Tuesday June 30, 2009, 7:31 pm

EMERGENCY: Israelis Attack Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
Take Action Now - Sign the Online Petition

Demand the Release of Rep. Cynthia McKinney, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, all aid workers and supplies NOW!

Last night, Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. The passengers and crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.

The seizure of humanitarian supplies and abduction of human rights workers is an act of piracy, a crime under international law. When the boat was attacked, it was not in Israeli waters and was on a human rights mission to Gaza. Israel's deliberate and premeditated attack on an unarmed boat in international waters is a clear violation of international law.

The U.S. government and corporate media has largely ignored or buried this story due to racism against Cynthia McKinney and the people of Palestine. It is up to us to get the word out.

According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are "trapped in despair." Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel's December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel's disruption of medical supplies.

This act of terrorism by the Israeli Occupation Forces against an unarmed vessel is a clear attempt to scare people away from showing solidarity with the people of Gaza. We must take action now! Here's how you can help:

1) Sign the Online Petition - http://www.iacenter.org/palestine/gazashippetition (visit site)

2) Get the word out - forward this message to your email lists, post in on Facebook & Myspace, etc.

3) Take to the streets! Organize local emergency protests in solidarity with the people of Gaza and demanding the release of all those who were kidnapped by the Israeli Occupation Forces.

In New York City, join us tomorrow, Wednesday July 1, from 4 - 6 pm at the Israeli Mission (43rd St. & 2nd Ave.)

3) Support Aid Caravans to Gaza! In addition to the current project of Free Gaza, another aid caravan, Viva Palestina, will be leaving the U.S. on July 4th headed by British MP George Galloway and Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic and including hundreds of people from the United States.

4) Call the media. The U.S. corporate media has largely ignored or buried this story due to racism against Cynthia McKinney and the people of Palestine. Please call the media - demand that they cover this criminal act by the Israeli Occupation Forces. Start with these numbers:

The New York Times 212-556-5272; Los Angeles Times 800-252-9141; Boston Herald 617-426-3000; Chicago Tribune 800-874-2863; and please call your local newspaper, radio station, or television news program.

Petition:

Sign it online at http://www.iacenter.org/palestine/gazashippetition (visit site to sign)

To: President President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden, Congressional leaders, U.N. General Assembly President d'Escoto-Brockmann, U.N. Secretary General Ban, members of the U.N. Security Council, U.N. member states, and the President, Prime Minister, Cabinet and Opposition leader of Israel

cc: Major media representatives, International Red Cross

RELEASE THE SPIRIT OF HUMANITY AND ALL ITS PASSENGERS IMMEDIATELY AND ALLOW ITS HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO GAZA TO PROCEED! END THE SIEGE OF GAZA NOW!

I am outraged at the actions of the Israeli military in attacking and boarding the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congreswoman Cynthia McKinney, dragging passengers and crew forcibly toward Israel. I am further outraged that Israel has confiscated tons of medicine from the ship as well as toys and olive trees.

I demand that the boat, passengers and crew be released immediately and allowed to proceed with its mission of bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.

As former U.S. Congressperson and 2008 Presidential Candidate Cynthia McKinney said, "This is an outrageous violation of international law. Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip. President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that's exactly what we tried to do. We're asking the international community to demand our release so we can resume our journey."

According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released on June 29, the Palestinians living in Gaza are "trapped in despair." Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel's December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel's disruption of medical supplies.

"The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza, hope that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to transport their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools, hospitals and thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught of "Cast Lead". Our mission is a gesture to the people of Gaza that we stand by them and that they are not alone" said fellow passenger Mairead Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland.

Just before being kidnapped by Israel, Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza Movement chairperson and delegation co-coordinator on this voyage, stated that: "No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any sort of threat to Israel. We carry medical and reconstruction supplies, and children's toys. Our passengers include a Nobel peace prize laureate and a former U.S. congressperson. Our boat was searched and received a security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before we departed, and at no time did we ever approach Israeli waters."

Arraf continued, "Israel's deliberate and premeditated attack on our unarmed boat is a clear violation of international law and we demand our immediate and unconditional release."

I demand that the Obama Administration take immediate action to protest the violation of international law and obtain the release of the ship and those abducted, listed below, assure the access to Gaza of humanitarian aid and missions like that of the Spirit of Humanity and the upcoming humanitarian aid mission Viva Palestina headed by British MP George Galloway and Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic and including hundreds of people from the United States. The Viva Palestina mission is scheduled to leave New York City on July 4, bound for Gaza.

I further demand the Obama Adminsitration take action to end immediately the brutal siege, blockade and occupation of Gaza.

Release the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY and all of the following human rights workers and crew NOW:

Khalad Abdelkader, Bahrain
Khalad is an engineer representing the Islamic Charitable Association of Bahrain.

Othman Abufalah, Jordan
Othman is a world-renowned journalist with al-Jazeera TV.

Khaled Al-Shenoo, Bahrain
Khaled is a lecturer with the University of Bahrain.

Mansour Al-Abi, Yemen
Mansour is a cameraman with Al-Jazeera TV.

Fatima Al-Attawi, Bahrain
Fatima is a relief worker and community activist from Bahrain.

Juhaina Alqaed, Bahrain
Juhaina is a journalist & human rights activist.

Huwaida Arraf, US
Huwaida is the Chair of the Free Gaza Movement and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.

Ishmahil Blagrove, UK
Ishmahil is a Jamaican-born journalist, documentary film maker and founder of the Rice & Peas film production company. His documentaries focus on international struggles for social justice.

Kaltham Ghloom, Bahrain
Kaltham is a community activist.

Derek Graham, Ireland
Derek Graham is an electrician, Free Gaza organizer, and first mate aboard the Spirit of Humanity.

Alex Harrison, UK
Alex is a solidarity worker from Britain. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.

Denis Healey, UK
Denis is Captain of the Spirit of Humanity. This will be his fifth voyage to Gaza.

Fathi Jaouadi, UK
Fathi is a British journalist, Free Gaza organizer, and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.

Mairead Maguire, Ireland
Mairead is a Nobel laureate and renowned peace activist.

Lubna Masarwa, Palestine/Israel
Lubna is a Palestinian human rights activist and Free Gaza organizer.

Theresa McDermott, Scotland
Theresa is a solidarity worker from Scotland. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.

Cynthia McKinney, US
Cynthia McKinney is an outspoken advocate for human rights and social justice issues, as well as a=2 0former U.S. congressperson and presidential candidate.

Adnan Mormesh, UK
Adnan is a solidarity worker from Britain. He is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.

Adam Qvist, Denmark
Adam is a solidarity worker from Denmark. He is traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.

Adam Shapiro, US
Adam is an American documentary film maker and human rights activist.

Kathy Sheetz, US
Kathy is a nurse and film maker, traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.

Sincerely,

Sign the petition online at http://www.iacenter.org/palestine/gazashippetition (vist site)...

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
It is well known that Netanyahu is intent on expanding Israeli settlements into palestinian territory, against world opinion...Just how far can this bastard go before he is stopped?...Sign the petition! (Please)

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 8:35 pm
Wow, didn't know about this David, thanks for posting. Hopefully Viva Palestina will meet with much more success on July 4th!

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 8:39 pm
I have written extensively on this issue. I have made it clear that those who oppose this pernicious treatment of Palestinians, especially the damage being done to their children, does not make one anti-Semitic. Any human being worth their salt knows that what's happening in Israel is way out of line and it borders on the extermination of a people...

It is outrageous that Israel performs as if she rules the world. Cynthia McKinney, a very respected and fine American leader was kidnapped by terrorist, namely, the Israeli government! Enough!

As an America and a Christian I am in support of a Jewish state as I am in support of a Palestinian state. It's time for the people in charge, whether they be here in America or Israel, to change their deadly strategies and gr$$dy agendas. It's time for the leaders of Israel to honor "GOD" and give peace a chance..

Barbara/founder/dtdn

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 8:40 pm
I didn't know about this either David and although I am appalled, I'm not the least bit surprised ... and I can bet my bottom $ that the countries that could put Israel on notice about this, won't. The same way that they also allow Israel to have nuclear weapons.

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 8:42 pm
petition noted and forwarded ....

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 8:50 pm
Signed and noted with thanks David.

Thank you for appealing to Obama, Biden, Clinton, Congressional leaders, U.N. leaders and members, the Israeli government, the International Red Cross and members of the media to release the Spirit of Humanity and Cynthia McKinney and end the siege of Gaza NOW!

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 9:05 pm
Barbara, if the purpose of this trip was to deliver some humanitarian aid as advertised, they could simply transfer it through Israel with the proper inspection. That ship and group lied to authorities in Cyprus about destination of the ship, and they could lie about their cargo too. Israel must check what Hamas gets, because they are at war and Israel has a right to stop materials of military purpose from falling into Hamas hands.

Israel wants peace - enough to offer even Land for that peace - though Arab countries have 2,200 more land than Israel. Yes, TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED TIME MORE LAND than Israel. Hamas is an obstacle to peace and has to be removed from power.

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 9:07 pm
Signed noted and cross posted. Have already called D.C. this afternoon from another news thread on facebook.

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 9:21 pm
I believe now and I always have believed that the Israeli People need to get OUT OUT OUT or Gaza and stop trying to take what doesn't belong to them...We all need to find a place on this planet to live without someone trying to steal what we have built for our own families and living. These Palestinian People have been here for a very long time. Thanks David.

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 9:27 pm
Jan G, they already did in 2005. Hamas wants all of Israel, not just Gaza. That's what the current war is about.

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 10:43 pm
Is it really Joe?...How idiotic can one be?....Hamas is NOT the Palestinian people!...

And for the rest of you...This news is not yet (as I type) not on the Australian news...It is an act of piracy, but for some reason has not hit the news (Is it a news item in your paper?)...If not, why not?...American involvement in the future of Israel, arming, financing...Who knows? ...It does not matter, Piracy is piracy and the deprivation of human rights is inhumane...Israel is guilty on both counts...Why is no one doing anything about it?

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 11:04 pm
I voted for Cynthia Mckinney, for President. This is an outstanding human being who is genuine in her intentions. This is absolutely insane that she is still in this seizure. Please everyone spread our voices and get more to sign..., Noted and thank you.

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 11:46 pm
David, sometimes people don't get that Hamas was freely elected on its militant platform by the majority of Arab Palestinian people and runs the show in Gaza, while being rightfully classified as terrorist movement.

Impounding ship which lied to authorities of its host country is not a crime, neither it is a violation of human rihgts - for those who don't know there is blockade of Gaza intended to deprive Hamas from getting rockets and their parts. If the goal of those folks on the ship would be to deliver aid to Gaza, they could simply bring it through Israel and proper inspection. It is very easy to be kind and generous on somebody else's expense.

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 12:33 am
as Much as I would Like to Sign; As I respect Cynthia and any Humanitarian that Would Try to Help.
I Will Not Provide That Much INFO;
certainly Not My Phn #;
as I share with a Dissbled Woman With Chronic Pain Issues;
and Phn Calls Hurt Her if She Startles or reaches to fast

I'm sorry But you should have created a C2 Petition..

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 3:15 am
Noted and signed, thank you David.

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 5:42 am
With Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire & Cynthia McKinney on board, we can be certain this IS a legitimate humanitarian mission, and it is an outrage this is happening. Contort yourselves all you like, defenders of the right-wing Israeli government, there is no excuse for denying the entry of these much-needed supplies.

I am alarmed and angry this very important story is not in the news, but the plights and atrocities of those having their land stolen are almost never dealt with honestly in the mainstream media ( think the Lakhota, the Mohawk nations TODAY).

We should all be very concerned at our unwholesome ties with the current Israeli regime. At a time when our own people are suffering, the U.S. government is sending huge amounts of "aid" to Israel, while Netanyahu thumbs his nose at our country by refusing to halt further land theft / "settlements". Clearly, he does not really want a Palestinian state. He wants to do what European Americans did (and STILL do) to our First Nations Peoples: cram them on reservations, and render them as powerless as possible.

I condemn these actions. Morally & ethically, I must stand with my oppressed brothers and sisters in this world - petition signed !

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 5:44 am
I wasn't aware of this. Thanks for the alert, David!!!

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 6:23 am
Signed and forwarding.
TY

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 6:24 am
Joe K lied: "Barbara, if the purpose of this trip was to deliver some humanitarian aid as advertised, they could simply transfer it through Israel with the proper inspection. That ship and group lied to authorities in Cyprus about destination of the ship, and they could lie about their cargo too. Israel must check what Hamas gets, because they are at war and Israel has a right to stop materials of military purpose from falling into Hamas hands."

It WAS humanitarian aid. You LIE when you imply that "it wasn't". Stop LYING, JOE K!!!

Joe K also lied here: "Israel wants peace - enough to offer even Land for that peace - though Arab countries have 2,200 more land than Israel. Yes, TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED TIME MORE LAND than Israel. Hamas is an obstacle to peace and has to be removed from power."

Israel does not have a monolithic desire. It is a heterogenous nation of millions of people, who have different desires. Perhaps the subtlety of reality escapes you, Joe?

As for the government of Israel, it has maintained similar policies since the modern colonial state of Israel was created on the land of Palestine, by violent explusion of Indigenous Palestinian people by zionist jews (mainly from Europe and North America), in 1947-1948. Those policies are to steal and keep land from the Indigenous people, creating millions of refugees, and refusing to let them return, plus brutally oppressing the Indigenous Palestinian people who remain on their land.

The Israeli government has never worked towards any fair peace. Since 1947, Israel has worked only towards a "pax Israel", like the "pax Romana" of the Roman Empire, where the only peace the imperialist power accepts is when the Indigenous people are massacred and subjugated.

Israel and its superpower supporter, the USA, are the only 2 governments that reject the 2-state solution. Hamas and the rest of the world all accept that 2-state solution!!!

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 6:30 am
I signed the petition - good on you for promoting the petition, David!!! : )

Free the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY!!!

Free Palestine!!!

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 6:50 am
Simon Wood, you don't know if it was humanitarian aid, you have to grounds to accuse me of lying.

Arafat used to lie all the time, that was noted by all who dealt with him. That ship lied to Cyprus about the trip. As much, Hamas could use legitimate cover to bring ammunition. As I said, " Israel must check what Hamas gets, because they are at war and Israel has a right to stop materials of military purpose from falling into Hamas hands."

Simon, when righting government of Israel offers two-state solution, to me that means desire for peace. Looks like reality escaped you, Simon.

Israel is built on The Land of Israel, populated by Jews for the last 3,500 years, they are the Indigenous Palestinian people. Said that, Jews agreed on the compromise giving them a small portion of THEIR land, but the Arabs wanted everything. Arabs attacked, lost and created thousands of Arab refugees which they refused to settle. Israelis accepted Jewish refugees, and it was more Jewish refugees than Arab refugees.

Hamas, and PLO itself, rejects the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state.

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 8:09 am
Noted and signed: "Thank you for appealing to Obama, Biden, Clinton, Congressional leaders, U.N. leaders and members, the Israeli government, the International Red Cross and members of the media to release the Spirit of Humanity and Cynthia McKinney and end the siege of Gaza NOW! '

This is of urgent importance. Thank you, David, for the story and the link to the petition.

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 12:21 pm
noted, signed

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 12:49 pm

The situation can be summed up in one word: GENOCIDE.


Last Updated: Monday, June 29, 2009, 10:30

Gaza 'sliding deeper into despair'

Six months after Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip, 1.5 million Palestinians remain trapped in rising poverty, unable to rebuild their lives, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said today.

Stringent import restrictions imposed by Israel are crippling reconstruction efforts by donors who have pledged $4.5 billion, it said. Basic medicines are in short supply and the water and sanitation system is on the brink of collapse.

The humanitarian agency called on Israeli authorities to lift the restrictions and allow spare parts, water pipes and building materials into the Hamas-ruled coastal territory devastated by the December 27th-January 18th offensive.

"Gaza neighbourhoods particularly hard hit by the Israeli strikes will continue to look like the epicentre of a massive earthquake unless vast quantities of cement, steel and other building materials are allowed into the territory for reconstruction," the ICRC said in a report.

Israeli forces bombed and then invaded Gaza to root out militants firing rockets into southern Israel. According to a Palestinian rights group, 1,417 people including 926 civilians were killed, along with 10 Israeli soldiers and 3 civilians.

Many Gazans are "sliding ever deeper into despair", with thousands whose homes and belongings were destroyed still lacking adequate shelter, the Geneva-based ICRC said. Hospitals are run down, with much of their equipment unreliable and in need of repair after daily power cuts.

"Gaza's health-care system cannot provide the treatment that many patients suffering from serious illness require. Tragically, a number of them are not allowed to leave the Strip in time to seek health care elsewhere," it said.

Some 100-150 people who lost limbs in the military operation are waiting to be fitted with artificial limbs, according to the ICRC which runs a physical rehabilitation centre in Gaza. "The fact that water and sanitation services could collapse at any moment raises the spectre of a major public health crisis," the ICRC added.

Each day, 69 million litres of partially treated or completely untreated sewage - the equivalent of 28 Olympic-size swimming pools -- are pumped directly into the Mediterranean because they cannot be treated, it said.

The collapse of Gaza's economy due to the closure led to 44 per cent unemployment in April and a "dramatic increase in poverty". More than 70 per cent of Gazans live in poverty, with income of less than $250 a month for a family of up to nine.

"The declining living standards will have a negative effect on the health and wellbeing of the population in the long term. Worst affected are the children, who make up more than half of Gaza's population," said Antoine Grand, head of its 109-strong delegation deployed in Gaza.

Reuters
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0629/breaking27.htm

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 4:15 pm
Signed TX David...Rod asking for the phone no is unusual your right..any nos will do. However I posted also another petition yesterday plz look here

http://www.care2.com/news/member/184653585/1181412

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 4:17 pm
or here thanx

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/641/t/2439/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27540

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 5:05 pm
Briggitte, you call impounding a ship genocide? OK, keep it up!

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 5:45 pm
Joel M., the state of Israel has been carrying out a campaign of genocide against Palestinians for decades. The seizure of this ship and kidnapping of it's passengers is but one more outrageous violation of human rights in this long sad story.

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 6:24 pm
Joe, maybe, just maybe, ... playing the devils advocate here ... Israel has the "right" to board and check out ships IN IT'S WATERS! This ship was NOT in Israeli waters. It was in International waters ... and when they found there was no arms on board, they should have LEFT!

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 11:36 pm
Charlie, calling Israel as perpetrating Arab genocide is stupid and ridiculous. Seizure of a ship is something blockade it about.

Nothing to add to the words of Past Member above:
"Impounding ship which lied to authorities of its host country is not a crime, neither it is a violation of human rihgts - for those who don't know there is blockade of Gaza intended to deprive Hamas from getting rockets and their parts. If the goal of those folks on the ship would be to deliver aid to Gaza, they could simply bring it through Israel and proper inspection. It is very easy to be kind and generous on somebody else's expense. "

Wednesday July 1, 2009, 11:39 pm
Chrissy N, the question is WHO is "playing the devils advocate here". If this act was piracy Cyprus would protest it by now, and they don't. Because those folks on the ship lied to Cyprus and are just Hamas PR puppets?

All of us know that the crew will be sent home, the goods checked and delivered to Gaza even though Hamas is in the state of war with Israel, and not often countries let aid to their enemies.

Thursday July 2, 2009, 12:33 am
Nothing better to do than make public idiots of yourselves 'past' and present 'Joel'?...

Israel closed the borders to Gaza a long time ago...Not content with slaughtering thousands of men, women and children, and depriving them access to humanitarian aid workers wishing no more than to cross into Gaza with necessary medicines to help rectify Israels 'mistake'?...Or cement for re-building the ruins of their outrageous, indiscriminate attack...

Not content with that, they also feel qute free to board a ship in international waters (PIRACY) and further delay the re-formation of Gaza...Again, not all Gazans are linked to Hamas, Especially the children they murdered?...

I am stating the obvious, but obviously, the obvious has eluded you...Off you go, back to play in fantasy land :-)...

Have a nice day!

Thursday July 2, 2009, 1:19 am
Noted and signed. No surprise.This is the new Nazi state.

Thursday July 2, 2009, 1:19 am
Action taken. This is an outrage. Thanks David.

Thursday July 2, 2009, 2:29 am
Thank you for appealing to Obama, Biden, Clinton, Congressional leaders, U.N. leaders and members, the Israeli government, the International Red Cross and members of the media to release the Spirit of Humanity and Cynthia McKinney and end the siege of Gaza NOW!

Please consider contributing to the International Action Center to help with the costs of mobilizing more actions to defend Palestine.

Thank you, David!
noted.

Thursday July 2, 2009, 3:23 pm
If Israel is perpetrating genocide, why are there 2 million Palestinian Arabs living in Israel?

I get bored with repeating history and all of the Israel attackers refusing to acknowledge it. Trans-Jordan took most of the land originally allocated to the Jews & Arabs for the Partician. The Jews wanted to set up a country with both peoples but the Arab nations wanted to destroy Israel and offered it back to the Arabs within 6 months if they left. The Arab nations failed to destroy Israel despite several wars and have deliberately caused the refugee problem. Yet this is Israel's fault - why?

The Gazans are not happy but the situation has been caused by HAMAS using them as shields. Hamas smuggles weapons into Gaza quite blatantly and again hides behind the Palestinians. Yet this is Israel's fault - why?

To prevent weapons being smuggled in Israel has to control who and what goes in, not a satisfactory arrangement for either side. I know that all of you anti-Israel people are going to laugh at me and make sarcastic comments but that is because you only want to see one side. There are 2 sides, one is a very small country being willing to share a large proportion with another people and on the other side terrorists who want to destroy that small country and who totally disregard their people's welfare. This very small country is an island of democracy surrounded by countries who have never understood the concept of human rights. Israel is not perfect nor does anyone claim that, they just have to get on with living under the threat of being bombed, suicide bombings, watching their children being shot and killed. Does anyone who knocks Israel wonder how they would cope with the thought that every time their children walks out of the door to go to school they could be blown up in their bus or shot as they walk to catch it or come home? How do you cope with the idea of your chold being shot in their bed at home?

I sympathise with the Gazans and agree that more relief could go in but it must be checked to prevent weapons going in, to protect the Gazans as much as the Israelis. As for those who feel that what they want is more important than the welfare of the peoples involved then they shouldn't complain when one of the sides disagree. Those that tell lies to get what they want get all they deserve and it is has been proved that the people on the boat did. I brought my kids up to tell the truth, it's a shame that this is not regarded as important by any of the anti-Israel commenters. If the "human rights" visitors were prepared to lie to the authorities how can anyone tell whether or not their reports will be truthful?

Thursday July 2, 2009, 7:02 pm
Noted , will try the petition later , could not get at it !!

Friday July 3, 2009, 5:12 am
thanks David signed.

Sunday July 5, 2009, 9:28 am
Signed.