take note! Clearly they once cared, clearly they once “took on” Mubarak and petitioned him to help. Clearly they were so outraged at what was happening that they were forced to act due to their human conscience.

Clearly the Egyptian people could rise again to take on this humanitarian cause, to help make right an illegal wrong, to save a human life, to show the world they are not controlled and owned by Israel and the West. So that leaves the most important question of the day. What has happened to the Egyptians, why don’t they care anymore?

Egypt once showed the world how great their people were, how they cared, how they were committed to not simply standing by to allow all this suffering in Gaza. As witnessed in these photos below:





LIST OF LAGNA MEMBERS AND ORGANISERS BELOW
WHERE ARE THESE EGYPTIANS NOW
AND WHY DO THE NO LONGER CARE?

Members of the Parliament:
Mohammed Abd el-Aziz Chaaban (Rally party)
Hamdin Sebahi
Mohammed Farid Hassannin
Amin Nur
Ibrahim Lutfy al-Zanaty
Abou al-Ezz al-Hariry (Rally party)
Al-Badry Farghaly (Rally party)
Kashem Mohammad al-Kashem (National Democratic Party NDP)
Hassan al-Mohandes (Rally party)
Khaled Mohey al-Dîn (head of the Rally party)
Rifaat al-Saeed (general secretary of the Rally party)
Adel Eid
Kamal Ahmad (secretary of the Nasserist party)
Mokhtar Gomaa (Rally party)

Unionists and representatives of the civil society:
Ahmed Nabil al-Hilali (lawyer)
Khaled Ali (lawyer)
Emad Moubarak (lawyer)
Ariyan Nasif (lawyer, farmers union)
Ahmad Ramy Abdel Moneim (chemists union)
Anis al-Biya (social workers union)
Abel Moneim Karaouya (union of the Suez Canal Company)
Abdel al-Bakouri (journalist, membre of the council of the journalist union)
Rahma Rifaat (head of the centre for union services)
Mohammed Mounir (journalist)
Ibrahim Mansour (journalist)
Hussein Abdel Razek (journalist)
Bahiga Hussein (journalist)
Farida al-Nakish (journalist)
Amina al-Nakish (journalist)
Amina Shafiq (journalist)
Khaled al-Fishawy (journalist)
Afaf al-Sayd (journalist)
Nabil Zaki (journalist, editor of al-Ahâli paper)
Adel al-Mashed (engineer)
Magdi Abdel Hamid (engineer)
Mohammed Ibrahim (engineer)
Adel wassily (engineer)
Ahmad Baha (engineer)
Ahmef Seif al-Islam(lawyer, Hisham Mubarak centre for human rights)
Shahinda Maklad (membre of the political bureau of the Rally party)
Georges Ishak
Ragiya al-Garzawy
Zohdy al-Shamy (member of the Rally party)
Amin al-Fayyed (secretary of the popular council of Cairo governorate for the Rally party)
Samia Adly (head of Nasr Pharma Co)
Salah Adly
Abdallah Mansour (head of al-Saha psychiatric hospital)
Fakhry Labib (Afro-Asian solidarity association)
Farid Zahran (head of al-Mahroussa publishing)
Magda Shaarawi (financial director for the organisation the health developement and the environment)
Manal Abaza (psychologist)

Academics:
Aida Seif al Dawla (psychiatre)
Amina Raashid (professor of Frenc literature)
Madiha Doss (linguist)
Leila Soueif (mathematician)
Hilmy Shaarawi (head of the centre for Arab studies)
Abdel Ghaffar Shoukr (vice-head of the centre for Arab studies)
Mohammad al-Sayyd Said (researcher at al-Ahram centre)
Ibrahim Farag (national centre for research)
Hala Shoukrallah (researcher)
Ahmad Mokhtar Dessouki (professor of science)
Anouar Moghith (professor of philosophy)
Ahmad Bakry Mansour (professor, university of Suez)
Faten Adly (research institute for training)
Mohammad Douidar (university of Alexandria)
Mona Talba (professor of philosophy)
Nagoua Ahmad al-Mached (national centre for research)
Salah Rawi
Ahmed al- Ahwani
Mona Sadek
Radwa Ashour
Sayd al-Baharoui
Kamal Moghith

Writers and poets:
Mahmoud Amin al-Alem
Sonallah Ibrahim
Edouard Kharrat
Baha Taher
Mohammed al-Bissaty
Ahmad al-Khamis
Saad Zahran
Ibrahim Islan
Ibrahim Fathy
Ossama Anouar Okasha
Ismael Abdel Hafez
Gamal al-Qasas
Hilmi Salem
Zein al-Abdin Fouad
Saed al-Kafrawy
Soleyman Fayd
Samir Abdel Baqi
Sayd Higab
Ezz al-Din Naguib
Fathya al-Assal
Naguib al-Nagwili
Nawal Saadawi

Artists:
Youssef Chahine (film maker)
Raghda (film maker)
Fouad el Tohamy (documentary film maker)
Ingham Mohamad Aly (film maker)
Tawfiq Abdel Hamid (actor)
Abbas Ahmad (theatre)
Aly Badarkhan (film maker)
Magdy Ahmad Aly (film maker)
Nahed Nasrallah (film maker)
Yousri Nasrallah (film maker)
Mahmoud al-Hindi (painter)
Morsen Tawfik

#1 VIVA PALESTINA UPDATE 5TH JANUARY

JJ Crockett: "It’s not up to the Egyptians or the Israelis to allow or disallow people into the house of the Palestinian."
The boys have been trying to get this to us, dodgy internet connections are difficult but it's finally here. This update written at 4AM last night Egyptian time:

We are sitting in the Damascus international airport at 4am here. Despite our greatest hopes of flying in from Syria to Egypt, those hopes have been spectacularly shattered once again. The first flight of 120 convoy members that were due to join the aid that had successfully arrived in Al-Arish, departed today at 4pm. We then got on the second flight at 8pm, and all was going to plan for an entry into Gaza tomorrow. Spirits were high, everyone was laughing and the excitement was immense as we were waved off from the Palestinian refugee camp in Latakia, Syria. They told us to give their love to family that they not seen in many years, and gave their blessings to a homeland that they were thrown out of. We shook their hands and embedded their messages deep within us. I really believed that we would arrive in Gaza on the 5th (tomorrow), and even Danny and Derek were hopeful they could get the pre-arranged flight home to Ireland on the 6th. After all, these are two family men, with children that have spent 33 days away from a family that are usually used to having them at their side, especially at Christmas.

However, all these hopes and premonitions were dashed, when our plane had to be diverted to Damascus due to technical problems. We have been here since 0930am and are now just boarding a flight at 6am. Stories are leaking through that our counterparts who had successfully flown into Al_arish earlier, had their passports confiscated and even worse; they were given an exit visa whilst they were only entering the country of Egypt. That’s a hand of welcome from the Egyptians alrite.

So we carry on...more obstacles will appear that’s for sure...and this is just a small insight into the lives of Palestinians that literally stand at checkpoints for hours on a daily basis. We share this suffering with them, and it reassures us that through all this, we will finally meet them and publicise to the world that here is a humble people, broken by a brutal occupation and siege.

We will continue, and hopefully within the next 48 hours, enter Gaza and leave the ambulance and supplies there. I know we have been saying this for a long time, but every time we knock on the door and seem to be let in, they close it shut right in front of us. We keep knocking and we will get in, because it’s not up to the Egyptians or the Israelis to allow or disallow people into the house of the Palestinian.

This is the update from now.. We will join our friends in Al-Arish, and then 2 more flights will transfer the remaining 200 from Syria to Egypt, making us a 500 strong party with 220 vehicles in Egypt by tomorrow afternoon and only 30 kms from the gates of Gaza. God I hope we make it, and so do the other 4 boys. Thanks for your support, and publicising the horror of the brutal siege on Gaza. If we keep this up, then there will be change. We can have trust in this.

good nite, JJ

More soon......

#2 VIVA PALESTINA~DERRY TO GAZA~ UPDATE 4 JANUARY

JJ Crockett January 4 at 11:17am Reply
Hello folks, cautious excitement is the mood here, we're ready to explode upon entry to gaza but we are aware through lots of experience that things can change rapidly. But for now, things are looking great, and we are nearing the successful completion of a great journey that we hope will contribute to ending the siege of Gaza. And what an achievement that will be for all the people who took any part in this campaign.

Firstly, the cargo ferry had arrived at Al-Arish earlier this morning and all the vehicles had passed through the customs successfully, without any change being made to the aid within the vehicles. Brilliant!! Never expected this and more importantly it suggests the Egyptians want us in and out asap without delay. So the vehicles are now waiting for us to pick them up at the port of Al-Arish, which as i have said before is only 25 kms from GAZA!!!

Secondly, the transfer of all 450 passengers will be carried out by 4 different runs by the same plane. The first one will begin at 4pm, followed by 8pm, 12pm and then finally 4am. The Derry team are on the 8pm flight. We do not know what to expect upon arrival in al-arish but the management and diplomats have been spread throughout the flights to encounter possible challenges. If all goes well, all 450 people with vehicles will be in Al-Arish by around 8am tomorrow morning. What happens then, i do not know at this point.

I will be sure to update u of anything happens in the next 24-36 hours which are critical. I expect the flights to arrive without a problem, then once in Egypt the challenge will start. I will keep u updated for sure. Heading back now to pack bags for 8pm flights. The 5 of us are in good form here and thanks a lot once again. Almost there!

VIVA PALESTINA~LAST UPDATE FOR TODAY 3RD JANUARY

(new photos after post) I expect this will be the last update for today, unless something urgent happens. I hope they all get a good nights rest for the next battle in Egypt at Al Arish with Egyptian Security and "customs", which is always a severe headache. I remember what the Hope Convoy went through for days at the port. It's imperative the Viva convoy gets through quickly in order to make it to Rafah before Egypt closes the gate in two more days.

Update of definite news “mucks” (short for Mo Chara, which means friends in Irish) -flights r delayed till 4PM 2morrow. We were waiting for security clearance and got it. One plane will start taking 3 loads 2morrow at 4PM. That’s it for now.

The 5 Boys

Here are a few more photos to enjoy from the trip so far:
Sleeping area whilst they were stranded and waiting CLICK TO ENLARGE:


HUGE SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY (4 photos)

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in the meantime you can follow the boat live HERE Check back for more updates tomorrow from the Derry to Gaza Viva Palestina team.

NEW PHOTOS~ VIVA PALESTINA~DERRY TO GAZA FIVE

this is the 3rd update today, if you missed any check the sidebar. We just got some great photos from the last 12-24 hours upload and posted below, and another wee note from the boys to further confirm what they reported earlier in great detail HERE.

Alrite folks, finally we have a bit of progress. The ferry with our vehicles has set sail to Al-Arish and will arrive within the next 12-15 hours. Last night, the Israelis had announced they were expanding their international waters to divert the boat. Yet another obstacle, but now we're getting use to jumping them. The five of us would like to thank you very much for your support and the actions you have taken to put pressure on the Egyptian government. I hope that your actions will be rewarded and the people of Palestine, who are just like ourselves, will take a step closer to freedom.

Thanks to the people of Derry and all over the world! Hope to update you again very soon, thanks again

The 5 boys

The boys passing time in the Ambulance with a bit of music, whilst stranded in Syria-CLICK TO ENLARGE


THE BOAT ARRIVES-CLICK TO ENLARGE


ALL HANDS ON DECK....LOADING THE BOAT,PEOPLE ARE EXCITED NOW-CLICK TO ENLARGE


BOAT BEING LOADED IN THE EARLY HOURS-CLICK TO ENLARGE
MORE AS WE GET IT

NEW UPDATE #2 VIVA PALESTINA THE LATEST NEWS

If you read our post just this morning HERE regarding the updated info on Israel. We have even more information in a detailed update below which we just received. The boys attempted to join us here in live chat, but their internet connection is dodgy at best, so we had to wait for email instead. This is the most recent update just received a few minutes ago.

JJ Crockett January 3 at 12:05pm Reply

Things have been changing rapidly in the last 12 hours, and now I will update you fully on developments, with the endpoint being a very good one, as it stands at the moment anyway.

Yesterday at 4pm we loaded the vehicles onto the cargo ferry from the Syrian port of Latakia. This was the Turkish ferry with a Turkish crew that was the outcome of the Egyptian-Turkish agreement to allow a ferry to sail from Syria and not the previous port we were at, Aqaba. So we loaded our vehicles onto the expected 18 hour crossing into Al-Arish. In the meantime we had not yet received 'security clearance' for our flights into Al-Airsh for Sunday (today). We were anxious that we were putting the cart before the horse but it seemed our only option.

At 8pm, further bad news came. 'Security clearance' had not yet been received and even worse, the ferry had not gone out to sail yet. The Israelis had announced that they were expanding their 'international waters' from 12km to 20kms, meaning that the ferry would have to re-co-ordinate its route. We were gutted to hear this, and thought that there would be an endless barrage of obstacles put in our path; with the end result being that we didn’t get into Egypt, never mind Gaza.

Things have improved dramatically since then. At 12pm today, Kevin Ovenden announced that the ship had set sail last night at 10pm on a new route that would extend its period of travel by 8 hours. Happy days we thought, now the confirmation of the flights would have to follow. Kevin said that they had received 'verbal assurances' from the Egyptians about our safe arrival by plane. Whilst on stage, however, he received confirmation that the airline would fly, regardless of clearance or not. So the first of four flights are due to fly out tomorrow at 4am and ideally arrive before the ferry to ensure safe and secure unloading.

So as it stands, and I emphasize that the goalposts are being moved all the time, the ferry has set sail, hopefully it will arrive sometime later this evening or tomorrow morning. Coincidentally, the flights are due to fly out at 4am Monday morning. Inshallah both the vehicles will arrive in Al_arish by Monday evening, and be able to be on the road for Gaza for Tuesday 5th January, one day before the gates are due to close.

This is all I know for now and if there are any developments, I will update u immediately. But all is planned for our entrance of aid and people.

The 5 boys

UPDATED X2 #1 VIVA PALESTINE UPDATE SUNDAY 3RD AM

VIVA PALESTINE UPDATE,Derry to Gaza Team
THREE NEW UPDATES TO REPORT...YET AGAIN

We have been posting messages here as we get them, when we get them, exactly like we get them, word for word. We are doing this so people can see what they are going through. We have tried to get confirmation of yesterday’s report of Israel blocking by sea and were unable to get in contact with team until now. First, this went out last night:

> --------------------
> Subject: Convoy remains in Lataika - conflicting information
>
> The convoy was packed up and loaded onto the ferry this morning. The plan was for around twelve people to travel with all the vehicles on the boat.
>
> The boat has been held up in Lataika, Syria, due to bad weather at sea this afternoon and this evening.
>
> There is also a rumour circulating that the Israeli navy has announced that it will be performing military operations off its coastline, which would prevent other ships - including the convoy - from travelling nearby. We hope that this is not true, but there will be confirmation in the morning.

Things are chaotic there and rumours are spreading, people are fed up angry and lacking sleep. We just got the most recent update, there are two of them, here they are:

FIRST:
They expanded the waters by 12 miles but boat going around it. will be internet in 1 hour with fill update. All systems go 4 now!!

SECOND:
Ferry left at 10 last night. The airline has confirmed first of four flights will depart at 4am 2m,verbal assurance frm Egypt but airline going ahead anyway.we should arrive 2 nite all of us. Well get to internet shortly and update in detail. New craic.

So from my take it looks like Israel had a problem with the route and they are having to go round some 12 mile limit. This most likely last night was spread as a rumour that Israel was blocking the convoy by sea. Makes sense that way. Again, we are posting what we get because people are interested, however, we must all remember these people are exhausted and suffering from lack of rest for 30 days now. So cut them all some slack, as we all sit here in our comfy homes. Now I’m going to have an online chat with the boys in 1 hours, back after that with more.ANOTHER UPDATE

JJ Crockett January 3 at 11:43am Reply cant go on facebook chat for some reason, i will spend u long update now dispelling any rumours and telling u exactly where we are in relation to getting into egypt

ANOTHER UPDATE
LATEST UPDATE AND DETAILED REPORT CAN BE SEEN HERE

VIVA PALESTINA~MESSAGE FROM DERRY TO GAZA TEAM

Two of our favourite blogs; Desertpeace and Silverlining have submitted questions to our "Derry to Gaza" boys on the Viva Palestina convoy. I forwarded the questions and received their reply. Here are the questions followed by the response:

1. Did you ever, in your wildest dreams, expect the leaders of predominately Muslim nations side with Israel ?

2. Do you think the people of those countries are aware of the collaboration?

3. It is a wonderful thing that you are doing. If entry is denied to Gaza , would you consider coming back again?

4. How were you received in the countries you passed through by the people and the government officials or representatives?

5. Why did the convoy decided to go through the Nuwbia port this time and not Al Arish like last time? Does it have to do with how the life line was treated last time? (They don’t know the answer to this but will try to find out)

6. The turnaround of the convoy costs money, did anyone, country, person, etc. contribute to the costs or it is going to be taken from the Viva Palestinian budget? (this was answered by the press release, Turkey is helping them with the boat but they need some help with plane fares)

Reply from the Derry to Gaza team on the Viva Palestina Convoy:

I saw the questions you sent, and I will try to answer them as best we can.

Since leaving Derry we have been blessed by warm, abundant welcomes in most cities. I think we live in an age where the visible effects of power people, has been diverted into different channels.

Governments are much less effected by the people on the street. For instance, when One million or so people marched on the streets of London against the war on Iraq, the government nevertheless continued the war. From this point of view, I have always felt that there was little to be had from shows of solidarity by people against big governments. This trip has changed that outlook absolutely.

Whilst we travelled through Europe, there was some great responses from people in Belgium, Greece and Turkey, however, by and large, in contrast to its Arab neighbours, most European countries were indifferent. Since entering into Greece and down through Turkey into Arabia, the response has been amazing...I have seen people standing in groups, couples and even on their own at 4 am on a rainy street corner waving Palestinian flags.

They throw food and water in our ambulance and reach out to shake our hands, shouting Salam. Without doubt, they feel a deep connection with their brothers in Palestine, and it is through us that they wish to express this. I feel very privileged to be in such a position. Here is one example of the huge amount of support we have had along the way. Just look at the crowd outside our window:


As for the other side of the coin: those who oppose us and don’t want medical aid to enter Gaza, I see them not as a threat but people who will change in time. Their position is one grown from corruption and insecurity. Clearly in their minds, they know that as humans, the people of Gaza do not deserve to be treated like they are by another people. Surely they see that they are in the wrong in their treatment of their fellow man. I think if they do not know this now, then it will dawn on them, the more pressure the world puts on them. I’ve always thought that there were three objectives behind this trip

1. Deliver the ambulance and medical aid to the people of Gaza as practical help

2. in doing so, bring a positive and broad awareness to the plight of people in Palestine, and thus forcing a change

3. Force the Israelis to question their position by stretching out your hand to find their own humanity.

I think at this moment in time, only the second objective has been reached, and very successfully reached thanks to people like yourselves who support our convoy and cause. Hopefully, within the next week or so, we will move to fulfil our two remaining objectives. If we do not get in, then we will feel gutted, disappointed and demoralised.

But it is a long struggle for justice and we must know that. Without doubt, this struggle for the Palestinian people is worth fighting, by anybody's standards. But if we do fail, then I will know that through our efforts and the support we have sustained throughout the last 4 weeks, we have contributed to an already emerging groundswell against the Israeli Zionist regime and its treatment of Palestinians. Let us not forget, that the Palestinians have been the very misfortunate victim of a twisted dream.

They did not deserve for the Zionists to come and take their land, they had not committed a crime that forced the vengeance of history upon them, rather they were in a land that a very deluded people wanted and have taken by force. Any person born into this world could have been Palestinian by chance, and would have lived under the harsh, inhumane conditions imposed upon them, without reason or explanation. So it is for this reason, that we must be united with the people of Palestine. People just like ourselves.

Sorry i cannot write more buts its tough when we are on the move..
thanks a lot for your support

“JJ” from the Derry to Gaza Five, on the Viva Palestina Convoy

BREAKING~VIVA PALESTINA~ 72 HOUR CRITICAL PERIOD BEGINS NOW

UPDATED 2 JANUARY lastest info says Israel will block convoy by sea, read it HERE

Please pass this information on to everyone, we need to be ready to support the Convoy should the worst happen:NEXT 72 HOURS ARE CRITICAL
Received personal message from our boys on the Convoy, followed by a press statement they just released.

Tomorrow our 200 vehicles will travel on a 20 hour ferry aided by 60 volunteers into Al-Arish. The remaining 450 people who can’t enter the ferry will fly to Egypt and arrive before the boats to ensure a secure entry. Next 72hrs are critical as to the success of our whole mission. We don’t know what the Egyptian response will be as we pull into their shores, but we expect the worse and have absolute faith that in time we ill enter the gates of Gaza. JJ Crockett Derry to Gaza Viva Palestina convoy

Here is the press release JUST out from the Viva Palestina Derry to Gaza Five:

PRESS RELEASE

FROM DERRY TO GAZA IN AN AMBULANCE (UPDATE)

HEADLINE: NEXT 72 HOURS ARE CRITICAL

Message received 1st January 2010

Last night we received further info about the next critical 72 hours. Kevin Ovenden, leader of Viva Palestina and right hand man of [George] Galloway, came out and reported that:

We have got a cargo ship which, weather pending, will set sail tomorrow afternoon (1st January) on a 20-hour crossing to Al-Arish. At the moment, the ferry cargo ship only allows 12 people on board but Viva Palestina is trying to extend that to 60 people. These people are crucial to minding the vehicles and ensuring a safe entry into Egypt. The remaining 450 people will fly on chartered airplanes to Al-Arish and arrive Sunday afternoon before the boats, and hopefully we will get out to the port without trouble before the boats arrive.

All these arrangements are dependant on the weather but these are the plans. Overall and inshallah, we expect to be in Al-Arish (25 kms from Gaza) by Sunday afternoon. The last time the convoy was there, they got stones thrown at their vehicles, and physical abuse from the Egyptian police. We expect the same and will draw up strategies to deal with these possiblities. It’s hard to beat down a man that has driven 5000 miles through all lands and seas, fuelled by a tidal wave of great support. The Egyptians will need more than fists to block our entry, though we will not provoke them. Let’s hope for the best and expect the worst.

So, once we enter Al-Arish, the shite will hit the fan....There will be an inevitable 2-3 day delay and possibly more...Rumours suggest the Rafah crossing into Gaza is open from the 3rd to the 5th. Hopefully and ideally, we will enter on the 3rd, spend a couple of days in Gaza building up contacts of support and be able to fly home from Sharm el Sheik on the 6th January. Though this is doubtful. As I said we are prepared for the worst, but live in hope. The next 72 hours are the most critical of the whole campaign and we need your support more than ever, to cover the media side and put pressure on Egyptians to let us through. We are on their doorstep and they must let us in.

Signed, The Gaza Five

About the Gaza Five:

The Gaza Five are: Jonathon Crockett, Eanna O'Donaghaile, Danny Doyle, Eddie Mc Bride and Derek Mc Chrystal. On December 5th this year, five Derry men set out on a long journey from Derry to the Gaza strip in an ambulance full of medical aid and educational resources in order to provide humanitarian relief to the people of that region. These are people who are suffering since the latest conflict, which caused devastation resulting in much of Gaza being destroyed and 1,400 men, women and children being killed. The Israelis have now placed a blockade on Gaza preventing any aid into Gaza's impoverished people and preventing them from leaving. These 5 Derry men took on the task of driving this ambulance all the way to Gaza meeting up with a convoy of 220 other vehicles from all over Europe to deliver humanitarian aid through the organisation 'Viva Palestina'.

POSSIBLE TROUBLE FOR VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY

I want to preface this with GREAT CAUTION until actual verification can be confirmed. There is a rumour going around on twitter that “some” of the Viva Palestina members boarded a small boat to collect some Viva Palestina Palestinian flags that were in the nearby water. The tweet claims they were either fired upon or something was dropped near them. The original tweet is below, however, there have been many re-tweets of this original tweet, hence the rumour spread. Again I say take this with caution as no confirmation is available. I’ve emailed Presstv and AlJazeera asking for a reporter to investigate this. I would urge others to do the same.

Twitter link

Marls2000 viva_palestina Viva Palestina Volunteers tried to get into boat to collect viva pal flags and bombs were dropped #Gaza waiting for more

To contact AlJazeera use this link and then click the "send feedback" link on the right sidebar. To contact PressTV take THIS link. Just ask for one of their reporters to confirm or deny this rumour.

THEY ARE ON THE WAY TO GAZA

Viva Palestina convoy heading to Gaza

IRAQ INQUIRY, BLAIR, ZIONISTS=FUBAR

When I think of this sham of an "Inquiry" the word FUBAR springs to mind. The British “inquiry” for the “truth” into the Iraqi (illegal) invasion (regime change plot) has begun. Yawn, another British atrocity, another whitewash “inquiry.” Just ask the victims of Bloody Sunday, they know all about British “inquiries” 30 years on and still no truth or justice. But, I imagine the British people think they will get the truth because they will be treated differently than the “paddies” were. Guess again.

Calls of Whitewash are already emanating from all sectors within British society. From former members of the cabinet, to big-time lawyers, you name it. What are they so upset about? Plenty. For starters there are “Blair Men” on the so called “investigative” team, and there is the recent addition of two Zionists, one of whom was the creator of the “Blair Doctrine”, yes, that would be the “Tony Blair Doctrine”, the same Tony Blair who took England into Iraq, that one.

link Sir Lawrence David Freedman, KCMG, CBE, FBA, FKC (7 December 1948-) is Professor of War Studies at King's College London, and was a key foreign policy adviser to Tony Blair and an architect of the Blair doctrine He is a member of the 2009 United Kingdom Iraq War inquiry. During the 2003 Iraq invasion, Freedman wrote an article for the independent in which he said: “Even if it takes time to dislodge Saddam's regime, the US – and also Britain – will emerge from this conflict hardened in their power and ready to exercise far greater influence over not only the development of Iraq but also the wider Middle East.” [6]

Woo Hoo. There’s a fair and balanced team member with nothing to hide on at least two fronts, the Zionist front and the Blair connection to Iraq front. But hey, who’s counting...And here’s the other Zionist;

link The Rt. Hon. Sir Martin John Gilbert a British historian and the author of over eighty books, including works on the Holocaust and Jewish history. Since 2005, he has been married to the Holocaust historian Esther Gilbert, née Goldberg.

He was appointed in June 2009 as a member of the British government’s enquiry into the Iraq war (Headed by Sir John Chilcot). His appointment to this enquiry was criticised in parliament by William Hague, Claire Short, George Galloway, and Lynne Jones on the basis that Gilbert had once compared George W Bush, and Tony Blair, to Roosevelt and Churchill.[5] The same year he was appointed to the Privy Council.[6]

Israeli historian, Tom Segev, writes that Gilbert's coffee-table book The Story of Israel is written with "encyclopedic clarity," but Segev is critical of the absence of figures from Arab sources. [10]. Piers Brendon concludes that Gilbert glosses over or altogether omits some awkward points in his book Churchill and the Jews[11] A revisionist Israeli historian Benny Morris has described Martin Gilbert as a propagandist who uses overinflated casualty figures in his The Story of Israel[12]

The NewStatesmen has a good article on all the “members” of this FUBAR “truth” Inquiry. Here is a wee snippet:

link Chilcot himself. Is this "establishment" man really going to get to the bottom of how we ended up in Iraq? Can someone who acted as a "staff counsellor" to MI6 between 1999 to 2004 be a credible investigator of the flawed intelligence produced on Iraqi WMDs, by MI6, between 2002 and 2003? Will an ex-permanent secretary at the Northern Ireland Office be able to challenge ministers or his former colleagues in the civil service? He also happens to be a former member of the 2004 Butler Inquiry into Iraq intelligence, which failed to land any significant blows.

The composition of the committee. How can I have faith in Sir Roderick Lyne, another establishment man, former senior civil servant and British ambassador to (anti-war) Russia during the Iraq war?

As I mentioned, British Lawyers are already calling the inquiry a joke, pointing out that there is no one on the “Truth Inquiry Team” capable of cross examining or legally interviewing those called to to "answer" to the "inquiry." This is like asking Elmo from Sesame Street, to cross examine Tony Blair, a seasoned politician with much to hide, instead of asking Perry Mason, or for you younger generation Captain Kirk over at Boston Legal to tackle the job. See here:

link The inquiry by Sir John Chilcot into the Iraq War is incapable of addressing whether the invasion was legal because it has no one who is legally-qualified on its panel, judicial figures have warned.

Sir John Chilcot, a former Whitehall mandarin, has insisted that the legality of the 2003 war will be one of the key issues he addresses in his inquiry, which begins on Tuesday.

But lawyers have said that neither the inquiry's chair, not his panel, which includes a Professor of War Studies, a former diplomat, and a Crossbencher in the House of Lords, has the expertise to do so.

One senior judge told The Guardian: "The truth of the matter is, if the inquiry was going to express a view with any kind of authority on the question of legality, it would need a legal member and quite a senior one," the judge said. "Looking at the membership, it seems to me that legality just wasn't going to be a question they would be asked to review."

Another senior legal figure added: "The panel clearly lacks the expertise to address the question of legality. The members are not experienced at cross-examination – it is simply not their skill set."

The concerns are the latest to be raised about the effectiveness of the Iraq Inquiry, which is expected to report its findings in 2011.

And lastly, former British Ambassador to Libya, Oliver Miles recently pissed off the Zio-Crowd when he dared to “out them” within the appointed gang members supposedly looking for the “truth about Iraq” I am referring to the appointments of Sir Martin Gilbert and Sir Lawrence Freedman (mentioned earlier in my post above) more:

link The former British ambassador to Libya, Sir Oliver Miles, has criticised the appointment of two leading Jews to the Iraq inquiry.

The two men will be made privy counsellors in order to sit on the inquiry committee. Sir Oliver wrote in the Independent newspaper that he was concerned that two out of five of the Iraq War inquiry committee members were Jewish, and questioned the balance of the committee.

He wrote: “Both Gilbert and Freedman are Jewish, and Gilbert at least has a record of active support for Zionism.

He added: “It is a pity that, if and when the inquiry is accused of a whitewash, such handy ammunition will be available. Membership should not only be balanced; it should be seen to be balanced.”

Here Here, but this is not really a “Mission for the Truth” it’s a “people pleaser” or an attempt at a “people pleaser” which is so FUBAR-ed it is doomed to fail. And let us not forget the Numero Uno reason this “Truth Inquiry” will be a Whitewash:

link Elements of the new US administration of President George Bush were already discussing ''regime change'' in Iraq two years before the invasion of 2003, the official inquiry into the war has been told.
''We were conscious that there were other voices in Washington, some of whom were talking about regime change,'' he said.

So, the British people are looking for the truth from their Government AND the American government. And to think it’s not even April 1st. The immortal Bush and Blair team must be protected; their crimes covered up, hence the appointment of Blair men and Zionists. Yes, the British people will now have much in common with their Irish neighbours. If British people think an Inquiry will give them the truth, you only need to look to the North of Ireland’s TWO Bloody Sunday Inquiries that never provided the truth, even 30 years on, you will never have the truth, and neither will we.

GEORGE GALLOWAY~CANADIAN COURT TO HEAR CASE

Canada should know better than to tackle Galloway, they have a tiger by the tail, and he won't soon be going down without a good fight. somethign tells me he'll be speaking in Canada in the new year.

A Canadian federal court will review a decision made earlier this year to deny firebrand British lawmaker George Galloway entry for a speaking tour, his backers said Monday.

Galloway had been notified in March by border officials that his donations of cars and cash to the Hamas-run government in Gaza made him inadmissible to Canada, as Hamas is listed in Canada as terrorist organization.

He was later denied an injunction that might have allowed him to speak at anti-war forums in Canada.

Monday, his supporters said in a statement the Federal Court of Canada has "agreed to hear a judicial review of the government's decision to ban his entry from Canada."

A hearing is set for January 2010.

"He is eager to return to Canada," James Clark, spokesman for the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War, told AFP.link

Zionists Go After Galloway Again

Thou Shalt Not Help Those People

Jew Weekly, or Weekly Jew, whatever, is reporting this farce, again here's the Zionists clutching at straws. Notice how it's always "A-Ok" for Zionists to have multiple large borg groups on every campus worldwide spreading hasbara. Yet when a small group of people at California UC, some of whom evidently were.........Shhhhh, "Muslims" GASP!!! had the audacity to collect donations from consenting adults over 18 years of age for Humanitarian Aid via the Viva Palestina group headed by George Galloway, I presume for his next Aid convoy in December. Why what happens next? The Zionist Organisation of America goes postal and cries "No Fair" and when THAT does not work they then attempt to link the money to Hamas. God these people really need to "get a life"

A Jewish group called on federal authorities to probe U.C. Irvine students for allegedly raising funds for Hamas.

In a letter dated Oct. 2, the Zionist Organization of America urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the students over suspicions that they collected money for the Palestinian terrorist group.

According to ZOA, members of the Muslim Union of Students solicited money for a charity called Viva Palestina at a rally held May 21 dubbed “Israel: The Politics of Genocide.” The charity, founded by British leftist politician George Galloway, who headed the rally on the Irvine campus, has been accused of directly aiding Hamas.

Rabbis Meet With HAMAS Prime Minister

"Hamas has no problem with the Jews, the problem is only with the Israeli occupation which is based on the Zionism,"

This should put Israel's nose out of joint quite certainly. Rabbis traveling to Gaza on the Viva Palestina Convoy from America have had a two hour meeting with the Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, good for them for meeting the Government of Gaza

Hamas' Haneya meets anti-Zionism Jews rabbis in Gaza

Ismail Haneya on Thursday met anti-Zionism Jews in the Gaza Strip.

The meeting between the Islamic movement's leader and the four rabbis, members of Neturei Karta movement, lasted for nearly two hours at his office in Gaza city.

The rabbis, whose small movement calls for dismantling the state of Israel, arrived in Gaza last night as part of a Viva Palestine convoy, which included some 200 American and international pro-Palestinian activists, led by British MP George Galloway.

"Hamas has no problem with the Jews, the problem is only with the Israeli occupation which is based on the Zionism," Haneya told reporters after the meeting.

Haneya praised the Jews who "expressed their rejection to the occupation" by joining the aid convoy. "You reject the existence of people on the land of other people, so we have nothing but to respect these positions and appreciate your ideology," Haneya addressed the rabbis.

The convoy is the second in four months Galloway brings into the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip. "This convoy is of a special interest because most of its members have come from the United States," Haneya added.

The U.S. government deems Hamas a foreign terrorist organization since its charter calls for the destruction of the Jewish state. But Haneya said the American presence in the convoy "proves that not all the American people are supporting the Israeli occupation and the siege."

Victory~Viva Palestina In Gaza

hat tip to the RebelsYell for the video, one great Irish Blog give them a visit:)

George Galloway & Hugo Chavez Team Up For Gaza

Well, you gotta hand it to George LOL. After going up against the Zionist Lobby in America with regards to the recent Convoy which just arrived in Egypt and seems to be having all sorts of trouble getting to Gaza. Galloway is having none of this, the next convoy has been announced, lifeline-3 and he's got a new member.....Hugo Chavez. I'm seriously loving this.

Galloway declares intention to organize lifeline-3 with participation of Chavez

British MP George Galloway has announced that he was planning a third charity convoy lifeline-3 with the participation of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

Galloway told Egyptian newspaper 'Al-Masri Al-Youm' published on Saturday that he would continue to organize relief convoys to lift the siege on the Palestinians.

The MP, who is in Cairo to lead lifeline-2 convoy to the Gaza Strip with the participation of 200 Americans, said that the Zionist lobby in the USA tried to block the convoy with three requests with the American attorney general but failed.

He denied Israeli accusations that he was biased in favor of Hamas, saying that he was never a Hamas supporter but was a supporter of democracy that brought Hamas to power.

Galloway said that lifeline-2 includes an American congressman, a former congresswoman and the father of the director of the Democratic Party and his brother along with numerous other officials.

Gov’t committee against siege slams Egypt for not allowing in lifeline-2

CNN & Canadian PM Join Zionist Group To Restrict Free Speech

What do CNN and the Canadian Government have in common? Plenty folks! It appears they are both supportive of Zionists and Anti-Free Speech. Well, we already knew that about Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper when he assisted in banning George Galloway from entering Canada to exercise his right to Free Speech. But, what we did not know until now, is that CNN joined the call for Free Speech Restrictions. Wowzer, so much for an Un-Biased press...Maybe it's time to ask CNN why it is engaging in one sided politics.

Canadian pro-Israel students, in the wake of the Iranian "Twitter Revolution," were using the social networking Web site to "expose the lies at the anti-Israel 'academic' conference taking place at York University" in Toronto.

Exposing York, started by Hasbara at York, (AKA World Union of Jewish Students) has developed a following of over 700 users since Monday, when the conference opened. Followers include senior Canadian government officials, major international news agencies, and three Israeli embassies in North America.

A follower under the name "PM Harper" presents himself to be Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, but this cannot be confirmed. Other followers include Al Jazeera English and CNN's Anderson Cooper. source

George Galloway Target of Zionist Attack~AGAIN

Well, the World Order of Nazi Zionists has again targeted George Galloway. Like the Flea Ridden Dogs that they are, they will continue to bite at his ankles as long as they have breath in them. Good for George for speaking the truth and not backing down from the Racist Jihadist Regime of the Rogue State. They filed a complaint with OFCOM regarding his show on PressTV because he called on people to attend a rally against the Holocaust in Gaza. Whilst he may have been “mildly” chastised, what is quite interesting is that OFCOM said this about it;

Making their decision, the media regulator recognized that the issue of Gaza was a “matter of major political controversy” and that Galloway makes no bones about his take on the situation in Gaza, even going so far as to quote the presenter: “I am not impartial on this subject, nor can I be…”

Though, Ofcom did also stipulate that on Galloway’s show on 2 January 2009 he said: “You’re welcome whatever your point of view but you’re especially welcome if you disagree with me…”

Finally concluding that, ‘there was an appropriately wide range of significant views aired on the station and on George Galloway during the period to which these complaints related.

Aside form this, which is basically support for Galloway’s stance and actions, the only “chastise,” if you can even call it that, was this:

However, in encouraging listeners to attend demonstrations with details of dates, times and locations, the programme moved away from legitimate debate and started to campaign on a major matter of controversy resulting in a breach of Rule 5.11.source

Perhaps the Nazi Zionists should pay more attention to what their own bigots say on air. For instance, OFCOM’s response to complaints regarding the UK’s Zionist-mouthpiece from America, Charlie Wolf, who used his show to denigrate, attack and smear Rachel Corrie after she was purposely run over and murdered by the Zionist Racist Israeli Army using an American made army Bulldozer to crush the life out of her:

Charlie Wolf (born Stephen Linskey [1] on 12 April 1959) is a British-based radio talk-show host, disc jockey and neoconservative commentator, originally from Boston, and is currently the Communications Director of Republicans Abroad UK. Wolf was forced to leave talkSPORT by the station's new owners UTV Radio in 2006.

During his talkSPORT show on 4 December 2005, Wolf described Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist who had been killed by an Israeli military bulldozer, as "scum." In its bulletin dated 23 January 2006, Ofcom ruled this comment to be in breach of the "Generally Accepted Standards" section of the Broadcasting Code and stated it was "seriously ill-judged". From WIKI

Check out the EXACT WORDS he used regarding Rachel, then ask yourself why this man is continually on British stations as a talking head commentator on US politics, when #1 He is a member of Republicans Abroad (Which is NEVER mentioned!!), and therefore cannot be counted on for giving an un-biased opinion on US politics when only he is brought on without a US Democrat to counter his propaganda. And #2 After he said such vile remarks about an American Citizen who was clearly murdered:

TalkSPORT accepted that the presenter’s comments were inappropriate. However,in mitigation, it pointed out that he had also expressed compassion for her: “I have a lot of compassion that the poor girl died. What I don’t have compassion for is that she died of her own stupidity.” This was, in the presenter’s view, because she placed herself in danger in what was a war zone. Furthermore, he had allowed a subsequent caller to challenge his comments and put the view that she was a peaceful demonstrator. Nevertheless, the presenter had been told that such intemperate language was not acceptable and he regretted using the word.

We welcome the broadcaster’s comments and the subsequent action it has taken. However, we thought that to use such an extreme term as “scum” to describe the woman was not justified in a discussion focusing on a peaceful demonstration in a war zone and was seriously ill-judged.PDF Ofcom Ruling

All Galloway did was to give the details of a protest against the Gaza Holocaust, whereas Charlie Wolf rejoiced in the death of a young woman and smeared her memory on air. Hmmmmmmmm, the phrase "Glass Houses and stones" comes to mind......