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Knesset set to pass anti-democratic law making it illegal to call for a boycott of the Israeli state

From Mondoweiss What will those modern-day McCarthys in the Israeli Knesset think up next? By now we’ve all become accustomed to the creepy, liberty-limiting laws emerging every few months or so from the right-wing (though hardly always right-wing) precincts of the Israeli Knesset. I’m thinking, of course, of the Nakba law, the Loyalty Oath law, the law requiring NGO’s to declare their sources of funding, and so on and so on and so on. But the last few weeks have seen a flurry of anti-Democratic efforts that have been impressive even by the current Knesset’s standards. There was the bill proposed earlier this month by four right-wing members of Knesset that would give the government the power to disband existing NGOs and refuse to register new ones if they “deny the Jewish character of the State” – a clear jab at the country’s Arab population. More recently, on Sunday, two proposals were presented to the Ministerial Legislation Committee, each designed to limit the amount of money “pol

Texas governor wants to jail holocaust survivor and Alice Walker for taking letters to Gaza

(pic: Auschwitz survivor and pro-Palestine activist Hedy Epstein is being threatened with a three-year prison sentence by Texas governor Rick Perry) The state of Texas is in the habit of jailing black people and, like the rest of the Deep South, has never been too keen on Jewish people either (yes, we remember the US civil rights movement), which partly explains the truly sickening remarks of the governor of that state who is demanding the incarceration of any US citizen who sails to Gaza with the flotilla. Not a word about Israel's illegal blockade and the continuing collective punishment of 1.5 million people. Story below from the Washington Post AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Rick Perry urged the U.S. attorney general to take action Wednesday against Americans who plan to take part in a pro-Palestinian protest by sailing to the Gaza Strip to challenge an Israeli naval blockade. Perry wrote that he had information that American citizens were aboard two U.S.-flagged ships that plan to

US boat to sail 'imminently' despite Netanyahu's baseless claims about 'efforts to smuggle missiles'

(pic: US boat, The Audacity of Hope, awaits departure in Greek dock as part of Gaza-bound international flotilla [MaanImages/Mya Gu) ATHENS, Greece ( Ma'an ) -- Organizers of a US boat participating in the Gaza-bound flotilla said Thursday afternoon that they hoped to sail "very very soon," with some expecting an immanent departure. Speaking to reporters and passengers alongside the ship, organizer Anne Wright said "we will sail to challenge the naval blockade of Gaza ,we have ten ships, we have passengers aged 22-87 ... we have carpenters, retirees, acupuncturists; these are the people that the state of Israel fears." Organizers stressed, following a press inspection of the ship, that the 3,000 letters from Americans to the Palestinians in Gaza were not "very dangerous cargo." more Meanwhile Netanyahu continues with his fantastical rants in his very own parallel universe: Speaking at IAF pilot's graduation, Netanyahu praises int'l leaders fo

Sabotage of Irish Ship to Gaza M.V. Saoirse in Turkey 'an act of international terrorism'

Sabotage of M.V. Saoirse in Turkey 'an act of international terrorism' The Irish-owned ship, the MV Saoirse, that was meant to take part in Freedom Flotilla 2 has been sabotaged in a dangerous manner in the Turkish coastal town of Göcek, where it had been at berth for the past few weeks. Visual evidence of the undership sabotage, which was carried out by divers, will be presented today at a press conference in Dublin at 11am in Buswell's Hotel. Photographs and video footage of the damage are available from the Irish Ship to Gaza campaign . Concerns for the boat first emerged on Monday evening following a short trip near the Göcek marina and an inspection was carried out by divers and by skipper Shane Dillon on Tuesday morning. Evidence was found that the shaft of the starboard propeller has been interfered with and it was decided to take the boat out of the water for a further visual inspection. On Wednesday, the boat was put on land at a local shipyard and the extent of th

US Senate passes resolution to stop aid to Palestinians if UN statehood vote goes ahead

Just in case anyone was under the misguided impression that the US is an honest broker in the Middle East, this news from the US Senate should clear up the confusion: The United States Senate has passed a resolution threatening to suspend financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority if its leaders "persist in efforts to circumvent direct negotiations by turning to the United Nations or other international bodies,” and called on U.S. President Barack Obama to veto a UN vote on unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. “Palestinian efforts to gain recognition of a state outside direct negotiations demonstrates absence of a good faith commitment to peace negotiations, and will have implications for continued United States aid,” the resolution declares. more So Palestinians must recognise an Israeli state but the Palestinians themselves are not even allowed to have even a theoretical one, which is all that a UN resolution in practice will mean, because, of course, Israel sti

189 dunums of Palestinian land south of Nablus seized as 'state property' by Israel

NABLUS, ( PIC )-- Israeli authorities have notified the residents of the Palestinian Qaryut village south of Nablus that they would seize 189 dunums of local farmland, said West Bank Jewish settlement official Ghassan Daghlas. The official added that the authorities have restricted entry of the land and have declared it state property. more

Jordanians buy $800,000 boat for Gaza flotilla - carrying medical aid and construction material

Some really good news. Jordanian activists now have a boat ready to join the flotilla. AMMAN, Jun 29, 2011 ( AFP ) - Arab activists have purchased a boat to join a Gaza-bound aid flotilla aimed at breaking Israel's five-year blockade on the Palestinian territory, a leading Jordanian unionist said on Wednesday. "Arab contributors have bought in Greece a 560,000-euro ($805,000) boat that can take up to 200 passengers to join the aid flotilla to the Gaza Strip," Wael Saqqa, former head of the Jordan engineers' union, told AFP. "The boat has been registered under the name of Nur company, established for the purpose of purchasing the boat," said Saqqa, adding 35 Jordanian activists would join the flotilla. The vessel was expected to set sail for Gaza on Thursday, along with other ships. "But it might be delayed because there is a general strike in Greek ports," Saqqa said, adding the boat would carry medical aid and construction material. more

Irish ship to Gaza not able to join flotilla due to extensive sabotage by Israeli agents

From Irish Ship to gaza Terrible news has reached us in the early hours of Thursday – the Irish Ship To Gaza, MV Saoirse, has been SABOTAGED, presumably by agents of Israel. The damage is extensive, and indeed, if it had gone undetected apparently may have been lıfe-threatenıng if the ship had been at sea. This is an unacceptable act of aggression against an Irish vessel (which is sovereign Irish territory), against the Freedom Flotilla, and most importantly against the people of Palestine which this flotilla was intending to reach in an act of humanitarian solidarity. Full details of the extent of the sabotage, including photos and video of the damage will be made available to the press later today. The Irish Ship To Gaza have called an EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION for tomorrow in response to this outrageous act. We are calling on people to assemble at 6pm at the Spire in O’Connell Street. From there we will march to the Israeli Embassy and stage an overnight sit-in outside (so bring sleep

Israel withdraws phone calls, conjugal visits, education and other rights from Palestinian prisoners

From Arab News RAMALLAH: The Israeli Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch on Wednesday announced that Israel will start revoking the Palestinian prisoners’ privileges. The Israeli Channel 10 television quoted Aharonovitch as saying that the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) will bar the prisoners from enrolling in university studies. Israel holds some 6,700 Palestinian prisoners in 23 jails and detention camps. He added that the IPS will block the cellular reception in jails to prevent Hamas prisoners from communicating with the movement’s prisoners in other Israeli jails and with the Hamas leaders in Gaza Strip. The minister added that the prisoners will not have the right to conjugal visits or vacations. According to the minister, the measures are part of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to take away prisoners’ privileges in order to pressure Hamas into releasing kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is still held in Hamas captivity since June 2006

Haaretz columnist pleads with his government to allow flotilla to proceed to Gaza

Ex IDF medic Bradley Burston, writing in Haaretz , pleads with Netanyahu and Barak to let the flotilla reach Gaza. Unfortunately his pleas are likely to fall on deaf ears. The Israelis are being led by fools. Once again, as it did a year ago, in making a decision to fight the flotilla, Israel is defending not itself, but the siege. This, at the expense of its own international standing, at the expense of its very freedom to defend itself. There is nearly nothing which more effectively delegitimizes Israel - and makes Israel look more like an uncaring blockhead state - than does the siege of Gaza. The siege benefits Hamas in a thousand ways and Israel in none. But there is one thing that does the work of delegitimization even better: attacking civilians in order to protect the siege. Enter the 21st century. Before it's too late. You're not young commandos anymore. Grow up. Do your nation a favor - act your age. The flotilla is not a terrorist fleet. It is not an arms shipment. T

US Boat to Gaza invites Greek and international media to inspect Audacity of Hope

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 29, 2011 Audacity Invites Media to Inspect   Boat and Passengers "We're Sulfur-Free and Ready to Sail" Passengers on the U.S. Boat to Gaza, The Audacity of Hope, invite Greek and international media to inspect The Audacity of Hope at 3 pm Athens time on Thursday, June 30, in the town of Perama (next to Piraeus), 42 Democratis.   The entire boat will be open for view, photography, and video. The captain, crew, and passengers on the boat will be available for interviews and inspection. The cargo of the ship - 3,000 letters from Americans to the people of Gaza - will also be available for view, photographs, and video. Everything that will be on the boat when it sets sail, including food and passengers' personal medications for use during their voyage, will be available for inspection.   The Audacity of Hope was inspected by Greek officials on Monday, June 27 after a complaint was lodged by an Israeli group that the vessel was not seaworthy. W

Sabotage suspected on second flotilla vessel - Irish boat's propellor damaged

(pic: Demo in Dublin to support of Irish Ship to Gaza) ATHENS — Pro-Palestinian activists hoping to draw international attention to Gaza's plight faced further setbacks Wednesday, as reports a second boat had been "sabotaged" pushed the departure back to the weekend at the earliest. Frustrated volunteers for the Gaza-bound flotilla milled helplessly around in Athens as organisers also admitted they were making little headway with the Greek government over getting the necessary permission to set sail. "The Irish boat has a problem with its propeller, we don't know yet how serious it is, but we believe it may have been sabotaged," said flotilla coordinator Claude Leostic. The problem with the "Saoirse" (Gaelic for freedom) -- one of 10 vessels trying to leaving the Greek port of Piraeus -- followed Monday's news that the propeller on the "Juliano" boat, belonging to Swedish activists, had been cut. more Read a report on the Dublin prote

Gaza's children aim for new Kite flying world record at UNRWA summer games

GAZA ( Ma'an ) -- More than three thousand students from the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees are expected to break the first of four Guinness world records Thursday as part of a summer games program organized by UNRWA. The games, a six week recreational program now in its fifth year, are organized by the UN agency at the behest of the Gazan population and over a quarter of a million children participate, a statement by UNRWA said. The world records being attempted include the largest amount of people flying large parachutes from the ground, which was set last year at 1,547. The event will be held at the Khan Younis stadium. “We intend to double the previous record”, said UNRWA spokesman, Chris Gunness. “If kids in Gaza are given half the chance, free from the constraints of this counter-productive blockade, they would show their full potential and be number one in the world. These records will put the spotlight on the world’s only community of hundreds of thousands of fenc

Israeli cabinet ministers break ranks, accusing army and Netanyahu of 'spin' over flotilla threat

Maan highlights a report in the hebrew-language daily Maariv that some cabinet ministers are accusing the army and Netanyahu of 'spin' over the threat posed by the flotilla. From Maan JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Several Israeli ministers have accused the army of "spin" over its claims that activists on board a Gaza-bound flotilla plan to harm Israeli soldiers, Maariv newspaper reported on Wednesday. The paper quoted several unnamed members of Israel's security cabinet as saying the claims were "media spin" and "public relations hysteria." On Monday, Israeli military spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovitz said there were "radical elements" among the activists participating in the sea convoy, including some carrying "dangerous incendiary chemicals." But security cabinet ministers told Maariv they were given no such information when they were briefed on the flotilla this week, and even accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Washington Post takes apart Israel's dishonest and desperate efforts to stop Freedom Flotilla II

From the Washington Post Participants in the flotilla — expected to be made up of 10 ships with pro-Palestinian activists from various nations, including a group from the United States with the prominent American author Alice Walker — have insisted that they will react nonviolently to any Israeli attempt to intercept them. Israel has said that it will not allow the ships to reach Gaza and that it will use force if necessary. Israeli officials say the naval blockade of Gaza is meant to prevent the smuggling of weapons into the territory, which is controlled by the militant Islamic group Hamas. Dror Feiler, an Israeli-born activist from Sweden and an organizer of the flotilla, dismissed the reports of violent intent in an interview Tuesday on Israeli army radio. “We have no intention of confronting anyone,” he said. “All our passengers sign a declaration of nonviolence. We are training for nonviolence, to avoid a repetition of what happened last time. “The state of Israel, with all its a

Israeli parliament passes draft of law to force Palestinians to pay cost of demolition of their own homes

From IMEMC A Committee of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) passed a first draft of a law that will require that Palestinians whose homes are destroyed by Israeli forces pay the Israeli government for the demolition costs. The law will now be passed to the full Knesset for a final reading, where it is expected to pass due to the current makeup of the Knesset. Since 1967, Israeli forces have demolished 24,813 Palestinian homes. 90% of these homes were destroyed for 'administrative' reasons – because they either lacked a permit or were in an area designated for expansion by the Israeli military. No permits have been issued by Israeli authorities for Palestinian construction in the Occupied Territories since 1967. The remaining 10% of the demolitions have been 'punitive' demolitions of the homes of Palestinians accused of attacking Israel, or of their families' homes. In the first five months of 2011, Israeli forces demolished more Palestinian homes than in the entire y

Video: footage of the sabotaged propeller axel of the Juliano which is now undergoing repairs

A passenger boat [the Swedish/Norwegian/Greek boat called the Juliano - iGaza] aiming to participate in the Freedom Flotilla II - Stay Human mission, was sabotaged on Monday, June 27. In this video, Captain Thodoris Boukas explains about the discovery of the sabotage, and also footage from the examination by diver Yorgos Vardakas can be seen.

Leader of main Palestinian civic organisation in Israel detained in UK after overnight raid

The UK government appears to confuse anything with 'Islamic' in the name to be connected to terrorism. He must be freed now. From the Guardian Sheikh Raed Salah, a leading Palestinian activist, has been detained in London amid reports that he is banned from the UK Salah, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, was detained on Tuesday night by police. The home secretary, Theresa May, said officials from the UK Border Agency were taking steps to remove Salah from the country. She said an investigation had been launched into how he managed to get into the UK. Sarah Colborne, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), insisted that Salah was the leader of a legitimate political organisation. He rejected all forms of racism, including anti-semitism, she said. more His solicitor, Farooq Bajwa, said Salah had "no knowledge" of a travel ban and had made "no attempt" to conceal his identity when he entered Britain. "Sheikh Raed Salah is the leade

Video: Gaza activists reject IDF's ludicrous claims of preparation for 'chemical attack'

Russia Today - Israel says an international aid flotilla is carrying chemical weapons which could be used on soldiers attempting to stop it reaching Gaza. The Israeli Defence Force has been ordered to prevent the 10 ships from making it to the Palestinian territories. For more on this I'm joined by Itamar Shapira from Jerusalem, who was on a similar aid flotilla last year. Press release below from US Boat to Gaza: Athens: Passengers on the U.S. Boat to Gaza rejected as ludicrous and provocative an unsubstantiated accusation by the Israeli Army that passengers in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla plan to kill IDF soldiers with chemical weapons. The Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday an Israeli Defense Forces allegation that some passengers on the flotilla had prepared sacks of sulfur which they planned to pour on Israeli soldiers. "Passengers on the U.S. boat have long histories of responding to injustice nonviolently and peacefully. Every participant in the flotilla has signed a pled

French and Irish ships set sail for rendevous point in international waters near Crete

(pic: Irish ship to Gaza - MV Saoirse [Freedom]) If all goes to plan the flotilla is expected to arrive on the Gaza coast on Sunday. From Haaretz Two ships participating in the flotilla to Gaza have already set sail toward the flotilla's scheduled meeting place in international waters. The French ship "Dignity" and the Irish ship "Freedom" do not intend on anchoring before reaching the meeting point at sea, but it is still unclear how long they will be waiting for the rest of the ships, some of which were said to be sabotaged. Gaza flotilla ship - Ship Gaza Sweden - June 28 2011 On Monday, the propeller of the Greek-Swedish ship "Juliano" was found broken, and Gaza flotilla organizers said they believed it was deliberate sabotage by Israel. It is still unclear how long it will take to fix the problem to allow the ship to set sail. Moreover, two Port Authority inspectors appeared at the Greek port of Piraeus on Monday and asked to conduct a surprise in

First African convoy to Gaza to reach Gaza by end of July

From Press TV The first overland African convoy has set out for the impoverished Gaza Strip, carrying humanitarian relief aid to the besieged coastal sliver. The convoy, comprising 21 activists and a dozen vehicles, carries much needed aid that include medical supplies, basic essentials, milk powder, generators and materials to build 10 houses, a Press TV correspondent reports. Starting the road trip from the South African city of Durban, the aid convoy is expected to reach Gaza by the end of July. “Today we stand here in total, unconditional, universal support of this initiative. God bless you as you travel to the land and reach the dear people of Palestine,” said Michael Abrahams of Durban mayor's office. All of the vehicles will be donated to the Gaza municipality. However, Egyptian authorities have stated that they will not allow the convoy onto Egyptian thoroughfares. The organizers of the convoy said the aim was not only to take aid to Gaza, but also to raise awareness across

Freedom Flotilla 2 to set sail from Crete on Thursday or Friday to break Gaza blockade

From Ahram Online Pro-Palestinian activists from 22 countries plan to set sail in an international flotilla for Gaza from the coast of Crete on Thursday or Friday, organisers said Monday. ¨Thursday or Friday, nine or 10 boats should meet up in the Libyan Gulf,¨ Vaguelis Pissias, one of the Greek organisers of the flotilla, said at a press conference with representatives from the international organisations involved. ¨We really hope that despite the pressure from Israel and other countries, the Greek authorities are not going to stop us leaving," he added. Organisers of the ¨Freedom flotilla¨ complained that the Greek authorities were creating ¨administrative obstacles¨ amid pressure from Israel to stop the campaigners from attempting to defy the five-year blockade of the Gaza Strip. The departure has also been complicated by local politics, with transport strikes planned for this week as frustrated Greeks protest against harsh austerity reforms being voted on by the government of

Outrage as US government moves to criminalize Palestine solidarity

From Electronic Intifada US government moves to criminalize Palestine solidarity Submitted by maureen on Mon, 06/27/2011 - 18:34 The Stream - FBI Raids Target U.S. Activists - Maureen Clare Murphy In an op-ed published by Al Jazeera English today , I write about the US government’s attempts to criminalize the Palestine solidarity activists — including the State Department’s threats to prosecute activists involved with the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. I also appeared on Al Jazeera English’s The Stream today to discuss FBI raids and subpoenas targeting activists . As I write in the op-ed, “I am a Palestine solidarity activist in the US , and one of 23 US citizens who have been issued with a subpoena to appear before a federal grand jury as part of what the government has said is an investigation into violations of the laws banning material support to foreign ‘terrorist organisati

Video: Chicano-Jewish American Gabriel Schivone on why he's sailing with the Gaza flotilla

Passenger Gabriel Schivone talks about why he is going aboard the US Boat to Gaza with the Stay Human Flotilla at the end of the month. Bio: Gabriel Matthew Schivone is a Chicano-Jewish American and undergraduate student who was born in Tucson, Arizona. He is a volunteer with the humanitarian/migrant-rights organization, No More Deaths/No Más Muertes, which works to end death and suffering on the US/Mexico border and throughout Arizona. Gabe is also coordinator of AZ Jewish Voice for Peace. He draws strength and resolve to join Flotilla II from, among other areas, the marvelous words of Henry Thoreau: "Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence. A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority—it is not even a minority then—but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight."

Four Hamas MPs arrested on West Bank near Hebron and 20 Ramallah PFLP activists

From AFP NABLUS, Palestinian Territories — Israeli troops on Tuesday arrested four Hamas MPs in the northern West Bank, Palestinian security sources and officials from the Islamist group said. Three of them were arrested in the early hours in the northern city of Nablus, while a fourth was picked up in Salfit, a town some 15 kilometres (nine miles) further south, they said. In Nablus, troops arrested three MPs -- Nawaf Amer, who is also a journalist for the Al-Quds television channel, Fuad Khofash, director of the Ahrar centre for prisoners and human rights, and Firas Jarrar, a former prisoner. And in Salfit, they picked up local MP Nasser Abdel Jawwad. The army had no immediate comment on the arrests, which bring to 17 the number of Hamas parliamentarians detained by Israeli troops over the past eight months. more ...and 20 Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine members also arrested: From Maan JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israel's main security agency has reportedly arrested m

Israel caught out spreading fake video to smear Gaza Freedom Flotilla 2 activists

(pic: What is Netanyahu aide Guy Seemann's role in the anti-flotilla pinkwashing hoax, asks Max Blumenthal) It's now official: the Israeli government are a bunch of liars. Read on From Haaretz Did the Prime Minister’s office distribute a fake anti-flotilla video? This is exactly what some American bloggers have been claiming, after probing a video that was uploaded to YouTube on Sunday. The video, nearly three minutes long, featured a young man who called himself Marc and claimed to be a gay and human rights activist. The man recounted a story in which he asked the organizers of the upcoming Gaza flotilla to join their mission, and claimed that his request was allegedly denied on the grounds that participation of the gay and lesbian group with which he was affiliated would not serve the flotilla’s “interests.” “Marc” explained in the video that he understood why his request was denied only after he researched the people organizing the aid flotilla and found that they had strong

Israel makes absurd claim that nonviolent activists plan to attack commandos with chemicals

Israel's despicable campaign of threats and intimidation continues apace. Now they are claiming nonviolent activists are planning to attack IDF soldiers with chemicals. This is a particularly clumsy way of trying to build a narrative around the spurious notion of poor little Israeli commandos given no choice but to kill in order to defend themselves. It is a lie, and organisers are asking the Israeli military to identify the persons supposedly intent on violence so that they can be excluded from the flotilla. No response has been forthcoming from the misnamed Israeli Defence Forces. Let's remind ourselves that it was the IDF that did all the killing a year ago, and the world beyond Tel Aviv and the White House knows it. From Haaretz The organizer of the Gaza-bound flotilla is dismissed Tuesday Israeli allegations that extremists aboard the ships plan to harm Israeli soldiers who would be dispatched to stop them. Dror Feiler says the hundreds of people planning to sail soon in a

Hamas refused German mediator's prisoner-swap deal because of unacceptable Israeli conditions

DAMASCUS, ( PIC )-- Deputy political bureau chairman of Hamas Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk has said that his movement rejected the “unjust offer” tabled by the German "mediator" on the prisoners’ exchange deal because he bowed to Israeli occupation conditions. He told the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper published on Monday that Gerhard Conrad adopted the Israeli occupation government’s conditions, which he described as “unjust and unfair”. He added that the Israeli occupation's stringent conditions are to be expected but for the German middleman to adopt such a position is “unacceptable”. Abu Marzouk stressed that there would be no return to the German mediator because he did not assume his role properly and failed. The Hamas leader said that the prisoner exchange deal was now in the hands of Egypt, emphasising that his movement was interested in concluding the deal but in accordance with national, honorable conditions. Meanwhile, an unidentified Egyptian source told the same p

Scandinavian/Greek flotilla boat Juliano has propellor axel cut in act of sabotage, repairs underway

From the Christian Science Monitor A ship jointly owned by Swedish, Greek, and Norwegian activists hoping to join a flotilla of activist vessels challenging Israel's economic blockade of Gaza, had its propeller cut while in Athen's harbor today. A spokesman contacted by the Monitor said that the damage was a deliberate act of sabotage. Israel and its allies have been working hard to head off the planned flotilla, which is hoping to enter the waters off Gaza in the next week. Col. (ret) Ann Wright, who's organizing a US vessel named the Audacity of Hope for the flotilla, says her ship has been detained in Athens on spurious charges that it's not seaworthy. She says that charge was made by an Israeli legal group. Now the Juliano is held up. Mikael Löfgren, a spokesman for Ship to Gaza Sweden, says the damage was discovered at 6:30 in the evening Athens time today, and that divers probably cut the propeller in the past 24 hours. "The reports I'm receiving is that

Video report: Democracy Now exclusive from Greece - 'We are eager to get to Gaza'

Up to 50 Americans are set to sail from a Greek port on a U.S.-flagged ship that is part of an international flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and letters of support for Gaza’s 1.5 million Palestinian residents. Its fate is now in limbo under the weight of U.S.-Israeli pressure and Greece’s economic turmoil. Israel insists it will enforce its blockade on Gaza, which it says is aimed at stopping weapons from reaching the Hamas government. “The Israelis have a right to interdict arms traffic. We are bearing letters,” says Ray McGovern, former Senior CIA analyst and passenger on the U.S. aid ship. “How can these letters be considered a threat to security of Israel?” Democracy Now! producer Aaron Maté is in Athens to cover the journey of The Audacity of Hope, named after President Obama’s best-selling book. He and fellow producer, Hany Massoud, are the only journalists with the U.S. delegation. They file this exclusive report .

Video: Israel's intensive exploitation of resources aimed at de facto annexation of the Jordan valley

The Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea area contains the largest land reserves in the West Bank. The area covers 1.6 million dunams, which constitute 28.8 percent of the West Bank. Sixty-five thousand Palestinians, live in 29 communities, and an estimated additional 15,000 Palestinians reside in dozens of small Beduin communities. Some 9,400 settlers live in the 37 settlements (including seven outposts) in the area. Israel has instituted in this area a regime that intensively exploits its resources, to an extent greater than elsewhere in the West Bank, and which demonstrates its intention: de facto annexation of the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea area to the State of Israel. From B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories

Dublin Demos: End the siege, let the flotilla through - Riverdance, don't dance for Israeli apartheid

The Irish Ship to Gaza Campaign have organised a demonstration in support of Freedom Flotilla 2 - Stay Human. - Assemble: Tuesday 28 June 6.00pm at Central Bank Plaza, Dame St, Dublin 2 - March: Israeli Embassy, 122 Pembroke Rd - Via: The Gaiety Theatre (South King's St) where Riverdance will be opening. Riverdance is scheduled to perform a series of shows in Israel in September, and the IPSC are organising a protest outside the opening night in the Gaiety at 6.30pm. The march will link up with this protest and go out to the Israeli Embassy. The demonstration is supported by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Irish Anti-War Movement. Support the Irish Ship to Gaza and the second Freedom Flotilla! The Freedom Flotilla II, including the Irish Ship to Gaza and the Mavi Marmara (which attacked in open waters last year by the Israelis with the loss of nine lives), sets sail for Palestine on or about the 28 June, with desperately needed supplies and equipment. We are calling

Gaza, we are coming - despite pressure and threats of violence, flotilla will sail

(pic: Activists wave Palestinian flags onboard a ship named "Dignité - Al Karama" as it sails off the French island of Corsica on June 25 to join the new pro-Palestinian aid flotilla. Israel's security cabinet was to convene on Monday for a second day of discussions on how to stave off an international flotilla intending to breach the naval blockade of Gaza, local media said. [AFP/Murielle Kasprzak]) 27 June 2011 | FREEDOM FLOTILLA II Contact: Huwaida Arraf, Athens +30-694-781-5798 Greta Berlin, Athens +33 607 374 512 GAZA, WE ARE COMING - Despite pressure and threats of violence, flotilla will sail On Saturday, 25 June, the French boat, Dignity / Karama, left the port of l’ile Rousse in Corsica, France, to meet up with at least nine other vessels sailing to Gaza to challenge Israel’s illegal blockade. Israel’s best efforts to stop our boats at port, including pressure on governments, threats against insurance and communications companies, intimidation of human rights de

Israeli cabinet meets for second day as it struggles to find a response to looming flotilla crisis

JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel's security cabinet was to convene on Monday for a second day of discussions on how to stave off an international flotilla intending to breach the naval blockade of Gaza, local media said. On Sunday, ministers in the forum were told of the military's preparations for the 10-ship convoy which is expected to set sail from Greece later this week. "Yesterday, the ministers decided not to allow the ships to anchor in the Gaza Strip, although they will be allowed to unload their cargo at [the Israeli port] of Ashdod or the Egyptian port of El-Arish," Israeli army radio said. "If no weapons or ammunition are found, the cargo will be transferred in its entirety to Gaza." Public radio said Cairo had already agreed to allow the ships to dock at El-Arish, a Mediterranean port which lies some 50 kilometers west of Egypt's border with Gaza. more

Netanyahu backing down on threat to ban foreign journalists for 10 years

Netanyahu seems to be now claiming, unconvincingly, that he knew nothing about the threats made to journalists sailing on the flotilla ships. So used to bullying Palestinians with impunity, he and his government presumably thought they could do the same with the world's media. Now they are hopefully backing down, but to late to undo the further tarnishing of the standing of the settler state in the eyes of the world. ( Reuters ) - Israel said on Monday it was rethinking its threat to bar foreign journalists from entering the country for 10 years if they board a new aid flotilla that plans to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. "(Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) heard about it on the news and asked to re-examine this issue because it's problematic," Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon said, referring to Sunday's warning from Israel's Government Press Office (GPO). "I know the prime minister was as surprised as I was to hear this,"

Passengers of The Audacity of Hope now confident Greek authorities will allow US boat to leave

Contrary to reports in the Israeli press - see below - activists are confident all ships will indeed be sailing in the flotilla, including the US ship The Audacity of Hope. For Immediate Release – Monday, June 27, 2011 ( US Boat to Gaza ) U.S. Boat to Gaza Responds to Reports Israeli “Lawfare” Group Filed Complaint Delaying Departure of U.S. Boat Passengers on The Audacity of Hope Now Confident Greek Authorities Will Allow U.S. Boat to Leave Contact: In Athens: Donna Nevel 30-694-266-3713 In New York: Leslie Cagan 845-688-5646 Athens – Passengers on the U.S. Boat to Gaza, The Audacity of Hope , said news reports that an Israeli “lawfare” group, Shurat HaDin, is behind the complaint delaying the departure of the U.S. boat from Greece substantiate the Americans’ assertions that the complaint is frivolous. The passengers expressed confidence that Greek authorities will now quickly dispense with the complaint and allow The Audacity of Hope to sail. On Sunday, June 26, the

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Boycott of New York diamond dealer launched to protest settlement construction

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Support striking Palestinian quarry workers demanding their rights from Israeli employer

On 16 June, 35 Palestinian workers at Salit Quarries in Mishor Adumim (in area C, east of Jerusalem, in the Occupied West Bank) began a strike. The workers, organized with the independent union WAC-Ma'an, are demanding an end to exploitation and humiliation, and insist on signing a first collective agreement. Salit Quarries’ main customer is Readymix Industries (Israel). The total reliance of Salit Quarry on Readymix as their biggest and by far the most important customer puts responsibility on Readymix to make sure that their clients abides by labour laws and safeguards elementary rights for the workers of Salit. We call upon Readymix to urge the Salit management to terminate this unnecessary strike by signing the collective agreement with the workers and WAC-Ma’an. Click this protest link to send your message. The text of the message is as follows: I write to you to express my grave concern about the failure of Salit management to sign a collective agreement with the workers of