|
Writers Articles And Opinions |
|
|
|
31 May 2010
By Stephen Lendman
Even
America's major media can't duck a crime this grave -
attacking and slaughtering up to 20 Gaza Freedom
Flotilla activists and injuring dozens more.
New
York Times writer Isabel Kershner headlined "At Least
10 Killed as Israel Intercepts Aid Flotilla, saying:
"The
Israeli Navy raided a flotilla carrying thousands of
tons of supplies for Gaza in international waters on
Monday morning....The incident drew widespread
international condemnation, with Israeli envoys
summoned to explain their country's actions in several
European countries....The killings also coincided with
preparations for a planned visit to Washington on
Tuesday (June 1) by Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu."
Late word is it's postponed.
The
Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and Los Angeles
Times carried similar reports, trying, but hardly able
to downplay a major crime.
The
UK-based Stop the War Coalition called it "Yet another
act of Israeli barbarism" in announcing an "emergency
demonstration" at 2:00PM near the prime minister's
Downing Street residence, saying spread the word and
come.
In
Gaza, thousands protested, expressing anger, outrage
and sympathy, carrying banners condemning willful
crimes, and calling for Arab solidarity. Similar
demonstrations turned out in Amman, Cairo, Damascus,
Tehran, Ankara, Istanbul, Beirut and other regional
cities.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak blamed the Flotilla
organizers for inciting the attack, while his deputy,
Danny Alalon said they were connected to international
terrorist organizations and were trying to smuggle in
arms. Weapons were found on board, he claimed.
At a
hastily called news conference, sparsely attended, he
referred to "the armada of hate and violence in
support of the Hamas terror organization," accusing
peaceful activists of a "premeditated and outrageous
provocation," saying "The organizers are well known
for their ties with global Jihad, Al Qaeda and Hamas.
(Their) intent was violent, their method was violent,
and the results were unfortunately violent."
Shameless lies from a criminal caught red-handed,
Haaretz's Gideon Levy saying:
"The
Israeli propaganda machine has reached new highs
(distributing) false information. It embarrassed
itself by entering a futile public relations
battle....There is nothing to explain, certainly not
to a world that will never buy (its) web of
explanations, lies and tactics."
In
Washington, of course, they're echoed along with toned
down pious indignation publicly, but privately,
assurances of solid US-Israeli relations are affirmed.
On
May 31, White House spokesman William Burton said:
"The
United States deeply regrets the loss of life and
injuries sustained, and is currently working to
understand the circumstances surrounding this
tragedy," stopping short of condemning crimes too
grave to ignore and demanding harsh measures in
response to premeditated slaughter.
Much
the same from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (a
reliable Israeli ally) stating:
"It
is vital that there is a full investigation to
determine exactly how this bloodshed took place. I
believe Israel must urgently provide a full
explanation," stopping short of demanding it and full
accountability.
Saying he "deplored in the strongest terms the killing
of civilians," Italian Foreign Minister, Franco
Frattini, like his EU counterparts, said it was
"indispensable that there be an inquest to ascertain
the facts, which are still not clear."
They're very clear. Israeli forces planned and
executed a premeditated attack against peaceful
humanitarian activists, trying to deliver essential to
life aid to Gazans under siege - to break Israel's
attempt to suffocate and starve them.
The
Wall Street Journal online headlined "More than 10
Dead After Israel Intercepts Gaza Aid Convoy," saying
(like most US media reports) that "An Israeli military
spokesman said later in the day that some activists
'appeared' to be armed with guns, and fired at the
Israeli soldiers, though it wasn't clear who fired
first."
The
activists, in fact, were unarmed civilians, delivering
vitally needed humanitarian aid to 1.5 million Gazans,
trapped under siege for three years this month.
Without provocation, they were maliciously and
willfully attacked in international waters by armed
Israeli commandos with orders to open fire if the
convoy failed to abort its mission.
The
best Journal writer Joshua Mitnick could say was
"whether the military action was warranted or not (it)
threatens to further sully Israel's international
reputation, after a series of recent diplomatic
setbacks."
No
mention of the Gaza war, daily West Bank and East
Jerusalem incursions, the three-year siege, a 43-year
occupation, daily killings, targeted assassinations,
homes bulldozed, mass arrests, torture, and
Palestinian communities throughout the Territories and
in Israel threatened by daily terror.
No
mention by European nations either, the EU merely
calling for a full inquiry, French Foreign Minister
Bernard Kouchner (a staunch Israeli supporter) saying
he was "deeply shocked by the 'tragic' consequences of
Israel's military operation (against) a humanitarian
initiative," but little else. The same hypocrisy
echoed from most European capitals, much like already
from Washington.
Turkey's Communist Party's press statement, in
contrast, said:
"The
pirate commandos trained by Israel Naval Forces
mounted an operation this morning to capture the
flotilla carrying aid to Gaza and slaughtered unarmed
civilians in the course of this outrageous
operation."
Calling the attack "barbarous," it "demanded"
immediate deportation of Israel's diplomatic mission,
cancellation of Turkish-Israeli military and other
agreements, and Israel held fully accountable for its
crime against humanity - its specialty against
civilians and nonviolent activists.
Al
Jazeera reported that "Thousands of Turkish protesters
tried to storm the Israeli consulate in Istanbul soon
after the news (shouting) 'Damn Israel' as police
blocked them."
It
also said Israeli radio confirmed at least 19 were
killed and dozens injured, quoting IDF spokeswoman,
Avital Leibovich, saying, "This happened in waters
outside Israeli territory, but we have the right to
defend ourselves," - the usual response from
scoundrels caught red-handed.
Video footage on board the Turkish passenger ship Mavi
Marmara showed Israeli commandos opened fire during
the assault, activists saying it began immediately
after storming on board.
Al
Zazeera's Jamal Elshayyal, on the ship, said "a white
surrender flag was raised (and) there was no live fire
coming from the passengers."
The
Free Gaza Movement reported that "Under darkness of
night, Israeli commandos dropped from a helicopter
onto the Turkish passenger ship, Mavi Marmara, and
began to shoot the moment their feet hit the deck." No
action on board provoked it. It was premeditated,
willful slaughter.
The
Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement expressed
sorrow in denouncing the attack, citing it as further
"proof that despite claims to the contrary, Israel
never 'disengaged' from the Gaza Strip but rather
continues to control its borders - land, air and
sea....hermetically (cutting off) 1.5 million human
beings (from) access to the outside world" and vitally
needed humanitarian aid.
Netanyahu's spokesman, Mark Regev, claimed "They
initiated the violence," and the IDF insisted it
responded when its forces "were attacked with knives,
clubs, and even live fire." Chief of Staff Gabi
Ashkenazi said soldiers were forced by violent acts to
respond with live fire.
They
lied.
Viewing the video footage, Al Jazeera's Ayman
Mohyeldin reported that:
"All
the images being shown from the activists on board
those ships show clearly that they were civilians and
peaceful in nature, with medical (and other
humanitarian) supplies on board."
Other footage showed black-clad commandos descending
from helicopters, then immediately opening fire on
deck against peaceful activists.
Israeli forces seized the ship and a smaller one, took
them to Israel's port of Ashdod, and censored all
information on the assault.
The
Flotilla, with 700 activists, left Cyprus at 3:00PM
(1200 GMT) Sunday, on the last leg of their journey,
heading for Gaza, hoping to arrive by daylight. Six
hours after departure, three Israeli missile boats
left Haifa to interdict it, according to reporters on
board before being ordered to turn off their cell
phones.
The
convoy hoped to break the siege and deliver over
10,000 tons of vitally needed aid, including food,
medicines, educational, construction, and other
materials. Israel warned it would intercept and abort
the mission, giving no details except to say ships
would be seized, then taken to Ashdod.
A
May 31 Gaza Freedom March.org press release called for
a "global response to killings on the Freedom
Flotilla," saying:
"We,
Gaza based Palestinian Civil Society Organizations and
international activists, call on the international
community and civil society to pressure their
governments and Israel to cease the abductions and
killings....against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla....and
begin a global response to hold Israel accountable for
the murder of foreign civilians at sea and illegal
piracy of civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid
for Gaza."
"We,
from Gaza, call on you to demonstrate and support the
courageous men and women on the Flotilla and join the
many now murdered on a humanitarian aid mission. We
insist on severance of diplomatic ties with Israel,
trials for war crimes and the international protection
of the civilians of Gaza. We call on you to join the
growing international boycott, divestment and sanction
campaign of a country proving again" to be an
international outlaw. "Join a growing critical mass
around the world with a commitment to the day when
Palestinian are entitled to the same rights as (all)
other people, when the siege is lifted, the occupation
over and the 6 million Palestinian refugees are
finally granted justice."
Stand in solidarity for their freedom in peace, and
demand nothing less, including full accountability for
Israeli officials responsible for high crimes of war
and against humanity.
On
board the Flottilla are over 700 activists from 40
countries, including 35 politicians and a Nobel Peace
laureate, Mairead McGuire, who protesting with Bil'in
village activists against Israel's Separation Wall, in
April 2007, was shot and injured with a rubber bullet,
then tear-gassed, overcome, and had to be taken by
stretcher to an ambulance.
Again, she and 700 others risked their lives to
deliver vitally needed aid. In solidarity, people of
conscience everywhere must support them and demand
full accountability for the latest Israeli crimes too
grave to ignore.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site
at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the
Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio
Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are
archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
EsinIslam.Com
|
Save
Add Comments To This Story