continued from here
Gaza Flotilla Stormed by Israel, Part III
Tue, 2010-06-01 22:39
#1
remind
Gaza Flotilla Stormed by Israel, Part III
Tue, 2010-06-01 22:54
#2
remind
Is it necessary to mark every comment with a Rabble-approved sarcasm tag and if so, where might I find it?You can always read some of my other posts if you need proof of my point of view on Israel-Palestine, remind.
Look it, I could have worded that much stronger than what I did, as I suspected you were attempting to use sarcastic rejoinders, and I should npot have to look at your other posts to see where you are on this. Too serious and too much spin pretending to be other.
...one never really knows around here with the foo bar trolls, ya know.
And I took the opportunity to use it as an instructive lessen for the readership of said foo bars, so they would not waste more of our time putting crap like that of "suicide activists" up.
Now...I am still not sure of what category you fit in, so am still giving you the benefit of doubt that you were being sarcastic and not trying to slip bs Zionist propaganda in..
Tue, 2010-06-01 23:03
#3
Who do you think you are?
We already have moderators here; we don't need the Jr. Thought Police as well.
And I took the opportunity to use it as an instructive lessen for the readership of said foo bars...
This bit was funny, though.
Tue, 2010-06-01 23:29
#4
[url]http://twocircles.net/2010jun01/german_opposition_party_rips_criminal_is...
Germany's opposition party The Left (Die Linke) on Tuesday lashed out at Israel for what it termed its "criminal" attack on the Gaza peace flotilla.The head of The Left Gregor Gysi said in a press release that the Israeli military action on the aid ships was "not justified" at all.
According to the Left Party, five Germans were aboard the Marmara, the main passenger boat in the protest flotilla.
A senior official of the party, Christine Buchholz was quoted saying that number included two female German lawmakers, Annette Groth and Inge Hoeger.
A total of 10 German peace activists were reportedly on board the ships when the Israeli assault occurred.
[url]http://www.linksfraktion.de/pressemitteilung.php?artikel=1227107656[/url] (German)
From left beginnings courtesy of Karl Marx, from extreme anti-militarism expressed by August Bebel, from the humanitarianism of Hugo Haase, and the pro-peace foreign policy position of Oskar Lafontaine, Die Linke has - in spite of pro-Israel advocates scattered here and there - come out united against the usual Israeli aggression.
Wed, 2010-06-02 00:24
#5
Good. The Irish Parliament didn't do too shabby either...
Ireland-Palestine Support Committee IPSC: MV Rachel Corrie Continues Enroute to Gaza
http://cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/ipsc/displayRelease.php?release...
"Meanwhile in Dublin this evening, the Dail (Irish Parliament) passed a unanimous motion condemning the Israeli attack on the aid flotilla, calling for the immediate release of all Irish prisoners, the end of the 'illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza' and for the Irish owned vessel the MV Rachel Corrie to continue unhindered on its voyage to Gaza, and allow it to deliver its humanitarian cargo there.
The MV Rachel Corrie continues en route to Gaza with its humanitarian supplies, despite Israel's threat that it 'will also be ready for the Rachel Corrie'. Speaking from Cyprus, Greta Berlin of the Free Gaza Movement who owns the ship, today said:
'We are an initiative to break Israel's blockade of 1.5 Million people in Gaza. Our mission has not changed..'
From the sublime to the ridiculous:
If you haven't already, please tell the evil talkshop in Ottawa that you expect them to ensure the safety of the Canadian activist held by Israel - Kevin Neish. Other suggested actions would be the suspension of diplomatic relations with Israel including the end of the Free Trade and Security Agreements and a demand that the illegal Gaza blockade be removed immediately. And anything else you think belongs. Of course you know as do I that it's pretty much DEADWOOD there, but they are public servants you pay so instruct them as you will:
Action: Speak Out Against Israeli Attack on Humanitarian Ships
http://psnedmonton.ca/2010/05/31/action-speak-out-against-israeli-attack...
CPJME: 'Please take 30 seconds to speak out against Israeli killing of international activists taking aid to Gaza.."
Wed, 2010-06-02 01:50
#6
RevolutionPlease
:(
Wed, 2010-06-02 02:06
#7
This whole assault reminds me of the protests against the wall. The protester armed with nothing but what they can find lying around the hills (rocks) facing off with a professional modern army who is occupying their land and demolishing their homes, and the army is the one claiming they fired in "self defense"
In this case the well trained army with naval warships, guns, helicopters, stun grenades, tasers and tear gas attacks a boatload of unarmed civilians taking building supplies and medicine to a people who were victims of a war and are suffering and are calling themselves the victims.
no surprise our government can't stop kissing israels cheeks, it gives them fond memories of the "good ole days" of canada's colonial origins. slaughtering the natives and, if necessary, their supporters.
Wed, 2010-06-02 02:27
#8
of course mad-dog Israel has done it before...and gotten away with it too...
US Navy Veterans Continue to Seek Justice For Israeli Attack
http://www.truthout.org/us-navy-veterans-continue-seek-justice-israeli-a...
"On June 8, 1967, while sailing in international waters, the US Navy intelligence ship USS Liberty was attacked by air and naval forces of the state of Israel. Of the Liberty's crew of 294, more than half were killed or wounded. More than 40 years later, survivors are still seeking justice..
The Israeli forces attacked with full knowledge that the Liberty was an American ship, yet survivors have been forbidden to tell their story under oath to the American public...Joe Meaders was on the Liberty during the attack.."
Wed, 2010-06-02 03:39
#9
N.Beltov
[Israel is] ... "a festering boil in the Middle East that spreads hate and enmity, dynamites regional peace and spreads instability."
"A festering pus-filled boil," has a better ring to it, but perhaps I'm quibbling. I'd say the Turkish PM is at least mildly annoyed.
Wed, 2010-06-02 03:47
#10
N.Beltov
Turkey is involved whether they want to or not. The Government of the Republic of Ireland is involved. Never mind the Canadian poodle for now. [Edited to add: letters of outrage and contempt for the lack of Canadian government action would, of course, be a good thing.] As Naomi Kline pointed out, our own Government is practically useless on this issue. It is civil society organizations that must lead.
Anyway, I don't think people should allow themselves to get pessimistic. The Israeli military has carried out a terrible atrocity. It's up to civilized people to make the difference now.
You know something has changed when the Tehran Times describes the Israeli regime as "evil incarnate" and you can find nothing wrong with the editorial argument. I've used this expression already - we could be in a Sharpeville Turning Point.
Anyway, if the Turkish government simply backs up their civil society humanitarian ships with a naval escort then the Israelis are screwed. But it is not governments, in the final analysis , that will make the difference.
Wed, 2010-06-02 05:08
#11
Nicaragua Suspends Israeli Ties
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=128726§ionid=351020706
"Nicaragua has suspended its diplomatic ties with Israel in protest of Tel Aviv's deadly attack against an aid convoy. 'Nicaragua suspends from today its diplomatic relations with the government of Israel,' President Daniel Ortega's office said in a statement on Tuesday.."
Hatred of Israel at all time high
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=128680§ionid=351020101
"A top Iranian parliamentarian says the setting up of a committee by the UN Security Council to probe the Israeli raid on the Gaza aid convoy is only aimed at wasting time. Chairman of the Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Ala'eddin Boroujerdi also decried the Israeli attack and called on the UN Security Council to send the case to the International Criminal Court.
He further told the Mehr News Agency that the assault on the aid flotilla amounted to 'attacking all countries'. In reaction to the non-binding resolution which came out of an extraordinary UN Security Council meeting and demands the formation of an impartial committee to investigate the Israeli attack, Boroujerdi said the US continues its illogical and unstinting support to the Zionist regime."
Wed, 2010-06-02 08:10
#12
Woah there we all know Iran is the evil empire bent on nuclear weapons so they can attack their neighbours with impunity, subjecting different people to double standards and hurting civilians who cast stones with bullets!!...Oh sorry that is what would happen if Iran followed Israels example, they haven't attacked anyone in modern history, but facts like that tend to get in the way of any message coming from any middle eastern country.
Wed, 2010-06-02 10:59
#13
Catchfire
From the rabble front page:
An Arab member of the Israeli parliament, who was on board the international flotilla that was attacked on Monday as it tried to take humanitarian aid to Gaza, accused Israel yesterday of intending to kill peace activists as a way to deter future convoys.Haneen Zoubi said Israeli naval vessels had surrounded the flotilla's flagship, the Mavi Marmara, and fired on it a few minutes before commandos abseiled from a helicopter directly above them.
Terrified passengers had been forced off the deck when water was sprayed at them. She said she was not aware of any provocation or resistance by the passengers, who were all unarmed.
She added that within minutes of the raid beginning, three bodies had been brought to the main room on the upper deck in which she and most other passengers were confined. Two had gunshot wounds to the head, in what she suggested had been executions.
Two other passengers slowly bled to death in the room after Israeli soldiers ignored messages in Hebrew she had held up at the window calling for medical help to save them. She said she saw seven other passengers seriously wounded.
"Israel had days to plan this military operation," she told a press conference in Nazareth. "They wanted many deaths to terrorize us and to send a message that no future aid convoys should try to break the siege of Gaza."
A friend of mine -- not as preoccupied with the history of Israel and Palestine as I am -- asked me why the Israelis soldiers opened fire with deadly force, killing nine and wounding at least 30. Why the over-reaction, even if they were being attacked? Why not fire into the air? Surrender might be a logical response to unexpected resistance -- especially given that the whole operation was illegal and they knew it.
The answer is as simple as it is disturbing. Israeli soldiers are so accustomed to killing Palestinians for the slightest provocation that pulling the trigger is not the last resort -- it is often the first resort. A child throwing a stone, a car-driver not slowing quickly enough, a grandmother and her grandchildren because they turned the wrong way coming out of their house during the invasion of Gaza.
It's not even shoot first ask questions later. It's just shoot first. They rarely have to answer any questions and the killings are investigated, if at all, by the army. This is, after all, a colonial occupying army. It is accustomed to killing unarmed civilians because that is the task it has been assigned by the Israeli political elite.
Wed, 2010-06-02 11:05
#14
Catchfire
The two men sat across from each other in identical black suits -- very Brooks Brothers, very corporate machismo. Their feet firmly apart, they leaned forward on their chairs with purpose, as if they were discussing sales figures at an AGM.The two shared similarly thinning hairlines and a certain pudgy middle-aged smugness. They occasionally smiled and guffawed good naturedly, called each other by their first names and one mentioned that "we go back a long way, don't we?" One almost expected them to reminisce about a long lost golf tournament.
But these chummy cohorts were in fact Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Peter Mansbridge, the long time host of CBC's television's flagship nightly news program The National. One was supposed to be interviewing the other, but it played more like an advertorial for the Likud party.
Wed, 2010-06-02 11:10
#15
Catchfire
What's a little disagreement between friends?
Despite Turkey leading ferocious international condemnation of Israel, there are signs the long-term strategic partnership between Israel and its most important Muslim ally would endure: Turkey canceled three joint land and sea exercises, but appeared to be otherwise maintaining deep military ties that include the planned delivery of US$183 million in Israeli drones this summer.Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke to his Turkish counterpart as well as their chief of staff Monday, and they agreed that the raid wouldn't affect weapons deals, defense officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing sensitive military ties.
Wed, 2010-06-02 11:56
#16
remind
Who do you think you are?We already have moderators here; we don't need the Jr. Thought Police as well.
Please do indicate, what you think was in my words that was me being a "thought police", and indeed do explain just where I was being modetorial about it?
... as I have every right to indicate what I did, as it is my personal view, of his words, and I did not tell him to; stop doing, or saying, in the least. or even modify what he said
The sarcastic use of "suicide activists" is really non-productive, as many will not see the sarcastic nature of it, and start the common use of it.
Seriously...think about a public that starts using "suicide activists" in response to the deaths of people. It is a normalization that should not occur, as it will become a thought terminating cliche, where people who hear it, shrug off the lives of activists who were murdered in the struggle for human rights.
It belittles the peoples lives and their actions for which they were murdered.
Wed, 2010-06-02 12:30
#17
The sarcastic use of "suicide activists" is really non-productive, as many will not see the sarcastic nature of it, and start the common use of it.
Give people credit for having intelligence. "Suicide activists" is an imaginative way to put this massacre into context, and its use may help show that the everyday murder of Palestinians by the IOF is just that - murder.
Wed, 2010-06-02 12:42
#18
Lard Tunderin Jeezus
Give people credit for having intelligence. "Suicide activists" is an imaginative way to put this massacre into context, and its use may help show that the everyday murder of Palestinians by the IOF is just that - murder.
Those who are willing to risk their lives for human rights are brave and honourable. Those willing to murder the innocent in order to maintain their authority are the lowest form of criminals.
Wed, 2010-06-02 12:44
#19
bagkitty
I wish our MSM would make an effort to point out the sheer perversity of the blockade similar to what The Economist has done. (graphic courtesy of The Economist). I would like to see the fat talking heads on CBC interview an Israeli apologist and demand a detailed explanation of the justification for every single item that the Israeli's are prohibiting. It becomes so immediately clear that the only justification is to humiliate the inhabitants of Gaza.
[ETA: the link to the Economist snippet]
Wed, 2010-06-02 12:52
#20
Yes, and?
I would like to see the fat talking heads on CBC interview an Israeli apologist and demand a detailed explanation of the justification for every single item that the Israeli's are prohibiting.
Hang on to that dream. If anything, the CBC bobbleheads will ask why Palestinians aren't happy with what crumbs the IOF allows through the blockade.
Wed, 2010-06-02 13:06
#21
Boom Boom
What's a little disagreement between friends?
Despite Turkey leading ferocious international condemnation of Israel, there are signs the long-term strategic partnership between Israel and its most important Muslim ally would endure: Turkey canceled three joint land and sea exercises, but appeared to be otherwise maintaining deep military ties that include the planned delivery of US$183 million in Israeli drones this summer.Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke to his Turkish counterpart as well as their chief of staff Monday, and they agreed that the raid wouldn't affect weapons deals, defense officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing sensitive military ties.
I think this story has pissed me off more than anything else I've read today.
Wed, 2010-06-02 13:10
#22
bagkitty
Probably right AQ, but I would like to think that being exposed to the patent absurdity of the Israeli policy might jar a few of the viewers. I think they have grown immune (through repetition) to scenes of Israeli overkill and are totally able to tune out and dismiss indignant responses to Israeli atrocities... they have become part of the background noise in the media. Rubbing their noses in the patent absurdity of Israeli policies would at least be a way of getting their attention.
Wed, 2010-06-02 13:27
#23
[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/01/israel-gaza-flotilla-sabotag... sabotage suspected[/url]
Matan Vilnai, the deputy defence minister, was asked on Israel Radio whether there had not been a smarter alternative to direct assault. He answered that "all possibilities had been considered," adding: "The fact is that there were less than the 10 ships that were due to participate in the flotilla."
The comments appeared to dovetail with reports that two of the vessels malfunctioned at the same time and in the same way. Challenger I and Challenger II, carrying 36 activists, were forced into port in Cyprus on Friday evening when steering systems on both ships broke down on the passage from Heraklion in Crete, a campaign spokeswoman said.
Challenger II also started taking on water after the bilge pump suddenly stopped working and an inspection yesterday revealed "very suspicious" faults, according to Greta Berlin, a spokeswoman for Free Gaza.
An unnamed Israeli Defence Force source who briefed the Knesset's foreign affairs and defence committee on the widely criticised armed interception of the flotilla at sea, also spoke of "grey operations" being mounted against the flotilla. No further detail was reported, probably because of the military censorship rules binding the Israeli media.
Wed, 2010-06-02 13:51
#24
Turkey needs the Israeli drones to destroy Kurdish villages. A very symbiotic military relationship. I notice as well there was no mention of the Turks denying Israel the right to use their air space. If the people protesting had been Kurdish the response of the Turkish government might have been different.
Wed, 2010-06-02 13:53
#25
remind
al'q, those words do not put anything into context, they do nothing other than diminish what has occured, and is occuring.
...will explain it this way:
People respond to words instinctively and from conditioned perception, and react responsively upon first hearing, or seeing. And the first concept is hard if not impossible to break. That is why it is important to make a good first impression, and of course why Israel wants to get its talking points out before releasing the activists.
So understanding this, let's break down the words and how they impact upon people's minds and conception patterns to see why such a label is bad.
People recoil from the word suicide....it stops all thoughts about the subject, person, or matter at hand, and people want to move on mentally, to something else. But, before they do, their mind has already examined and made judgement, based upon prior knowlege of the word and what it means, and implies.
Suicide is a negative stigma...thus the negative stigma becomes attached to people who commit suicide, or attempt to. In this case, it is the human rights activists who were murdered. As such, using "suicide activist" depicts them, in a negative way, not a positive way.
Think about all the things you immediately have popping into your mind when you hear, or see, the word 'suicide'. How many are positive attributes? None, I would bet. It will be such things like; mentally ill, fanatical, depressed, punishing, and other sorts of negative realities about "suicide". So...these automatic negative, apriori, bits of knowlege attach to the concept of what is being indicated, by the use of the word suicide. In this case, it puts nothing into context, it takes it out of context.
Gazans are being murdered, they are not committing suicide, human rights activists are being murdered, they are not committing suicide. Nor are either mentally ill, or punishing.
Murder does not = suicide in our minds. If we hear suicide, we will not be thinking about murder.
...labelling these activist's murder, as suicide, is very, very wrong, which is why Israel's voices are doing so.
But you are right, it is imaginative. Imaginative for the Israeli propagandists to do so. It shows they know their marketing strategies very well.
Also, our ears are used to hearing words collectively in typical patterns, from the media, and thus we associate mental and emotional response collectives. For example, we are used to hearing "suicide bombers", with alll of its negative connotations, then when we hear propaganda slogans like "suicide activists" we religate them automatically to the equivalent category of 'suicide bombers'.
The use of these types of psychological conditioned responses derived from simple word associations, is why firms like Navigator, and Venture Communications, are so successful.
This is not about brain power and being smart, this is about marketing a concept that people will buy into, even though it is incorrect and obviously not truth.
Some on the left it appears, really needs to start understanding the corporate and business world's use of words, in getting the response they want from the listening and viewing public.
It is how they get people en masse to buy, even when they have no money, or do not need it. Or even when it is destroying the planet.
It is successful too, look at our advertising to consumer driven world for all the evidence you need of how powerful such conceptual word building is in driving the unconscious* mind.
*Use this word in respect to emotional response buying or addiction buying. People buy word concepts, in as much as they buy actual products, or services.
Wed, 2010-06-02 13:56
#26
I disagree, remind; but then I see irony as a powerful and useful rhetorical device, where you might not.
Wed, 2010-06-02 14:30
#27
Boom Boom
I doubt you'll hear anything but bullshit from Israeli government mouthpieces.
Wed, 2010-06-02 14:44
#28
I heard Toronto's Israeli Consul on a radio talk show stating that the flotilla was an Iranian operation based on money they found on board the ship. He also stated that there was absolutely "no humanitarian crisis" in Gaza.
He forgot to add that the metal poles were made in North Korea. As for the humanitarian crisis he meant that there is no crisis in Gaza involving anyone the Israeli government considers to be human. Shooting dogs in a Canadian street would get you a longer sentence than the sentences handed down to IDF soldiers who fire life ammunition at children throwing stones.
Wed, 2010-06-02 14:51
#29
[snidely reporting]I heard Toronto's Israeli Consul on a radio talk show stating that the flotilla was an Iranian operation based on money they found on board the ship. He also stated that there was absolutely "no humanitarian crisis" in Gaza. [/snidely reporting]
Wed, 2010-06-02 14:52
#30
I added "snide" tags to my report at post 26.
Wed, 2010-06-02 14:59
#31
You may say I am a dreamer.... but
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Wed, 2010-06-02 15:07
#32
Like I said, give the audience credit for having some intelligence.
Wed, 2010-06-02 15:07
#33
Krystalline Kraus
Canada backs U.S. opposition to UN-led flotilla inquiry
Prime Minister Stephen Harper dodged questions in the Commons on whether he supports the Security Council resolution, but a senior government official said in diplomatic circles, Canada is backing the idea Israel should lead the investigation.
"Our position is similar to that of the Americans," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The stance once again puts Canada in a small club with the United States defending Israel"
Wed, 2010-06-02 15:14
#34
Lard Tunderin Jeezus
Where's the 'hanging my head in shame' emoticon when I need it?
Wed, 2010-06-02 15:15
#35
remind
I disagree, remind; but then I see irony as a powerful and useful rhetorical device, where you might not.
You can disagree all you want, it is your right,, however, it does not mean you are correct in your presumption from a marketing of a concept point of view.
Yes, irony can be a powerful and useful rhetorical device, I agree, but its use is limited in the broader public by way of not understanding the irony, or people not getting the "ironical nature of something.
Also, there is nothing "ironical" about the label "suicide activist". It is a negative label and will impact upon the broader publics sensory perceptions as such.
It is all about audience al'q, and if you do not know your audience, no matter how brilliant your words are they will fall on deaf ears.
also want to add
using irony, as a rhetorical device, in respect to dealing with the mass murder of peoples, and the public communications of it, and about it, especially in the initial stages, is sketchy, at best. Indeed it leverages people's death, by murder, into a rhetorical device, and not a actual occuring event that impacts other people's lives and movements.
Wed, 2010-06-02 15:18
#36
remind
again i will note al'q it is not about intelligence....it is about perceptions and residual impact....first impressions and emotions
suicide is a emotional concept.
No freakin wonder the left does bad at communicating their ideas to the masses.
Wed, 2010-06-02 15:55
#37
Where's the 'hanging my head in shame' emoticon when I need it?
Jack Layton! Are you there?
Stevie-boy is lobbing you a great big softball now. Are you going to take a swing?
Wed, 2010-06-02 16:10
#38
N.Beltov
A Jerusalem Post author describes events as part of an Israeli "losing streak". It's Israel that's hurting. It's Israel that's suffering. Gosh. Can't you see the crocodile tears?!
Anyway, to continue the baseball metaphor ... I would expect Layton to be just as concerned as the Israelis are about their "losing streak". Not wanting to be responsible for another "strike", the NDP leader will try to get on base with a walk. He'd rather get struck out than swing at anything. Even a Harper softball.
Civil society organizations have to lead. Hell will freeze over before these Parliamentary Parties - in government or opposition - do anything more than "bravely" clean their cleats and make like they might take a swing. They're only pretending in order to demobilize opposition to Israeli atrocties.
Wed, 2010-06-02 16:24
#39
Like I said, give the audience credit for having some intelligence.
Can you provide any successful examples of ironic slogans or catchphrases? Unless you are marketing to a very precise demographic that sees an issue or product similarily I don't think irony is the way you want to go for mass communication.
Wed, 2010-06-02 16:32
#40
Consider the original intent of the term's use and where it appeared. babble is a relatively precise demographic. Moreover, this place is hardly "mass communication."
Obviously, no advertiser or political party is going to use the term "suicide activist" in a promotion. To suggest so is being wilfully obtuse.
Wed, 2010-06-02 18:35
#41
Agent 204
Jack Layton! Are you there?
Actually, he is. From the same article:
In Canada, NDP Leader Jack Layton said a UN-led investigation would be more likely to be seen as credible. "And credibility is important here," he said.Israel objects to the idea of a UN investigation, however. Not only is it secretive about its security operations, it views the UN as a body that treats Israel as a punching bag.
Maybe a soft message, but then you have to tread carefully here, because the usual suspects will be crying Focke-Wulf about antisemitism if you don't.
Wed, 2010-06-02 18:42
#42
NDPP"Our position is similar to that of the Americans," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity."
how grotesque and in our face they are about it too - this can't go on folks..
Wed, 2010-06-02 21:10
#43
Did Israel Deliberately Murder Civilians Aboard Freedom Flotilla?
http://karmalised.com/?p=14083
"the Israeli Ambassador to the United States admits that ships were "too large to stop with non-violent means."..
Watch 'the only democracy in the Middle East' in action towards Palestinian Member of the Knesset, MK Haneen Zoabi
Palestinian Arab MK Haneen Zoabi Viciously Attacked in Israel's Parliament (and vid)
http://www.israeli-occupation.org/2010-06-02/palestinian-arab-mk-haneen-...
The Massacre and the Coverup
http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/363.php
"For now, Israel is managing these contradictions to advantageous effect. On the one hand, it maintains the coveted 'freedom of action' for its military forces and, where sought, access to resources; on the other, it is successfully dodging its obligations under international humanitarian law by refusing to accept responsibility for the Palestinian population under its control.
Amazingly, we are now in the midst of an Israeli PR campaign to pass off the trickle of aid the occupation authorities allow into Gaza (paid for by the Palestinians, international agencies or donor states) as evidence of Israeli generosity. And all this without jeopardizing close Israeli bilateral ties with a range of wealthy western allies.
The arrogance of Israeli officials is a function of the apparent international willingness to facilitate these crimes..
Israel's New Initiative: Barbarism and Piracy at Sea
http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2010/06/israels-new-initiative-barbarism-a...
"We are no longer defending Israel. We are now defending the (indefensible) siege, which is itself becoming Israel's Vietnam - another protracted, illegal war. Israel's brazen slaughter constituted a crime of war and against humanity, punishable under international law. Claiming it an act of self-defense is bogus, reprehensible and laughable on its face.."
Who Will Bring Israel To Book Over Flotilla Attack?
http://www.israeli-occupation.org/2010-06-02/daniel-machover-who-will-br...
"If the Israeli boarding of the ships was illegal, then arguably the passengers were entitled to act in self-defense against the invading commandos. If so, they could use reasonable force to defend themselves, the amout of force permitted being determined by Turkish law.
And that is the point: it is clearly Turkish criminal law that can and should predominate from this point on. The Mar Marmara is a Turkish registered ship and was travelling peacefully in international waters when Israeli forces boarded it. At least one of the dead civilians is reportedly a Turkish citizen. The Turkish authorities have the absolute right to assert that their criminal justice system take sole charge of a criminal investigation..
If Israel were to refuse, the UN security council, if concerned about a threat to international peace and security, could then back Turkish and international demands to this effect in a Chapter VII resolution. The question then arises: will Turkey and the international community require Israel to comply with the rule of law on this occassion?"
Wed, 2010-06-02 21:13
#44
Bec.De.Corbin
More details of the bloodshed are coming out as people return; mostly from western activist whom stayed below decks when the fighting started. From the activist side, as of Wednesday, nobody who was on the top deck when the commandos landed as come forward. Those are whom stories I want to hear but I suspect they are among the dead, wounded and currently detained.
None of the dead have been identified by name as of Wednesday as well (as far as I can tell).
Wed, 2010-06-02 22:07
#45
Best-selling Scottish writer Iain Banks is [url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/03/boycott-israel-iain-banks]bo... Israel, turning down all future publishing opportunities because of the flotilla raid.
What will Canadian writers do?
Wed, 2010-06-02 22:23
#46
A Lone Book in a Concentration Camp
http://arabwomanblues.blogspot.com/2010/06/lone-book-in-concentration-ca...
"An Egyptian doctor that was released yesterday, said, and this was corroborated by other witnesses - the wounded were left to bleed until death, the activists were left with no water, no food, on top of the vessel's deck under the scorching sun..some were tortured while detained, insulted and the Jewish racism was all too obvious--the Westerners were treated better than the Muslims and the Arabs on board..
That Egyptian doctor said when the boat anchored in the Israeli port, there were hundreds of Israeli 'citizens' applauding their army, even applauding the dying wounded...this is the true nature of the Jewish Zionist..make no mistake about it..it's a sick entity..deeply sick, deeply immoral, deeply vile, deeply racist, deeply murderous.."
Wed, 2010-06-02 22:24
#47
remind
don't see anyone out picketing chapters indigo......
Wed, 2010-06-02 22:32
#48
No Yards
Jack Layton! Are you there?
Actually, he is. From the same article:
In Canada, NDP Leader Jack Layton said a UN-led investigation would be more likely to be seen as credible. "And credibility is important here," he said.Israel objects to the idea of a UN investigation, however. Not only is it secretive about its security operations, it views the UN as a body that treats Israel as a punching bag.
Maybe a soft message, but then you have to tread carefully here, because the usual suspects will be crying Focke-Wulf about antisemitism if you don't.
Wow, haven't heard this much conviction in a statement since the Cheech and Chong's Evelyn Woodhead Speed Reading Course skit.
That really puts Israel in its place.
Wed, 2010-06-02 22:57
#49
It is an interesting comparison to look at what Israel did on the aid floatilla, and what North Korea did in [supposedly] sinking that South Korean ship that was off the coast of Korea[s] in war games. America's reactions are 180o different to the two situations
Which nations get to "defend themselves", and which ones are not allowed to defend themselves?
- Israel claims the incident on the aid floatilla was "self defense". Is Gaza, Palestine, not allowed to defend itself? Why shouldn't they be allowed to import weapons - Israel does it.
Obviously, Israel is at war with Gaza and none of this can be defended except that "all in war is fair". So they should stop trying to frame this as something that can be justified outside of war ethics. This was an act of war, and in legal terms, since it was on a Turkish ship in international waters, it was an act of war against Turkey [as stated in another thread].
Wed, 2010-06-02 23:18
#50
Boom Boom
I heard somewhere on CBC earlier tonight that Hamas was refusing Israel's handing over of the aid from the seized flotilla. My guess as to why is because Israel is using the seized aid shipments as a propaganda exercise to show how generous they are.
Wed, 2010-06-02 23:22
#51
I am surprised that this Israeli asasination squat did not impersonate some Somali pirates, usualy they are pretty good at taking foreign identities. All we can do is send more Gaza relieve ships, preferably Canadian registered, sothat our Canadian politicians have to run around with shades to hide those shifty eyes.