Israel navy intercepts boat with ex-U.S. Rep. McKinney - Demonstration WED 4-6PM
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xprophecy
Jun 30, 2009, 9:36:15 PM6/30/09
to Cynthia Squad
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- The Israeli navy took control of a boat reported to
be carrying humanitarian aid, a former U.S. congresswoman and a Nobel
laureate Tuesday after the boat violated an Israeli blockade and
crossed into Gazan waters, the Israel Defense Forces said.
The boat's crew included former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, according
to the Free Gaza Movement, a human rights group that sent the boat it
calls "Spirit of Humanity" from Cyprus.
Along with McKinney, who served six terms in the House of
Representatives from Georgia and was the Green Party's presidential
nominee in 2008, Israeli authorities took 20 people into custody, the
group said.
Also aboard, the group said, was Mairead Maguire, who co-founded a
group that worked for peace in Northern Ireland. Maguire and co-
founder Betty Williams received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for
their work.
IDF said the Israeli navy contacted the boat, which it called the
Arion, while it was still at sea and warned the crew they would not be
allowed to enter Gazan waters "because of security risks in the area
and the existing naval blockade."
Disregarding all warnings, the boat entered Gazan coastal waters, IDF
said. An Israeli navy force intercepted, boarded and took control of
the boat, directing it toward Ashdod, Israel, IDF said.
The boat's crew, the military said, would "be handed over to the
proper authorities."
Don't Miss
Without naming individuals on the boat, IDF confirmed the incident it
described was the same one detailed by the Free Gaza Movement.
According to the Free Gaza group, McKinney said, "This is an
outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat was not
in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza
Strip," before authorities confiscated cell phones.
"President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and
reconstruction supplies, and that's exactly what we tried to do. We're
asking the international community to demand our release so we can
resume our journey," McKinney said, according to the group
IDF said the aid aboard the boat would be delivered to Gaza "subject
to authorization."
"Any organization or country that wishes to transfer humanitarian aid
to the Gaza Strip can legally do so via the established crossings
between Israel and the Gaza Strip with prior coordination," IDF said.
Free Gaza said the Spirit of Humanity voyage is the eighth such trip
the group has launched. Five succeeded, the group said, but the
Israeli military stopped attempts in January and December 2008.
CNN World
updated 3 hours, 5 minutes ago (current time: 30 Jun 2009 6:21PM PT)
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/30/israel.gaza.mckinney/index.html
* * * *
https://twitter.com/FreeMcKinney
* * * *
Green Party: President Obama and the US State Dept. must demand
release of Cynthia McKinney and 20 other human rights activists on
Free Gaza relief boat seized by Israeli gunboats
• The Free Gaza’s ‘Spirit of Humanity’ was delivering medical and
other supplies following Obama’s call for relief to wartorn Gaza; the
boat was in international waters
WASHINGTON, DC — Green Party leaders are calling on the White House
and US State Department to intervene and demand the immediate release
of 21 human rights activists, including former US Rep. Cynthia
McKinney and Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire, who were taken prisoner
by the Israeli navy after gunboats surrounded and seized the Free Gaza
Movement relief boat ‘Spirit of Humanity’ on Monday.
“This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our
boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission
to the Gaza Strip,” said Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party’s 2008
candidate for President of the United States. “President Obama just
told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and
that’s exactly what we tried to do. We’re asking the international
community to demand our release so we can resume our journey.”
Read Cynthia McKinney’s latest statement here:
http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/hope-fleet-news/970-call-off-your-attack-dogs-cynthia-mckinney
Ms. McKinney had earlier sent appeals to President Obama and the State
Department for assurances of protection for the relief mission. The
Spirit of Humanity was sailing in international waters when it was
seized. Greens stressed that the relief boat represents no threat to
Israel and must be allowed to continue its voyage to Gaza.
For more information and updates, see the Free Gaza Movement web site
(http://www.freegaza.org), including the latest release on the seizure
of the relief boat (http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/hope-fleet-news/
976-israel-attacks-justice-boat-kidnaps-human-rights-workers-
confiscates-medicine-toys-and-olive-trees).
For communications and updates from Cynthia McKinney, visit her Green
Party page (http://www.gp.org/cynthia/index.php) and blog (http://
dignity.ning.com).
The Spirit of Humanity was carrying medical supplies, cement, olive
trees, and children’s toys to Gaza after the Israeli invasion in
December and January damaged or destroyed 50,000 homes, 800 industrial
properties and 200 schools damaged or destroyed, 39 mosques, and two
churches. The supplies were confiscated by the Israeli navy.
The Green Party of the United States condemned the invasion and
massacre of Palestinians and has endorsed the call for boycott,
divestment, and sanctions against Israel until the Israeli government
guarantees full human rights, including political rights and
democracy, for all Palestinians and non-Jewish Israelis.
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
• International Committee of the Green Party: http://www.gp.org/committees/intl
Green Party releases:
• “Breaking news: Cynthia McKinney aboard detained Free Gaza Movement
relief boat,” June 25, 2009 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=228
• “Greens join Global Day of Action for Boycott, Divestment and
Sanctions on March 30 to end the Israeli occupation,” March 26, 2009
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=192
• “Green Party: Israel-Palestine truce must include end of Israeli
occupation and observance of international law or violence is likely
to resume,” January 19, 2009 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=169
2009 Annual National Meeting of the Green Party, Durham, NC, July
23-26 http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM
• North Carolina page http://ncgreenparty.org/2009-ANM.html
• Media credentialing page http://www.gp.org/forms/media
Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United
States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION
Against Israeli Piracy & Kidnapping
Free Cynthia McKinney and all kidnapped human rights workers!
WEDNESDAY 4-6 PM
at the
ISRAELI MISSION
800 Second Avenue
(Second Avenue @ 43rd St.)
Last night, Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free
Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights
workers from 11 countries, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire
and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. The passengers and
crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.
The seizure of humanitarian supplies and abduction of human rights
workers is an act of piracy, a crime under international law. When
the boat was attacked, it was not in Israeli waters and was on a human
rights mission to Gaza. Israel’s deliberate and premeditated attack
on an unarmed boat in international waters is a clear violation of
international law. Join us tomorrow from 4 to 6 pm at the Israeli
Mission to demand an immediate and unconditional release of the SPIRIT
OF HUMANITY, all 21 human rights workers, and the humanitarian
supplies.
According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report
released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are “trapped in
despair.” Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier
during Israel’s December/January massacre are still without shelter
despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses
to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The
report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of
their patients due to Israel’s disruption of medical supplies.
Let the Humanitarian Aid through!
Free Cynthia McKinney and all kidnapped human rights workers!
Stop the blockade of Gaza!
- - - -
Davey D's Hip Hop Corner
30 Jun 2009
http://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/cynthia-mckinney-arrested-detained-by-isreali-government-free-cynthia-mckinney/?awesm=a2a.me_RPk&utm_campaign=addtoany&utm_content=a2a&utm_medium=a2a.me-twitter&utm_source=direct-a2a.me
be carrying humanitarian aid, a former U.S. congresswoman and a Nobel
laureate Tuesday after the boat violated an Israeli blockade and
crossed into Gazan waters, the Israel Defense Forces said.
The boat's crew included former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, according
to the Free Gaza Movement, a human rights group that sent the boat it
calls "Spirit of Humanity" from Cyprus.
Along with McKinney, who served six terms in the House of
Representatives from Georgia and was the Green Party's presidential
nominee in 2008, Israeli authorities took 20 people into custody, the
group said.
Also aboard, the group said, was Mairead Maguire, who co-founded a
group that worked for peace in Northern Ireland. Maguire and co-
founder Betty Williams received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for
their work.
IDF said the Israeli navy contacted the boat, which it called the
Arion, while it was still at sea and warned the crew they would not be
allowed to enter Gazan waters "because of security risks in the area
and the existing naval blockade."
Disregarding all warnings, the boat entered Gazan coastal waters, IDF
said. An Israeli navy force intercepted, boarded and took control of
the boat, directing it toward Ashdod, Israel, IDF said.
The boat's crew, the military said, would "be handed over to the
proper authorities."
Don't Miss
Without naming individuals on the boat, IDF confirmed the incident it
described was the same one detailed by the Free Gaza Movement.
According to the Free Gaza group, McKinney said, "This is an
outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat was not
in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza
Strip," before authorities confiscated cell phones.
"President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and
reconstruction supplies, and that's exactly what we tried to do. We're
asking the international community to demand our release so we can
resume our journey," McKinney said, according to the group
IDF said the aid aboard the boat would be delivered to Gaza "subject
to authorization."
"Any organization or country that wishes to transfer humanitarian aid
to the Gaza Strip can legally do so via the established crossings
between Israel and the Gaza Strip with prior coordination," IDF said.
Free Gaza said the Spirit of Humanity voyage is the eighth such trip
the group has launched. Five succeeded, the group said, but the
Israeli military stopped attempts in January and December 2008.
CNN World
updated 3 hours, 5 minutes ago (current time: 30 Jun 2009 6:21PM PT)
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/30/israel.gaza.mckinney/index.html
* * * *
https://twitter.com/FreeMcKinney
* * * *
Green Party: President Obama and the US State Dept. must demand
release of Cynthia McKinney and 20 other human rights activists on
Free Gaza relief boat seized by Israeli gunboats
• The Free Gaza’s ‘Spirit of Humanity’ was delivering medical and
other supplies following Obama’s call for relief to wartorn Gaza; the
boat was in international waters
WASHINGTON, DC — Green Party leaders are calling on the White House
and US State Department to intervene and demand the immediate release
of 21 human rights activists, including former US Rep. Cynthia
McKinney and Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire, who were taken prisoner
by the Israeli navy after gunboats surrounded and seized the Free Gaza
Movement relief boat ‘Spirit of Humanity’ on Monday.
“This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our
boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission
to the Gaza Strip,” said Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party’s 2008
candidate for President of the United States. “President Obama just
told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and
that’s exactly what we tried to do. We’re asking the international
community to demand our release so we can resume our journey.”
Read Cynthia McKinney’s latest statement here:
http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/hope-fleet-news/970-call-off-your-attack-dogs-cynthia-mckinney
Ms. McKinney had earlier sent appeals to President Obama and the State
Department for assurances of protection for the relief mission. The
Spirit of Humanity was sailing in international waters when it was
seized. Greens stressed that the relief boat represents no threat to
Israel and must be allowed to continue its voyage to Gaza.
For more information and updates, see the Free Gaza Movement web site
(http://www.freegaza.org), including the latest release on the seizure
of the relief boat (http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/hope-fleet-news/
976-israel-attacks-justice-boat-kidnaps-human-rights-workers-
confiscates-medicine-toys-and-olive-trees).
For communications and updates from Cynthia McKinney, visit her Green
Party page (http://www.gp.org/cynthia/index.php) and blog (http://
dignity.ning.com).
The Spirit of Humanity was carrying medical supplies, cement, olive
trees, and children’s toys to Gaza after the Israeli invasion in
December and January damaged or destroyed 50,000 homes, 800 industrial
properties and 200 schools damaged or destroyed, 39 mosques, and two
churches. The supplies were confiscated by the Israeli navy.
The Green Party of the United States condemned the invasion and
massacre of Palestinians and has endorsed the call for boycott,
divestment, and sanctions against Israel until the Israeli government
guarantees full human rights, including political rights and
democracy, for all Palestinians and non-Jewish Israelis.
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
• International Committee of the Green Party: http://www.gp.org/committees/intl
Green Party releases:
• “Breaking news: Cynthia McKinney aboard detained Free Gaza Movement
relief boat,” June 25, 2009 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=228
• “Greens join Global Day of Action for Boycott, Divestment and
Sanctions on March 30 to end the Israeli occupation,” March 26, 2009
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=192
• “Green Party: Israel-Palestine truce must include end of Israeli
occupation and observance of international law or violence is likely
to resume,” January 19, 2009 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=169
2009 Annual National Meeting of the Green Party, Durham, NC, July
23-26 http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM
• North Carolina page http://ncgreenparty.org/2009-ANM.html
• Media credentialing page http://www.gp.org/forms/media
Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United
States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION
Against Israeli Piracy & Kidnapping
Free Cynthia McKinney and all kidnapped human rights workers!
WEDNESDAY 4-6 PM
at the
ISRAELI MISSION
800 Second Avenue
(Second Avenue @ 43rd St.)
Last night, Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free
Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights
workers from 11 countries, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire
and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. The passengers and
crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.
The seizure of humanitarian supplies and abduction of human rights
workers is an act of piracy, a crime under international law. When
the boat was attacked, it was not in Israeli waters and was on a human
rights mission to Gaza. Israel’s deliberate and premeditated attack
on an unarmed boat in international waters is a clear violation of
international law. Join us tomorrow from 4 to 6 pm at the Israeli
Mission to demand an immediate and unconditional release of the SPIRIT
OF HUMANITY, all 21 human rights workers, and the humanitarian
supplies.
According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report
released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are “trapped in
despair.” Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier
during Israel’s December/January massacre are still without shelter
despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses
to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The
report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of
their patients due to Israel’s disruption of medical supplies.
Let the Humanitarian Aid through!
Free Cynthia McKinney and all kidnapped human rights workers!
Stop the blockade of Gaza!
- - - -
Davey D's Hip Hop Corner
30 Jun 2009
http://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/cynthia-mckinney-arrested-detained-by-isreali-government-free-cynthia-mckinney/?awesm=a2a.me_RPk&utm_campaign=addtoany&utm_content=a2a&utm_medium=a2a.me-twitter&utm_source=direct-a2a.me
xprophecy
Jun 30, 2009, 9:36:15 PM6/30/09
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