From: William Gladys <william.gladys@tiscali.co.uk>
Date: Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 4:57 PM
Subject: Fw: Support growing for Gaza flotilla
To: world_Politics@googlegroups.com
http://www.thespec.com/opinion/article/563294--support-growing-for-gaza-flotilla
Wendy Goldsmith, and Etab Lotayef Thu Jul 14 2011
Support growing for Gaza flotilla
Support growing for Gaza flotilla Passengers and coast guard are seen on the deck of the Canadian boat Tahrir, shortly after the boat was returned to port by the coast guard in Greece on July 4. Canadian activists decided to put off their voyage for now.
Canadian Press File Photo
We write in reference to an article published on this page July 8 under the headline "Humanitarian need or provocation," submitted on behalf of the Hamilton Jewish Federation.
A year ago, in what we believe was an act of piracy, Israel attacked the first Freedom Flotilla in international waters. Many on board the six ships were injured. Nine were killed. The ships were forcefully taken to Israeli ports. Hundreds of human rights activists on board were imprisoned, then deported. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of personal belongings, electronic and audiovisual equipment were confiscated and never returned. The Turkish vessel, Mavi Marmora, was so badly damaged by the Israelis it still could not be sailed this year.
All that Israel, the world's fourth-largest military power, came up with to justify its criminal actions were some kitchen knives and pipes it presented to the media as proof of the danger the flotilla presented to its security. World public opinion shifted against Israel, not because anyone set out to demonize the country, but rather because of Israel's own unjust and illegal acts.
As for the humanitarian aid that the flotilla carried, who knows? The world never saw an independent report detailing what happened to it.
Israel's actions made the organizers of the first Freedom Flotilla (human rights activists from a dozen countries) more determined to reach Gaza than ever before. Last summer, Canadians from coast to coast embarked on an endeavour to have a Canadian boat participate in the second flotilla. A total of $340,000 was raised, with not a penny from government. $15,000 was raised in Hamilton. No contributor to the Canadian Boat to Gaza received tax exemption for their contribution, yet contributions continued to pour in.
Why? Because thousands of Canadians believed in their personal responsibility toward the 1.5 million prisoners in the world's largest open-air prison called the Gaza Strip. Our goal has always been to end the blockade and bring freedom, not only aid, to the prisoners in a peaceful and non-violent manner. So, yes, the flotilla is not only a humanitarian gesture but also a political initiative.
Nonetheless, baseless allegations were thrown at us: that we're aiding terrorists, that we have violent intentions, that we are smuggling arms and that there are other ways to get the aid to Gaza.
The last one begs the question: If there are other ways readily available to send aid to Gaza why, according to UN reports, has the situation in Gaza been deteriorating year after year? This is a question we would like Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird to answer before he repeats his "advice" that our mission is "provocative."
What is provocative is the Harper government's cancellation of all aid to the seriously undernourished Gazan children, its defunding of UNRWA relief for all Palestinian refugees and its one-sided policy of support for Israel in general and Israel's illegal blockade of Gaza, in particular.
That blockade is a flagrant violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention on the treatment of occupations under "effective" occupation. Canada, as one of "high-consenting parties" to that Convention, has a duty to use all of its means to end this crime against humanity.
As for arms, we have begged the UN, the EU, various governments and organizations to inspect our cargo. None would.
The Canadian Boat to Gaza, Tahrir, was intercepted by the Greek Coast Guard before it could reach international waters and forcefully returned to port. But we know we reached the hearts of Canadians through media and social networking, because many people across the country, who were unaware of the situation in Gaza and Palestine, took notice and joined our struggle to let the Tahrir sail. For instance, there was a rally in support of the Tahrir at Hamilton's Federal Building. The popular movement is growing and will not be stopped.
The Tahrir made further attempts to sail but was repeatedly blocked by Greek authorities so will now join its international partners to regroup and create a new plan for the very near future. We have broken no laws and our boat is properly insured and seaworthy. Despite Israel's attempt to extend its blockade of Gaza to Greece, Greek authorities have no legal right to detain the vessel.
Many of our on-board delegates, and those representing other countries involved in Freedom Flotilla II, have had to return to their busy lives in Canada and elsewhere, but they do so with a strengthened resolve to work tirelessly toward a free Palestine.
They well know, like all human rights defenders before us, that we will prevail without the need to carry or use weapons because we have justice and history on our side.
Wendy Goldsmith is a peace activist from London, Ont.; Etab Lotayef an engineer from Montreal. Both are national organizers for the Canadian Boat to Gaza (tahrir.ca). This article was submitted on behalf of the Hamilton Coalition To Stop The War.
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