Saturday July 4, 2009, 2:45 am
Thanks Jackie and noted. I was happy to be able to hear what she had to say!

Saturday July 4, 2009, 10:24 am
Israel deports Free Gaza activists
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:30:12 GMT
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A member of Free Gaza Group hangs up a Palestinian flag on the ship in Larnaca port, Cyprus.
Israel deports five Bahraini activists among the Gaza-bound humanitarian convoy it had earlier seized on charge of violating its 'territorial waters'.

On Friday, the five, who allegedly include a reporter for the Doha-based satellite TV channel, al-Jazeera, were taken out of Israel custody to be taken back to their homeland via the Ben Gurion airport south of Tel Aviv, the Palestinian Ma'an news agency reported.

They had traveled to the blockade-stricken coastal sliver among the international Free Gaza Movement aid convoy.

Earlier in the week, Israeli battleships circled the movement's Greek-flagged vessel, Spirit of Humanity which was sailing in international waters.

Israeli marines then took hold of the ship capturing its 22 crewmembers who included former US lawmaker Cynthia McKinney, Irish Nobel peace prize laureate Mairead Maguire and several other human rights activists.

"They kidnapped all on board, they tore the Greek flag off the boat then incarcerated them. To say we are angry would be an extreme understatement," the movement's spokesman Greta Berlin told The Cyprus Mail.

The vessel was carrying medial supplies, cement, olive trees and children's toys to Gaza which has weathered nearly two years of all-out Israeli-imposed siege which has deprived it of all necessities.

Tel Aviv says it is to eventually deport most of the group. The members, though, have refused to sign deportation forms put forward to them saying it was equal to agreeing to the Israeli charges that they were violating the blockade and trespassing territorial waters.

Saturday July 4, 2009, 2:08 pm
Any word of the "Viva Palestina" effort today? This second convoy of aid to Gaza was to arrive today, July 4th. I cannot find any news re: this! and have looked all over independent media on the web. Hopefully they will not meet with the same fate as the "Spirit of Humanity!" Thanks for posting, Jackie, noted!

Sunday July 5, 2009, 7:27 pm
I can't find anything on Viva Palestina USA actually leaving YET...They planned for July 4th and to cross over Egypt border lets hope they do...

Monday July 6, 2009, 11:36 am
Latest on the Viva Palestina convoy from the U.S.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/07/05-5

Thanks to Pete O. for the link!