Archive for Awareness
Flotilla Survivor Kenneth O’Keefe
July 1st, 2010 • Awareness, Events, Film & Documentary, News
Tags: boats, flotilla, freegaza, gaza, IHH, Kenneth O'Keefe, piracy
BBC HARDtalk: Gaza blockade easing ‘worth’ flotilla lives
Israel has eased its blockade on the Gaza Strip, not by as much as some would like, but the Middle East envoy Tony Blair has said it is a “good start”.
It follows the death of nine Turkish activists killed by Israeli soldiers when they raided an aid flotilla as it tried to break the naval blockade on Gaza.
Kenneth O’Keefe was on that boat and he was involved in the violence. Sarah Montague asks him whether it was worth it.
UK residents can watch online here…
More links and material from Ken and the flotilla at The Gaza Flotilla archive
42-page Flotilla Report
July 1st, 2010 • Action, Awareness, Events, News
Tags: attack, flotilla, freegaza, gaza, IHH, priacy, report
from Freegaza, a 42 page comprehensive Report and contains many full resolution photographs. Please download, read and distribute to all your lists and media contacts.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Istanbul, June 29, 2010)
On May 31, 2010, the six ships in the Freedom Flotilla were 75 miles away from the coast of Israel. We constantly reiterated that we were traveling in peace and carrying nothing but humanitarian and construction aid to the people of Gaza. At around 3:00 am, the battleships were still following us along with nearly 30 zodiacs that surrounded the flotilla in international waters.
At 4:10 am, messages from the ship, Define, stated, “Mavi Marmara, all of the boats and ships are approaching you.” Shortly after, when most of the participants were performing their morning prayers, pursuit boats carrying masked, armed soldiers came alongside the boats. At least 10 Israeli soldiers were in every boat. As they tried to get on board, they began shooting. Then we heard sounds that were similar to gas bombs. The third sound was the constant sound of machine gun fire. At the same time, military helicopters full of armed soldiers rappeled down, shooting as they descended.
This operation was hostile from the very beginning, directed towards killing and killing as many as possible. Israeli soldiers did not open fire on the ships as a warning. They opened fire to kill. The first two people on board were shot in the head, killing them instantly.
For a detailed report on who IHH is, why they joined the flotilla and what happened on that fateful morning, please download the report here… (pdf)
A Voyage of Life and Death
June 18th, 2010 • Awareness, Film & Documentary, News
Tags: flotilla, freedom, gaza
Shown at our monthly meeting…
In the early hours of Monday, May 31, the Israeli navy intercepted a flotilla of boats carrying thousands of tonnes of aid to Gaza. Nine passengers on the Mavi Marmara – the flotilla’s largest boat – were killed. This much we know.
In the aftermath of the event, accounts from both sides have diverged wildly. Israel claims that it acted in self-defence against a group of “violent extremists” linked to al-Qaeda and Hamas, intent on breaching the military blockade of Gaza.
The activists say they were frightened for their lives after being shot at from helicopters in the dark of night, their raised white flag ignored. They say Israel’s attack on their ship in international waters was unexpected and disproportionate.
Examining claim and counter claim, A Vourney of Life and Death includes an exclusive interview with the captain of the Mavi Marmara, those on board the ships and previously unseen footage.
Israeli MK Haneen Zuabi gives eyewitness account of flotilla attack
June 14th, 2010 • Awareness, News
Tags: freedom flotilla
Freedom Flotilla Updates…
May 29th, 2010 • Action, Awareness, Events, News
Tags: boat convoy, freedom flotilla, gaza
Get links to the latest updates at WitnessGaza.com & on our Twitter @ReadingPSC…
FLOTILLA IS UNDER THREAT BE READY TO CALL THE MEDIA & MPs
Please PHONE the BBC and SKY and ask them WHY there has been no coverage (or where is their coverage) of the huge story of the Freedom Flotilla which has 28 British on board and is being threatened by israel.
BBC 020 862 491 11 & SKY 020 770 530 00
Check our full media & government directory here…
- includes TV, MPs, Newspapers and all local BBC radio stations.
Flotilla Sets Sail, Israel’s PR Machine Takes Flight
May 28th, 2010 • Awareness, News
Tags: aid, aje, flotilla, gaza, PR, sherine tadros, ships
Labour Party Reply to Our Open Letter to Reading’s PPCs
May 6th, 2010 • Awareness, News
Tags: election, ge2010, general election 2010, labour party, open letter, ppc, prospective parliamentary candidates, reading
From Anneliese Dodds, Labour Party candidate for Reading East:
Date: 3 May 2010 11:30
Thank you for your email and my apologies for the delay in response.
I have long been concerned about the situation in Palestine, and helped organise a vigil last year to commemorate all those who had lost their lives in the Israeli attacks on Gaza, which of course demonstrated a horrendously disproportionate death toll between Palestinian and Israeli victims of the violence.
I think I probably on balance agree with all the points in the statement, definitely with 1-3 and number 6. I should however be open with you and let you know that I have not been a supporter of my own trade union’s approach to this issue (AUT/UCU), which has involved (in the past albeit not now) in trying to propagate a ban on the employment of Israeli staff in universities as a protest against the violence against and oppression of Palestine. In my experience many Israeli expats are the most vociferous opponents of their regime, and while bans on goods may be acceptable as a form of boycott, I am unwilling to see the prevention of free circulation of people who are often critics of the more hard-line elements within the Israeli regime.
Thank you again for raising this matter with me. Please, do not hesitate to contact me again should you ever wish to raise any other issues.
Best wishes,
Anneliese
Green Party Reply to Our Open Letter to Reading’s PPCs
May 6th, 2010 • Awareness, News
Tags: election, ge2010, general election 2010, green party, open letter, ppc, prospective parliamentary candidates, reading
From Rob White, Green Party candidate for Reading East and Park Ward
Date: 1 May 2010 19:14
Thanks for your e-mail. I am happy to signup to all of your pledges to end the injustice in Palestine.
For more information about the Green Party see our manifesto:
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/policies.html
If you would like to get involved with the Green Party elections campaign in Reading East — more decent affordable housing, tackling crime and antisocial behaviour and better public transport walking and cycling facilities — and Park Ward — at the last local elections we were just 20 votes from getting our first councillor in Reading — or if you would like to be added to our monthly e-mail newsletter please get in contact.
Fair is worth fighting for!
Best wishes
Rob WhiteGreen Party candidate for Reading East and Park Ward
http://www.readinggreenparty.org.uk
http://www.facebook.com/robforeast
http://bloggyblanc.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/bobbyblanc
http://uk.linkedin.com/in/bobbyblanc
0118 9667183 or 0798 5923938
22 Cumberland Road, Reading, RG1 3LB.
Liberal Democrat Reply to Our Open Letter to Reading’s PPCs
May 6th, 2010 • Awareness, News
Tags: election, ge2010, general election 2010, liberal democrats, open letter, ppc, prospective parliamentary candidates, reading
From Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat Party candidate for Reading East:
Date: 29 April 2010 10:24
Thank you for getting in touch with me on a subject that is close to my heart, and one on which I want to speak out in public if elected.
I am a founder member of the Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, and have worked closely with them to promote the Palestinian cause that is articulated more frequently by ourselves than by the other main parties.
I was privileged to be asked to speak at the Pakistan Community Centre in January 2009 during the Gaza crisis, I condemned without equivocation Israel’s murderous actions in Gaza at that time, as well as the blockade and the wider repression of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. I attended local Gaza vigils. I strongly supported Nick Clegg when he called for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement – the only political party leader to do so. I am a Patron of the Friends of Wadi Fuqeen (http://wadifuqeenfriends.com/) and support their fundraising activities locally.
In Reading Borough Council last year, I successfully moved an amendment to a motion on Gaza that makes explicit Reading’s support for the Palestinian cause, and condemns Israeli brutality and collective punishment towards the Occupied Territories. A report can be read at: http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2043883_strong_emotions_on_gaza_conflict
I feel passionately that it is high time the Israeli Government was brought to book for its repeated breaches of international law. As Reading East’s MP I would stand up to the hysteria of sections of the pro-Israel lobby and point out that it is in the interests of friends of Israel, as well as friends of Palestine, to see peace and justice in the Occupied Territories. I want to see an international lead taken by a British Government that has been shamefully weak to end the illegal building of settlements, end the siege and end the occupation.
Sometimes issues are too important to be left to others, especially when it is necessary to stand up to bullies. This is one of them.
I wholeheartedly agree with all pledge commitments the and sign up to them.
I hope this helps – if you’re in any doubt about anything I have said or want to raise anything else with me, then please let me know.
Yours sincerely
Gareth Epps
Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Reading East
Printed by Parkglobe Consultants Limited, Avenue House, Chichester, West Sussex,
PO19 1ES. Published and promoted by Coling Lawley, 26 Farriers Close, Woodley RG5 3DD.Best wishes
Gareth Epps
Liberal Democrat councillor for Katesgrove wardPlease note that my phone number has changed – it is now 0118 327 8582.
Eight Days in Palestine – Day 8
May 2nd, 2010 • Awareness, Film & Documentary
Tags: 8 days, checkpoints, diary, journey, liverpool, nablus, palestine, road trip, ted, west bank
A new feature with excerpts from a Diary by “Ted from Liverpool”.
Day 8 – Dead Sea to Tel Aviv Airport
This is about travel – we 4 men in a Ford Transit bus – the colour of licence plates identify the nationality of the driver, blue for Israeli, yellow or white for Palestinians. This makes all vehicles readily identifiable to the police and army. When we were nearing the Dead Sea, 400 metres below sea level, we were overtaken by an unmarked car, executive class, something like a Vauxhall Omega. This car pulled in, in front of us, and we then proceeded at a more leisurely pace behind the car and a large goods vehicle in front of that. We were late and our driver saw an opportunity to overtake and did so – we could see it was a bit dodgy as the road unaccountably narrowed just then – but he did it. The driver of the unmarked car, which turned out to be an Israeli policeman, overtook us and flagged us down. Our driver got out and having spoken to the policeman was fined 500 shekels.
This apparently is a routine procedure, not performed upon Israelis, perhaps part of the morale sapping routine – and the creation of income. Abed later asked for a whip round for the driver and we having put up 450 shekels suggested that the driver should pay something as he had been over-ambitious. Abed replied that the driver could ill afford even that and that his brother had been killed by the Israelis – so we put up the full amount, the equivalent of about £90 for a bit of dodgy overtaking.
The day was very warm, something like 350, and we much enjoyed our soak in the Dead Sea. Like an idiot Ted plunged into the sea and swallowed some water and got some in his eyes. I had never tasted anything quite so salty and the salt in my eyes was akin to teargas. Beth was kind enough to pour water from her bottle onto my forehead and this washed out the salt. The women had caked themselves in the mud from the sea bottom and they looked gorgeous – when I got the salt out of my eyes.
Back at Friendship House we were told to be ready to leave at 3.30 although the coach driver had wanted to leave for Tel Aviv at 3pm and was very restive, if not angry. It was clear why when we got to the town of Aizaria where the traffic snarl-up was horrendous – the result of a lack of traffic lights or any traffic control was very clear. However, with great skill, our driver who was also an ambulance driver (he also had been in prison) weaved his way through the traffic and across traffic lanes to find a quiet route and we arrived at Ben Gurion airport in good time.
It was fortunate that we were in good time as our passage through immigration was tortuously slow. In the initial queue we were each asked where we had been and where we had stayed and our passports temporarily taken away – our bags were then given a sticker. On arrival at the usual belt-drive through a scanner our bags went through and we followed them to a rectangular area of desks, inside which were an array of x-ray and other machines, with their operatives. Rob, who is tall and lean and 29 years old was told to put his bags on the desks when a lengthy period of taking out all his clothes, cameras and laptop followed. Ted put his bags on the desk but was told, ‘no need’. Apparently our stickers showed a number – in Ted’s case ‘2’ and in Rob’s case ‘6’. A minute search of all of Rob’s belongings ensued, followed by his being taken away for a strip search – down to his underpants – it took 2 hours from entry into the first queue to our sitting down to a coffee inside the airport. The women of our party fared even worse, all 14 of them – their ages ranging from 22 to 65 – were put through the same rigorous procedure as Rob, but in their case taking 2¾ hours; we later found they all had a ‘6’ sticker on their bags.
Why the rigour – in the case of Ted who got away scott-free, it may have been his age of 74 – in the case of Rob, well he was of an age and strength to be a terrorist? But was anyone less likely to be so than our group of women – they did go through as a group who had attended a Women’s Conference on the West Bank and this was perhaps their undoing. We two men had been told to have no connection with the women at the airport and had been careful not to claim to have stayed in the West Bank.
It was good to get on a BMI flight home and return to Heathrow with no fuss or harassment – but what an adventure.
