The war of words between Israel and the Free Gaza Movement is heating up as its ships prepare to sail toward Gaza in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade. I’ve written before here that there are some aspects of this project that don’t have the greatest appeal to me, but that I support it nevertheless.
For example, the group’s invitation to Tzipi Livni to join them on their voyage is fatuous and annoyingly so. Likewise, their decision to name one of their ships the S.S. Liberty in honor of the U.S.S. Liberty, which was attacked by Israel during the 1967 War. An FGM press release even refers to the “assassination” of U.S. sailors during the incident. Gimme a break. Whatever happened in 1967, whether it was a dastardly act or an accident, these were sailors serving military duty. “Assassination???” C’mon. This just shows the group’s partisan agenda. As a political activist, I hate the idea of muddying the waters and confusing your prospective audience by combining disparate political goals. What, in God’s name does the U.S.S. Liberty have to do with the Gaza blockade? To me, it simply dilutes the power and purity of whatever idea or goal you’re pursuing.
But none of these criticisms outweigh the essential importance of the political statement FGM is making. The fact that the Israeli foreign ministry bothered to address FGM directly indicates it takes the project seriously. But I found the ministry statement to be riddled with inaccuracies and parroted arguments. Take this:
We assume that your intentions are good but, in fact, the result of your action is that you are supporting the regime of a terrorist organization in Gaza…
In fact, FGM’s goals have nothing to do with Hamas and everything to do with alleviating the suffering of the average Gazan who is not responsible for whatever sins Hamas may or may not have committed.
In June 2007, Hamas led a violent coup in Gaza and seized the government illegally, a fact which led to an international boycott and isolation of its government.
This, in fact, is a basic and egregious error. In fact, the international boycott began in 2005 after Hamas won the PA election and not after Hamas took over Gaza. Keep in mind this is an official statement of the Israeli foreign ministry and they can’t even get their facts straight.
Hamas is the central player in the Gaza Strip and the address to which you should direct your complaints concerning the situation there.
This is blaming the victim. Because Hamas won an election, Israel is justified in essentially strangling the innocent civilian population of Gaza. And not only is it justified in doing so, it is Hamas’ fault it has had to do so.
Your claim that the residents of the Gaza Strip are suffering from hunger is groundless…There isn’t another conflict in the world in which one side supplies all the needs of the other side
This is a real laugher. In its reply, the FGM quotes various humanitarian sources serving Gaza:
According to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “only 43.5% of basic commercial food import needs were met during the period between 3 and 30 December 2007.” Furthermore, in May 2008, several international aid organizations, including CARE International UK, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, and Medecins du Monde UK, stated that, “the stranglehold on Gaza’s borders has made … the work of the UN and other humanitarian agencies … virtually impossible. Only a trickle of medicine, food, fuel and other goods is being allowed in. [The Israeli Blockade of Gaza] has made people highly dependent on food aid, and brought the health system and basic services such as water and sanitation near to collapse.”
This closing statement from the Israelis, which was preceded by a “generous” offer from them to guarantee delivery of FGM’s aid via Israeli-controlled land crossings, was also typically cheeky:
…If you do not intend to deliver the humanitarian aid via Israel, this proves that your goal is political…
In other words: if you seek to deliver the aid yourself and independently then you are an enemy of Israel. However, if you allow us, the Occupiers, to deliver it to Gaza on your behalf, then you truly are humanitarians and not political partisans. Which of course implies that the Israelis themselves are NOT political or partisan.
The Independent reports a defense ministry spokesperson referring to the FGM as “pirates,” an ominous escalation of the verbal conflict between the two entities:
“From my point of view this is some kind of pirate ship,” said Shlomo Dror, a defence ministry spokesman.
“You can demonstrate, that’s OK with us. But you are not allowed to break international law.”
Which, of course, is ironic. This means Israel claims its blockade is being mounted on behalf of international law. The opposite, of course, is the case. International law specifically forbids a nation from besieging a civilian population and blaming it for the acts of military forces.
Finally, the FGM ships are not “pirates” nor are they a danger to Israel. The government has threatened to “use force” to prevent them from reaching Gaza. Again, this is a completely unjustified threat compared to the “danger” the group represents. Pro-Israel supporters have made death threats to private unlisted phone numbers and sent similar e-mail messages to participants and crew in an attempt to intimidate them. If Israel engages in violence of any kind in detaining the activists, it deserves the opprobrium of the world community.
My piece about the “Gaza Fulbright 3” was published today at Comment is Free under the title, Let Them Come and Study.
Richard, thank you for sharing the updates for FGM and I’ve got one more late breaking update 2 hours earlier from Tom : “New information: Israel has declared “military maneuvers” for 35 miles from the Gaza shore. In their fax (in English) to the Larnaca Port authorities they note that humanitarian supplies are to be routed through Israel, etc.; the fax was obviously intended for us, but none of our group had received any word of these maneuvers directly from the Israel authorities. In any event, it looks like yet another attempt at justifying the legally and morally unjustifiable. Some very savvy Greeks gave some very valuable input. Decision: We will hold a press conference and put out a press release tomorrow morning at the dock pointing out why we intend to continue to Gaza notwithstanding Israeli machinations. Also, it has been announced publicly that our boats will leave tomorrow late afternoon or evening; a committee is now meeting to discuss specifically at what time. That’s it for now. Again, thanks for your continued support. Tom”….
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One of the things that was decided was to have an at sea ceremony to publicly remember and honor the memories of those who were killed and injured during the IAF and Israeli Naval two hour attack on the USS Liberty, one of the namesake ships in the FGM. One reason it remains an issue is because many US Veterans, myself included, grieve that our country never publicly acknowledged this attack, and all issues related were handled secretly and behind closed doors; those survivors and the families of the deceased and wounded never got recognition or validation of the suffering endured during that attack,nor an explanation nor public explanation.
Having had contact w/ two of those USS Liberty survivors over the last few years, I can tell you that there are deep scars from that horrific attack. Tomorrow’s at sea ceremony both for US Navy dead and for the 5000 Palestinians who have died since 2000 Intifada began is appropriate and necessary for those who suffered and those who remain ignorant of that attack. In my opinion, as a veteran I think it is long past time for public recognition of their sacrifices. Honoring the fallen is done by people in all cultures and is meant to help the living as well as to honor the dead. However, neither of the two groups, Liberty survivors or dead Palestinians of Intifada 2 are ever recognized nor remembered; long overdue, IMO.. /Miriam
@Miriam:
IMO, they’re two entire separate issues. Each one is very complicated & very different fr. the other. The only common thread is that Israel was involved in both matters. I agree that the Liberty attack has not received the attention it deserves. But this shouldn’t be the venue for it. It detracts from FGM’s mission & muddies the waters. In politics, you can’t piggyback issues. It just doesn’t work. Especially when they’re so different.
In terms of agreeing whether there is commonality, we may never agree, but assuredly all (US) veterans deserve the respect and remembrance that the planned at sea ceremony will offer for the ship’s survivors and kin. In an account written by Ron Kukal a Liberty crew member who pulled comrades bodies from the Med after one of the waves of attack, wrote the following 2 days ago-doesnt’ sound like his nightmare is over:
ttp://ussliberty.wordpress.com/2008/08/18/i-was-murdered-can-you-hear-me/
with most of the details of that attack.
Correction!..the article was written by Phil Tourney survivor and past president of the USS LIBERTY Veterans Association three times and co-host of the LIBERTY HOUR radio show through republicbroadcasting.org. thank you for enabling your readers to have the opportunity to read his account and to remember.
Last update – 06:47 21/08/2008
Despite Israel’s blockade, boats in Cyprus pass inspection for Gaza protest
By The Associated Press
Tags: Gaza Strip, Cyprus, blockade
LARNACA, Cyprus – Cyprus will allow two boats carrying members of a U.S.-based activist group to sail for Gaza in defiance of Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory, authorities here said Wednesday.
The two wooden sailboats have passed a safety inspection, Cyprus’ Merchant Shipping Director Serghios Serghiou said.
He said the boats have also been given safety certificates from Greece, where the vessels are registered.
We have not prohibited the departure of the boat, Serghiou told The Associated Press.
Protest organizer Paul Larudee said the boats – the 21-meter Free Gaza and 18-meter Liberty – will set sail around midnight tonight from Larnaca port for the estimated 30-hour trip.
Members of the Free Gaza protest group said some 40 activists from 16 countries, including 81-year-old Catholic nun Anne Montgomery, will attempt to break the blockade Israel imposed on Gaza last year in a bid to set a precedent
for others to follow.
They plan to deliver 200 hearing aids to a Palestinian charity for children and hand out 5,000 balloons.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said the ministry had told activists in a letter that all humanitarian aid should be delivered through Israeli-controlled border crossings. But Mekel refused to say how Israel would respond if the
activists tried to break the blockade.
Thomas Nelson, 64, said the group expects the Israeli navy to intercept the boats and arrest those onboard. The Portland, Oregon-based attorney said activists plan to resist any attempts to arrest them in a non-violent way.
Nelson said there is no security threat to Israel here, except the truth and Israel is afraid of the truth.
Nelson said lawyers from the U.S.-based National Lawyers’ Guild would file legal action against Israel in an appropriate legal forum if Israeli authorities kidnap activists in international waters.
—end—