'Rachel Corrie' aims to reach Gaza

[SHTF2010]

'Rachel Corrie' aims to reach Gaza
Tuesday, June 1, 2010


The MV Rachel Corrie will go ahead with its attempt to deliver aid to Gaza despite yesterday’s attack by the Israeli navy on Gaza-bound ship the Mavi Marmara.

The cargo ship, which has four Irish nationals aboard, is due to arrive in Gazan waters tomorrow, a spokeswoman for the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign said.

The vessel became separated from the main aid flotilla after being delayed for 48 hours in Cyprus due to logistical reasons.

Nobel laureate Maireád Corrigan-Maguire, former UN assistant secretary general Denis Halliday, and husband and wife Derek and Jenny Graham are the Irish nationals on board.

Speaking from the ship today, Mr Graham said the vessel was carrying educational materials, construction materials and some toys. “Everything aboard has been inspected in Ireland,” he said. “We would hope to have safe passage through.”

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Pat Kenny , Ms Maguire said none of the aid ships carry arms and are "purely humanitarian". She said it was necessary for the vessel to complete its mission to assure the people of Gaza the world does care.

“Their port has been closed for over 40 years . . . 1.5 million people, it’s like the population of Northern Ireland, totally cut off from the world by this inhumane illegal siege of Gaza . . . their borders are closed . . . there is a shortage of medicines,” she said.

“Could you imagine if that happened to the 1.5 million people in Northern Ireland, the world would be absolutely crying out that this stop immediately."

Labour foreign affairs spokesman Michael D Higgins today called on the Government to demand safe passage for the MV Rachel Corrie .

In a statement, he said some of those on the vessel had contacted him earlier today and had stressed they wanted to avoid conflict and to be allowed unload their cargo to help the residents of the Gaza Strip.

"The Minister for Foreign Affairs . . . must make it clear that any assault on the Rachel Corrie would be regarded as a hostile act against Ireland and a clear breach of international law that could not be ignored by this country," Mr Higgins said.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0601/breaking33.html


Rachel Corrie vs Israel pt 2

http://www.friendskorner.com/forum/photopost/data/500/rachel_corrie.gif

[crazychicken]

I wish them GODSPEED.

It takes a big set of balls to "WALK IN THE VALLEY IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH" without even a fly swatter.

Damn I pray for intelligence to prevail.

CC

[JDRock]

I wish them GODSPEED.

It takes a big set of balls to "WALK IN THE VALLEY IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH" without even a fly swatter.

Damn I pray for intelligence to prevail.

CC



^^ what CC said...EXACTLY.

[MAGNES]

Martin: Irish citizens 'kidnapped' in international waters

Monday, May 31, 2010 - 06:09 PM

http://www.examiner.ie/breakingnews/ireland/martin-irish-citizens-kidnapped-in-international-waters-459870.html#ixzz0pYQM93Av


Israeli commandos gun down 19 peace activists in raid on Gaza ships with 28 Britons on board

By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 10:40 PM on 31st May 2010

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1282802/Israeli-forces-kill-19-people-carrying-aid-ship-Gaza.html

[MAGNES]

Rachel Corrie's Parents, Just Back From Israel, Say Trial Proves "Obstruction of Justice"


http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2010/04/rachel_corries_parents_say_tri.php


For those that missed the news, at some point in the trial
the Israeli Military stepped in and ordered people not to testify
regarding what orders were given to who ?

It was no accident , they killed her on purpose.


At the trial, a former military investigator--identified in court only by his first named, "Elad," because of security concerns-- testified that his investigation into the death of Palestinian rights activist and Olympia native Rachel Corrie was cut short on the order of his superiors.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz obtained army documents submitted as evidence, which describe how an army major walked into the interrogation room just as Elad was questioning the commander of the bulldozer that fatally crushed Corrie seven years ago.

The documents say that the major "told the witness he must not say anything or write anything, by a director order from GOC Southern Command."

[Quantum]

Satanic "Israel" will probably sink this one...the state terrorist agency, the IDF, said they will use "more force" next time.

[DMac]

Robert Naiman

Policy Director of Just Foreign Policy
Posted: June 1, 2010 10:59 AM


Rachel Corrie Continues Towards Gaza: Will Obama Let Israel Attack? (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/rachel-corrie-continues-t_b_596014.html)

How do you know when someone is serious about pursuing a strategy of nonviolent resistance until victory for justice is achieved?

When they refuse to turn back in the face of state violence. Damn the commandos. Full speed ahead.

The Irish Times reports:

The MV Rachel Corrie is ploughing ahead with its attempt to deliver aid to Gaza despite yesterday's attack by the Israeli navy on Gaza-bound ship the Mavi Marmara.

The cargo ship, which has four Irish nationals and five Malaysians aboard, is due to arrive in Gazan waters tomorrow, a spokeswoman for the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign said.

The vessel became separated from the main aid flotilla after being delayed for 48 hours in Cyprus due to logistical reasons.

Nobel laureate Maireád Corrigan-Maguire, former UN assistant secretary general Denis Halliday, and husband and wife Derek and Jenny Graham are the Irish nationals on board.

Speaking from the ship today, Mr Graham said the vessel was carrying educational materials, construction materials and some toys. "Everything aboard has been inspected in Ireland," he said. "We would hope to have safe passage through."

Might the Israeli military attack the Rachel Corrie, as the Israeli military attacked the Mavi Marmara? Would the Obama Administration permit such an Israeli attack on the Rachel Corrie, as the Obama Administration permitted the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara?

Note that in particular, under international law, an Israeli military attack on the Rachel Corrie in international waters would be an attack on the government and people of Ireland, because the Rachel Corrie is an Irish-flagged vessel. As former British Ambassador Craig Murray recently wrote: (http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2010/05/the_legal_posit.html)


To attack a foreign flagged vessel in international waters is illegal. It is not piracy, as the Israeli vessels carried a military commission. It is rather an act of illegal warfare.

Because the incident took place on the high seas does not mean however that international law is the only applicable law. The Law of the Sea is quite plain that, when an incident takes place on a ship on the high seas (outside anybody's territorial waters) the applicable law is that of the flag state of the ship on which the incident occurred. In legal terms, the Turkish ship was Turkish territory.

There are therefore two clear legal possibilities.

Possibility one is that the Israeli commandos were acting on behalf of the government of Israel in killing the activists on the ships. In that case Israel is in a position of war with Turkey, and the act falls under international jurisdiction as a war crime.

Possibility two is that, if the killings were not authorised Israeli military action, they were acts of murder under Turkish jurisdiction. If Israel does not consider itself in a position of war with Turkey, then it must hand over the commandos involved for trial in Turkey under Turkish law.

One presumes that Michael Higgins, the foreign affairs spokesman of the Irish Labour Party, is well aware of these considerations, and that his statement about Irish government policy noted in the Irish Times article should be read in this light:


Labour foreign affairs spokesman Michael D Higgins today called on the Government to demand safe passage for the MV Rachel Corrie.


In a statement, he said some of those on the vessel had contacted him earlier today and had stressed they wanted to avoid conflict and to be allowed unload their cargo to help the residents of the Gaza Strip.

"The Minister for Foreign Affairs . . . must make it clear that any assault on the Rachel Corrie would be regarded as a hostile act against Ireland and a clear breach of international law that could not be ignored by this country," Mr Higgins said.

In cities around the United States today, Americans will be protesting (http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/) against the Israeli government attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. While protesting the attack on the Mavi Marmara, Americans should demand that the Obama Administration act to guarantee safe passage for the Rachel Corrie to reach Gaza.

[Brent]

LOL "Will Obama let Israel Attack"

Thats rich.

Seriously though, anyone who before was saying the Obama Administration is hard on Israel would have to be delusional to continue saying that after this little number.

[Liquid]

This is a very brave thing to do. It's calling Israel to show their cards.

If the Rachel Corrie gets attacked, it shows the world, Israel's intentions.

If the Rachel Corrie makes the voyage safely, then Israel is admitting that their actions were wrong against the flotilla.

Godspeed, the world is watching your heroic actions, sailors.

[Libertarian_Guard]

I would be willing to bet gold coins against silver coins, that Israel stops the ship.

What is that? About 80 to 1 odds, guess I wouldn't get any takers, I would want bigger odds too, if I were on the other side of the bet.

[ximmy]

Israel ready to kill that brat Rachel Corrie again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK8Z3i3aTq4&feature=player_embedded

[Gypsybiker45]

I would be willing to bet gold coins against silver coins, that Israel stops the ship.

What is that? About 80 to 1 odds, guess I wouldn't get any takers, I would want bigger odds too, if I were on the other side of the bet.


I think they will stop it as well, but not with a helicopter raid this time, I think youll see patrol boats in broad daylight stopping this one. kid gloves as well.

[Liquid]

I think they will stop it as well, but not with a helicopter raid this time, I think youll see patrol boats in broad daylight stopping this one. kid gloves as well.


My bet, is that they will intercept the Rachel Corrie, and block her course. Then try and force her to turn around. The big question, is whether or not she will. If she triesto make headway, it will force the Israeli fleet to make a choice, to either let her continue...or to board her.

It they board her, all bets are off.

This is a very exciting situation to follow. Mad props to those brave souls. They are making one heckofa statement, by doing this.

[SHTF2010]

Israel ready to kill that brat Rachel Corrie again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK8Z3i3aTq4&feature=player_embedded



i'm sure Israel would like to forget the name of Rachel Corrie AND HER MURDER

the name of Rachel Corrie will haunt Israel forever

[SHTF2010]

Another Gaza showdown is in the offing
June 3, 2010


(CNN) -- The next showdown over Israel's naval blockade of Gaza could come as early as Friday as an Irish-owned ship filled with humanitarian aid steams into the region.

The Rachel Corrie, named for an American activist killed in Gaza several years ago, was expected to arrive late Friday or early Saturday off the coast of Gaza.

more . . .

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/03/gaza.raid/index.html

[Awoke]

I am going to pray for their safe passage.

[Large Sarge]

IDF sabotaged Rachel Corrie ship

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Irish-ship-Rachel-Corrie-was-sabotaged-by-Israeli-intelligence-says-report-95425309.html

[MNeagle]

Irish aid ship delays voyage to Gaza

(CNN) -- An Irish-owned aid ship headed for Gaza is delaying its voyage for a while to get equipped with video capabilities and satellite transmission to record what is happening at any given moment on the vessel, a Free Gaza Movement activist told CNN.

The MV Rachel Corrie, named for an American activist killed in Gaza several years ago, was expected to arrive late Friday or early Saturday off the coast of Gaza. Israel was offering to unload it in its Ashdod port, screen the material and then deliver it to Gaza, but fears of another high-seas confrontation were in the offing.

Adam Shapiro, Free Gaza board member, said the additions to the ship are being made for safety purposes.

Shapiro said Israel has made it clear it would intercept the ship and he hopes recording technology on the ship will make a difference in the behavior of any soldiers who board the vessel.

"Israel will be sensitive to the fact that we'll be recording what's happening and streaming it live," said Shapiro, who didn't identify where the Rachel Corrie is docking. He said it will head toward Gaza within the week.

An Israeli government official, who spoke on background because of the diplomatic sensitivity of the issue, told CNN the government is offering to receive the ship's cargo, as it has offered other vessels, if it docks at Ashdod port.

That was the same deal rejected by the flotilla of six ships bound for Gaza before Israeli commandos raided one of them Monday.

Q&A: Israel's Gaza blockade

Haaretz, the Israeli daily newspaper, reported on Thursday that a "diplomatic solution" that would allow the vessel to dock at Ashdod "seems imminent."

Citing European diplomats and senior Foreign Ministry officials in Jerusalem, the newspaper said "quiet messages have been exchanged over the past few days between Israel and the group operating the ship, to allow it to dock" in Israel.

But Shapiro said people on the ship deny that report and believe it is part of a misinformation campaign by the Israeli government.

Free Gaza Movement activist Derek Graham has said that the plan was for the Rachel Corrie to be unloaded in Gaza and then return to Ireland.

The Irish government is asking that Israel not interfere with the ship. Haaretz said it would have been in the Monday flotilla that had been halted by Israel but was delayed because of technical problems.

According to the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the vessel which is owned by the Irish Free Gaza movement, sailed from Dundalk, Ireland in mid-May. Aboard are a number of Irish citizens.

Ireland's minister of Foreign Affairs, Micheal Martin, has told the lower house of the Irish parliament that he has asked the Israeli ambassador to convey to his government his request that, "following the tragedy which has occurred, the Rachel Corrie be allowed to continue unimpeded, and to deliver its cargo to Gaza."

"We will be watching this situation very closely -- as indeed will the world -- and it is imperative that Israel avoid any action which leads to further bloodshed," he said.

The Rachel Corrie left Ireland laden with 550 tons of cement, educational materials, toys and medical equipment -- the latest effort by peace activists to deliver humanitarian goods and break Israel's blockade, according to aid organizers.

Israel says it needs to have its naval blockade of Gaza to stop weaponry from being transported to militants there intent on attacking Israel. The Free Gaza Movement said customs officials and a senator from the Irish Green Party inspected the vessel and found no weapons.

Israeli commandos stormed a six-vessel flotilla early Monday in order to stop it from reaching Gaza.

How the world reacted to the raid

Violence erupted on one of the ships, leading to the deaths of nine people, all Turkish citizens -- including one of dual Turkish-American nationality, as well as many injured people. Israel said its commandos were attacked and passengers said the troops assaulted them.

Israel briefly detained the 600 or so flotilla passengers. The state eventually released all of the foreigners and four Israeli Arabs from prison. The Israeli citizens -- all activists -- remain under house arrest until next week.

The violence has sparked official and grassroots rage from capitals and street protests outside the Middle East on Thursday. South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel. Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that the once-close Turkish-Israeli ties "will never be the same. This incident has left an irreparable and deep scar."

Thousands of angry people attended a mass funeral in Istanbul for the victims and chanted slogans against Israel, and Turkish activists on the ship returned from Israel to a hero's welcome.

At the United Nations, the Security Council has called for an inquiry of the raid and the Human Rights Council voted for a probe, but Israel says it alone and not an international entity should be investigating.

Mark Regev, the Israeli prime minister's office spokesman, said after military operations, it is Israel's "standard practice" to carry out "a prompt, professional, transparent and objective investigation in accordance with the highest international standards."

One Israeli official, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to comment on the subject, said, "the demand for a U.N. investigation shows a clear double standard towards Israel. It shows hypocrisy and singles out the Jewish state for special treatment."

"There is no case in recent history where a democratic country's army has been involved in an overseas operation in which civilians have been killed, and has been subjected to an international investigation."

The Israel Defense Forces Military Advocate General -- the body that ensures that the rule of law is upheld within the military -- said in a report that the interception of the Gaza flotilla was legal under international law.

The body said that international law allows for a country to stop a vessel in international waters if it attempts to breach a naval blockade -- even before such a blockade is actually breached.

"If it resists capture and refuses to stop, after prior warning, it may be attacked," the MAG said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israel Radio on Thursday that members of the flotilla were carrying large amounts of cash, a suggestion that people on the ship had untoward and not humanitarian intentions.

An Israel Defense Forces official said troops continued to count money they found, saying that they discovered envelopes in bundles ranging from $8,000 to $10,000.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/03/gaza.raid/index.html?hpt=T2

[Awoke]

Thanks for the article, MNeagle.