The leaders and organizers of the Flotilla have long admitted that their goal has never been to bring humanitraian aid to Gaza (After all, the Palestinians get more aid per capita than other other people in the world, and have little use for the expired medicine and mismatched shoes carried by the flotilla). Its a provaction and a publicity stunt.
The organizers of the US Boat to Gaza (ustogaza.org/latest/u-s-boat-to-gaza-emergency-response-plans/ ) have including this blueprint for handling publicity during the flotilla. Pro Israel groups should use this as a way of organizing a counter-response:
Elements of your emergency response plans
1) Public protest activities
The goal is to be as visible as possible – both to the public generally and to the media.
As a local organizer you will know the best place to ask people to gather. Possible places include:
- Israeli consulate or other agencyU.S. federal building
- well-trafficked, major intersection
- major transportation hub
Think about what time of day will be easiest for large numbers of people to come out, to get media coverage and for the largest number of people to see your activity.
2) Media work
Be sure to have a list of media outlets and reporters in your area ready ahead of time.
Inform the media of any public activities and protests you are planning.
Monitor your local media to see if they are covering the story, and if so how. If they are not covering it, or not covering it well, call them!
Ask people to write letters to the editor and to call into radio talk shows.
The aim is to make sure the story is being covered, and being covered accurately!
3) Pressure on the Israeli and U.S. government
It will be important that both the Israeli government and the U.S. government hear from as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.
Calls, email messages and faxes should go to the U.S. government: the State Department, the White and to your own Senators and House Representatives.
Calls, email messages and faxes should also go directly to the Israeli government.
By Saturday, June 18th we will have more detailed contact information posted on our website….please be sure to check back then.
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