THREE WOMEN STILL HELD ‘HOSTAGE’ ON AMERICAN BOAT TO GAZA

July 16, 2011 a

Athens, July 16, 2011 - Day 16 of the imprisonment of the U.S. Boat to Gaza, The Audacity of Hope, at a U.S. Embassy shared pier near Piraeus, Greece, just outside of Athens.

The U.S. Embassy has done absolutely nothing to help us in 100 + degree heat at a U.S. Government shared pier!  No shore power, no alternatives provided (like another pier). No consular visits to see the conditions for themselves. NOTHING, ABSOULTELY NOTHING!!!

This weekend, please call the State Department 202-647-4000 and ask for the 24 hour Emergency Operations Center. Tell them that 3 people are still enduring the inhumane, dangerous conditions on the boat. 

All are women–2 Americans and 1 UK citizen.  They are:
Regina Carey (http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/07/06/18683952.php) from San Rafael, California, is a consultant specializing in strategic planning and planned giving. In her lifetime commitment to human rights she has focused her time and energy to the Rights of the Indigenous (original people), Water Rights and Peace. She is a co-founder of the Black/Jewish Dialogue Group in Marin County, California. She has been an active participant in the World Social Forum and the UN Conference Against Racism (Durban, South Africa).

Crew member Jenny Linnell, is a British citizen from Devon, England, and was a Free Gaza crew member in 2008 on the first boat that broke the naval blockade of Gaza.  She stayed in Gaza for a year and worked with the International Solidarity Movement.  Her exit from Gaza into Egypt a year later took over 6 weeks because she had arrived by boat. She holds a “Day Skipper” license from the Royal Yachting Association and founded a sailing collective called “Learning the Ropes”. 

Ann Wright is a former U.S. diplomat with 16 years in the State Department and Deputy Chief of Mission (Deputy Ambassador) at 4 U..S Embassies (Sierra Leone, Micronesia, Afghanistan and Mongolia) and who got the State Department’s award for Heroism for her actions protecting civilians during the civil war in Sierra Leone. She resigned in March, 2003 in opposition to Bush’s war on Iraq.

Press Release FROM

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2011/07/16/three-women-still-held-hostage-on-american-boat-to-gaza/

Did Israeli hacker abuse 100 US girls?

American-Israeli cooperation leads to arrest of central Israel man on suspicion of blackmailing some 100 US girls; suspect allegedly forced victims to perform indecent acts on their webcams

Eli Senyor

Published:  07.14.11, 20:42 / Israel News

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A central Israel resident in his 20s was detained on suspicion of hacking the computers of US girls and threatening to circulate their intimate photos, unless they perform indecent acts on their webcam.

The story was cleared for publication Thursday.
Almost 100 girls aged 12 to 17 were allegedly victimized by the suspect. He is believed to have hacked their computers, seeking embarrassing photographs and later approaching them on online social networks and threatening them.

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  The man allegedly told the girls that should they fail to comply with his requests, he would circulate the photos among their acquaintances and relatives, and at their schools.
The girls, who were alarmed by the threats, complied with the suspect's demands.

US may seek extradition

A complaint about the man's actions was relayed several weeks ago by US authorities to the office of Itzik Shopen, who heads the computer crimes department in the elite Lahav 433 unit of the Israel Police.
The Americans had no information about the suspect's identity or the number of victims, but Israeli investigators used the details handed over from the US to launch an investigation and were able to trace the man.

The suspect was arrested at the beginning of the week and his remand was extended until Friday. Israeli officials are now awaiting instructions from the US Administration, which may seek the man's extradition in order to indict him in America. Police officials say that the Americans intend to indict him as though he physically committed the indecent acts, even though there was no physical contact between him and the victims.

  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4095679,00.html

• Published 18:07 14.07.11
• Latest update 18:07 14.07.11

Israelis and Arabs to march in Jerusalem in support of Palestinian independence

Organizers say thousands expected to take part in Friday's 'March for Independence,' the first such Jewish-Arab event in 20 years.

By Nir Hasson Tags: Sheikh Jarrah East Jerusalem Palestinian state

Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians are expected to take part in a march on Friday, titled 'March for Independence' calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state.

The organizers of the march said that the recognition of Palestine as an independent state should come before negotiations, and not as a result.
The event represents a rare cooperation between the left-wing Solidarity movement and the popular committees of East Jerusalem. The organizers claim that this is the first Jewish-Arab event of its kind to be held in Jerusalem since 1991.

	Left-wing activists demonstrating in Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem Mar. 27, 2010
	Photo by: Emil Salman

The march will begin in Jaffa Gate and end in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, the opposite route taken by right-wing activists during Jerusalem Day last month.

The event is coordinated with the police, and the organizers have pledged to prevent any violence from breaking out, despite right-wing counter-protests expected to take place.

"After years of Israel speaking about peace and building settlements, checkpoints, walls and outposts, the young generations from both sides are starting to understand that they are being duped," said Hillel Ben Sasson from the Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement.

He added that "in Jerusalem of all places, the heart of the conflict,
Israelis and Palestinians will march together calling for independence and for an end to the running amok of the Netanyahu government, which is leading us to a political abyss."
 
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israelis-and-arabs-to-march-in-jerusalem-in-support-of-palestinian-independence-1.373239

Friday, July 15 2011|Dahlia Scheindlin

Photo Essay: East Jerusalem march for Palestinian independence

The demonstration today in Jerusalem in support of Palestinian independence was attended by anywhere from 2000 to 4500 people (according to a Facebook post), who marched from the Old City’s Jaffa Gate to Sheikh Jarrah. I was there and organizers announced 3,000 attendees at the end, but Channel 2’s evening news reported “over 1000.”  I suppose they’re playing it safe, but after tramping through burning sun on a winding walk through Jerusalem’s famous Friday crush, with people singing, drumming, cheering, dancing and laughing, that conservative estimate has a cynical ring.
Here are a few photos.

Leaving Jaffa Gate to march toward Sheikh Jarrah in support of Palestinian independence, 14 July, 2011 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

The goal of this demonstration was very clear: The creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. Many expressed a clear demand to the Israeli leadership: recognize that state. Stickers such as this one were common – for some reason, they tended to appear on people’s backs.

"Bibi, meet (also: recognize) Palestine" - Sticker calling on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to recognize a Palestinian state, Solidarity Movement march in support of Palestinian independence, Jerusalem, 15 July, 2011 (Dahlia Scheindlin)

Typical for Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement’s Friday demonstrations, flags and good cheer were in abundance; but by design, Israeli flags are very rare.

Solidarity march in support of Palestinian independence, Jerusalem, 15 July 2011 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

Solidarity march in support of Palestinian independence, Jerusalem, 15 July, 2011 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

A lone "Two people/two states" sign at the Solidarity Movement march in support of Palestinian independence, Jerusalem, 15 July 2011 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

"Israeli - Palestine, two states for two peoples" sign at Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement march in support of Palestinian independence, Jerusalem, 15 July, 2011 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

Personally, I think it’s time for all Israelis to realize that the creation of an independent Palestinian state is in Israel’s best interest. The Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement can do what it wants, but wouldn’t it be powerful if a far greater range of Israelis recognized this logic, and joined our demand for pragmatic decisions from their leaders, including in the name of Israel and with Israeli flags?
At various points, the march highlighted the gap I sometimes feel between the activists and the East Jerusalem residents who observe, or sometimes cheer – but it feels as if they aren’t quite a part of this struggle.

Parent and children crossing the street past demonstrators, near Damascus Gate, Old City, Jerusalem, during Solidarity Movement march in support of Palestinian independence, 15 July, 2011 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

Youngsters cheering marchers from the Solidarity Movement march in support of Palestinian independence, Jerusalem, 15 July, 2011 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

Indeed, toward the end, as the marchers – who are largely Israeli – gathered in the traditional square in Sheikh Jarrah, a group of Palestinian teenagers gazed awkwardly at them. When I asked one of them if he was part of the demonstration, Muhammad, 18 years old, said he was not – he was just living his life. “I’ve gotten used to Israelis,” he said. Although Palestinian statehood would be a good thing, he responded when pressed, he didn’t have time to join the demonstration, because he had a coffee shop to run.

The demonstration also received support from some very special ladies, at least I thought they were special:

Women demonstrating at the Solidarity Movement march in support of Palestinian independence, Jerusalem, 15 July, 2011 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

A number of marchers called on the international community to join the struggle.

Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement march in support of Palestinian independence, Jerusalem, 15 July, 2011 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

Solidarity Movement march for Palestinian independence, 15 July, 2011 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

Solidarity march in support for Palestinian independence, Jerusalem, 15 July, 2011 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

There were not too many politicians to be found. Haaretz reported that Zehava Galon was there. The only MK I managed to find was Dov Khenin, of Hadash.

Dov Khenin at Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement march in support of Palestinian independence, Jerusalem, 15 July, 2011 (Photo: Dahlia Scheindlin)

Maybe there were many other pragmatic politicians there, but the actual crowd size was so large that they were swallowed up in the masses. Maybe; but it’s not likely. For now, it seems, vision, activism and a way out of the quagmire will be left to the few thousand Israelis and Palestinians who are willing to confront hot Fridays and apathy to demand solutions.

http://972mag.com/photo-gallery-from-sheikh-jarrah-solidarity-movement-march-for-palestinian-independence/

Israeli Organisations’ Statement of Support for the Gaza-Bound Freedom Flotilla

July 4, 2011 by freedomflotillanews Leave a Comment

We, Israeli organizations, Palestinians and Jews, declare our support for the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla and its declared goals: to break the Israeli siege on Gaza – both on the sea and land – which represents part of the ongoing Israeli occupation.

We denounce the slanderous campaign of the government of Israel against the flotilla and its participants, and warn against the government’s use of these lies as justification for additional violent actions against the participants of this legitimate political protest.

The flotilla to Gaza is a brave act of political protest, which expresses solidarity with the Palestinian people and the opposition throughout the world to Israeli occupation policies, the ongoing siege on Gaza and the collective punishment of civilians.

Today the Gaza Strip is a massive prison for its 1.5 million residents, for whom basic rights are denied. The right of the Palestinians in Gaza to maintain direct contact with the outside world, their right to open their port, their right to receive and send ships, their right to import and export goods and to develop their economy, precisely as for Israel these rights exist. The state of Israel must end its direct and indirect control over the Gaza Strip, as part of its obligations grounded in international law and to end its occupation regime over the Palestinian Territory and to permit the independence of Palestine.

We emphasise that in contrast to government declarations, the very act of the flotilla is a non-violent one, and in case of an attack by the army the activists are preparing for opposition that is also to be non-violent. In an announcement from one of the members of the international coordinating team of the flotilla, which was issued in response to claims of the security apparatus in Israel, it is explicitly noted that “there are no weapons on any of the ships, and on board all of them are tens of international journalists who can attest to this. The passengers undergo training in non-violence and sign a commitment not to use violence.”

We denounce attempts of the government of Israel to create an atmosphere of fear of the flotilla and to discourage participation in it. The government of Israel wishes to create an unfounded atmosphere of fear through knowingly spreading lies about the so-called preparations for violent resistance to kill soldiers, and the intention of peace activists participating in the flotilla to bring weapons with them to Gaza; in parallel, it is exerting unprecedented pressure on international journalists, lest they join the flotilla in order to cover it. This media campaign, intended to sow fear and hatred in the Israeli public, further arouses suspicion that an additional goal is to justify the harsh and dangerous results which are liable to occur in case of a violent takeover of the ships and harm to their passengers.

We strongly denounce the decision of the government of Greece to bar departure of the vessels from its ports to Gaza. This decision contradicts international laws concerning freedom of navigation, and is tinged with extreme unreasonableness. From reports in the media about the contacts between the governments of Israel and Greece, the impression is received that Greece is succumbing to unacceptable political pressures from the government in Israel.

We call on the Greek government to immediately annul the order prohibiting sailing of the flotilla vessels from its ports and to allow their departure whilst ensuring the safety of the passengers and ships.

We call on Israel’s government and security forces to permit the ships to enter Gaza and unload their humanitarian cargo in peace, and hope the ships arrive safely to their destination.

We call on the government of Israel to immediately end the siege of Gaza.

For additional details:
Adam Keller: 054 2340749
Yaakov Manor: 050 5733276
Alternative Information Center (AIC)  * Coalition of Women for Peace * Combatants for Peace * Gush Shalom * Hithabrut-Tarabut * Israeli Committee against House Demolitions (ICAHD) * New Profile * Ta’ayush: Arab-Jewish Partnership * Yesh Gvul
source: AIC

http://freedomflotillanews.wordpress.com/2011/07/04/israeli-organisations-statement-of-support-for-the-gaza-bound-freedom-flotilla/