Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Awww. Another setback for the Free Gaza Movement

Oh, no! Their ship fell through. It must be Israel's fault. Its ALWAYS Israel's fault.

The latest update from the Free Gaza blockade runners:
June 14, 2011

Nothing except piracy and brute force will stop us from going.

As reported previously, our partner, the International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza, lost its 320-passenger ship due to interference ("sabotage") of the purchase. We believe that heavy-handed tactics were applied to the owner not to sell.

Nevertheless, the ICBSG is back in business, with a smaller vessel, and FPM will be on it, albeit with a reduced delegation of only five U.S. citizens. We are consulting with our delegates and FPM organizers, and can confirm that among the delegates will be Ambassador Sam Hart, USS Liberty veteran Joe Meadors and FPM co-founder Paul Larudee. We are still waiting to hear from two others, and will let you know the final roster in the coming days.

In the past few weeks, many of our delegates, including Cynthia McKinney and Father Louis Vitale, have reported that they would not be able to come for reasons including medical procedures, scheduling, and competing commitments. The delays in the departure date have also compromised the ability of some delegates to participate. Self-selection has therefore played a significant role in determining the make-up of the delegation.

Through such trying times, we take inspiration from the Palestinian culture of sumud (steadfastness), which absorbs all disappointment and endures all reversals of fortune. It is this quality that assures that when opportunity appears, the Palestinians will be there to recover their land and their rights. We can do no less than to be at their side, and to help create this opportunity.

The FPM Team

5 comments:

Jon said...

I know that Israel's supporters are routinely accused of being in league with wealth and power (and I'm sure this blog receives its fair share of allegation of secretly being in the pay of the Mossad).

But looking over this story, it seems that (financially speaking) we pro-Israel bloggers may have picked the wrong side. While we're fighting over the beer tab at Elders of Zion drinking-breakfasts, ISM, JVP et al seem to have found enough money to buy 300+ person passenger ships and sail them across the Mediterannean. While they claim to represent small voices in the wilderness, they seem to have mightby big checkbooks?

Dusty said...

Joh? You get beer at your Elder of Ziyon breakfasts? I want to lodge a formal protest
We only get coffee.

Zio-breakfast Club Soda said...

Sorry. Beer was discontinued as a cost-saving measure. Think of it as Passover year-round.

BBJ said...

"Through such trying times, we take inspiration from the Palestinian culture of sumud (steadfastness), which absorbs all disappointment and endures all reversals of fortune. It is this quality that assures that when opportunity appears, the Palestinians will be there to recover their land and their rights."

Well, you can't argue with a principle of folk wisdom that someone made up on the fly. Take THAT, Abba Eban!

Rebecca said...

What impresses me about this foolish statement is that it's all about them - about their own struggle, their feelings, etc. - not about the Palestinians.