Its about denying the Jewish people the right to Self determination.

This guy gets it. What do the flotilla , the flytilla and the border marches have in common? They challenge Israel's right to enforce its borders- part of the sovereignty of any state. By doing so, these action deny the Jewish people the right to self determination.

From Oy Va Goy, written by Chas Newkey-Burden

"As the flotilla flops in the Mediterranean, the flytilla gets underway. All this, hot on the heels of the border protests in May and June. A specific theme unites these new routes of anti-Israel hatred. The basic fact of national self-determination is to have borders and security, and the common theme of these protests is a desire to breach this security. This shows what the underlying motivation is: anger at the fact that, in Israel, the Jewish people have self-determination.

Flotilla and flytilla indeed – they’d probably try and send in Godzilla if they could. Anything for a bit of attention. For most of these participants these ‘protests’ are vacuous gimmicks: bored, bigoted people yet again forcing Israel to be the moral adult, by visiting their childish whims on its hardworking security staff.

In taking-up these new tactics, the Israel-haters reveal more about themselves than they might have intended.

The very nature of these provocations show that those taking part in them do not believe their own hype. They can claim that Israeli policemen and soldiers are brutal monsters all they like, if they believed it they would not dare provoke them this way. So actually, in flocking to ‘protest’ this way they are paying a back-handed compliment to the morality and restraint of the IDF, police and other Israeli security staff.

Well, at least someone benefits from the venture; trying to breach Israel’s security does nothing to assist the Palestinian people. There are people who genuinely care about the Palestinians and work honestly to help them. Last month, the Miles Of Smiles aid convoy quietly and legally delivered genuine aid to the Gaza Strip. In its sincerity and modesty, this convoy constituted quite a contrast to the flotilla, and other related stunts.

For many other campaigners, the Palestinians are merely a people to use as a stick with which to beat Israel, a cause with which to promote themselves and a route to a feeling of self-righteousness. After all, they are silent about the oppression and brutality rained down on the Palestinians by Jordan, Lebanon, other Arab states and Hamas. In encouraging the Palestinians to blame Israel only for their woes, they patronise and misdirect them. After all, Israeli leaders – particularly Rabin and Barak – have made more honest efforts to give the Palestinians a state than any Arab has.

In a way, gimmicks like the flytilla and flotilla sadden me. It is upsetting that the agencies that work so hard protect Israel against so many threats should be forced to spend time dealing with stupid stunts. I also feel for any passengers who are making a genuine trip through Ben Gurion Airport this weekend.

But given what the fundamental motivation of these protests are, they are also a happy reminder of the self-determination Israel brings the Jewish people. Let these fools turn-up with their chests puffed-up and their cameras in their hands. What they really oppose will never go away. Jewish self-determination will outlive every one of them. Am Yisrael Chai."

Anti-Israel activist Paul Larudee, in introducing the concept of the flotilla to a local audience never even tried to maintain the fiction that this was about delivering aid.

Thank Greece for Upholding International law!

The Flotilla organizers have been exerting tremendous pressure the Greek Government. We must let them know that these extremists do not represent the citizens of the United States.

Please send a quick email to The Honorable Ioannis Andreades, Consul General of Greece sfgr at greekembassy.org and to To His Excellency Vassilis Kaskarelis, Ambassador of Greece to the United States ambassador at greekembassy.org to thank them for their co-operation in upholding international law preventing the provocative flotilla from attempting to break the legal blockade on Gaza.

Here's a sample:

I wish to express my gratitude for the efforts of the Greek government to prevent vessels from sailing from Greek ports to Gaza as part of an effort to break the lawful naval blockade of the Gaza Strip

The State of Israel has the right to enforce the Gaza blockade, which is legal under international law, to ensure the safety and security of its people from Hamas, the terrorist organization governing the people of Gaza. The State of Israel is also committed to ensuring the people of Gaza have access to humanitarian goods through land crossings, with more than 6,000 tons of food, fuel, merchandise and building material entering Gaza each day.

The flotilla organizers have rejected your government's generous offer to transport humanitarian aid to either Egypt or Israel for inspection and land transport to Gaza, indicating that the flotilla is not about delivering aid. Rather, it is about aiding the Hamas regime in Gaza which has fired over 10,000 missiles into Israel over the past 8 years.

As the friendship among the Hellenic Republic, the United States and the State of Israel continues to strengthen, please know that the American community stands with you and appreciates the actions of your government to uphold international law and maritime regulations.


Thank you,

The Gorilla Flotilla: The Gaza Flotidiots could take a lesson from this group

In celebration of the Bristol Zoo's 175 birthday, a 'Gorilla flotilla' sailed into Bristol harbor. The Gaza Flotidiots could have taken a lesson from this clearly more organized and intelligent group


Photos from the BBC

More about the Gorilla flotilla:
"Today sees the launch of a summer art spectacle to celebrate Bristol Zoo’s 175th Birthday. After a launch at the Radisson Blu hotel, at 11.15AM a flotilla of three boats from the Bristol Ferry Boat Company will arrive in the floating harbour, sailing into Bristol on the boats will be a selection of colourful, life-size gorilla sculptures, just a few of the sixty unique sculptures that will grace Bristol’s streets and parks for the next ten weeks.

The boats will take the gorillas on a journey up the river, past the new M Shed Museum and the Thekla and under Prince Street Swing Bridge before arriving outside the Arnolfini where a further selection of Wow! Gorillas will be on display...

The aim of the Wow! Gorillas project is to unite Bristol’s residents, visitors, schools, artists and businesses in a city-wide celebration of the Zoo’s big birthday; Dr Bryan Carroll, Director of Bristol Zoo, says “As well as showcasing the wealth of creative talent the city has to offer, this public exhibition will attract tourists to Bristol, while encouraging Bristolians to be tourists in their own city. The trail also aims to engender civic pride, stimulate the local economy and create a fun event for everyone to enjoy.”


Well, Code Pink and friends- when a flotilla of plaster gorillas has more impact than you, maybe its time to re-strategize. We'll be waiting

Israel Speaks to our Hearts

Yascher Koach, Brandeis Hillel and Ms. Rosenthal's second graders. They've won "Best in Show", for Junior Arts and Crafts at the Marin County fair. This lovely mosaic map of Israel has been viewed by thousands



"...abundant will be the peace of your children; do not read ‘your children,’ rather read ‘your builders.’ (Isaiah 54:13)”

From Alice Walker, On Her Latest Star Turn

A portion of Alice Walker's latest arrogant and ahistorical screed, blogged from Greece: Emphasis is mine.

I have never believed in the Israeli/Palestinian peace talks. Whenever I saw the men gathering to talk about peace I was reminded of what the Indians said to the white colonizers of America who came to talk peace with them: ” Where are your women?”

This would make slightly more sense if the Palestinians, whom Alice clearly casts in the role of the Indians, had a tradition of including women in political negotiations. As it is, we have here two traditionally patriarchal groups, and while including the ladies might be an excellent idea, one feels that here the example is used simply to get those Indians in there somehow.

An occasional woman has appeared to take part in the talks, but overwhelmingly the process has been male driven. I like to think if women, in equal numbers to men, had been at the table things might not have turned out so badly. But perhaps, recalling the disrespectful young Israeli women at the check-points, this is naive. 

Israeli women aren't the right kind of women, anyway. 

In any case, it is when one sees the Israeli settlements, after hearing about them for decades, that the final “Aha” moment arrives. They are colossal, and, like the wall, they are everywhere. It is obvious, looking at them, gigantic, solid, white and towering, that they have been constructed to completely devour the rest of Palestine, and that the peace talks have been a ruse to continue their growth so that Jewish Israelis can claim the land by possession alone. Possession is nine-tenths of the law is one of the dictums I learned from my Jewish lawyer former husband. This belief might even be enshrined in the Torah. In any case it is a very old idea, and Israelis have made good use of it.


So, we a. don't need to worry about the peace talks, because the Israelis don't want peace anyway, and b. her Jewish lawyer former husband, apparently the origin of her nasty streak of anti-Semitism, pops up again. Brief note: "Possession is nine-tenths of the law" is not 'enshrined in the Torah", as Alice could very easily have found out by Googling it, or asking someone with even a slight knowledge of the text. The ugliness of that slap is matched only by the ignorance.



Dispossessed of land and houses, poverty stricken, refugees in their own country since the catastrophe of 1948, when Zionist terrorists drove them from their villages, towns and cities, Palestinian laborers have been forced to build these settlements for the Israeli settlers and, having built them, are rarely permitted inside them, except to service them. This is similar to our own history, in America: the genocide and enslavement of Native people, and the forced black and Indian labor that built so much of America, including The White House. Sometimes one wonders if this greed that devours the very substance of other human beings is part of human DNA. I don’t think it is; and, in any case, I hope not!

And, as usual, one doesn't even know where to begin with this tumble of lies, half-truths, and determined editing of history. Really, it's a mistake to even start trying to undo Alice's tangle of deceit. Elsewhere in the piece, she's still going on about "Jewish-only roads".

Bleah. This nonsense could scramble your brains.

More Photos from the hell that is Gaza

From the UNRWA website

Gaza’s children entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the third year straight today, as they broke the record for the world’s biggest parachute game.

"Schoolchildren from across the Gaza Strip gathered at Khan Younis stadium late this afternoon for the first of four world records they will attempt to break in Gaza this summer.

The attempt, comprising 3,520 children playing with 176 parachutes, more than doubled the record set by pupils at Plymstock School in Plymouth, England on 4 April 2006, when 1,547 children played with 58 parachutes.

International witnesses were on hand to count, including two judges in charge of signing the official statement on behalf of Guinness."

Yes. There is a stadium in the worlds largest concentration camp. Yes, the well nourished happy children were playing games. And yes, the Guinness Book of World records folks somehow found their way to Gaza without the use of a provocative, illegal flotilla

Once Again, JVP chooses the Wrong Side

Any of you unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of Rabbi Alissa Wise, National Organizer of Jewish Voice for Peace's email?
Can you believe her last missive?
She says
"Let our people go.

Our people are the 1.6 million Palestinian men, women and children who are virtual prisoners who cannot leave Gaza and who cannot get access to sufficient food, medical supplies and resources they need to live.

Our people are the Americans and internationals, including Jewish Voice for Peace members, who are risking their lives to show the world the injustice of the siege, and who bring a message of hope and solidarity to the Palestinians of Gaza."

No- her people are not living in the beseiged town of Sderot. No- her people aren't the Israelis living in the shadow of terror. How clear is that?

Alissa Weiss is precisely who we discuss at our Pesach seder. She, and her collegues at Jewish Voice for peace are the "Wicked children" deliberately excluding themselves from their community.

And with Weiss's email, she and Jewish Voice for peace join their allies at Al Awda and the US campaign to end the Occupation in showing contempt for international law and diplomacy.

Code Pink Ship of fools Sails again!

Medea Benjamin of Code pInk just LOVES a sea adventure. She hasn't even dried off yet from her Mediterranean cruise, and yet, there she goes, planning another.


Come with CODEPINK to the Caribbean! Politics, food, drinks, dancing, the Bahamas, and some of your intellectual and cultural heroes!
Join CODEPINK co-founders Medea Benjamin and Jodie Evans on the 14th Nation seminar cruise to the Caribbean, December 11-18, 2011. Leaving from Fort Lauderdale, Florida stopping in Grand Turk, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, and Half-Moon Cay, Bahamas!

Other speakers, seminar leaders and dining companions include: Victor Navasky, Katrina vanden Heuvel, Julian Bond, Kai Bird, Jessica Valenti, Van Jones, Christopher Hayes, John Nichols, Jeremy Scahill, and Ramona Ripston. With more to be announced!

All CODEPINKs on board can expect extra special treatment, including breakout sessions with Jodie and Medea, and the opportunity to dazzle other guests with CODEPINK-style actions.

We are looking forward to the opportunity to connect and engage, to think of new ideas AND to boogie with you on the dance floor!

Email CODEPINK at nationcruise@codepink.org or call Kristen at (310) 827-4320
and we will give you more information and help you navigate the registration process.


*******

Stuck on a boat with Code Pink and no hope of escape? Welcome to Hell.

IN MEMORIAM: AMI ISSEROFF

The following was written by Ami's brother Hadar, and read by one of Ami's sons at his funeral at Rehovot on Thursday.
It is shared with the kind permission of his kin.


Eulogy for Ami Isseroff
Wednesday June 29, 2011


When Ami was born with a congenital heart problem, the doctors said he would not survive, but his mother, Batia, refused to listen and through her perseverance he was able, after several operations, to lead an almost normal life. She always felt that he was destined for greatness.. Today, she would be very proud of him. He fulfilled her fondest dreams in that he married a sweet and caring girl and had three exceptional children, Asaf, Amit and Michal. He will always be remembered in their hearts as a loving, if irascible husband and father. But the rest of us, will remember him for his wit, intellect and unique outlook on life. He and I shared many adventures and their retelling always brought us much pleasure.

Early on, we in his immediate family recognized his superior mental abilities as he excelled in his studies throughout high school and college. His memory was phenomenal. He played the piano and guitar as a teenager and his love of music continued throughout his life. With Ami's talent for writing and oral disputation, the family thought he would choose to study law. Instead, his Zionist inclinations led him to join a kibbutz in Eretz Ysrael.

There, for a time, he was happy to perform socialistically heroic tasks such as driving tractors, moving irrigation pipes, feeding pigs and cleaning out their pens. Difficult as these jobs were, it was the lack of an intellectually stimulating environment that caused him to leave the kibbutz. He couldn't believe that at the end of the workday kibbutzniks preferred to watch television rather than have a rousing discussion on some aspect of world affairs, politics or the class struggle. Hence, he embarked on a program of graduate study in Psychology at the Universities of Jerusalem and Haifa.

It was at the University in Jerusalem that Ami met the love of his life, Ruth. Through his long and exhausting, years as a graduate student that included many disputes with his faculty advisors as well as exasperating turf wars between them, it was Ruth"s love and support that kept him from giving up and returning to the States. When the warring parties and their various factions finally agreed to award him a Doctorate in Experimental Psychology we thought that he would be offered secure employment. However, the weak economy and an excess of trained Psychologists made it difficult for Ami to find and keep a University job, despite post-doctoral training at Yale and Worcester Universities.

Fortunately, in the course of his graduate studies he had developed a number of computer skills, including the ability to write complex programs that were at the cutting edge of the technology. These skills made it possible for him to earn a living and to pursue a new vocation as a respected observer and opinion maker in the World's media and on the internet. It was here that he found his true calling as an outspoken advocate for peace and good will between Palestinians and Israelis.

I know that Ami believed that if ever these two peoples should arrive at a state of mutual trust and respect his major life-effort would not be in vain.

With sadness and love to you all,


Hadar Isseroff



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



It is with the passing of great people that we finally understand our greatest triumphs.
We, Ami's internet community, have lost a friend and ally - he was for many of us an inspiration and a profound source of encouragement.
We join his family in grief; may the Omnipresent console you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.


HaMakom yenachem et'chem b'toch shar avay'lay Tzion vee'Yerushalayim.

Lesson from the Audacity of Dopes: Can't get your way? Lie!

At a press conference earlier, the "Audacity of Dopes" announced it would be leaving Greece later this week. Turns out they were lying through their teeth, and they attempted to make a run for it just minutes ago.

Shortly after leaving port, the Greek coast guard stopped the ship. "We are just here, two miles off Piraeus. We've been stopped by the coastguard, their ship maneuvered in front of us and they are now talking to the captain, they want us to turn around," Ann Wright, told Reuters.



The Greek Ministry of Citizen Protection issued a statement saying that the Minister, C. Papoutsis, decided to prohibit the departure of ships flying either Greek or foreign flags "to the maritime area" of Gaza.

"By orders of the Hellenic Coast Guard Head Quarters to all local Hellenic Coast Guard Authorities, all appropriate measures are taken for the implementation of the said decision," the statement said

And the tweets are coming fast and furious from the US Boat

RT .@ibnezra: Passengers are now chanting to the fully armed Greek commandos just ten meters in front of the boat #flotilla2 5 mins ago
RT .@LopeztoGaza: #Greece commandos on Coast Guard boat pointing weapons at The Audacity of Hope #flotilla2 20 mins ago via .@theIMEU Phone update from .@MedeaBenjamin on @USBOATTOGAZA: #Greek Coast guard captain begging us to return to port. #flotilla2 26 mins ago LIVE @USBOATTOGAZA press conf, organizer: "I never knew the Mediterranean was owned by #Israel quot;: http://t.co/vNNhblp #flotilla2 49 mins ago We sat sail playing & singing http://t.co/qeylnWb now we're in a standoff w/ Greek Coast Guard. Passengers are in high spirits. #flotilla2 54 mins ago

Update:
A second Greek Coast Guard boat with more heavily armed forces arrived and the Audicity of Dopes made the decision was made to return to shore.

Challah Hu Akbar is doing a wonderful job of live blogging the incident.

The latest in a series of publicity stunts and provocations directed against the worlds only Jewish state is scheduled for the week of July 8- the flotilla is clearly anxious to arrive in time to participate, and is willing to disregard international law to accomplish their goal.

As for Israel? They've shown their commitment to using diplomacy and non-violent means to accomplish their goals. Good for them.

How can you help end this provocation? Send the Greek embassies an email or call the Greek Embassy in Washington, DC: 202-939-1300. Thank them for promoting peace by observing international maritime law.

Who's behind the Gaza Flotilla?

According to Greta Berlin, one of the organizers of the flotilla du jour, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on this venture. Its clear this is not a grass roots effort. Who is spearheading this initiative and why?

From the Website Gaza Flotilla 101:
The three main organizing groups are the Turkish IHH, the European Campaign to End the Seige on Gaza (ECESG) and the Free Gaza Movement.

The Turkish IHH, which organized last year’s Gaza flotilla and is involved in organized this year’s, is affiliated with an officially designated terrorist organization, the Union of Good. Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi, who has ruled that suicide attacks against Israeli citizens are religiously sanctioned, chairs the Union.

Hamas created the Union, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, which in 2008, stated: “The Union of Good acts as a broker for Hamas by facilitating financial transfers between a web of charitable organizations—including several organizations previously designated… for providing support to Hamas—and Hamas-controlled organizations in the West Bank and Gaza. The primary purpose of this activity is to strengthen Hamas’ political and military position in the West Bank and Gaza.”

Founded in 2007, the ECESG is an umbrella organization that links more than 30 pro- Palestinian and pro-Hamas groups in Europe. These groups organize land and sea convoys that bring equipment and money for Hamas in the Gaza Strip, lead boycotts of Israeli products and call for the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

The Free Gaza Movement is a broad coalition of human rights activists and pro- Palestinian groups that has been trying to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza since 2008. … Israeli intelligence agencies say it has grown to include dangerous Islamic organizations with terrorist links.

Also from the Gaza flotilla 101 website:

The second flotilla is coordinated by Muhammad Sawalha, a senior UK-based Muslim Brotherhood figure connected to Hamas. Many of the participating organizations can be directly linked with the Union of Good (UoG), a coalition of European charities affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, which in 2008 was designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Treasury for transferring funds to Hamas. The UoG was initiated by Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi, leader of the Muslim Brotherhood on a global scale, shortly after the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000.

… Other main organizers include the anti-Israel International Solidarity Movement (ISM), as well as far-left socialists from Europe and the United States. Many of the flotilla’s main organizers have stated that its prime aim is to create provocations and harm Israel’s image. … the flotilla is far from being a peaceful, humanitarian effort to support the Palestinians in Gaza. It should instead be seen as a major, pro-Hamas effort to delegitimize Israel by a “red-green alliance” of leftists and Islamists.

The participation of Alice Walker and others is simply another case of the naive being led by the malevolent.

Gaza Flotilla 2011 Update: Jordanians buy $800,000 boat for Gaza flotilla

In an effort to boost participation in the flailing flotila, Arab contributors have bought a 560,000-euro ($805,000) boat in Greece that can take up to 200 passengers on their blockade busting Mediterranean cruise.

From the Egyptian gazette:

Wael Saqqa, former head of the Jordan engineers' union, told AFP, "The boat has been registered under the name of Nur company, established for the purpose of purchasing the boat," said Saqqa, adding 35 Jordanian activists would join the flotilla.

The vessel was expected to set sail for Gaza on Thursday, along with other ships."

Gaza Flotilla 2011: For more information

For more information about the 2011 Gaza "Ship of Fools" flotilla, visit our friends at Proisrael: everything you need to know about the Flotilla
Find them on facebook as well

And check out their image library

Another great site for Flotilla Information is Gaza Flotilla 101

The haters are already planning demonstrations and protest rallys: Lets hope the supporters of peace, freedom, democracy and Israel are planning equal and opposite responses:

California:

Los Angeles:
On the day following an attack (or boarding) of any ship in the Freedom Flotilla 2- Stay Human, we invite all people of conscience to gather outside the Israeli Consulate at 6380 Wilshire Blvd # 1700
Los Angeles, CA 90048-5071 at 5:00 pm UNLESS the news comes in before 7am PST and then we will gather that evening at 5pm.
Called in LA by BDS LA for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace and CODEPINK LA

San Francisco:
On the day following an attack (or boarding) of any ship in the Freedom Flotilla 2- Stay Human, we invite all people of conscience to gather outside the Israeli Consulate at 456 Montgomery St.,. San Francisco, Ca 94104 at 5:00 pm.
We also ask that Palestine solidarity groups and peace and justice groups spread this message across their membership through listservs, phone calls, and other forms of social media.

San Jose:
On the day following an attack (or boarding) of any ship in the flotilla we invite all people of conscience to gather outside the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library (San Jose Public Library) in San Jose at 150 East San Fernando Street, San Jose, CA 95112 at 5:00 pm. We also ask that Palestine solidarity groups, and peace and justice groups spread this message across their membership through listservs, phone calls, and other forms of social media. It is of the utmost importance that this event has a large attendance; international pressure–especially from the United States–is a critical factor in preventing Israel from acting with impunity towards humanitarian activists. We all need to be prepared to act on shortnotice.

Illinois:

Chicago:
“Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human: Chicago Emergency Response Network”
On the day following an attack (or boarding) of any ship in the flotilla we invite all people of conscience to gather outside the Israeli Consulate at 111 East Wacker Drive, Chicago at 5:00 pm. We also ask that peace and justice groups spread this message across their membership through listservs, phone calls, and other forms of social media. It is of the utmost importance that this event has a large attendance; international pressure—especially from the United States—is a critical factor in preventing Israel from acting with impunity towards humanitarian activists. We all need to be prepared to act on short notice.

Indiana:

Fort Wayne:
On the day of any attack (or boarding) of any boat in the flotilla to Gaza, we invite all people of conscience to gather outside the City county court house green in Fort Wayne at 700 N. Clinton Street. We also ask that Palestine solidarity groups, Peace and Justice groups spread the message. It is of the utmost importance that we get a presence so that media will cover it. We need to be prepared to act on short notice. Meet ups are taking place at Firefly coffee house as we speak to get the word out. If you want information on times for meet ups at coffee shop contact the person below.
ON THE DAY OF EMERGENCY..Meet in front of court house with signs/or use ours. Be ready to move on short notice. Meet within the hour after report of boarding or attack. Our government will need pressure to stop them from harming these precious, peaceful people.

New York:

Albany (Capital District):

Come to a demonstration to protest any violent attack on the flotilla – watch your e-mail for an announcement that our plan has been activated:
– When: From 5-6 PM on the day immediately following the report of an Israeli attack on any of the flotilla’s boats (before midnight our time).
– Where: The corner of Wolf Rd. and Central Ave.
Please bring a large print sign and if possible, your organization’s banner.
Sponsored by: Women Against War, the Palestinian Rights Committee, the Saratoga Peace Alliance, the Muslim Solidarity Committee, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, Project SALAM, Upper Hudson Peace Action, Vets for Peace, Guilderland Neighbors for Peace and Chatham Neighbors for Peace

New York City:

If there is an emergency with the U.S. Boat to Gaza and/or the Freedom Flotilla, we call on people of conscience to gather at 47th Street in Times Square. Depending on the time we hear about the emergency, we have developed the following schedule for everyone to turn out:
– At 5:00 pm if word goes out before 12 noon.
– At 5:00 pm the next day if word goes out after 12 noon.
– At 1:00 pm on Saturday if word goes out after noon on Friday or in the morning of Saturday.
– At 1:00 pm on Sunday if word goes out after noon on Saturday or in the morning of Sunday.
From Times Square, we will march to the Israeli Consulate at 42nd Street and Second Avenue. Depending on particular events, we may make stops at consulates or UN missions of other countries involved in the flotilla,as well as the offices of our congressional representatives and theU.S. State Department.

Ohio:

Athens:
On the day following an attack (or boarding) of any ship in the Gaza II flotilla we invite all people of conscience to gather outside of the Athens County Courthouse at 6 p.m. Again the day after such an attack or boarding. We also ask that Palestine solidarity groups, and peace and justice groups spread this message across their membership through listservs, phone calls, and other forms of social media. It is of the utmost importance that this event has a large attendance; international pressure–especially from the United States–is a critical factor in preventing Israel from acting with impunity towards humanitarian activists. We all need to be prepared to act on short notice.

Pennsylvania:

Allentown:
Meet at 7th & Hamilton Streets in Allentown, PA the day of an attack or boarding if it occurs prior to 5PM and if anything occurs in the night, meet the following day at 5PM. Click here for more info.

Texas:

Dallas:
On the day following an attack, boarding, or prevention of any ship in the flotilla from reaching Gaza, we invite all people of conscience to gather at Dealey Plaza (Houston & Main) at 5:00 pm for a peaceful, nonviolent demonstration to protest the illegal blockade. Should the flotilla arrive safely in Gaza, we will also gather (same time, same place) to celebrate their success. Please spread this message via Facebook, listservs, phone calls, and other forms of social media. Public awareness and action are key in pressuring Israel to treat humanitarian activists justly.

Washington
Spokane:
On the day following an attack or boarding of any ship in the flotilla, we invite the people of Spokane to gather at the corner of 3rd and Monroe at 5:30 p.m. for a peaceful, nonviolent demonstration to protest Israel’s attack on this unarmed humanitarian flotilla attempting to break the illegal blockade of Gaza, Palestine. Please spread this message via Facebook, listservs, phone calls, and other forms of social media. Bring signs. Bring your friends. Bring your support.

Tacoma:
If the US boat due to join the flotilla gets out of Greece this week and comes under Israeli attack, please come that day to the US Courthouse at 1717 Pacific Ave. in downtown Tacoma at 5:00 – 6:15 PM for a vigil.

Washington DC:

CODEPINK Action Alert!
What: Ongoing 24-hour vigil until Greece lets the boats sail to Gaza
Who: Supporters of the Freedom Flotilla II to Gaza
Where: The Greek Embassy, 2217 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington D.C. (near the DUPONT CIRCLE metro stop on the red line)
When: Tonight, June 28th at 5pm, 24 hours/day until the boats sail
Bring: Signs, or nothing, we will have props and signs for you to hold!

If Attacked:
If the flotilla experiences an Israeli attack, supporters will gather at the Israeli Embassy (3514 International Drive, NW Washington, D.C. 20008) at 5 pm the next day.

Gaza Flotilla 2011 Update: Dutch reporters Abandon ship

Like rats from a burning building:

Every single Dutch journalist embeded on the flotilla of fools has walked out, claiming they were misled by the activists who refused to cooperate oranswer their questions.

The walkout began earlier this week. Radio Netherlands Worldwide reporter Eric Beauchemin published an article "Gaza Activists Blinded by Faith", claiming "I have worked as a journalist for the past 25 years, and never have I experienced such a closed organisation."

He continued:

"I expressed an interest in joining the mission earlier this year when I heard that the Dutch were going to send their own vessel to Gaza for the first time. There would be over 30 participants, including prominent members of Dutch society. An Italian delegation with 20 people would also take part.

I then attended meeting after meeting in various cities in Holland. I had to be screened because - I was told - there were so many people wanting to travel to Gaza. When the organisers called to say I had passed the screening and been chosen as one of the select group of people who would set sail, I felt obliged to express my joy.

Now, back in the Netherlands, over three months later, I feel deceived. There never was a "select group". There were no prominent Dutch figures interested in joining Freedom Flotilla 2. Instead of 32 people from the Netherlands, the organisation managed to assemble just eight activists and four journalists. Yesterday [Monday], two more journalists decided to jump ship before the boat even left the port of Corfu.

Since day one, journalists, including myself, asked questions about the Dutch organisation and the boat, for example about the funding. Even simple questions about the ship's power supply for me to hook up my satellite transmitter. The answer was consistently: "I'll get back to you about that" or "we don't know". I'm still waiting for answers."

By today, the rest of the Dutch journalists had jumped ship, many upset by the involvement of Hamas operative Amin Abou Rashed in the flotilla.

Gaza Flotilla 2011 Update. The Irish boat to Gaza is Grounded

The Irish boat to Gaza, the 'Saoirse'(Gaelic for freedom) docking in Turkey has been reported sabotaged.  Oh, what a shame.

"The Irish boat has a problem with its propeller, we don't know yet how serious it is, but we believe it may have been sabotaged," said flotilla coordinator Claude Leostic.

And once again, they are blaming Israel.

This is one of a series of setbacks that has plagued the flotlla in recent weeks. On Monday reports emerged  that the propeller on the "Juliano", belonging to Swedish activists, had been cut.  
 
Fewer than 300 "activists" will be taking part in the running of the Gaza blockade – much less than  the 1,500 that had been widely publicized.

The Irish Boat to Gaza and crew, during happier times

Kiss my BDS! Israeli innovators build new 'Silicon Valley'

Read it all here

With a concentration of start-ups just behind that of Silicon Valley and an impressive pool of engineers, Israel is becoming the new standard for high-tech, with a unique business model.

Internet-related activities contributed 9 billion euros (12.6 billion dollars) to the Israeli economy in 2009, representing 6.5 percent of GDP, according to a report from management consultancy McKinsey.

The sector is worth more than the construction industry (5.4 percent of GDP) and almost as much as health (6.8 percent).

The web economy has also created a total of 120,000 jobs, accounting for 4 percent of the country's workforce, McKinsey says.

From Microsoft to Intel through Google, IBM and Philips, almost all the giants of the Internet and technology have set up important research and development centres in Israel, spawning products and systems used worldwide.

"Israel is the country with the most engineers in its population, and it ranks second behind the United States in the number of companies listed on Nasdaq," said David Kadouch, product manager at Google Israel, which opened its R&D operation in 2007 and currently has 200 employees.

"It's really a second Silicon Valley. Besides the multinationals, all the major American investment funds are present," he said.

"The scientific community is very active, there is plenty of manpower and especially an entrepreneurial culture. There is a huge ecosystem around high tech, and what is fundamental is that here we think global."

Some 500 start-ups are created every year in the country of 7.7 million people, which grew by 4.7 percent last year according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development against an average of 2.8 for its member countries.

The OECD forecast for Israel in 2011 is 5.4 percent.

Israel's higher education institutions, particularly the Technion, the prestigious technological university in the northern city of Haifa, must take a large share of the credit for this creativity.

**********
Oh, yes oh yes oh yes. BDS is on a roll! Check out that momentum. Its unstoppable. And, btw, who are the Pixies anyway?

Code Pink's Vigil in front of the Greek consulate: A trip down memory lane

The airplants of Code pink have several of their own on the flotilla- Medea Benjamin, Ridgely Fuller, Kit Kittredge, Ann Wright, and Paki Weiland. They've invested a lot of time and energy in this prank, and they are anxious for results. As a result, Code pinkos are camping out in front of the Greek embassy in Washington DC, in "Operation Annoy the Greek Government", attempting to annoy the greek government into capitulating to their demands.

This brings back fond memories of our local members of Code pink and their vigil in front of the Egyptian Consulate in San Francisco. They had planned a - sit down for this one- a two hour hunger strike.



It was hardly an effective use of their time.



Then horror of horrors- the Zionists came.
And they brought LUNCH.



Guess what ladies? They're making fun of you!

Delegitimizing the American Flotilla

From the blog "Act for Israel"

"There are many reasons why the “American Flotilla” is not a humanitarian effort, even though many of its participants believe it is.

Primarily this is due in large measure to the fact that participating in the flotilla only serves the whims of Hamas, a terror organization. This is not only immoral, but is potentially illegal under US law.

Other reasons include the fact that there are far more constructive and rapid ways to deliver aid than through a flotilla, and the fact that Israel has the right to – and will – defend its borders.

The blockade of Gaza is legal under international law, and efforts to break it are bound to result in a confrontation with Israel’s defense forces. Resisting Israel’s defense forces will likely result in injury or death to those who physically resist Israel’s enforcement of the blockade.

We have gathered important facts about the organizations behind the Audacity of Hope. Since this information is relevant to US national security interests, it is vital for all American citizens to be informed.

The Audacity of Hope will NOT deliver a single Humanitarian Aid item to Gazans

The “Audacity of Hope” will not carry a single humanitarian aid item on board. The only “Humanitarian aid” items generated by the American flotilla are letters of support to the people of Gaza. Interestingly, these letters were already sent to Gaza. The only purpose for the boat is to create an international confrontation with a strong US ally. Since the Audacity of Hope will not deliver a single humanitarian aid item, it is only logical to examine who is behind the Audacity of Hope, and to understand the organizer’s goals

Organizers of the “Audacity of Hope”

The “Audacity of Hope” is organized and sponsored by USTOGAZA, a coalition of organizations who together joined to break Israel’s counter-terror naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. USTOGAZA states that its mission is to:

“challenge U.S foreign policy and affirm the universal obligation to uphold international law and human rights”

Included in the coalition of organizations that make up the USTOGAZA is the notorious Free Gaza Movement. The Free Gaza Movement is an umbrella organization responsible for coordinating past flotillas as a part of a sustained campaign to break the blockade of Gaza.

Additional partners and the web of terror-ties

The Free Gaza Movement partnered with the IHH, an organization that according to the US Treasury Department is part of a Saudi-based, Hamas-created umbrella group of Muslim charities called Union of Goods. The Union of Goods was created to transfer funds to Hamas through a web of charitable organizations. According to the State Department, some of the funds transferred by the Union of Good have compensated families of suicide bombers. The Union of Goods was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2008 by the US Treasury Department.

A list of contributions on IHH’s website reveals that IHH gave millions in cash to Hamas officials at the Gaza Health Ministry.

The Free Gaza Movement has had more than incidental interactions with Hamas. The key members of the organizers are well-known for their ties with global Jihad, al-Qaeda and Hamas. During a Free Gaza Movement visit to Gaza in August 2008, the activists met with Hamas leaders, including Prime Minister Haniyeh who presented the Free Gaza Movement activists with medals.

The organizer’s ultimate goal is to weaken the U.S “war on terror”

USTOGAZA is employing the Audacity of Hope as a part of a campaign that aims to change U.S policy in the fight against terrorist organizations. The Gaza blockade is in place to weaken Hamas, a designated Foreign Terror Organization by the United State government. Consequently, the blockade and blockade-breaking attempts are part of a dispute relating to the United States and its fight against terrorist organization. USTOGAZA is clearly trying to defeat measures taken by the United States regarding Hamas, Gaza and the Middle East Peace Process. Successive US administrations have stated that the disruption of the Middle East Peace Process constitutes “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”


Read the whole entry here

And remember: There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza



For the most accurate information on the Flotilla, please visit Gaza Flotilla 101

Lawfare: Does the Audacity Of Dopes Violate 18 USC§ 962?

From 18 USC§ 962

§ 962. Arming vessel against friendly nation

Whoever, within the United States, furnishes, fits out, arms, or attempts to furnish, fit out or arm, any vessel, with intent that such vessel shall be employed in the service of any foreign prince, or state, or of any colony, district, or people, to cruise, or commit hostilities against the subjects, citizens, or property of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States is at peace; or
Whoever issues or delivers a commission within the United States for any vessel, to the intent that she may be so employed—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Every such vessel, her tackle, apparel, and furniture, together with all materials, arms, ammunition, and stores which may have been procured for the building and equipment thereof, shall be forfeited, one half to the use of the informer and the other half to the use of the United States.

Does the Audacity of Dopes and other Flotilla participants violate this clause? Time to look into this, doncha think?

Phony humanitarians seek to instigate violence with Israel: The Floating Gaza Strip Show

From the Washington Times

Anti-Israel activists are launching a fresh high-seas publicity stunt. The ships of Freedom Flotilla II will set sail sometime this week to commemorate the May 2010 Gaza blockade run, which ended in violence. Nine passengers on the Turkish-flagged ship Mavi Marmara were killed resisting a boarding by Israeli naval commandos. Israeli officials don’t expect violence this year, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed his Cabinet that no ships will be permitted to breach the Gaza security perimeter. This type of confrontation is exactly what flotilla organizers want.

The Freedom Flotilla is a public-relations exploit in the guise of a humanitarian relief effort. Conditions in Gaza are far from the crisis activists would have the world believe. There are no refugee flows out of the area, people aren’t starving, and they don’t want for basic medical care. Two luxury hotels reportedly will open soon in Gaza, along with a new multilevel shopping mall. Last week, the United Nations and Israeli officials agreed to a $100 million project to build new homes and schools in the strip.

Socioeconomic data also fail to paint a portrait of misery. Life expectancy in Gaza is 74, seven years above the world average and higher than in Egypt, India or Russia. Infant mortality, a reliable indicator of problem-state status, is less than half the world average. The inflation rate in 2010 was 3.5 percent, compared to an annualized U.S. rate of 3.6 percent in May this year. Unemployment, though high at 25 percent, has dropped in recent months. If Hamas weren’t using Gaza as a launching pad for rockets and mortars against Israel, there wouldn’t be much of a problem.

Among the ships in the 2011 flotilla is an American-flagged vessel, the perhaps ironically named Audacity of Hope. The Obama administration is taking a dim view of this tribute. Last week, the State Department issued a travel advisory for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza that described the Gaza coast as “dangerous and volatile.” It warned that three dozen Americans participating in the flotilla could face arrest, prosecution and deportation. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stated flatly that the United States does “not believe that the flotilla is a necessary or useful effort to try to assist the people of Gaza” and reaffirmed Israelis’ “right to defend themselves.”

The flotilla is facing even rougher seas. A suit has been filed in Manhattan federal court seeking to seize 14 of the vessels because they were outfitted with funds unlawfully raised in the United States by the Free Gaza Movement (FGM), among other groups. Plaintiff Alan Bauer, who was wounded in a Palestinian suicide bombing in Jerusalem in March 2002, is exercising his rights under 18 USC 962, which provides that anyone in America who “furnishes, fits out, [or] arms” a vessel to “to cruise, or commit hostilities” against any state or people “with whom the United States is at peace” shall face fines and imprisonment, and every such vessel “shall be forfeited, one half to the use of the informer [who brought the case] and the other half to the use of the United States.”

Maybe losing their ships will teach these high-seas hippies that supporting terrorism is not a game.