By Jamal Elshayyal
Firstly I must apologise for taking so long to update my blog. The events of the past few days have been hectic to say the least, and I am still trying to come to grips with many of the things that have happened.
It was this time last week that I was on the top deck of the Mavi Marmara, and first spotted Israeli war ships in the distance, as they approached the humanitarian flotilla. Little did I know how deadly and bloody were the events that soon began to unfold.
What I will write in this entry is fact, every letter of it, none of it is opinion, none of it is analysis, and I will leave that to you, the reader.
After spotting the warships at a distance, (at roughly 11pm) the organisers called for passengers to wear their life vests and remain indoors as they monitored the situation. The naval war ships together with helicopters remained in the distance for several hours.
At 2am local time the organisers informed me that they had re-routed the ship, as far away from Israel as possible, as deep into international waters as they could. They did not want a confrontation with the Israeli military, at least not by night.
Just after 4am local time, the Israeli military attacked the ship, in international waters, and totally unprovoked. Tear gas was used, sound grenades were launched, and rubber coated steel bullets were fired from almost every direction.
Dozens of speed boats carrying on average of 15-20 masked Israeli soldiers, armed to the teeth surrounded the Mavi Marmara which was carrying 600 or so unarmed civilians. Two helicopters at a time hovered above the vessel. Commandos on board the choppers joined the firing, using live ammunition, before any of the soldiers had descended onto the ship.
Two unarmed civilians were killed just meters away from me. Dozens of unarmed civilians were injured right before my eyes.
One Israeli soldier, armed with a large automatic gun and a side pistol, was overpowered by several passengers. They disarmed him. They did not use his weapons or fire them; instead they threw his weapons over board and into the sea.
After what seemed at the time as roughly 30 minutes, passengers on board the ship raised a white flag. The Israeli army continued to fire live ammunition. The ships organisers made a loud speaker announcement saying they have surrendered the ship. The Israeli army continued to fire live ammunition.
I was the last person to leave the top deck.
Below, inside the sleeping quarters, all the passengers had gathered. There was shock, anger, fear, hurt, chaos.
Doctors ran in all directions trying to treat the wounded, blood was on the floor, tears ran down people’s faces, cries of pain and mourning could be heard everywhere. Death was in the air.
Three critically injured civilians were being treated on the ground in the reception area of the ship. Their clothes soaked in blood. Passengers stood by watching in shock, some read out verses of the Qur’an to calm them, doctors worked in despair to save them.
Several announcements were made on the load speakers in Hebrew, Arabic and English - "This is a message to the Israeli army, we have surrendered. We are unarmed. We have critically injured people. Please come and take them. We will not attack."
There was no response.
One of the passengers, a member of the Israeli Parliament wrote a sign in Hebrew, reading the exact same thing; she held it together with a white flag and approached the windows where the Israeli soldiers were standing outside. The pointed their laser guided guns to her head, ushered her to go away.
A British citizen tried the same sign only this time holding a British Flag and taking the sign to a different set of windows and different set of soldiers. They responded in the same manner.
Three hours later, all three of the injured were pronounced dead. The Israeli soldiers who refused to allow them treatment succeeded where their colleagues had earlier failed when they targeted these three men with bullets.
At around 8am the Israeli army entered the sleeping quarters. They handcuffed the passengers. I was thrown onto the ground, my hands tied behind my back, I couldn’t move an inch.
I was taken to the top deck where the other passengers were, forced to sit on my knees under the burning sun.
One passenger had his hands tied so tight his wrists were all sorts of colours. When he requested that the cuffs be loosened, an Israeli soldier tightened them even more. He let out a scream that sent chills down my body.
I requested to go to the bathroom, I was prevented, instead the Israeli soldier told me to urinate where I was and in my own clothes. Three or four hours later I was allowed to go.
I was then marched, together with the other passengers, back to the sleeping quarters. The place was ransacked, its image like that of the aftermath of an earthquake.
I remained on the ship, seated, without any food or drink bar three sips of water for more than 24 hours. Throughout this time, Israeli soldiers had their guns pointed at us. Their hands on the trigger. For more than 24 hours.
I was then taken off the ship at Ashdod where I was asked to sign a deportation order, it claimed that I had entered Israel illegally and agreed to be deported. I told the officer that I, in fact, had not entered Israel but that the Israeli army had kidnapped me from international waters and brought me to Israel against my will; therefore I could not sign this document.
My passport was taken from me. I was told that I would go to jail.
Only then were my hands freed, I spent more than 24 hours with my hands cuffed behind my back, with nothing to eat, and barely anything to drink.
Upon arrival at the prison I was put in a cell with three other passengers. The cell was roughly 12ft by 9ft.
I spent more than 24 hours in jail. I was not allowed to make a single phone call.
The British consulate did not come and see me. I did not see a lawyer.
There was no hot water for a shower.
The only meal was frozen bread and some potatoes.
The only reason I believe I was released was because the Turkish prisoners refused to leave until and unless the other nationalities (those whose consulates had not come and released them) were set free.
I was taken to Ben Gurion airport. When I asked for my passport, the Israeli official presented me with a piece of paper and said "congratulations this is your new passport". I replied "you must be joking, you have my passport". The Israeli official's response: "sue me".
There I was asked again to sign a deportation order. Again I refused.
I was put on a plane headed to Istanbul.
Masked Israeli soldiers and commandos took me from international waters.
Uniformed Israeli officials locked me behind bars.
The British government did not lift a finger to help me, till this day I have not seen or heard from a British official.
The Israeli government stole my passport.
The Israeli government stole my lap top, two cameras, 3 phones, $1500 and all my possessions.
My government, the British government has not even acknowledged my existence.
I was kidnapped by Israel. I was forsaken by my country.
Showing posts with label Freedom Flotilla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Freedom Flotilla. Show all posts
Monday, June 7, 2010
Murdered by the "Jewish state" of Israel
Cengiz Akyüz 41 Iskandarun, Turkey, married with three children
Ali Haydar Bengi 39 Diyarbakir, Turkey, married with four children
Ibrahim Bilgen 61 Siirt, Turkey married with six children
Furkan Dogan 19 Turkish American. Shot execution style five times in the head at close range
Cevdet Kiliçlar 38 Journalist from Kayseri, Turkey married with two children
Cengiz Songur 47, married with seven children
Çetin Topçuoglu 54, Adana, Turkey, Taekwando champion, married with one child
Fahri Yaldiz 43, Adiyaman, Turkey, fireman, married with four children
Necdet Yildirim 32, Malatya, Turkey, IHH aid worker, married with one child
Eternal Memory!
Passengers grabbed Israeli weapons to stop the killing
(Thanks to Nationalist for pointing out this amazing video to me - VS)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Speech delivered by Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on the anniversary marking the demise of Imam Khomeini
In the Name of Allah, The Compassionate, The Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the world. Peace be on the Seal of prophets, our Master and Prophet, Abi Al Qassem Mohammad and on his chaste and pure Household, chosen companions and all prophets and messengers. Peace be upon you all and Allah's mercy and blessing.
First in the anniversary of the decease, I address the successor of the Imam and the preserver of his course His Eminence Ayatollah leader Imam Sayyed Ali Khaminai (May Allah prolong his lifespan), our noble authorities, the brothers and sisters in the Islamic Republic in Iran – the president, the government and the people – all the lovers, supporters and adorers of this great Imam in Lebanon and all around the world with the loftiest verses of condolence and consolation. This anniversary will never die since Imam Khomeini is – as His Eminence leader Imam said- an eternal truth because it is linked to the spring of righteousness and the metal of mercy.
Brothers and sisters! The Imam had made great and magnificent achievements. Among the most important achievements of the Imam which I would like to tackle in this limited time interval is his revivification of the set of divine, prophetic, human and moral values in the life of man, the peoples, the nations and especially in the minds and hearts of this nation. The influence of this revivification of the set of great values has transcended our Arab and Islamic nation to many other places in this world. Many drew their inspirations from the revolution, movement and values of this Imam to confront their challenges, tyrants and hard and difficult conditions.
He came at a time when Allah Al Mighty chose to revive His mercy and enlighten His right path anew. It was an era in which different concepts and values started to prevail among our peoples and nations. These concepts and values have nothing to do with our values, culture, civilization and history such as the notion and culture of failing to advocate righteousness for various and feeble pretexts and reasons – some of which covered with religion; others with realism and others with wisdom. Other examples are the concepts and culture of abandoning responsibilities towards great causes and even dispensing with responsibilities. We withdraw from great causes on the level of humanity to be devoted to a great cause on the level of the nation. Then we withdraw from the national cause to a cause on the level of the homeland. Then we desert the homeland cause for the favor of a cause on the level of the group whether it was a sect, a faction, a party, a bloc or a leadership. Then we withdraw from the group to be drowned in ourselves and our personal lives. It’s the culture of abandoning responsibility towards major causes, the culture of surrendering to the logic of the autocratic power of materialism. It’s the culture of despair from accomplishing any victory or achievement. With the prevalence of the culture of materialism, all moral and religious values – such as trusting in Allah having confidence in him, Allah’s advocate of the fighters and the deemed weak who are revolting to defend their legitimate rights - would be dropped from the formula. It’s the culture of surrendering to the subjection to one of the two camps at that time: the East and the West. It’s like we can’t do anything and we can’t but be with either the camp of the west or the camp of the east; and to be here or there we must be subordinates. We move in the framework of the project of others to achieve but bits of the interests of our nation and homeland. It’s the culture of being incapable of achieving independence. It’s the culture of self mistrust, not trusting in people and not trusting the nation in all fields. That’s why we always had to imitate others and be subsequent to others, to meditate the experiences of others and to appeal for others to save ourselves. It’s the culture in which the right norms to specify the enemy and the foe and the right battle are lost. It’s what we call now specifying priorities. The feeling of belonging was lost. There was a feeling of contradiction between patriotism and nationalism, the national belonging and the religious belonging.
The Imam came to revive and affirm another set of values which totally contradicts all what was prevalent. He revived in us and in the nation the culture of jihad and rising in the face of tyrants and oppressors. He revived in us the culture of honorable revered life in which man rejects humiliation, disgrace and being content with but little livelihood rights and luxury. He revived in us the values of being generous and sacrificing ourselves, our dear ones and our riches until martyrdom for the sake of the causes of our nation and our sacred causes. He revived in us the culture of supporting the downtrodden and the oppressed and never to abandon them. He revived in humanity all the moral and religious values which are related to Allah Al Mighty, The Omnipotent, The Supporter, The Helper, The Leader and The Guide such as drawing trust and confidence from Him. He revived in us the culture of self-confidence after having confidence in Allah Al Mighty and the culture of trusting peoples and their minds, knowledge, civilization, various capacities, human and materialistic capabilities and their abilities to make changes, make their own fate, gain independence, defy oppression and liberate sanctities.
The speech of the Imam was a faithful human speech in which he did not address Muslims only but also all the oppressed, downtrodden and deemed weak in this world. He used to address them with such terms: O deemed weak; O downtrodden; O oppressed. When he used to talk about the traits of the oppressed and the downtrodden, he used not to be talking about the Islamic or Arab peoples or about Palestine. He would be talking about the peoples of Africa, the peoples of Latin America, the Red Indians in the USA and about many Asian peoples who were suffering from tyranny, oppression and dictatorships and whose wealth was being looted while they were abandoned to die from hunger, deprivation, negligence and death.
In the conscience of the Imam there was not only the Islamic nation. In his conscience and in his speech were every human being: tens and hundreds of millions of those who starve to death in this world and tens and hundreds of millions of the illiterate who has no chance in this world to get education. He used to specify the reasons and hold the tyrants and the oppressors - on top of whom is what he used to righteously call greater Satan, the US administration – responsible of all of this tyranny, oppression, negligence and subjugation from which our people and the oppressed deemed weak peoples are suffering. His speech was faithful and humanistic. When delivering a speech, he used to seek evidence not only from the Qoran and the Prophetic Tradition but also from the human mind: How does the mind judge? What the mind deems good and what the mind deems bad? He used to seek evidence from the collective human nature which does not change from one man to another. It’s the nature which Allah creatd man with: Allah’s creation never alters. He used to address people with human nature and mind as much as with the Qoran and the Tradition. He also used to make his researches and establish them on the common factors among religions and religion followers. Thus we find in the Imam’s words and literary tradition many quotations from the preceding prophets and especially the Father of prophets and the Sheikh of prophets Abrams Al Khalil, Moses Kalim Allah (The prophet whom Allah talked to) and Jesus (the Spirit of Allah) besides the Prophet of Allah – the Master of prophets and messengers – Mohammad peace be upon them all. In particular he used to quote the prophet of Allah Abrams. We rarely find an Islamic scholar or a scholar from the followers of other religions who honors the prophet of Allah Abrams with his concern and interest and quotes him as Imam Khomeini (May Allah bless his soul). This has to do with the collective monotheistic background in the mind and intellect of Imam Khomeini (May Allah bless his soul). That’s because Abrams (Peace be upon him) is the common prophet among all the religions which still exist. Today there is no religion on Earth does not end after all to Abrams (Peace be upon him). Abrams is a common point between Jews, Christians and Muslims. We all claim being the followers of Abrams – the Sheikh of prophets and the Father of all prophets peace be upon them.
Imam Khomeini used to cite when tackling all the values he wanted to revive the prophets and prophet Abrams peace be upon him. He repeatedly talked about Abrams’ stand all alone in face of Nimrod and all the stone idols which people used to warship impudently. Imam Khomeini frequently talked about Moses’ (peace be upon him) stand in the Pharaoh’s castle. He was with his Lord, his brother Aaron and his stick. He continually depicted the Christ(peace be upon him) who was all alone or among few supporters when he burst into the temple to confront the burglars, thieves and deceivers who had great authority. So whenever he talked about politics, jihad, struggle and supporting the oppressed, he used to quote the prophets as examples. Whenever he used to talk about Gnosticism, values, morals and man’s journey towards Allah, the refinement of man’s soul and the good relations with people and the slaves of Allah he used to cite the prophets.
The Imam (May Allah make Heaven his abode) did not revive these values, this culture and these concepts only via writing, speech delivering, compositions and the like. Rather the special characteristic of this Imam through which he was able to be distinguished among reformists, authors and revivalists is that he regenerated this culture and all these values through action. He did not spend all his life writing, making researches, teaching and refining students. Rather he stepped down to the field with his blessed hoariness, his turban, his jurisprudence, his great soul, magnificent heritage, limitless expectations and absolute trust in Allah Al Mighty.
He advanced in the field and behind him moved his students and the rest of the people. He started challenging tyrants. He was armless even from the stick. He endured difficulties, offered sacrifices and made great achievements. Thus was his reverberating victory on the most oppressive tyrants of the age. Thanks to his presence in the field and his jihad, he could establish the modern Islamic regime. This regime could through its firm pillars, intact structure and cord linked to Allah stand in face of all international, foreign and local conspiracies.
Brothers and sisters! The whole concern of the Imam was to promulgate these values and this faithful humanistic culture among peoples. This is what he precisely meant when he talked about exporting the revolution.
Many people with ill intentions tried to exploit this term which was proposed by the Imam (May Allah bless his soul) to fabricate discourse about the aims of the Iranian empire and that the Imam will dispatch his soldiers, the guardians of the revolution, his army, his armed forces and millions of volunteers to topple regimes and impose definite values, ideas and views on people. In this perspective, many fears were evoked based on fabrications and illusions. However no soon did the Imam (May Allah bless his soul) take the initiative to clarify this position and this view. There is a great text for the Imam which he articulated in a major meeting for the scholars of the religious school, missionaries and the preachers of the Imam. He told them that when we talk about exporting our revolution we do not mean that we want to do that with the power of the sword but rather through missionaries. Then he told them compose, explain and talk with people. Form a committee to control what is be written and published because not all what is written and published are among our values and culture. We want to present our ideas and views to the peoples of the world; then whoever wants to be inspired by these ideas and benefit from this experience, that would have to do with his will, decision and determination. So the notion of exporting the revolution evoked by Imam Khomeini in the first years had nothing to do with dispatching armies, invading and conquering but rather exporting these values, culture and ideas.
Indeed today when we talk for example about Lebanon, we may say that the resistance which started in Lebanon - though it is a comprehensive broad national resistance, however as far as the Islamic resistance and the general atmosphere and milieu are concerned – rely on these values of jihad, sacrifice, offering generously, martyrdom, self-esteem, honor, awakening, steadfastness, tolerance, hope, confidence and trust in Allah. This is what is meant by exporting these values to Lebanon and to every place in this world. It did not matter if these were Iranian-made values or if they were set by Imam Khomeini. The Imam did not see that he existed in fact. These were the values and the culture of the great prophets of Allah. These are the values and the culture of Noah, Abrams, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad (Peace be upon them all). It was important that they be spread in our Arab and Islamic countries and among all the peoples around the world, especially the oppressed, downtrodden and deemed weak peoples. Among the most important values which were revived by the Imam is the culture of resistance and among the major causes to which he gave a valuable historic thrust between 1978 and 1979 after it appeared that it was moving in the way of falling, being besieged and neglected is the cause of Palestine and Al Qods.
Bothers and sisters! Decades following the revolution of the Imam and two decades following his demise, these values, concepts and culture still have influential existence. Allow me to say that they are today even more forceful and influential in their presence than any time in the past. Even more, all the developments which our region and nation witnessed especially the struggle against the Israeli enemy prove the truthfulness and authenticity of this culture and its options.
Today and starting by these concepts, values, culture and spirituality we are before a lofty humanistic, faithful and jihadi scene. It’s the Freedom Flotilla with its collective scenes of bravery, steadfastness, sincerity, sacrifices and high sense of responsibility which was expressed by all the partakers in the Freedom Flotilla who were on their way to break the inhumane siege of Gaza. I find it our duty – based on the logic of the mind, human nature, religion, values, jihad and resistance to pay tribute to all of these participants and all those who stand behind them and to bow with esteem and respect before their courage, sincerity, humanity and readiness to face death for the sake of saving an entire people which is besieged, starved and butchered. The diversity of activists in the Freedom Flotilla manifests these deep-rooted values shared by the resisting sheikh, the resisting archbishop, resisting men, resisting women, Muslims, Christians, religious people, seculars, Arabs, Turks and foreigners from more than 35 countries. They stood side by side, shoulder to shoulder facing the sea, the winds, challenges, fear and later the Israeli aggression, crimes, killing, piracy, detention and torture. They tolerated all of that with patience, steadfastness and deep faith in the righteousness of what they are doing. This reveals part of the most important factors of power on which Imam Khomeini always preached.
Brothers and sisters! Ladies and gentlemen! The Freedom Flotilla cause has major and great indications that require taking measures and following up on more than one level. But for the limit of time, we would like to call on you and on all the Lebanese, Palestinians, Arab and Islamic communities in Lebanon and all our dear people through the TV screen to take part tomorrow in the ceremony of consolidation, pride, and support to the besieged Palestinian people in Gaza and to the heroes of the Freedom Flotilla who returned alive and especially to the martyrs who seem to be mostly Turkish. To show solidarity with these martyrs and with all those who partook in the Freedom Flotilla and to express the stance which must be taken and which we must continue working in its framework, we call on you to partake in the rally which will be held tomorrow night at 08:30 at the Raya Field. Thus talking on the stance, reading and track I prepared on this cause will remain till tomorrow Inshallah.
We renew our oath to our Imam, leader and inspirer Ruhullah Al Mussawi Al Khomeini to preserve his course and carry on his path and achieve his goals and to be loyal to his successor and to pray where he yearned to pray in Al Aqsa in Al Qods. Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
First in the anniversary of the decease, I address the successor of the Imam and the preserver of his course His Eminence Ayatollah leader Imam Sayyed Ali Khaminai (May Allah prolong his lifespan), our noble authorities, the brothers and sisters in the Islamic Republic in Iran – the president, the government and the people – all the lovers, supporters and adorers of this great Imam in Lebanon and all around the world with the loftiest verses of condolence and consolation. This anniversary will never die since Imam Khomeini is – as His Eminence leader Imam said- an eternal truth because it is linked to the spring of righteousness and the metal of mercy.
Brothers and sisters! The Imam had made great and magnificent achievements. Among the most important achievements of the Imam which I would like to tackle in this limited time interval is his revivification of the set of divine, prophetic, human and moral values in the life of man, the peoples, the nations and especially in the minds and hearts of this nation. The influence of this revivification of the set of great values has transcended our Arab and Islamic nation to many other places in this world. Many drew their inspirations from the revolution, movement and values of this Imam to confront their challenges, tyrants and hard and difficult conditions.
He came at a time when Allah Al Mighty chose to revive His mercy and enlighten His right path anew. It was an era in which different concepts and values started to prevail among our peoples and nations. These concepts and values have nothing to do with our values, culture, civilization and history such as the notion and culture of failing to advocate righteousness for various and feeble pretexts and reasons – some of which covered with religion; others with realism and others with wisdom. Other examples are the concepts and culture of abandoning responsibilities towards great causes and even dispensing with responsibilities. We withdraw from great causes on the level of humanity to be devoted to a great cause on the level of the nation. Then we withdraw from the national cause to a cause on the level of the homeland. Then we desert the homeland cause for the favor of a cause on the level of the group whether it was a sect, a faction, a party, a bloc or a leadership. Then we withdraw from the group to be drowned in ourselves and our personal lives. It’s the culture of abandoning responsibility towards major causes, the culture of surrendering to the logic of the autocratic power of materialism. It’s the culture of despair from accomplishing any victory or achievement. With the prevalence of the culture of materialism, all moral and religious values – such as trusting in Allah having confidence in him, Allah’s advocate of the fighters and the deemed weak who are revolting to defend their legitimate rights - would be dropped from the formula. It’s the culture of surrendering to the subjection to one of the two camps at that time: the East and the West. It’s like we can’t do anything and we can’t but be with either the camp of the west or the camp of the east; and to be here or there we must be subordinates. We move in the framework of the project of others to achieve but bits of the interests of our nation and homeland. It’s the culture of being incapable of achieving independence. It’s the culture of self mistrust, not trusting in people and not trusting the nation in all fields. That’s why we always had to imitate others and be subsequent to others, to meditate the experiences of others and to appeal for others to save ourselves. It’s the culture in which the right norms to specify the enemy and the foe and the right battle are lost. It’s what we call now specifying priorities. The feeling of belonging was lost. There was a feeling of contradiction between patriotism and nationalism, the national belonging and the religious belonging.
The Imam came to revive and affirm another set of values which totally contradicts all what was prevalent. He revived in us and in the nation the culture of jihad and rising in the face of tyrants and oppressors. He revived in us the culture of honorable revered life in which man rejects humiliation, disgrace and being content with but little livelihood rights and luxury. He revived in us the values of being generous and sacrificing ourselves, our dear ones and our riches until martyrdom for the sake of the causes of our nation and our sacred causes. He revived in us the culture of supporting the downtrodden and the oppressed and never to abandon them. He revived in humanity all the moral and religious values which are related to Allah Al Mighty, The Omnipotent, The Supporter, The Helper, The Leader and The Guide such as drawing trust and confidence from Him. He revived in us the culture of self-confidence after having confidence in Allah Al Mighty and the culture of trusting peoples and their minds, knowledge, civilization, various capacities, human and materialistic capabilities and their abilities to make changes, make their own fate, gain independence, defy oppression and liberate sanctities.
The speech of the Imam was a faithful human speech in which he did not address Muslims only but also all the oppressed, downtrodden and deemed weak in this world. He used to address them with such terms: O deemed weak; O downtrodden; O oppressed. When he used to talk about the traits of the oppressed and the downtrodden, he used not to be talking about the Islamic or Arab peoples or about Palestine. He would be talking about the peoples of Africa, the peoples of Latin America, the Red Indians in the USA and about many Asian peoples who were suffering from tyranny, oppression and dictatorships and whose wealth was being looted while they were abandoned to die from hunger, deprivation, negligence and death.
In the conscience of the Imam there was not only the Islamic nation. In his conscience and in his speech were every human being: tens and hundreds of millions of those who starve to death in this world and tens and hundreds of millions of the illiterate who has no chance in this world to get education. He used to specify the reasons and hold the tyrants and the oppressors - on top of whom is what he used to righteously call greater Satan, the US administration – responsible of all of this tyranny, oppression, negligence and subjugation from which our people and the oppressed deemed weak peoples are suffering. His speech was faithful and humanistic. When delivering a speech, he used to seek evidence not only from the Qoran and the Prophetic Tradition but also from the human mind: How does the mind judge? What the mind deems good and what the mind deems bad? He used to seek evidence from the collective human nature which does not change from one man to another. It’s the nature which Allah creatd man with: Allah’s creation never alters. He used to address people with human nature and mind as much as with the Qoran and the Tradition. He also used to make his researches and establish them on the common factors among religions and religion followers. Thus we find in the Imam’s words and literary tradition many quotations from the preceding prophets and especially the Father of prophets and the Sheikh of prophets Abrams Al Khalil, Moses Kalim Allah (The prophet whom Allah talked to) and Jesus (the Spirit of Allah) besides the Prophet of Allah – the Master of prophets and messengers – Mohammad peace be upon them all. In particular he used to quote the prophet of Allah Abrams. We rarely find an Islamic scholar or a scholar from the followers of other religions who honors the prophet of Allah Abrams with his concern and interest and quotes him as Imam Khomeini (May Allah bless his soul). This has to do with the collective monotheistic background in the mind and intellect of Imam Khomeini (May Allah bless his soul). That’s because Abrams (Peace be upon him) is the common prophet among all the religions which still exist. Today there is no religion on Earth does not end after all to Abrams (Peace be upon him). Abrams is a common point between Jews, Christians and Muslims. We all claim being the followers of Abrams – the Sheikh of prophets and the Father of all prophets peace be upon them.
Imam Khomeini used to cite when tackling all the values he wanted to revive the prophets and prophet Abrams peace be upon him. He repeatedly talked about Abrams’ stand all alone in face of Nimrod and all the stone idols which people used to warship impudently. Imam Khomeini frequently talked about Moses’ (peace be upon him) stand in the Pharaoh’s castle. He was with his Lord, his brother Aaron and his stick. He continually depicted the Christ(peace be upon him) who was all alone or among few supporters when he burst into the temple to confront the burglars, thieves and deceivers who had great authority. So whenever he talked about politics, jihad, struggle and supporting the oppressed, he used to quote the prophets as examples. Whenever he used to talk about Gnosticism, values, morals and man’s journey towards Allah, the refinement of man’s soul and the good relations with people and the slaves of Allah he used to cite the prophets.
The Imam (May Allah make Heaven his abode) did not revive these values, this culture and these concepts only via writing, speech delivering, compositions and the like. Rather the special characteristic of this Imam through which he was able to be distinguished among reformists, authors and revivalists is that he regenerated this culture and all these values through action. He did not spend all his life writing, making researches, teaching and refining students. Rather he stepped down to the field with his blessed hoariness, his turban, his jurisprudence, his great soul, magnificent heritage, limitless expectations and absolute trust in Allah Al Mighty.
He advanced in the field and behind him moved his students and the rest of the people. He started challenging tyrants. He was armless even from the stick. He endured difficulties, offered sacrifices and made great achievements. Thus was his reverberating victory on the most oppressive tyrants of the age. Thanks to his presence in the field and his jihad, he could establish the modern Islamic regime. This regime could through its firm pillars, intact structure and cord linked to Allah stand in face of all international, foreign and local conspiracies.
Brothers and sisters! The whole concern of the Imam was to promulgate these values and this faithful humanistic culture among peoples. This is what he precisely meant when he talked about exporting the revolution.
Many people with ill intentions tried to exploit this term which was proposed by the Imam (May Allah bless his soul) to fabricate discourse about the aims of the Iranian empire and that the Imam will dispatch his soldiers, the guardians of the revolution, his army, his armed forces and millions of volunteers to topple regimes and impose definite values, ideas and views on people. In this perspective, many fears were evoked based on fabrications and illusions. However no soon did the Imam (May Allah bless his soul) take the initiative to clarify this position and this view. There is a great text for the Imam which he articulated in a major meeting for the scholars of the religious school, missionaries and the preachers of the Imam. He told them that when we talk about exporting our revolution we do not mean that we want to do that with the power of the sword but rather through missionaries. Then he told them compose, explain and talk with people. Form a committee to control what is be written and published because not all what is written and published are among our values and culture. We want to present our ideas and views to the peoples of the world; then whoever wants to be inspired by these ideas and benefit from this experience, that would have to do with his will, decision and determination. So the notion of exporting the revolution evoked by Imam Khomeini in the first years had nothing to do with dispatching armies, invading and conquering but rather exporting these values, culture and ideas.
Indeed today when we talk for example about Lebanon, we may say that the resistance which started in Lebanon - though it is a comprehensive broad national resistance, however as far as the Islamic resistance and the general atmosphere and milieu are concerned – rely on these values of jihad, sacrifice, offering generously, martyrdom, self-esteem, honor, awakening, steadfastness, tolerance, hope, confidence and trust in Allah. This is what is meant by exporting these values to Lebanon and to every place in this world. It did not matter if these were Iranian-made values or if they were set by Imam Khomeini. The Imam did not see that he existed in fact. These were the values and the culture of the great prophets of Allah. These are the values and the culture of Noah, Abrams, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad (Peace be upon them all). It was important that they be spread in our Arab and Islamic countries and among all the peoples around the world, especially the oppressed, downtrodden and deemed weak peoples. Among the most important values which were revived by the Imam is the culture of resistance and among the major causes to which he gave a valuable historic thrust between 1978 and 1979 after it appeared that it was moving in the way of falling, being besieged and neglected is the cause of Palestine and Al Qods.
Bothers and sisters! Decades following the revolution of the Imam and two decades following his demise, these values, concepts and culture still have influential existence. Allow me to say that they are today even more forceful and influential in their presence than any time in the past. Even more, all the developments which our region and nation witnessed especially the struggle against the Israeli enemy prove the truthfulness and authenticity of this culture and its options.
Today and starting by these concepts, values, culture and spirituality we are before a lofty humanistic, faithful and jihadi scene. It’s the Freedom Flotilla with its collective scenes of bravery, steadfastness, sincerity, sacrifices and high sense of responsibility which was expressed by all the partakers in the Freedom Flotilla who were on their way to break the inhumane siege of Gaza. I find it our duty – based on the logic of the mind, human nature, religion, values, jihad and resistance to pay tribute to all of these participants and all those who stand behind them and to bow with esteem and respect before their courage, sincerity, humanity and readiness to face death for the sake of saving an entire people which is besieged, starved and butchered. The diversity of activists in the Freedom Flotilla manifests these deep-rooted values shared by the resisting sheikh, the resisting archbishop, resisting men, resisting women, Muslims, Christians, religious people, seculars, Arabs, Turks and foreigners from more than 35 countries. They stood side by side, shoulder to shoulder facing the sea, the winds, challenges, fear and later the Israeli aggression, crimes, killing, piracy, detention and torture. They tolerated all of that with patience, steadfastness and deep faith in the righteousness of what they are doing. This reveals part of the most important factors of power on which Imam Khomeini always preached.
Brothers and sisters! Ladies and gentlemen! The Freedom Flotilla cause has major and great indications that require taking measures and following up on more than one level. But for the limit of time, we would like to call on you and on all the Lebanese, Palestinians, Arab and Islamic communities in Lebanon and all our dear people through the TV screen to take part tomorrow in the ceremony of consolidation, pride, and support to the besieged Palestinian people in Gaza and to the heroes of the Freedom Flotilla who returned alive and especially to the martyrs who seem to be mostly Turkish. To show solidarity with these martyrs and with all those who partook in the Freedom Flotilla and to express the stance which must be taken and which we must continue working in its framework, we call on you to partake in the rally which will be held tomorrow night at 08:30 at the Raya Field. Thus talking on the stance, reading and track I prepared on this cause will remain till tomorrow Inshallah.
We renew our oath to our Imam, leader and inspirer Ruhullah Al Mussawi Al Khomeini to preserve his course and carry on his path and achieve his goals and to be loyal to his successor and to pray where he yearned to pray in Al Aqsa in Al Qods. Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
BREAKING NEWS: The Lone Ship of the Freedom Flotilla Sails towards Gaza
The Lone Ship of the Freedom Flotilla: The Rachel Corrie MV Continues to Sail Towards Gaza in Defiance of Israeli Threats By Michel Chossudovsky | |
URL of this article: www.globalresearch.ca/index. | |
Global Research, June 1, 2010 | |
Following Israel's criminal raid in international waters on May 31st, the Rachel Corrie MV continues to sail towards the Gaza coastline in defiance of Israeli threats. In an act of tremendous courage, the Rachel Corrie MV is determined to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. At noon today, I received the following message from Christopher Chang and Ram Kardigasu, on behalf of the Malaysian and Irish peace activists, who are on board the Rachel Corrie:
In recent developments, the Netanyahu government is in crisis:
The question remains: if the Israeli cabinet did not ratify the operation, who ordered the raids and through what procedure? What were the respective roles of Israeli intelligence and the IDF in planning these raids? What role was played by Rahm Emmanuel, Obama's White House Chief of Staff, who had meetings with both Netanyahu and president Shimon Peres, respectively on May 26 and 27? Did Rahm Emmanuel meet officials of Israel's military and intelligence establishment? Did the Obama administration give the Green Light? It is important that this news gets out, with a view to ensuring that the Rachel Corrie MV safely reaches the coast of Gaza without encroachment, with a view to breaking Israel's criminal embargo.
The Rachel Corrie MV is in part supported by the Perdana Global Peace Organization under the helm of the Malaysia's former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Global Research Director Michel Chossudovsky is a member of the Perdana Global Peace Organisation and of the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Commission. | |
Monday, May 31, 2010
Palestine Think Tank coverage of the crisis
Kawther Salam's detailed report shows that the entire massacre, planned in advance, was nothing but the Zionist reaction to the recent improvement in Turkish-Iranian relations.
http://palestinethinktank.com/2010/05/31/flotilla-massacre-is-a-reply-to-the-turkish-iranian-relations/
Kourosh Ziabari asks what would have happened if the same actions were done by Iran
http://palestinethinktank.com/2010/05/31/kourosh-ziabari-what-if-iran-had-carried-out-the-gaza-carnage/
Belén Fernandez dissects the Israeli Hasbara that it was actually the pacifists bringing humanitarian aid who were responsible for their own deaths
http://palestinethinktank.com/2010/05/31/belen-fernandez-international-activists-cause-their-own-deaths-by-attacking-nonconfrontational-israeli-commandos/
Mary Rizzo deconstructs Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister's Lies (until the World Cup makes everyone forget the real world)
http://palestinethinktank.com/2010/05/31/israeli-deputy-fm-ayalon-lies-through-his-teeth-about-the-flotilla-massacre/
Carlos Latuff creates another masterpiece
http://palestinethinktank.com/2010/05/31/cartoon-of-the-day-165/
Gazan civil society calls for global protests
http://palestinethinktank.com/2010/05/31/call-from-gaza-for-global-response-to-killings-on-the-freedom-flotilla/
Sahar Hamzeh has written an ode to those who come to break the siege, with Adib Kawar's sad addendum to the martyrs
http://palestinethinktank.com/2010/05/31/sahar-hamzeh-with-adib-kawar-to-break-the-gaza-siege/
and so that hope never dies, our friend Nusair gives the Egyptian activists' recipe for resistance when resistance is beaten down with sticks and prison
http://palestinethinktank.com/2010/05/31/m-s-nusair-how-can-you-help-the-palestinian-cause-without-any-risk/
http://palestinethinktank.com/
Kourosh Ziabari asks what would have happened if the same actions were done by Iran
http://palestinethinktank.com/
Belén Fernandez dissects the Israeli Hasbara that it was actually the pacifists bringing humanitarian aid who were responsible for their own deaths
http://palestinethinktank.com/
Mary Rizzo deconstructs Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister's Lies (until the World Cup makes everyone forget the real world)
http://palestinethinktank.com/
Carlos Latuff creates another masterpiece
http://palestinethinktank.com/
Gazan civil society calls for global protests
http://palestinethinktank.com/
Sahar Hamzeh has written an ode to those who come to break the siege, with Adib Kawar's sad addendum to the martyrs
http://palestinethinktank.com/
and so that hope never dies, our friend Nusair gives the Egyptian activists' recipe for resistance when resistance is beaten down with sticks and prison
http://palestinethinktank.com/
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Flotilla Welcomed by Israeli War Ships
(Cyprus, May 31, 2010) At 11:00 pm Cyprus time and in international waters off the coast of Israel, the boats were contacted by the Israeli navy. “Who are you and where are you going?” Our reply was that we were part of a flotilla and we were going to Gaza to deliver humanitarian supplies.
On the radar, the boats could see three Israeli war ships shadowing us, and 15 minutes later, a silent aircraft hovered over the flotilla. One of our Hebrew speakers had found Israel’s strategy and posted it to us. It stated, “You will be boarded by highly trained, very efficient and very SILENT commandos. They will use silent inflatable boats to get to our boats and both try to board our boats directly from the inflatables and by dropping divers into the water to climb onto the boats,” so people were preparing for them to come up and over the sides of the ships.
Our SPOT locator has sent out several HELP messages at www.witnessgaza.com.
Lubna Marsawa, Free Gaza’s organizer on the Turkish passenger boat said in outrage, “Very few times in history has a flotilla delivering humanitarian goods been welcomed by military war ships.”
This is a call to the world from the people on the boats. “We are a civilian people doing what our governments have refused to do, challenge Israel’s right to collectively punish 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza by blockading their right to their own sea. This flotilla is bringing construction and educational supplies the people of Gaza and are being met by Israeli warships.”
Contact: Huwaida Arraf on board the Challenger 0088 216 5207 2093
Ewa Jasciewica on board the Challenger 0088 163 184 7926
Fatima Mohammed on board the IHH ship 8821636619168
Greta Berlin 00 357 99 18 72 75
Mary Hughes 00 357 96 38 38 09
Check out this site, find the Israeli embassy nearest you and let them know how you feel.
http://www.embassiesabroad.
--
Greta Berlin, Co-Founder
+357 99 18 72 75
witnessgaza.com
www.freegaza.org
http://www.flickr.com/photos/
Gaza Flotilla Drives Israel Into a Sea of Stupidity
Of course the peace flotilla will not bring peace, and it won't even manage to reach the Gaza shore. The action plan has included dragging the ships to Ashdod port, but it has again dragged us to the shores of stupidity and wrongdoing
By Gideon Levy for Ha'aretz via Informationclearinghouse
The Israeli propaganda machine has reached new highs its hopeless frenzy. It has distributed menus from Gaza restaurants, along with false information. It embarrassed itself by entering a futile public relations battle, which it might have been better off never starting. They want to maintain the ineffective, illegal and unethical siege on Gaza and not let the "peace flotilla" dock off the Gaza coast? There is nothing to explain, certainly not to a world that will never buy the web of explanations, lies and tactics.
Only in Israel do people still accept these tainted goods. Reminiscent of a pre-battle ritual from ancient times, the chorus cheered without asking questions. White uniformed soldiers got ready in our name. Spokesmen delivered their deceptive explanations in our name. The grotesque scene is at our expense. And virtually none of us have disturbed the performance.
The chorus has been singing songs of falsehood and lies. We are all in the chorus saying there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We are all part of the chorus claiming the occupation of Gaza has ended, and that the flotilla is a violent attack on Israeli sovereignty - the cement is for building bunkers and the convoy is being funded by the Turkish Muslim Brotherhood. The Israeli siege of Gaza will topple Hamas and free Gilad Shalit. Foreign Ministry spokesman Yossi Levy, one of the most ridiculous of the propagandists, outdid himself when he unblinkingly proclaimed that the aid convoy headed toward Gaza was a violation of international law. Right. Exactly.
It's not the siege that is illegal, but rather the flotilla. It wasn't enough to distribute menus from Gaza restaurants through the Prime Minister's Office, (including the highly recommended beef Stroganoff and cream of spinach soup ) and flaunt the quantities of fuel that the Israeli army spokesman says Israel is shipping in. The propaganda operation has tried to sell us and the world the idea that the occupation of Gaza is over, but in any case, Israel has legal authority to bar humanitarian aid. All one pack of lies.
Only one voice spoiled the illusory celebration a little: an Amnesty International report on the situation in Gaza. Four out of five Gaza residents need humanitarian assistance. Hundreds are waiting to the point of embarrassment to be allowed out for medical treatment, and 28 already have died. This is despite all the Israeli army spokesman's briefings on the absence of a siege and the presence of assistance, but who cares?
And the preparations for the operation are also reminiscent of a particularly amusing farce: the feverish debate among the septet of ministers; the deployment of the Masada unit, the prison service's commando unit that specializes in penetrating prison cells; naval commando fighters with backup from the special police anti-terror unit and the army's Oketz canine unit; a special detention facility set up at the Ashdod port; and the electronic shield that was supposed to block broadcast of the ship's capture and the detention of those on board.
And all of this in the face of what? A few hundred international activists, mostly people of conscience whose reputation Israeli propaganda has sought to besmirch. They are really mostly people who care, which is their right and obligation, even if the siege doesn't concern us at all. Yes, this flotilla is indeed a political provocation, and what is protest action if not political provocation?
And facing them on the seas has been the Israeli ship of fools, floating but not knowing where or why. Why detain people? That's how it is. Why a siege? That's how it is. It's like the Noam Chomsky affair all over again, but big time this time. Of course the peace flotilla will not bring peace, and it won't even manage to reach the Gaza shore. The action plan has included dragging the ships to Ashdod port, but it has again dragged us to the shores of stupidity and wrongdoing. Again we will be portrayed not only as the ones that have blocked assistance, but also as fools who do everything to even further undermine our own standing. If that was one of the goals of the peace flotilla's organizers, they won big yesterday.
Five years ago, the noted Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, who is a Jerusalem Prize laureate, after concluding his visit to Israel, said the Israeli occupation was approaching its grotesque phase. Over the weekend Vargas Llosa, who considers himself a friend of Israel, was present to see that that phase has since reached new heights of absurdity.
By Gideon Levy for Ha'aretz via Informationclearinghouse
The Israeli propaganda machine has reached new highs its hopeless frenzy. It has distributed menus from Gaza restaurants, along with false information. It embarrassed itself by entering a futile public relations battle, which it might have been better off never starting. They want to maintain the ineffective, illegal and unethical siege on Gaza and not let the "peace flotilla" dock off the Gaza coast? There is nothing to explain, certainly not to a world that will never buy the web of explanations, lies and tactics.
Only in Israel do people still accept these tainted goods. Reminiscent of a pre-battle ritual from ancient times, the chorus cheered without asking questions. White uniformed soldiers got ready in our name. Spokesmen delivered their deceptive explanations in our name. The grotesque scene is at our expense. And virtually none of us have disturbed the performance.
The chorus has been singing songs of falsehood and lies. We are all in the chorus saying there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We are all part of the chorus claiming the occupation of Gaza has ended, and that the flotilla is a violent attack on Israeli sovereignty - the cement is for building bunkers and the convoy is being funded by the Turkish Muslim Brotherhood. The Israeli siege of Gaza will topple Hamas and free Gilad Shalit. Foreign Ministry spokesman Yossi Levy, one of the most ridiculous of the propagandists, outdid himself when he unblinkingly proclaimed that the aid convoy headed toward Gaza was a violation of international law. Right. Exactly.
It's not the siege that is illegal, but rather the flotilla. It wasn't enough to distribute menus from Gaza restaurants through the Prime Minister's Office, (including the highly recommended beef Stroganoff and cream of spinach soup ) and flaunt the quantities of fuel that the Israeli army spokesman says Israel is shipping in. The propaganda operation has tried to sell us and the world the idea that the occupation of Gaza is over, but in any case, Israel has legal authority to bar humanitarian aid. All one pack of lies.
Only one voice spoiled the illusory celebration a little: an Amnesty International report on the situation in Gaza. Four out of five Gaza residents need humanitarian assistance. Hundreds are waiting to the point of embarrassment to be allowed out for medical treatment, and 28 already have died. This is despite all the Israeli army spokesman's briefings on the absence of a siege and the presence of assistance, but who cares?
And the preparations for the operation are also reminiscent of a particularly amusing farce: the feverish debate among the septet of ministers; the deployment of the Masada unit, the prison service's commando unit that specializes in penetrating prison cells; naval commando fighters with backup from the special police anti-terror unit and the army's Oketz canine unit; a special detention facility set up at the Ashdod port; and the electronic shield that was supposed to block broadcast of the ship's capture and the detention of those on board.
And all of this in the face of what? A few hundred international activists, mostly people of conscience whose reputation Israeli propaganda has sought to besmirch. They are really mostly people who care, which is their right and obligation, even if the siege doesn't concern us at all. Yes, this flotilla is indeed a political provocation, and what is protest action if not political provocation?
And facing them on the seas has been the Israeli ship of fools, floating but not knowing where or why. Why detain people? That's how it is. Why a siege? That's how it is. It's like the Noam Chomsky affair all over again, but big time this time. Of course the peace flotilla will not bring peace, and it won't even manage to reach the Gaza shore. The action plan has included dragging the ships to Ashdod port, but it has again dragged us to the shores of stupidity and wrongdoing. Again we will be portrayed not only as the ones that have blocked assistance, but also as fools who do everything to even further undermine our own standing. If that was one of the goals of the peace flotilla's organizers, they won big yesterday.
Five years ago, the noted Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, who is a Jerusalem Prize laureate, after concluding his visit to Israel, said the Israeli occupation was approaching its grotesque phase. Over the weekend Vargas Llosa, who considers himself a friend of Israel, was present to see that that phase has since reached new heights of absurdity.
Hebrew Culture for Dummies by Gilad Atzmon
by Gilad Atzmon
In the last few days Israel was singled out by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation conference's decision to note Israel as a country's whose facilities must be regulated as "fundamentally wrong and duplicitous." This happens for a reason. As much as Israel insists to operate as a modernised high-tech Jewish Ghetto, it also persists in being the biggest threat to world peace. Seemingly, nations are starting to show some real signs of fatigue of the Jewish state and its collective lunacy. But the bad news from Israel doesn't stop just there. The Sunday Times reports today that Israel stations nuclear missile in the Gulf near the Iranian coastline. This doesn't leave much room for doubt. Following the suicidal Massada narrative, the Jewish state is now doing everything it can to escalate the situation in the Middle East into a nuclear world war.
This brings us back to the Free Gaza Flotilla that aims to deliver necessary aid to the besieged Gazans. It doesn't take a genius to gather that in addition to its humanitarian mission, the Free Gaza Flotilla has a simple symbolic role. It is there to direct world attention to the unbearably grim situation in Gaza. Gaza is the biggest jail in the history of humanity. It is a concentration camp for 1.5 million Palestinians, many of them 1948 refugees. The Gazans have been living in a blockade for four years. They are subject to air raids, warfare with WMDs, they are starved and face severe shortages of water, petrol, electricity and medical supplies.
The Flotilla should also be realised as a symbol of world fatigue of Israeli barbarism. As such, the Flotilla can only win. It will win if Israel let it through to accomplish its crucial humanitarian mission but it will also win if Israel stops it off shore, detains its participants and sends some of them to jail as Israel has vowed to do. Israel can only lose here and its leadership may want to think twice on how to minimise the damage they are about to inflict upon themselves.
The Jewish state is very engaged with Jewish history. Yet, Israelis have managed to draw the very wrong historic lesson. Rather than becoming a compassionate and merciful nation, Israel has become an ultimate merciless evil. It locks the indigenous population of the land in concentration camps. It existentially threatens the entire region with its nuclear arsenal. It indeed looks as if the Jewish state gave up on the possibility to become a nation amongst nations. It gave up on humanism.
Following the astonishing statistical figure of 94% of Israelis supporting the 2009 genocidal assault on Gaza, the Israeli leadership gathers that inflicting pain on others translates into political popularity in the Jewish State's street. Currently, the Israelis seem to gain a lot of pleasure from watching their kosher Navy chasing cement and paper on its way to Gaza. As I write these words, 6 boats are making their way to Gaza. Their humanitarian mission is sacred. This Flotilla is also a symbol of our resentment towards Israeli barbarism. Israel better listen to the nations now because the world's ability to endure tolerance to Zionist brutality is running out fast.
In the last few days Israel was singled out by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation conference's decision to note Israel as a country's whose facilities must be regulated as "fundamentally wrong and duplicitous." This happens for a reason. As much as Israel insists to operate as a modernised high-tech Jewish Ghetto, it also persists in being the biggest threat to world peace. Seemingly, nations are starting to show some real signs of fatigue of the Jewish state and its collective lunacy. But the bad news from Israel doesn't stop just there. The Sunday Times reports today that Israel stations nuclear missile in the Gulf near the Iranian coastline. This doesn't leave much room for doubt. Following the suicidal Massada narrative, the Jewish state is now doing everything it can to escalate the situation in the Middle East into a nuclear world war.
This brings us back to the Free Gaza Flotilla that aims to deliver necessary aid to the besieged Gazans. It doesn't take a genius to gather that in addition to its humanitarian mission, the Free Gaza Flotilla has a simple symbolic role. It is there to direct world attention to the unbearably grim situation in Gaza. Gaza is the biggest jail in the history of humanity. It is a concentration camp for 1.5 million Palestinians, many of them 1948 refugees. The Gazans have been living in a blockade for four years. They are subject to air raids, warfare with WMDs, they are starved and face severe shortages of water, petrol, electricity and medical supplies.
The Flotilla should also be realised as a symbol of world fatigue of Israeli barbarism. As such, the Flotilla can only win. It will win if Israel let it through to accomplish its crucial humanitarian mission but it will also win if Israel stops it off shore, detains its participants and sends some of them to jail as Israel has vowed to do. Israel can only lose here and its leadership may want to think twice on how to minimise the damage they are about to inflict upon themselves.The Jewish state is very engaged with Jewish history. Yet, Israelis have managed to draw the very wrong historic lesson. Rather than becoming a compassionate and merciful nation, Israel has become an ultimate merciless evil. It locks the indigenous population of the land in concentration camps. It existentially threatens the entire region with its nuclear arsenal. It indeed looks as if the Jewish state gave up on the possibility to become a nation amongst nations. It gave up on humanism.
Following the astonishing statistical figure of 94% of Israelis supporting the 2009 genocidal assault on Gaza, the Israeli leadership gathers that inflicting pain on others translates into political popularity in the Jewish State's street. Currently, the Israelis seem to gain a lot of pleasure from watching their kosher Navy chasing cement and paper on its way to Gaza. As I write these words, 6 boats are making their way to Gaza. Their humanitarian mission is sacred. This Flotilla is also a symbol of our resentment towards Israeli barbarism. Israel better listen to the nations now because the world's ability to endure tolerance to Zionist brutality is running out fast.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Freedom Flotilla is approaching Gaza!
Follow all the developments live by clicking on this link:
"Join us as we travel to Gaza. Witness what happens on board the boats. Watch our videos everyday. Stay tuned for WitnessGaza"
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Humanitarian Flotilla Vs Evil Navy
by Gilad Atzmon
Haaretz reports today that Israel will attempt to block the humanitarian Freedom Flotilla heading toward Gaza. However, according to the Israeli paper, the humanitarian cargo would then be unloaded, inspected and sent to Gaza overland via the United Nations.
Typical for Israel, it tries to win a lost battle. On the one hand, by stopping the flotilla Israel attempts to maintain its regional status as an omnipotent super power that controls the land, the air and the sea. On the other hand, the Jewish state pathetically also wants to evoke sympathy for being ‘sensitive’ to humanitarian issues and the Palestinian plight.
The Israeli government fails to gather that the tide has changed. We see through them. We all know what the Jewish state stands for. We all know about the devastation in Gaza, we know about the siege, the destruction and the crimes against humanity. We all watch the Israeli separation wall cutting through Palestinian family's houses and olive orchards. We also follow the racist ethnic cleansing in East Jerusalem. The Israelis better save us from their spins and manipulations.
In case the Israelis still fail to see it, they are dealing this time with an international flotilla that is sailing under Turkish and Greek flags, a fleet that carries 800 enthusiast activists from all over the world. The Israelis are dealing with peace lovers who are determined to break through the siege and deliver medical aid, cement, paper and food. On the deck we have 35 European parliamentarians who must have decided to say NO to Zionist fund raisers. This flotilla is a clear signal to Israel that the game is over. Israel is now all but officially isolated. All that is left for Israel is to come to terms with its true nature: a shameless racist, murderous and terrorist state.
Militarily and politically Israel locked itself into a limbo. For the Israelis it is a “no win situation. The Israelis may have the military means to stop the flotilla from accomplishing its humanitarian mission. The Israeli Navy can easily block the flotilla's way, it can also impose an electronic blackout around the ships, such an act may lead to the loss of communication with the humanitarian mission. Israel would then have to act militarily.
Yet, taking control over 8 ships and 800 activists armed with relentless will and backed by many cameras is not going to serve the Israeli interest. If Israel dare use force, this will backfire. We also have to bear in mind that this time the Turkish Government is closely monitoring the situation and openly supporting the mission (350 Turkish nationals are onboard these ships - VS). Israeli aggression at sea could lead to an evolving incident with some unpredictable consequences. Israel better give up on any attempt to stop the flotilla.
On a further note, the Israeli Government and the Israeli people better start to come to terms with the fact that the game is soon to be over. The Zionist project and the Israeli state is in a state of moral bankruptcy. From that perspective the flotilla is not just a humanitarian mission, it is actually a reminder for all of us of the true meaning of humanism.
Haaretz reports today that Israel will attempt to block the humanitarian Freedom Flotilla heading toward Gaza. However, according to the Israeli paper, the humanitarian cargo would then be unloaded, inspected and sent to Gaza overland via the United Nations.
Typical for Israel, it tries to win a lost battle. On the one hand, by stopping the flotilla Israel attempts to maintain its regional status as an omnipotent super power that controls the land, the air and the sea. On the other hand, the Jewish state pathetically also wants to evoke sympathy for being ‘sensitive’ to humanitarian issues and the Palestinian plight.
The Israeli government fails to gather that the tide has changed. We see through them. We all know what the Jewish state stands for. We all know about the devastation in Gaza, we know about the siege, the destruction and the crimes against humanity. We all watch the Israeli separation wall cutting through Palestinian family's houses and olive orchards. We also follow the racist ethnic cleansing in East Jerusalem. The Israelis better save us from their spins and manipulations.
In case the Israelis still fail to see it, they are dealing this time with an international flotilla that is sailing under Turkish and Greek flags, a fleet that carries 800 enthusiast activists from all over the world. The Israelis are dealing with peace lovers who are determined to break through the siege and deliver medical aid, cement, paper and food. On the deck we have 35 European parliamentarians who must have decided to say NO to Zionist fund raisers. This flotilla is a clear signal to Israel that the game is over. Israel is now all but officially isolated. All that is left for Israel is to come to terms with its true nature: a shameless racist, murderous and terrorist state.
Militarily and politically Israel locked itself into a limbo. For the Israelis it is a “no win situation. The Israelis may have the military means to stop the flotilla from accomplishing its humanitarian mission. The Israeli Navy can easily block the flotilla's way, it can also impose an electronic blackout around the ships, such an act may lead to the loss of communication with the humanitarian mission. Israel would then have to act militarily.
Yet, taking control over 8 ships and 800 activists armed with relentless will and backed by many cameras is not going to serve the Israeli interest. If Israel dare use force, this will backfire. We also have to bear in mind that this time the Turkish Government is closely monitoring the situation and openly supporting the mission (350 Turkish nationals are onboard these ships - VS). Israeli aggression at sea could lead to an evolving incident with some unpredictable consequences. Israel better give up on any attempt to stop the flotilla.
On a further note, the Israeli Government and the Israeli people better start to come to terms with the fact that the game is soon to be over. The Zionist project and the Israeli state is in a state of moral bankruptcy. From that perspective the flotilla is not just a humanitarian mission, it is actually a reminder for all of us of the true meaning of humanism.
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