Gaza 2012

I guess I have a few things to say about this, though I haven't had a ton of blogging time lately.

I was listening to David Ignacius talk about Gaza on NPR yesterday- update, who will win, etc. Of course I heard some things that made me think and get a little angry...

(Here is a much better explanation of events, in my opinion... http://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2012/11/16/john-mearsheimer/a-pillar-built-on-sand/ )

Who will win?? Such a stupid way to describe it- no one wins in war. Have you not heard that quote about winning a war being like winning an earthquake? 

And anyway, you know who will win. Who is the 4th strongest military power and backed unconditionally by a superpower? Uh, yeah. No contest. And the winners write history. So that was easy.

Now let's talk about facts. Here are some links to help you out if you like facts and context like I do:

5 Lies the Media Keeps Repeating About Gaza
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/omar-baddar/5-lies-the-media-keeps-re_b_2160239.html

Israel's 'right to self-defense' - a tremendous propaganda victory
http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/israel-s-right-to-self-defense-a-tremendous-propaganda-victory.premium-1.478913?localLinksEnabled=false


When the Smoke Clears in Gaza
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/11/after-gaza-a-single-state.html



Back to the radio-- a truce is spoken of, but not the one Israel interrupted with bombing in the first place...

Ignatius did mention that Clinton will only be talking to Israeli officials, PA (who have nothing to do with Hamas), and Morsi in Egypt. Congress has declared Hamas a terrorist group, so we "can't" talk to them... I think it's a good point on why our policy is messed up, but others will of course see it as why Palestinians are wrong, not a partner for peace, pick your own cliche...

Rocket attacks from Gaza are said to be the cause of this conflagration. Funny how Israel is always responding, never ever starting anything. Yeah, that's believable. Everything happens in a vacuum over there. I keep forgetting!

I've been told I'm drinking the Kool-Aid, when in fact, I just want to shake people and get them to stop drinking it. I guess it's easier to be strong in your convictions the fewer facts (context, etc) you bother yourself with.
 
NPR also mentioned how Israel wants a respite for its elections. Boo hoo. How about not putting all those innocent people in an open air prison, limiting movement, raiding them, limiting food by arbitrary embargo, counting calories so they are "put on a diet, but not killed" (sounds familiar, no?), and creating a pressure cooker situation where you keep putting the lid on and it keeps blowing up in your face. Find the solution, don't just keep putting the lid back on!

Oh by the way, Gaza doesn't have bomb shelters or sirens like Israel- they aren't allowed to dig (?!?!)- and their infrastructure is targeted in bombing. What comes to my mind is that Romney theory on why Israel is more prosperous than Palestinians- he said culture when in fact it was the occupation and Israeli boot on their necks. It's kind of the same here. It is Israeli policies that get in the way of development and, uh, not starving to death, not whichever group you want to label terrorists in this particular decade.

Think freedom, whether one state or two, reparations, reconciliation; not "surgically" targeted political assassinations in which hundreds or thousands of innocents also happen to perish, too. Let's face it, it's closer to policy than accident to kill more Palestinians. Extra-judicial assassination is not a long term solution. Compete for power the way democracies do it- not with walls, occupation, and guns.

Some of the articles above address the thorny issue of self-defense, how people play fast and loose with this term, so I won't say much more than is only one side allowed the right of self defense, existence and freedom?

Another phrase that gets thrown around in these discussions is Israel's right to exist. I have a few words to say about existence. That has also become a code word of sorts...

If you are talking about living, living in peace, fine. Existence is great. Jews have a right to exist. Palestinians have a right to exist. But what you may not realize is that when the Israeli government and many others speak of Israel's right to exist, they are talking about a very different concept. Existence to these people means a Jewish majority at any cost (research demographic threat- Arab birthrate being higher than the Jewish one)- killing, "transfer", raids, assassinations, visa trouble, family reunification trouble, building permit trouble, general daily harassment (checkpoints, closures, settler attacks, availability of goods) that makes people want to move if they have the means. 

This type of existence is code for ethnic cleansing and it is wrong. Everyone should be against it.

Gaza flotilla- are weapons or video the cause of the IDF response?

Political cartoon:
Soldier holding a dead dove saying, "I had no choice, it attacked me with an olive branch."
http://www.cleveland.com/darcy/index.ssf/2010/06/israels_attack_on_gaza_aid_shi.html

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

The link that got me thinking and that resulted in this post:
http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/listeningpost/2010/06/201061911929259720.html

An hour of footage that Israel failed to confiscate:
http://www.culturesofresistance.org/gaza-freedom-flotilla

In listening (to the above link) to how Israel confiscated all of the video equipment and memory chips, it made me think that perhaps Israelis equated video equipment with bombs and weapons. Is that the cause of such crushing, lethal force against an aid ship (among other unarmed entities)? I mean, when a memory chip was discovered in a sock of someone trying to “smuggle” it out, people were strip-searched as though they were found with drugs or weapons! That alone seemed to be the priority, rather than making sure no one was harmed or securing the area.

There is probably enough footage in Israeli evidence lockers to reconstruct the events perfectly, which is definitely a danger if one wants only a certain message to get out. Will Israel throw those thousands or millions of dollars of equipment out if it reaches a different conclusion than what is portrayed on the video? Will Israel alter and edit the videos before releasing them? Some footage made its way off the ship. We can only hope this sheds enough light on the issue to discern what happened because that confiscated footage may never (unaltered) see the light of day. We do still have many witnesses who are speaking out, but that footage would probably be more likely considered proof than their statements. That said, why should we take Israel's word for it? Why should we accept their video and audio proof in light of the fact that they admitted to doctoring it to incriminate the flotilla participants rather than themselves?

It’s true that the footage would be detrimental to Israel, as it shows the truth of what happened and doesn’t toe the Israeli line, but a bomb it is not. Suppressing media footage and confiscating personal property to control the message are not actions a democratic nation should be allowed to take or get away with. I know Israel is worried about its image and obviously wants to control the message as it nearly has rewritten history (there’s no such thing as Palestinians; land with no people for people without land; Jews made the desert bloom; etc), but equating bombs and video cameras goes way too far and it needs to be stopped.

This sort of thing reminds me of the “demographic threat” you hear Israelis and especially Israeli officials speak of. Yes, that’s the Arab birth rate being slightly higher than the Jewish one. It is called a threat. Like nuclear threats, threats of terrorist attacks, threats that are justifiably met with violence. Just because one throws the word “threat” after something doesn’t justify confronting it with violence. Yet one sees Israel do this every time they interact with Palestinians, be it at a peaceful protest, confronting an aid ship or confronting rocket attacks.

Israel wants to investigate itself without international involvement. Not only that, but the investigation is not to assess guilt or compliance with international law, but just to see if the operation worked. ??? Perhaps we should have let Hitler and Milosovic investigate themselves- not to assess guilt, but just to evaluate the operation. When you put it that way, you see the absurdity. Criminals cannot investigate themselves.

Video cameras and Palestinian babies are NOT THREATS and do NOT justify Israel’s occupation or brutal treatment of its occupied population.


Some of said footage that did make it out of this whole mess, despite Israel's best efforts:

Some notable people were in the flotilla. This one mentions Edward Peck:
http://original.antiwar.com/beatrice-paez/2010/06/10/new-footage-depicts-attack-on-mavi-marmara/

Democracy Now's Amy Goodman interviewed Adam Shapiro of Seeds for Peace, ISM, Free Gaza. He and his wife, Huwaida Arraf, were on the flotilla:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-goodman/interview-at-least-15-dea_b_595438.html

Iara Lee describes her experience on the flotilla on Democracy Now (June 10, 2010). She talks about her hour long footage (linked at beginning of the post) as well:
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/10/exclusive_journalist_smuggles_out_video_of

Huwaida Arraf and Colonel Ann Wright were on the flotilla and describe their experience:
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/3/huwaida

Biden quotes Israel's garbage on Charlie Rose

THE video:
http://vodpod.com/watch/3810888-vp-joe-biden-on-flotilla-incident-charlie-rose-pbs


Source for the Biden on Charlie Rose quote below:
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/3/headlines/biden_defends_israeli_assault_gaza_blockade

Joseph Biden: "You can argue whether Israel should have dropped people onto that ship or not, but the truth of the matter is, Israel has a right to know—they’re at war with Hamas—has a right to know whether or not arms are being smuggled in. And up to now, Charlie, what’s happened? They’ve said, 'Here you go. You're in the Mediterranean. This ship, if you divert slightly north, you can unload it, and we’ll get the stuff into Gaza.’ So what’s the big deal here? What’s the big deal of insisting it go straight to Gaza? Well, it’s legitimate for Israel to say, 'I don't know what’s on that ship. These guys are dropping eight—3,000 rockets on my people.’"

There is so much to correct, here.

Here are two people on the aid ship that correct a lot of this junk:
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/3/huwaida


My take:

Right to know what’s on the ships-

They were checked before leaving Turkey and the Mossad was there. Now, the Mossad could have lied and said there were weapons or maybe Mossad fell down on the job and didn’t look into it. Chances are good that Israel knew exactly what and who were on how many ships.

At least one of the ships Israel contacted and began threatening with force offered voluntarily to have the cargo checked (again) once on shore by the UN or ICRC to satisfy Israeli fears about what was on board. Weapons were not the primary concern- breaking the blockade, whose legality is in question, was the issue.

What’s the big deal with unloading in Israel and having Israel make sure the supplies get to Gaza??

Has Biden been keeping up with events over there? That is the point of the aid flotilla, Free Gaza Movement, Viva Palestina aid convoys, etc! Israel is NOT making sure enough supplies get to Gaza. Various human rights organizations have documented this. THAT is the big deal, Mr. Biden!

Israeli document says blockade is economic warfare, not security measure

Gaza's humanitarian crisis is not a surprise- it's what we wanted

A quote by Dov Weisglass on the Gaza blockade; he's possibly the only one in Israel telling the truth:

"the idea is to put
the Palestinians on a diet but not to make them die of hunger"

He is also the one who told us that "disengagement" from Gaza in 2004 was not so much a gesture of peace, but formaldehyde for the peace process:

"It supplies the amount of formaldehyde that is necessary so there will not be a political process with the Palestinians"

Biden also recklessly implies that the ships are Hamas ships!

So far from the truth! They were flying Turkish and American flags, for one. Wow. That makes him look so ignorant. I guess it wouldn’t be the first time…


Also:
Biden Defends Israel—to the Max—on 'Charlie Rose' Tonight - June 2, 2010
http://www.thenation.com/blog/biden-defends-israel-max-charlie-rose-tonight

Israel eases blockade? Translation, please!

The headline is that Israel is easing the blockade in response to massive international pressure.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10361711.stm

What does this really mean?

Do they really hope Gazans don't starve to death and are taking actions ot prevent this? Probably not. That's pretty optimistic and isn't reflected at all in all their other policies.

This is a response to the "image problem" Israel is said to have. Yes, Israel is the Occupier and is the cause of the Gaza mess, but they wil no doubt be hailed as making great sacrifices and strides for peace in this latest attempt to dodge some well-deserved criticism about the whole of their operation/oppression/occupation.

It reminds me of what Paul spoke of in the Bible- about sinning more that grace will abound. Paul said certainly not to that. He was a bit incredulous. Israel seems to think that's the way to go- keep disregarding international law so people can congratulate them and say how much they've done "for peace" when they make brutally severe restrictions on food, movement, water, etc slightly less so for a short period of time. That's Israel's game- create more problems, "ease" one, and you are in the clear even though the central problem is still very much there (the Occupation).

The world will be placated and Israel will continue to kill Palestinians and commit crimes and no one will demand accountability and justice until the next Sabra and Shatila or Flotilla like incident happens.

Why are we talking about Israeli restrictions on Gaza? Weren't we told they disengaged in 2006 or something? That is always the stock response given when people blame Israel for the shape Gaza's in. It's pretty far from the truth, as we can see pretty clearly now.

Israeli flotilla inquiry committee- what's the point?

Just take the IDF statements and Netanyhu's statements. There you have it. What the committee will "decide".

A few links:

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/gaza-flotilla-probe-panel-to-hold-first-meeting-on-wednesday-1.296466

http://www.linktv.org/scripts/episode_transcript.php?episode=mosaic20100614

One that quotes Netanyahu's statement about what the committee's purpose is:
http://www.paltelegraph.com/palestine/west-bank/6393-israel-composes-a-committee-to-investigate-flotilla-attack

The 3 (just 3?!) men that will decide what went on with the IDF and Mavi Marmara:

• Yaakov Turkel, a retired Israeli supreme court judge, head of this committee
• Shaftai Rouzain, an international law expert, Israel Prize laureate
  
• Amos Huraiv, retired Major-General, former member of the Israeli Haganah mob (Haaretz simply calls him "military expert and former president of the Technion")
  

Really? Were Nazi war criminals allowed to sit at the Nuremburg trials to judge their peers and "operations" against Jews??

Some time has passed, sure, since the horrific crimes of 1948, but doesn't Israel view it- once a terrorist, always a terrorist? Look at how many ancient Nazi war criminals they work hard to bring to justice. Call me crazy, but that guy is not really in a position to have an honest discussion about Palestinians or war crimes.


The 2 (non-voting) observers are:

David Trimble, a Northern Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Ken Watkin, a former military judge advocate general from Canada

Some key "facts" about teh committee:

• No army personnel will appear before the committee
• I'm guessing that means no survivors will testify, either
• Netanyahu, Minister for the Army Ehud Barak, and chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi are all expected to testify before the Committee
• They cannot question "political mechanism that triggered the attack on the Marmara"
• The sole "evidence" under consideration is the summary report by the "experts" the chief of staff appointed (IDF internal "investigation")- yet another big clue as to what the committee will decide
• No authority to make procedural recommendations

Netanyahu assures us the investigation will be fair and impartial, while defending the army furiously.

Does anyone honestly have any doubt what the results of this will be?

They didn't accomplish the objective, but they did what they needed to do to protect it's citizens.

Complete rubbish!

Netanyahu said:

I’m convinced that finding the facts by the committee will prove that the objective behind the operation of the state of Israel and its army’s defensive action was acceptable and conformed to international standards.

That tends to happen when one stacks the deck!


This is a Guardian blog or opinion piece I think. The author is as incredulous as I am:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/16/israel-gaza-flotilla-inquiry

It talks about other times Israel has investigated itself. Telling.


Two videos about flotilla stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FcPqvl38c8&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oMQeYOkSBA

Israel's problem- image or moral?

Can Israel Learn How to Make Its Case?

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1995850,00.html


I've been sticking to alternative sources of news for this event and so I was unaware of how the stroy was being framed by the mainstram news sources. Until TIME arrived in the mail. I was under the impression that all were in agreement that Israel is at fault and can't play the victim card too much longer. Guess not. The story is not actually how do we make Israel follow the law and respect human rights. The story in the US is that Israel has an "image problem." Silly me!

Under George Bush, the US had an image problem. We invaded Iraq, probably knowing full well there weren't any WMD, and didn't apologize after everyone else found out the truth. Truth telling and admitting fault is seen as weakness by some, but it does wonders for one's image as it is the hardest and right thing to do. There is a Biblical lesson for the individual here, temptimg to address, but that's a digression perhaps for another time or place. :)

The only way for Israel to fix this pesky "image problem," is to stop flouting international law, let Palestinians have the self determination that everyone else on this planet sees as a God-given right, end the occupation. apologize for past wrongs, begin reconciliation, refugee return, compensation, trials for those in Israel who are guilty of crimes against humanity, etc.

Gaza flotilla- more incredible Israeli lies

In progress...

USS Liberty survivor was seized by flotilla
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/4/43_years_after_surviving_israeli_attack

Will we abandon and dishonor him yet again?
***

Activists: Israeli boat raiders had ‘assassination list’
http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0605/israeli-raiders-assassination-list/
***

Many musical groups cancelled performances in Israel in recent months because of Gaza, occupation, flotilla

Elvis Costello, Carlos Santana and Gil Scott-Heron, British group Gorillaz, Pixies

Given what you'll read next, why aren't we separating ourselves from this nonsense?
***

This show on 6/7/10 has a ton of crazy things. Just wrong! Who believes Israel??
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/7/israel_rejects_call_for_international_probe

• Arab Knesset member, Hanin Zoabi, is targeted in a FB group inciting her assassination. She was assaulted in the Knesset for trying to share her experiences on the flotilla.
• IDF retracted press release it put out saying flotilla members were Al Qaeda mercenaries upon inquiries by Blumenthal. The "evidence" was that they had night vision goggles. Wow. The criteria for being a terrorist is getting more and more general.
• IDF admitted to doctoring the audio it originally put out with a flotilla person supposedly saying "go back to Auschwitz." They released the "full" version later. NY Times an dWahington Post reported on these initial IDF responses, but didn't report the corrections. Way to follow up and ask the questions. Instead of Blumenthal, they could have been the ones to break the story about the false IDF reports.
• Yedioth Ahronoth - apparently an author of some sort said Israel should plant guns and rockets on the next flotilla and display them at the prot of Ashdod for journalists to photograph.

***


And they think they can conduct a serious investigation of themselves. They don't want the international community or any other country involved. That way, they wouldn't be able to manufacture the story they want. Heaven forbid we get the truth!

Flotilla spoof video: "important Israeli contribution to the discussion of recent events"

Really??

The title says Israel apologizes for it, but the article mentions one condemnation from a blog. The Prime Minister's spokesman was apparently ROTFL and forwarded it to friends. That doesn't sound very apologetic to me.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10253357.stm

This tasteless nonsense was made by an editor at Jerusalem Post. Mark Regev thought it was so funny he called his kids and told them to watch it. Surely this guy could keep his cool and say it isn't right to laugh at people dying. But, no. Maybe it's good he shows his true colors.

Some might say this is what happens in free societies. This is merely the free expression of ideas.

I say, when you think things like this are funny (especially when you are an official who can't maintain one's decorum), it says something about you- your morals and your respect for human life- that you have none!


Huff Post has the YouTube video if you want to see the garbage for yourself:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/07/israel-apologizes-for-cir_n_603459.html


"There's no people dying" - how is this anywhere near true about the flotilla or Gaza and the IDF??

"The truth will never find the way to your TV." - That's probably actually true! The US will believe Israel every time, no matter the crime. Kill our own people, kill some other countries' people- we love us some Israel. In all the stories on major network news, they are intent on finding and playing up Turkish "terrorist" ties of some of the participants rather than the IDF massacre and executions.

"Hamas as Mother Teresa" - This whole thing has nothing to do with Hamas and yet Israel is trying to say aid to Gaza is equal to giving missiles to Hamas?? ??????????

Israel must be an alternate universe. Similar to the bubble Bush lived in in the White House where Iraq was an imminent threat and everyone was supposed to bow to his will or be accused of being agaisnt us and therefore for the terrorists and gut feeling was a substitute for evidence an common sense.

Prohibited items in Gaza- what is the objective?

This is an ever-changing list. There were stories awhile back about pasta not being allowed and the question was posed to an American official. The exchange was absurd.

See the latest list below.

My related posts:
http://tinyurl.com/24yofjn
http://tinyurl.com/2er9ojp

Here is the pasta question by the journalist- it didn't make it to my blog I don't think, so here it is:


Feb. 25, 2009: U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing by Acting Spokesman Robert A. Wood

So, I'm confused. Is pasta a weapon or not? Our own State Department can't answer this burning question that thousands upon thousands of starving Palestinians in Israel's stranglehold are dying to find the answer to.

If it's that dangerous, perhaps there should be a worldwide ban on it- along with other dangers like chickpeas, soap, toilet paper, cluster bombs, and white phosphorus.

(Times are where in the video it occurs)

3:08 The questions on Gaza start
4:58 Dual use items are discussed some
5:32 The question is asked about aid to Gaza being tied to Shalit's release (food as a political weapon)
6:20 Honoring the ceasefire is asked about
7:09 The question is asked about pasta being a weapon and Wood can't commit either way (???)

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1857622883?bctid=14090183001
or
http://www.state.gov/video/?videoid=14090183001

Full text-- http://www.state.gov/video/?videoid=14090183001

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

Back to today- June 5, 2010....

PDF of "prohibited items" in Gaza - the current list, anyway:
http://gisha.org/UserFiles/File/HiddenMessages/ItemsGazaStrip060510.pdf


Why does Israel ban these items in Gaza?? Self defense or collecive punishment? Depriving the population of another entity to effect a "favorable" change in their government. Sounds like what some would call terrorism...

Which are used ot make bombs or rockets? Toys? Jam? A picture of a character in Toy Story shooting a gun that shoots jam runs through my head... Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, too...

Prohibited Items*
sage
cardamom
cumin
coriander
ginger
jam
halva
vinegar
nutmeg
chocolate
fruit preserves
seeds and nuts
biscuits and sweets
potato chips
gas for soft drinks
dried fruit
fresh meat
plaster
tar
wood for construction
cement
iron
glucose
industrial salt
plastic/glass/metal containers
industrial margarine
tarpaulin sheets for huts
fabric (for clothing)
flavor and smell enhancers
fishing rods
various fishing nets
buoys
ropes for fishing
nylon nets for greenhouses
hatcheries and spare parts for hatcheries
spare parts for tractors
dairies for cowsheds
irrigation pipe systems
ropes to tie greenhouses
planters for saplings
heaters for chicken farms
musical instruments
size A4 paper
writing implements
notebooks
newspapers
toys
razors
sewing machines and spare parts
heaters
horses
donkeys
goats
cattle
chicks

Gaza Flotilla- Self Defense?? Shots ot the Head and Back?

As usual, the evidence points to Israeli misconduct. Israeli official statements are proven no more true than a police state's propaganda. And an American citizen was murdered.

Will it change US policy? One can always hope.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/04/gaza-flotilla-activists-autopsy-results

The results revealed that a 60-year-old man, Ibrahim Bilgen, was shot four times
in the temple, chest, hip and back. A 19-year-old, named as Fulkan Dogan, who
also has US citizenship, was shot five times from less that 45cm, in the face,
in the back of the head, twice in the leg and once in the back. Two other men
were shot four times, and five of the victims were shot either in the back of
the head or in the back, said Yalcin Buyuk, vice-chairman of the council of
forensic medicine.

Dr Haluk Ince, the chairman of the council of forensic medicine in Istanbul,
said that in only one case was there a single bullet wound, to the forehead from
a distant shot, while every other victim suffered multiple wounds. "All [the
bullets] were intact. This is important in a forensic context. When a bullet
strikes another place it comes into the body deformed. If it directly comes into
the body, the bullet is all intact."

The only one shot with one bullet was shot between the eyes from a longer range. That screams sniper and a shoot to kill policy, does it not? Does it say self defense to anyone?

Also, that is quite a few shots in the head and backs and backs of heads to be self defense. If you're truly in a struggle for your life, how do you shoot someone in the back of the head? What would our American courts say about that? I guess a buddy (or 5) could have come from the opposite direction to save the day. If in each of these cases, the soldier's life was hanging in the balance, and in each case that soldier had a buddy on the opposite side (to shoot the guy in the back of the head), then one could argue that the lethal situation could have been avoided.

Also, there is an account of a guy shot through the top of the head from a helicopter. If that is looked into, surely that could provide some insight as to who started it, whether Israelis acted in self defense, whether they shot ot kill, etc. Proof of shooting from the air certainly would disprove the Israeli line as well.

In the Democracy Now reports, eyewitnesses have said they heard shots before the soldiers boarded. If the soldiers are claiming the protesters stole the sidearms, I guess the shots would have come from Israeli commandos, contradicting the official Israeli line they are feeding us- protesters attacked first. We still have no credible info on who started this thing.

You have to wonder what the Israeli definition of attack is, though. I, and probably most folks, assume guns aimed at Israelis. In the past, rocks and school backpacks have justified murder by tank and automatic weapon fire, so there's no telling what they consider an "attack" or "threat".

A question that remains for me is why send commandos in to meet an aid ship about to supposedly violate the Gaza blockade that Israel contends is totally legal- much like settlements and the occupation and the rest of the collective punishment. Why not send diplomats, lawyers, etc to ask to board or discuss instead? Why not offer for UN or other international group to inspect the cargo at the Gaza port before sending in commandos?

Gaza Flotilla Murder Protest photos

I thought the protest went well. It was my first ever. I had wanted to before, especially in the run up ot the Iraq war when I was so mad that journalists had fallen asleep and weren't asking anyone anything, but just haven't until now. I was bigger on writing Congress, but when you get so many letters back about how great Israel is in response to concerns about Israel killing civilians, collectively punishing Palestinians, building illegal settlements, us supporting such horrible crimes against humanity both verbally and with billions of dollars in aid, you want to do more. Feinstein sent me a reply on Iraq once when I sent her a letter about Israeli war crimes in Palestine, as if there was any doubt that Senators didn't read my emails.

A lot of folks honked their support, waved, gave a peace sign, etc. More than I expected. I did see a middle finger and a few shouts of "I love Israel." The latter was obviously meant as a counter to us, but loving Israel and wanting them to follow the law are not opposites (we don't hate Israel), so it was a strange choice of words to counter the demonstration, I thought.

This is my sign, front and back- above and below. I bought supplies in the morning and put it together after work. The supplies. That was a near miss. The store I went ot had next ot nothing. No colored posterboard? Really? Cardstock taped together on the only foamboard I found saved the day and didn't look horrible. I was worried that the only thing I found to write on the black - window paint- wouldn't work, but with much effort, it came through for me.

I felt a bit like the kid who didn't do his homework, slapping it together in the car a few feet from the protest, but I think it turned out ok. I like making a poster. One of the few things I liked about school.

This is the end of the protest, above.

There were lots of Israeli flags present; here's a Palestinian flag. A local TV station said the Israeli flags were a counter protest, but since the event was by Jewish Voice For Peace, I'm not sure about that.

I should have moved the camera a bit to get "Free Gaza" instead of "Ree Gaza" !
Lebanon is here!

Lots of great signs!

Shouts of "Free Gilad Shalit" emanated from this corner at times...

What that has to do with Israel starving more than a milion people, forcing them to drink contaminated water, and killing those who try and help them, I sure don't know.

This criticism of Israel will undoubtedly make people say that I support terrorism and kidnapping. For the record, I don't support either.

Another great sign. Good idea with the pole. A good walking demonstration sign.

Enough is enough! was one chant. I can't remember them all.

The venue.

Poll: Should Israel face censure over an attack on a Gaza aid convoy?

Should Israel face censure over an attack on a Gaza aid convoy?

YES!!

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/

This is a CNN poll- quick vote. Scroll to towards the bottom.

It must have been up just for one day. In the morning, yes waas leading by some 20-30 points. By evening, it was 50/50.

Israel getting away with murder- literally- Gaza freedom flotilla

So the answer to this question I posed in my last post is a yes:

"Will this be yet another non-violent tactic met with Israeli gunfire?"

I really didn't expect it to come to that; just detentions. Just detentions. Can't believe I just thought that.

"Israel cannot clean the blood off its hands through any excuse," said
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "It is no longer possible to cover up or ignore Israel's
lawlessness. This bloody massacre by Israel on ships that were taking
humanitarian aid to Gaza deserves every kind of curse."

I wholeheartedly agree with Erdogan! It is awesome that someone is doing something- Turkey took its ambassador out of Israel.

I'm sure this will be a good account. There were supposed to be some good guests on. I hope to listen to it soon myself:

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/1/global_condemnation_of_israeli_armed_attack

Obama’s response to the massacre of 20 people on board whose goal was to deliver supplies to help rebuild Gaza’s infrastructure and help them get clean water on Memorial Day was the same old feeble one- “we regret the loss of life.” Nearly the same line as Israel, minus the outright blame placed solely on the aid workers. When Palestinians used to suicide bomb, they were killers, murderers, homicide bombers, etc. We had no qualms about conferring these monikers meant for the perps on the entire population. When Israel kills people, we cleanse it and remove the blame- “stuff happens” or “what can you do” or “both sides need to adopt peaceful means”, etc.

Not that the weak response was surprising. Look what we "did" with the Goldstone report on war crimes in the Gaza offensive, when Noam Chomsky was denied entry to Israel because they don't like what he writes, and then when at the UN Monday, we abstained from calling for an immediate end to the blockade, unlike the rest of the Security Council, who did its job. What did we "do"? Nothing. Which means Israel keeps committing crimes with our money, which violates our US laws, by the way. Why should that matter to us, though. We don't care when they kill our citizens, so why on earth would we care about them breaking the law?

A couple of things struck me as ironic when I heard the news due to what day it was and what I was reading at the time.

I was finishing Roxana Saberi’s book about her imprisonment in Iran on Monday when I heard about it. Israel’s demands, assertions and denials resemble Iran’s quite a bit. You can't believe a word either of them say. Why not release the names of the dead? Why not release the names of the jailed? Why not let the jailed contact family, lawyers, embassies, etc? Why are they keeping the possessions of those released - money, film, tape, cameras, equipment, etc?

We all know about Iran, but think about how Israel called their nuclear reactor a textile factory and still won't acknowledge it, even though we all know the truth, how they never confirm that their Mossad was responsible when everyone knows they were. There are too many lies associated with the conflict to properly address here.

I heard about this on Memorial Day. I read so many well wishes to troops and thank yous to the military past and present on Facebook, teh news and various places. I don't hate America, teh flag, the troops or anything else, but certain things struck me as ironic in thinking about US policy on/with Israel and the Middle East on this day.

In the USS Liberty disaster, we chose to believe Israel over our own soldiers, we chose to support Israel and bury those soldiers’ accounts and statements rather than show them the same honor many enjoyed on Memorial Day. Why? And Rachel Corrie. She wasn’t military, but she was a US citizen who fought (and was murdered) for others’ right to have what we enjoy- she made the same sacrifice as many a US soldier. Given a record like this (protecting Israel over the lives and interests of our own citizens and international law), what hope, honestly, is there for justice and fairness in the Middle East as far as the US is concerned?

It’s apparently great to thank and respect soldiers- except when their story contradicts that of Israel’s. In that case, you need to shut your mouth and be ashamed of your service and contribution to this country. If you do choose ot talk about it, you need to fall in line and lie. There aren’t always two sides to every story. In the case of Israel and the US, there is only one side. Israel’s.

Well, Israel hasn't admitted to much of anything, but they do admit that they attacked a civilian ship with attack helicopters, speedboats and commandos.

Hopefully I will organize these later...
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/1/global_condemnation_of_israeli_armed_attack
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/10195838.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2010/may/31/israel-troops-gaza-ships
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/10196585.stm
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/05/31/gaza.protest/index.html
http://www.freegaza.org/
http://www.juancole.com/2010/05/mercy-flotilla-for-gaza-about-to-set-off-israelis-threaten-to-block-it-with-war-ships.html

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=176998

Israel calls Gaza blockade-busting flotilla a provocation

Israel calls Gaza blockade-busting flotilla a provocation
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100526/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictaidflotilla

Israel claimed on Wednesday that a flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists seeking to bust the Gaza blockade is a provocation and that the aid it is carrying is "unnecessary".


"I don't see the need for any ship with these materials. We allow these materials into Gaza,"

"The sail is a provocative act that is unnecessary in light of the figures, which indicate that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is good and stable,"

Nonsense! Aid is unnecessary? A provocation? Garbage!


Gaza's markets of unaffordable goods conceal reality of people under siege
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/04/gaza-flotilla-humanitarian-crisis


They are detaining the civilians and will send the supplies (or some) through border crossings. Gazans are in need because of these very border crossings that have in the past banned toilet paper, toothpaste, and pasta, among other ordinary things. Many humanitarian organizations agree that Israel lets items in, but also agree that not nearly enough is let in for the need that exists.

Court documents reveal that Israel made estimates of calories Gazans need. They are getting far below what they need to thrive due to Israel’s blockade. They say the calorie count wasn’t used in policy making, but that looks mighty suspicious, don’t you think? When one party is constantly living in "fear" of a "demographic threat," that would be an awfully convenient way to ethnically cleanse a population, wouldn’t it? (that sentence makes me want to go nuts with air quotes, btw) Did this also not happen to many a Jew in Hitler’s time?? Why can’t we see this for what it is now?

"While they have wrapped themselves in a humanitarian cloak, they are engaging in political propaganda and not in pro-Palestinian aid," said foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor.

This is humanitarian aid for an area that has many times over been declared to be in a desperate humanitarian situation. Propaganda?! Unbelievable!

They have also called this humanitarian aid a provocation. Do they mean one that will get a military response? Will this be yet another non-violent tactic met with Israeli gunfire?


No humanitarian situation? Not like it hasn’t been in the news…

Amnesty International
http://blog.amnestyusa.org/middle-east/gaza-blockade-amnesty-international-delivers-23000-signatures-to-clinton/

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/05/27/2739353/amnesty-international-report-israel-mistreats-palestinians

Oxfam
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam_in_action/emergencies/gaza_crisis.html

2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7191359.stm
2009
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6573496&page=1
2010
http://reneefrompalestine.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/update-on-the-gaza-humanitarian-situation/

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11272.shtml

Israel vs Palestinians

A few thoughts about another large scale attack on Gaza...

Most of it has been said before, I'm sure.

The Gaza attacks and the recent rocket attack for which Israel “retaliated” are always described as a Palestinian attack and Israeli retaliation- as though they are doing absolutely nothing to deserve such attacks. (???) Attacks by Palestinians always occur in a vacuum unprovoked. Israel is the eternal victim, always on the defensive, always retaliating, never the provocateur- or so they (and everyone) say.

We talk about the two as though they are equal- Israel and Palestine. It is said that both sides should stop violence and both sides have to support peace; both sides in the 2006 Gaza assault should investigate its war crimes.

They aren’t the same, though.

One is a government ordering war crimes. One is a dispossessed and occupied people who have received no compensation for their stolen land and no justice for the crimes against them. (Would any American not be ready to fight when faced with that???)

One gets massive amounts of financial, military, diplomatic and every other kind of aid possible along with the assurance of an unending and unbreakable bond from a superpower; one gets sporadic support, but mostly blame from the same superpower/mediator.

One is the Occupier attacking largely innocent people; one is the Occupied people struggling for their freedom and rights.

As highlighted by the Gaza attacks, this isn’t a struggle between two militaries; this is the Israeli military targeting the already captive and starving Palestinian people.

The Israeli government is punishing the civilian population of Palestine for crimes fringe groups perpetrate fueled by the Israeli occupation, so essentially Israel is attacking for something it is causing. The civilians (and PA- not really an applicable term anymore) are in a lose-lose situation.

“Wait the retaliation tomorrow”

Edit 4/6/10: I've been looking for more info from my favorite podcasts on NPR and the BBC, but haven't been finding nearly as much for this incredible threat for Gaza as for the pretty minor Biden snub. It figures, but it's still frustrating. Israel has bad timing for an announcement and it news. A threat for a larger scale Gaza attack? No one cares.

Near the time I wrote my last post about the handful of headlines saying Israel was building settlements, advancing on Gaza, but still “hopes for peace,” apparently things were happening in Gaza.

They were being leafleted on Thursday.

***
From
http://www.imemc.org/article/58344 :

The leaflets just stated “Wait the retaliation tomorrow”.

***
And attacked Thursday/Friday.

Israelis do love to bomb a milk factory. Perhaps this is for the “demographic threat?” Are we supposed to believe the Israeli military is that bad that it bombed these things by mistake?? I think also police stations and security training facilities were targeted. Given their propensity attacking security installations, someone please tell me how anyone can expect them to “reign in terror,” especially under the Occupation conditions of poverty, curfews and closures?

***

They bombed metal workshops, farms, a milk factory and small sites belonging to the military wing of Hamas “in retaliation” for the deaths of 2 soldiers a week or two ago.


Thirteen Israeli air strikes hit Gaza Strip
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8600285.stm


Israel pounds Gaza with missiles
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/04/201041224613622604.html

***

Israel threatens new Gaza offensive
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/04/20104265845904380.html

"If this rocket fire against Israel does not stop, it seems we will have to raise the level of our activity and step up our actions against Hamas," Silvan Shalom, Israel's deputy prime minister, told public radio on Friday.

"We won't allow frightened children to again be raised in bomb shelters and so, in the end, it will force us to launch another military operation.

"I hope we can avoid it, but it is one of the options we have, and if we don't have a choice, we will use it in the near future."

***

They don’t have a choice but to attack?? They are the only ones with a choice!!

If Israel's hope to avoid war is anything like their hope for peace, consider that a declaration of an imminent attack on Gaza a la January 2009! The minute we in the US have a national distraction on the scale of a presidential election or something, Israel will bomb Gaza and claim it's because of the rocket attacks. Or will they bomb to distract us from the settlement standoff? That way, they can stop bombing and look like they are making a concession and giving up a lot for peace.

What garbage.

When will we call a spade a spade? And boycott it?

54 people with guts - thank you!

I often talk junk about Congress people and how they want to keep their jobs so they bow to the Israel lobby, but if just for a day, there is hope.

They used the words "collective punishment." I really am impressed!

Representatives, unlike most senators, won't let you write them unless you are a constituent, so I'll have to thank them here on my turf:

I want to thank you for your letter to President Obama to ask him to help pressure Israel to act according to international law and respect human rights and basic needs of Palestinians. My own representatives have failed miserably in taking this stand (or any on this issue), so I say a special thank you for stepping up in the absence of their moral stand for representing my interests and bringing them before our President.

The right would have us believe that they represent the interests of Christians in supporting Israel unconditionally. On the contrary, such abused and marginalized people as the Palestinians under brutal Israeli control are the very people Jesus went to. As a Christian, I applaud you for taking this stand.

AIPAC has tried to silence voices like ours who desire more balance in our approach to the Israeli Palestinian problem so as a voter (though not in your district) I thank you for risking your seat doing what is right.

Thank you for your courage and your understanding of the real situation in Israel/Palestine.

Please continue to stand for human rights and international law for the betterment ourselves, the country and our security.


Sent January 21, 2010

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

Thank you for your ongoing work to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for your commitment of $300 million in U.S. aid to rebuild the Gaza Strip. We write to you with great concern about the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

The people of Gaza have suffered enormously since the blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt following Hamas’ coup, and particularly following Operation Cast Lead. We also sympathize deeply with the people of southern Israel who have suffered from abhorrent rocket and mortar attacks. We recognize that the Israeli government has imposed restrictions on Gaza out of a legitimate and keenly felt fear of continued terrorist action by Hamas and other militant groups. This concern must be addressed without resulting in the de facto collective punishment of the Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip. Truly, fulfilling the needs of civilians in Israel and Gaza are mutually reinforcing goals.

The unabated suffering of Gazan civilians highlights the urgency of reaching a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and we ask you to press for immediate relief for the citizens of Gaza as an urgent component of your broader Middle East peace efforts. The current blockade has severely impeded the ability of aid agencies to do their work to relieve suffering, and we ask that you advocate for immediate improvements for Gaza in the following areas:

* Movement of people, especially students, the ill, aid workers, journalists, and those with family concerns, into and out of Gaza;

* Access to clean water, including water infrastructure materials,

* Access to plentiful and varied food and agricultural materials;

* Access to medicine and health care products and suppliers;

* Access to sanitation supplies, including sanitation infrastructure materials;

* Access to construction materials for repairs and rebuilding;

* Access to fuel;

* Access to spare parts;

* Prompt passage into and out of Gaza for commercial and agricultural goods; and

* Publication and review of the list of items prohibited to the people of Gaza.

Winter is arriving and the needs of the people grow ever more pressing. For example, the ban on building materials is preventing the reconstruction of thousands of innocent families’ damaged homes. There is also a concern that unrepaired sewage treatment plants will overflow and damage surrounding property and water resources.

Despite ad hoc easing of the blockade, there has been no significant improvement in the quantity and scope of goods allowed into Gaza. Both the number of trucks entering Gaza per month and the number of days the crossings have been open have declined since March. This crisis has devastated livelihoods, entrenched a poverty rate of over 70%, increased dependence on erratic international aid, allowed the deterioration of public infrastructure, and led to the marked decline of the accessibility of essential services.

The humanitarian and political consequences of a continued near-blockade would be disastrous. Easing the blockade on Gaza will not only improve the conditions on the ground for Gaza’s civilian population, but will also undermine the tunnel economy which has strengthened Hamas. Under current conditions, our aid remains little more than an unrealized pledge. Most importantly, lifting these restrictions will give civilians in Gaza a tangible sense that diplomacy can be an effective tool for bettering their conditions.

Your Administration’s overarching Middle East peace efforts will benefit Israel, the Palestinians, and the entire region. The people of Gaza, along with all the peoples of the region, must see that the United States is dedicated to addressing the legitimate security needs of the State of Israel and to ensuring that the legitimate needs of the Palestinian population are met.

Sincerely,

Members of Congress

Arizona

* Raul Grijalva D-AZ7

California

* Lois Capps D-CA23
* Sam Farr D-CA17
* Bob Filner D-CA51
* Barbara Lee D-CA9
* Loretta Sanchez D-CA39
* Pete Stark D-CA
* Michael Honda D-CA15
* Lynn Woolsey D-CA6
* Jackie Speier D-CA12
* Diane Watson D-CA33
* George Miller D-CA7

Connecticut

* Jim Himes D-CT4

Indiana

* Andre Carson D-IN7

Iowa

* Bruce Braley D-IA1

Kentucky

* John Yarmuth D-KY3

Maryland

* Elijah Cummings D-MD7
* Donna Edwards D-MD4

Massachusetts

* Michael Capuano D-MA8
* William Delahunt D-MA10
* Jim McGovern D-MA3
* John Tierney D-MA6
* John Olver D-MA1
* Stephen Lynch D-MA9

Michigan

* John Conyers D-MI14
* John Dingell D-MI 15
* Carolyn Kilpatrick D-MI13

Minnesota

* Keith Ellison D-MN5
* Betty McCollum D-MN4
* James Oberstar D-MN8

New Jersey

* Donald Payne D-NJ10
* Rush Holt D-NJ12
* Bill Pascrell D-NJ8

New York

* Yvette Clarke D-NY11
* Maurice Hinchey D-NY22
* Paul Tonko D-NY21
* Eric Massa D-NY29

North Carolina

* David Price D-NC4

Ohio

* Mary Jo Kilroy D-OH15
* Marcy Kaptur D-OH9

Oregon

* Earl Blumenauer D-OR3
* Peter DeFazio D-OR4

Pennsylvania

* Chaka Fattah D-PA2
* Joe Sestak D-PA7

Vermont

* Peter Welch D-VT

Virginia

* Jim Moran D-VA8

Washington

* Jim McDermott D-WA7
* Adam Smith D-WA9
* Jay Inslee D-WA1
* Brian Baird D-WA3

West Virginia

* Nick Rahall D-WV3

Wisconsin

* Tammy Baldwin D-WI2
* Gwen Moore D-WI4

Virginia

* Glenn Nye D-VA2