Monday, May 31, 2010

Israel attacks flotilla bound for Gaza

Hours after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was presented with this Toronto Maple Leafs jersey in Toronto, Israeli commandos dropped from helicopters onto the lead vessel of a six ship international aid flotilla bound for Gaza and opened fire.

Israeli Radio is reporting 16 to 19 killed with 30 injured and confirms the flotilla was in international waters.

According to AFP, "the Israeli military censor ordered a block on all information regarding those injured or killed during the storming of the ship."

The six ships bearing 10,000 tons of supplies and over 600 activists from 40 countries, including 86 year old Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire of Northern Ireland, are now being towed to Ashod.

I was watching a Turkish TV live feed from the lead vessel until it went off the air. I couldn't understand what anyone was saying except for a voice shouting in English that they were in international waters and a woman calling for help for the wounded. The live footage is now being rebroadcast at the same link with commentary in English.

But back to the jersey photo op. Netanyahu says Israel has never had a better friend than Canada and thanked Steve today for being "an unwavering friend of Israel."

Too true. Canada was the first country in the world to boycott Gaza for electing Hamas. When Israel bombed Lebanon in 2008 killing 1400, Steve called Israel's actions "measured". A Canadian killed when Israel shelled UN offices went unremarked by our government. We support the Wall at the UN. Peter Kent, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has more than once stated on his website that "an attack on Israel would be considered an attack on Canada." We have cut off funding to humanitarian groups like Kairos and UNRWA who have been sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinians, and replaced members on the board of the once independent group Rights and Democracy with pro-Israel hawks. Canada had the largest delegation at last year's Conference on Anti-Semitism in Israel and provides nearly twice the Canadian forces to man the borders of Gaza as does the United States. We have our own McCarthyite Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism and banned George Galloway from Canada. Con MPs have sent out flyers to their constituents suggesting that Liberals are soft on anti-Semitism, the definition of which has now been expanded to include any criticism of Israel, following the lead of our prime minister who has accused MPs of anti-Semitism in the House of Commons. Last month the Ethics Commissioner reported that Israel is the top destination of choice for MPs seeking junkets abroad paid for by outside organizations, and Ontario Premier McGuinty is there now drumming up trade. Two years ago Israel and Canada signed what it pleases Israel's Ministry of Public Security to describe on their website as a pact on "cooperation in home land security and counter terrorism issues."

BFF

Against this complicity by our own government in the three-year-old Israeli blockade of Gaza, we must raise our voices in support of international law. We must no longer allow our government to speak in our name here.

Witness Gaza. Witness. Gaza.

5 comments:

Clara said...

I am always struck by how hard-nosed the state of Israel is, by how stalwart and unnwavering her supporters are. I think the flotilla did represent a threat to Israel's blockade policy. Israel's violent response and has totally sparked international backlash that puts the policy in jeapardy. Here's what some nations are doing in response http://bit.ly/dakjH5 . I can't help but think that this was the point of the 'humanitarian aid effort' to delegitimize the use of the blockade by pointing out how much of a military state Israel is.

Anonymous said...

It is appropriate time to make a few plans for the long run and it is time to be happy.
I've learn this publish and if I may I wish to recommend you few fascinating issues or suggestions. Maybe you could write next articles regarding this article. I desire to read more issues approximately it!

Here is my webpage green coffee extract weight loss

Anonymous said...

Solid post. I study something similar here at University of Tennessee.
It's really exciting to discover writing from other writers and see a little bit from their source. If it's okay,
I'd definitely appreciate it if I might use some of the articles on your blog. And of course, I'll offer a link to your site at
blogger.com on my own page. Kudos for posting.


My blog post - ulcerous

Anonymous said...

Simply wanted to notify you that I found your blog on and even though I
liked reading your article, it looks like
your blog acts up in some browsers. Anytime I check out your
blog in Safari, it looks fine however, when opening in IE, it has a bunch
of overlapping issues. I just wanted to give you with a brief heads up,
that's all.

Take a look at my web blog http://www.elitescort.me/gaqedyldoto010

Anonymous said...

Having looked at this I thought it was quite informational.
. It's great that you spent the time to do this. I just as before find myself personally using up a bit too much time both reading and/or commenting. But so what, it was nevertheless beneficial.

Look at my homepage consternación