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."

HERE WE COME~IRISH ON WAY TO GAZA

The boat left late last night from Dundalk, Ireland

link The ship "Rachel Corrie" leaves Ireland for Gaza to break the Israeli siege

MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular anti siege committee, said that the break siege ship "Rachel Corrie" has left the Irish port of Dundalk heading to Greece en route to Gaza.

Khudari, in a statement late Friday night, said that the ship's departure was delayed for 48 hours due to "logistical reasons".

He noted that the ship would join the freedom flotilla heading to Gaza with humanitarian and relief material to the besieged enclave.

The MP said that the flotilla of 8 ships is carrying solidarity activists from 40 countries along with 1,200 tons of aid including cement, paper, medical supplies, special equipment for the disabled, sports and other assistance material.

The international alliance organizing the flotilla includes the Free Gaza movement, the Turkish relief foundation IHH, the European campaign to end the siege, and Malaysian, Greek and Irish institutions.

Rachel Corrie Ship Sails After 48-Hour Delay

More:

Saturday May 15, 2010 11:13 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The Rachel Corrie solidarity ship sailed from Ireland heading towards the Gaza Strip after 48-hour delay due to logistic issues.

Palestinian Legislator, Jamal El-Khodary, head of the Popular Committee Against the Siege, stated that the ship is part of the international solidarity against the illegal
Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.

El Khodary added that the ship contains several figures and activists in addition to 1200 Tons of aid materials such as cement, paper, medical equipment, school supplies and several other materials.

The ship is one of eight solidarity ships carrying peace activists from nearly 40 countries.

The new wave of solidarity ships are organized by the international coalition that includes the Free Gaza Movement, the Turkish Humanitarian Aid Foundation, the European Committee Against the Siege and several Malaysian, Greek and Irish institutions.

The Free Gaza Movement reported that the 1200-ton cargo ship, one of eight solidarity ships, will be joined by ships from Turkey and Greece.

Israel said it will not allow solidarity ships to reach the Gaza coast while media reports indicated that the Israeli Navy was ordered to prevent the humanitarian ships from reaching Gaza, even if this means using military force against the nonviolent ships and activists.

The movement stated that Israel threats and intimidation will not stop the ships and added that “The Freedom Flotilla is acting in line with universal principals of human rights and justice in defying a blockade identified as illegal by the UN and other humanitarian organization”.

HERE WE GO FOLKS, ISRAEL GETTING READY

The rogue state has been plotting and planning, you knew this was coming and here it is:

QUOTE;"Israel will stop the Flotilla of Boats to Gaza At any Price" They are not content in getting rid of Rachel Corrie once, they will now get rid of the "Rachel Corrie" Irish Cargo ship named after her, carrying aid to Gaza from Ireland in the Flotilla.

link Washington - The Israeli Navy is allegedly training to seize the eight-boat "Freedom Flotilla," which is scheduled to reach Gaza shores May 24, Ma'an News Agency reported Wednesday.

The boats will be loaded with prefabricated homes, cement, and medicine and will be accompanied by 600 individuals in a bid to break the siege on Gaza," Ma'an said.

Arabic-language news station Al-Hurra reported:

About half of the Israeli naval forces will participate in an operation that was approved by the cabinet. [Israeli] Defense Minister Ehud Barak will supervise the operation.

Israel will prevent the boats from reaching Gaza "at any price," an Israeli security source told Ma'an.

The largest-ever sea convoy aimed at breaking the Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip will take off for the coastal enclave in three phases, IMEMC reported last week.

Palestinian legislator and Popular Committee Against the Siege chairman Jamal El Khodary said at a press conference last Thursday that the first ship in the convoy will leave Ireland for Greece May 12. Eight ships will sail from Greece to Turkey on May 22, and those ships are set to reach Cyprus May 26. The entire convoy will sail to Gaza May 27.

El Khodary said the Free Gaza Movement "Freedom Flotilla" is determined to sail to Gaza's shore no matter what, and he said the ships will be outfitted with sufficient supplies should they be surrounded by the Israeli Navy.

Free Gaza cofounder Mary Hughes Thompson said of the May voyage:

“Although we were happy with the first trips, it was bitter-sweet, knowing that our small boats and symbolic amounts of relief paled in comparison to what was really needed in Gaza. Now, we finally feel we are helping to organize a powerful action, one with the potential to translate into a sustained campaign of much more effective challenges to Israel's brutal siege.”

The heart of the convoy will be a cargo ship sponsored by donors from Malaysia and outfitted with cargo form Ireland, Scotland and Britain among others countries.

36 Hours Later~Rachel Corrie Delegation Inside

"The crossing only took about 36 hours," Craig Corrie, father of slain American activist Rachel Corrie said on entering the Gazan city of Rafah Wednesday afternoon, "that's only one hour per mile."

The delegation's efforts to reach the Strip where they planned to attend the Rachel Corrie Memorial Ramadan Soccer Tournament were stymied Tuesday as Mr and Mrs Corrie, who had contacted both Egyptian and American officials in the Middle East and Washington, attempted to negotiate the inscrutable Egyptian security apparatus. On Tuesday the group were told they would not be allowed into the area where the Corrie's daughter was run down by an armored Israeli bulldozer in 2003.

Craig Corrie's reaction, after "going through the layers of Egyptian bureaucracy" and gaining access to the Strip, was to note that what the delegation "managed to do with a bit of hassle should be a right for all those stranded in Gaza." Managing to get into Gaza as a foreign delegation "is not much of a struggle when you look at what the people around you are going through," he added.

Arriving late in the Strip the Corries and a small delegation of friends and colleagues only had time to drop off the soccer uniforms for the teams they were supposed to see play the day before. "I've been told one of the youth games has been postponed for us," Mr Corrie said, "so it looks like we will get to see at least one game."

The delegation will head to Gaza City where the Corries will reconnect with old friends, who they have made since becoming heavily involved in the Palestinian struggle.

Rachel Corrie was killed on March 2003 while acting as a human shield in front of the home of a Gazan family slated for demolition by Israeli forces. As she stood in front of the home alongside six other activists with the International Solidarity Movement she was fatally injured by the caterpillar tracks of the militarized bulldozer.

This is the family's fourth visit to Gaza. In 2003 and 2006 the family entered the area through Israel's Erez Crossing. In 2008 Israel denied the family entry into the country and the two joined the CODEPINK delegation and entered through Egyptian Rafah.

"As frustrating as the Egyptian bureaucracy was, it is really Israel that is primarily responsible for what is going on in Gaza and at the borders," Mr Corrie reflected, "and though Egypt could and should do more to help Gazans with the siege, it is the world which must make it possible for Gazans to live the lives they deserve." source

"Rachel Corrie" Movie Features at Film Fest

From Indiewire:
The Traverse City Film Festival has announced what founder Michael Moore says is “the best movie lineup in its five-year history.” The 2009 edition of the festival - which runs July 28 through Aug 2 - is set to screen 71 features and short films representing more than 30 countries and five continents.

“Greetings from Tehran” and “Palestine and Vine” are two sections of the film festival featuring works from the Middle East, including the new documentary, “Rachel,” about the life and death of Rachel Corrie, an American who sacrificed her life to help the Palestinian people.

“We’re bringing at least one, maybe two, Palestinian filmmakers,” Moore said. “At this time in history, more than ever, we need to hear voices from that part of the world that are not filtered by the Western media.” Full list of Films can be seen here

Oh Look~Israel Pretends Justice

What do Iran's Government and Israel's Government have in common? Plenty, when it comes to how they treat protesters.

Here's a little thought for you. Notice how the world was so outraged at the Iranian governments response to protesters? Germany, Britain, America, France, Canada, all outraged. Compare that to the world reaction Israel gets when it does the very same thing to protesters, including American protesters like Rachel Corrie and Tristan Anderson.

Israel's highest court has ordered stronger charges against two military personnel over the shooting of a bound Palestinian in the West Bank last year.

The sergeant and his commanding officer were originally charged with improper conduct, which would have carried a maximum penalty of one year in prison.

The court called for charges reflecting the gravity of the offence, which was filmed by human rights activists.

(Translation: Oh Crap, we were caught red handed by the camera. "Oh Shite, we now have to punish them, or at the very least, pretend to punish them)

The victim was not seriously injured by the rubber-coated steel bullet.

(So, what about Tristan Anderson and Rachel Corrie then? What punishment will you mete out for her murder and his attempted murder which was also filmed?)

The video footage showed the soldier, acting on orders from his commander standing next to him, shooting Ashraf Abu Rahma in the foot at point-blank range.

(This only goes to show that it is a "Policy" of the ZOF to torture and kill Palestinians and even Americans like Rachel Corrie and Tristan Anderson for protesting. And people think Iran is insane? Pot Kettle Black)

The Supreme Court ordered the military to issue a new indictment with more severe charges that would "accurately reflect the circumstances and the actions taken".

"It is a cruel act that deserves a punishment which reflects this," the judges said in a statement.

"The moral gap between the nature of the act described in the indictment and the manner of evaluation in the indictment - as the offence of 'improper conduct' - is so deep that it cannot stand," they wrote.

The sergeant and his colonel had said they intended only to frighten Mr Abu Rahma, who had been protesting against construction of Israel's separation barrier near the West Bank village of Nilin.

Palestinians and human rights organisations have long complained about harsh treatment of civilians by Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank, and light sentences handed down to abusive soldiers. source

My bet is that he will get a slap on the wrist publicly, then magically disappear like Bernie Madoff's money.

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......

Rachel Corrie~Gaza Delegation & MORE

Parents of Gaza Activist Rachel Corrie Joins Discussions of "My Name is Rachel Corrie" at Unicorn Theatre

Craig and Cindy Corrie will appear for a discussion after the Friday and Saturday performances to discuss Rachel’s work and their participation in a Gaza aid delegation in March.

The parents of Rachel Corrie, the 23-year-old American killed by an Israeli Defense Forces bulldozer in Gaza six years ago, will visit Kansas City on Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 to attend the play “My Name is Rachel Corrie” performed on the Unicorn Theatre’s Jerome Stage at 3828 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri.

Craig and Cindy Corrie will appear for a discussion after the Friday and Saturday performances to discuss Rachel’s work and their participation in a Gaza aid delegation in March. The Corries joined 60 other people on the March delegation to Gaza, including Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Alice Walker. Delegates -- which included members of the Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as doctors, businesspeople, lawyers and college students – met with Palestinian aid groups, Gazan women, and United Nations officials. They also toured the aftermath of the three-week Israeli assault earlier this year and deliver 2,000 gift baskets to Gazan women, purchased through an outpouring of donations through the CODEPINK website to honor Gazan women.

Craig and Cindy Corrie have traveled and spoken extensively responding to interest in their daughter’s story. “We are encouraged that people throughout the U.S. and around the world want to know more. We hope and believe that in sharing Rachel’s story and ours that we continue her work—drawing attention to the plight of the Palestinian people and supporting those Israelis, Palestinians and internationals who are working determinedly to end the illegal Israeli occupation and to bring freedom, justice, and a secure peace to these two peoples,” Cindy Corrie said. For more info and to order tickets go HERE

Shot by Israel~American "Hanging by a Thread"

Tristan Anderson "Hanging by a Thread"



Here is the latest update on peaceful protester Tristan Anderson who was shot by Israeli Soldiers in the head. Rhetorical question here; “Why are Americans not outraged that Israel has attempted to murder yet another American?” I mean seriously, let us not forget the USS Liberty and all those men who have never seen justice. And what about Rachel Corrie? Her family will never see justice either. Why? Because Israel is America’s “friend.” Makes no sense does it……..With friends like these, who needs enemies I say.

U.S. activist Tristan Anderson 'hanging by a thread' after being injured in protest on Israel border

An American activist critically wounded by an Israeli gas canister in the West Bank is "hanging from a thread" after brain surgery Saturday, friends said.

Tristan Anderson, 38, a "tree-sitter" from Oakland, Calif., was hit in the forehead when troops shot tear gas during a protest of the separation barrier between Israel and the West Bank village of Naalin.

"He's really touch and go. He's hanging from a thread," friend Paul Larudee told the San Francisco Chronicle

They traveled to the West Bank to rally against the Israeli-erected barrier that could cut off Palestinian villages from valuable farmland.

LINK