version were apparently prepared long in advance of their planned massacre.
Claiming they found weapons but all they could show is kitchen knives and
construction tools (wrenches, water pipes etc). All cargo was listed on the
ships' manifesto that the Israeli 'intelligence' agencies could easily
acquire and were freely available and meticulously documented by the
organizers. The Israeli spin machine also claimed they were first trying to
use non-lethal weapons including, and this is no joke, paint ball guns
(funny that we did not see evidence of passengers with pained shirts but
only blood soaked shirts). The respected media watch group FAIR detailed how
some Western media (mis)reported of the attack on the humanitarian aid ships
'Reporting Israeli Assault Through Israel's Eyes: Attack on humanitarian
flotilla prompts little media skepticism'
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=4081
Reporters Without Borders urges the Israeli authorities to release a list of
the journalists who were arrested during yesterday's raid on the
humanitarian flotilla and to say where they are being held. There were at
least 15 foreign journalists travelling with the flotilla who still cannot
be reached directly. These are the names of the journalists known to have
been aboard the flotilla:
http://en.rsf.org/israel-israeli-military-prevents-media-31-05-2010,37630.ht
ml
Some Western Media did a balanced job. Here is Democracy Now with excellent
coverage
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/1/global_condemnation_of_israeli_armed_at
tack
And while some western media dutifully reported Israeli government words of
being sorry for the deaths and their verbal attack on the ships' passengers
(calling them terrorists or terrorist sympathizers), no media reported on
Israeli fascists celebrating the massacre
in front of the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6a3_1275348204
And also a video at Ben Gurion University and other universities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB9GYd3jq_E
(According to the person who sent this 'It is important to mention that in
principle all political activity on this campus is forbidden, and that
leftist activists demonstrating outside of the campus during the war on Gaza
last year were arrested. This demonstration was held with collaboration of
the University authorities and contrary to these same authorities
regulations.")
Most abducted passengers will be released and deported but four have been
brought before 'judges' and will be tried by the apartheid state: Lubna
Masarwa (Free Gaza Movement board director), Sheikh Raed Salah (leader of
the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel/1948 Palestine),
Mohammed Zeidan (Director of International Advocacy Program for the Arab
Association for Human Rights), and Hamed abu Dabis (human rights advocate
from Lebanon). It is to try to scare others in the future. But the Rachel
Corrie ship is already on its way to Gaza from Ireland in defiance of the
Israeli terror tactics and plans for new fleets are already being
implemented. Unfortunately, the US administration took the decision yet
again to shield Israel from International law and make a mockery of the UN
by refusing to demand a lifting of the siege (contrary to position of all
other countries). So much for the change that those who voted for Obama had
expected.
Caoimhe Butterly recorded a message before she was kidnapped. She is still
unaccounted for
http://www.qumsiyeh.org/ofcowardicedignityandsolidarity/
Survivors of the massacre who are released tell their stories
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/02/gaza-flotilla-raid-gunfire-ship-
blood
Sample Videos from demonstrations little reported in supine western media:
Bethlehem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOnsBKZknrc
New York http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BMxw1LnT50
San Francisco http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-ijKBugff8
Gaza aid flotilla: Israeli sabotage suspected
Israel's military may have sabotaged two boats carrying Free Gaza activists
after both malfunctioned at the same time in the same way prior to the raid
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/01/israel-gaza-flotilla-sabotage-su
spected
The Elders group of past and present world leaders, including former South
African president Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, on Monday
condemned as "completely inexcusable" the deadly Israeli attack on a
flotilla carrying aid for Gaza.
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article442925.ece
Meanwhile the colonization activities in the occupied West Bank continue
fast and furious. Bulldozers are tearing up the land all around us. Our
friends at the Tent of Nations had demolition orders served for the few
structures and renovated caves they maintain on the farm that also acts as a
peace center (see http://www.tentofnations.org
Our friends in Wad Rahhal are
threatened with total eviction (if you are in Palestine, join us for a
demonstration this Friday at 12:30 PM). The stories are endless in the land
of apartheid. But resistance from brave souls continue (and our hearts and
minds are with our friend Emily, a US visual art student who was targeted by
the Israeli fascist forces and lost her left eye).
ACTIONS
Petition: call for independent investigation, accountability, and lifting
the siege on Gaza
http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_flotilla/98.php?CLICKTF
Translate you anger into action. Other ways to help:
http://endtheoccupation.org/article.php?list=type
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a villager at home
Professor, Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities
Chairman of the Board, Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People,
I am working with the Tent of Nations group who are going to use the Paxcalibur image for their logo. If you can help these people who are trying to develop a peace center on their 100 acres of land while IDF threatens to demolish their buildings, please do so--financial or legal aid would be greatly appreciated. Meanwhile, if you're American do what you can to get Obama to honor human rights of Palestinians instead of honoring Israelis with more military and economic aid to conduct their ethnic cleansing campaign of ridding Palestine of Palestinians.
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