WAWA/WeAreWideAwake is my Public Service to America as a muckracker who has journeyed seven times to Israel Palestine since June 2005.
WAWA is dedicated to confronting media and governments that shield the whole
truth.
We who Are Wide
Awake are compelled by the "fierce urgency of Now" [Rev MLK, Jr.] to raise
awareness and promote the human dialogue about many of the crucial issues of our
day: the state of our Union and in protection of democracy, what life is like
under military occupation in Palestine, the Christian EXODUS from the Holy Land,
and spirituality-from a Theologically Liberated Christian Anarchist
POV.
"We're on a mission from God." Jake Blues/John Belushi
"Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all...and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave...a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils." George Washington's Farewell Address - 1796
"My aim is to agitate & disturb people. I'm not selling bread, I'm selling yeast." Unamuno
"Imagine All the People Sharing All the World." John Lennon
"If enough Christians followed the gospel, they could bring any state to its knees." Father Philip Francis Berrigan
"You can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won't back down." Tom Petty
"If I can't dance, it's not my revolution." Emma Goldman
"We have yet to begin to IMAGINE the power and potential of the Internet." Charlie Rose, 2005
Only in Solidarity do "We have it in our power to begin the world again" Tom Paine
"Never doubt that a few, thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
"You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
DO SOMETHING!
Photo of George shown here and in web site banner courtesy of Debbie Hill, 2000.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that, among these, are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; and, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it. -July 4, 1776. The Declaration of Independence
WAWA Blog November 20, 2008: Israel kidnaps three internationals, UN human rights chief calls for an immediate end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza and more: UPDATE 4PM EST
Update:
Massiyahu Prison, Lida, Israel (20 November, 2008) - Three Human Rights Observers (HRO) with the International Solidarity Movement will begin a hunger strike tomorrow in protest over their illegal detention by Israel. The three HROs, Darlene Wallach of the U.S., Vittorio Arrigoni of Italy, and Andrew Muncie of Scotland, were forcibly abducted by the Israeli Navy on Tuesday, while accompanying unarmed Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the Gaza Strip.
According to Wallach, "We were fishing about 7 miles off the shores of Gaza. The Israeli soldiers came on board the three boats via four Zodiacs. The frogmen came up and over each boat. They used a taser on Vik while he was still on the boat, then tried to push him backwards onto a sharp piece of wood. He jumped into the sea to avoid being hurt more than he already was and was in the water for quite a while. Then they came for me and forced me into the Zodiac at the point of a gun. They kidnapped me and Andrew and Vik and all of the Palestinian fishermen."
Israel abducted and later released 15 Palestinian fishermen during the incident, and confiscated their fishing boats. The HROs are refusing to be deported, and refusing to eat, until the boats are returned--undamaged--to their rightful owners in Gaza.
"We R on hunger strike and want 2 go before judge in court. No deportation til boats are returned 2 fishermen," was the text message sent out from jail by the HROs this afternoon.
At court today, HRO Andrew Muncie asked the judge under what law they had been arrested. According to the judge, their detention was authorized by the Oslo Accords "because it is forbidden by military law for you to fish 7 and a half miles off the coast. It is a no-fishing zone."
However, the Oslo accords grant Palestinians the right to fish 20 miles off their own coast. When Andrew's attorney handed a copy of that portion of the Oslo accords to the judge, she had no comment.
On August 23, 2008, Wallach, Muncie and Arrigoni were among 44 participants in the Free Gaza Movement who were aboard the first boats in forty-one years to enter Gaza by sea, breaking the Israeli blockade. They remained in Gaza to participate in human rights activities with the International Solidarity Movement. They have been living and working in Gaza since the summer, providing accompaniment to Palestinian farmers and fishermen, and documenting Israeli human rights abuses in the Gaza Strip.
The three will stop eating tomorrow morning until the confiscated fishing boats are "returned in the condition they were in when the frogmen boarded the boats, with any damage they made repaired."
Gaza Strip, 20, Nov, 2008- Following Israeli raids that killed around 15 Palestinians within one week, many rockets were fired into Israel in a reprisal of Israeli's provocation. As usual Israel started to blame Palestinians despite it was the one who initiated with violence again. The Israeli assault was an obvious breach of an agreed calm held with Palestinian fighting groups 5 months ago. It has provoked some Palestinians to fire some light rockets into Israel. Afterwards, Israel started a new phase of collective punishment and began more violent prevocational measures against 1.5 million people.
With the last Israeli maneuvers' of tightening the siege imposed on Gaza, more life necessities vanished. The key power plant shut down 8 days ago and resulted in tremendous direful outcomes. More than 75% of the Gaza strip faces severe power cuts and some other areas completely plunged into darkness.
Power cuts and daily blackouts resulted in hindering of all facilities depending on power. The remaining power shares provided by Israel and Egypt are not enough to cover the whole costal strip. Pumped fresh water is not reaching all living places, farms and central water wells. Sewage and treatment water machines are halted. Additionally around 40 million tons of sewage water leaked into the Mediterranean contaminating it and damaging fish resources.
It was a due on Israel to open commercial crossings completely during the calm. But, Israel didn't abide by that condition as she partially opened them. But within the last week; Israel totally closed them causing a huge humanitarian crisis. According to UNRWA, around 750,000 of its beneficiaries don't get their devoted share of food parcels. With the Israeli ban on UNRWA aid, it is ensuring that a dire humanitarian crisis will occur within days. As UNRWA is also under siege from assisting Palestine in humanitarian causes, long time projects such as housing are halted to the loss of $350 million.
Yesterday, wheat and flour mills in Gaza announced inability of continuing work and feared starvation would be a factor in Palestine if the closure lasts much longer. Today, some hospitals partially stopped working due to power cuts and medical shortages. Tomorrow for sure will bring another crisis if closure lasts more.
The people of Gaza are outraged by the Israeli collective punishment. I spoke to some Gazan residents and I observed some differences amongst them. Mr. Muhammad who refuses to identity his full name said that this siege is unjust and it's a way to pressure on people to give up their rights.
"We have been patient for 60 years now. We passed more cruel time than this. Thus, why to give up this year. We have to be adamant and patient and the siege will be lifted eventually." Mr. Muhammad said.
I spoke to a jobless resident from Al Shati' refugee camp. Mr. Khalil Barakat, who is in his mid 50's, says he is outraged by this siege. "I'm fed up; bored I feel we are caged like animals in Gaza. If I could get a chance to immigrate to live my remaining years in peace, then I would love to." He said with anger.
Accidentally, I met old friend of mine, Um Muhammad Abu Ouf; a mother in her twenties. It was good for me to explore her views about the siege as well. As a Mother and a female, her perspective is most important. We met at 6 pm at AL Omar al Moktar Street which was plunging into deep darkness.
She had her outstanding comments about siege. I asked: How badly you are affected by siege?
"Well, the siege became a daily nightmare midday and night. Electricity cuts off and that frightens my 11-month infant. It makes conditions unsafe for him. Further, I'm trying to get some fortified food for him. I went to many stores and shops but in vain. I could not find any food nor needed supplies for my son as there is a shortage in a lot of the basic products needed to care for infants' such as milk, diapers and so forth".
I spoke to Hatem Shurab; an International Relief Worker. Hatem is a siege victim who lost a scholarship of training in the U.S lately. Despite that, he seemed to be optimist in contrary to the majority here. Hatem is currently preparing a music concert along with his friends.
His view was quite interesting and brand-new, Hatem stated "I'm trying to highlight on people's suffering through music. We try to end siege through our voices and to tell those who don't like to watch news what's going on. On the 27th of November they might know the suffering of Gazans through songs as we are doing a concert. Regardless of pain, we will sing for Gaza." Hatem with smiling face said.
However, Hatem is somewhat worried about the current status of Gaza. He needs to have his concert on time and to give Gazan a glimpse of hope and some fun. His concerns rise up that more violence could ignite.
Israeli defense Ministry announced today that Gaza crossings would remain closed until further notice. Gazans are to expect more mayhem as time advances. Meanwhile, Om Muhammad is still desperate to have food for her baby, while Hatem is determined to have his music concert on time. But the decisive element for them would surely rely on the rival parts in the region. -- Sameh A. Habeeb, B.A. Photojournalist & Peace Activist Humanitarian, Child Relief Worker Gaza Strip, Palestine Mob: 00972599306096 Tel: 0097282802825
PRESS RELEASE 18 November 2008
UN human rights chief calls for an immediate end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza Nov. 17, 2008
GENEVA – The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called today for an immediate end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza. "By function of this blockade, 1.5 million Palestinian men, women and children have been forcibly deprived of their most basic human rights for months. This is in direct contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law. It must end now ," she said.
The High Commissioner further called for the Israeli authorities to facilitate the urgent passage of essential humanitarian goods, including food, medical supplies, and fuel, to immediately allow the restoration of electricity, water and other essential services, and to lift movement restrictions preventing the passage of civilians for medical, educational and religious purposes. "Decisive steps must be taken to preserve the dignity and basic welfare of the civilian population, more than half of which are children," she added.
While welcoming the decision by Israel to allow a limited number of trucks to enter Gaza on 17 November, the High Commissioner recalled the Occupying Power's obligation to fully cease all measures that are inconsistent with its obligations under international law. "Only a full lifting of the blockade followed by a strong humanitarian response will be adequate to relieve the massive humanitarian suffering evident in Gaza today."
Calling on all sides to respect international law and the security of civilian populations, the High Commissioner also appealed for a complete cessation of Israeli air strikes and incursions, and of rocket fire by Palestinian groups.
ENDS
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights-Media Unit Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, +41.22.917.9767 Xabier Celaya, Information Officer, + 41 22.917.9383/ +41.79.444.7578
GAZA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Sunday prevented 15 trucks loaded with different kinds of medicines from passing through one of Gaza Strip crossings, a Palestinian health ministry official said.
Mo'aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency and ambulance services in the Palestinian health ministry, said in a statement that the Gaza Strip has been under a strict Israeli blockade for 13 days. "The medical situation is worsening and we are living in a severe humanitarian crisis as Israel prevented the entrance of 15 trucks loaded with medicine from the West Bank into Gaza," said Hassanein.
Israel closed down all Gaza Strip commercial crossing points less than two weeks ago after violence flared up between Israel and Gaza militant groups, which were observing a six-month truce brokered by Egypt. The ceasefire was declared effective in the Gaza Strip on June 19, which calls on Israel to loosen the leash of the coastal enclave in exchange for an end of Palestinians rocket attacks against the Jewish state.
"We have a shortage in 300 different kinds of medicines, and we are threatened to go through a severe crisis if we run out of all kinds of medicines," said Hassanein.
Hassanein said there are over 400 Gaza patients, mainly those who suffer from cancer and heart problems, in urgent need of medical treatment in Israeli or Arab hospitals, adding "Israel doesn't let them leave Gaza."
Israel insists that it would reopen Gaza crossing points, only if Gaza militants stop launching homemade rockets from the Gaza Strip at southern Israeli communities and cities.
Meanwhile, the Popular Committee to Challenge the Israeli Blockade called on the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit the impoverished Gaza Strip, home to some 1.5 million aid-dependent Gazans.
"There are 1.5 million Palestinians who face slow death everyday due to the Israeli blockade. The world, mainly the United Nations, are responsible to rescue the lives of women and children," said the committee in a statement.
Flour mills in Gaza will shut down on Thursday because there is no more wheat in the Strip with which to make flower.
Gaza has experienced wheat shortages since June 2007, said Fattouh, but said shipments of wheat were totally stopped two weeks ago. He said that there was a signed agreement with Israel to allow 450 tons of wheat daily into the Strip. For most of the siege there were 300 tons a day shipped into the area. "No ton is shipped now," Fattouh lamented.
Head of products coordination in Gaza Ra'ed Fattouh said most flour mills in the area shut down when fuel and power ran out, but that some with back-up supplies were able to continue running. According to Fattouh, however, even these few mills will shut down by Thursday since all of the wheat supplies in Gaza will have been used up.
The Khan Younis Mill Company in the southern Gaza Strip closed its doors on Sunday after they exhausted their wheat supplies. New deliveries stopped on 4 November.
Director of the mills Qasim Al-Farra said at its peak the company received 500 tons of wheat per day and produced 370 tons of flour per day. The mill sold 270 tons per day to local markets and the remaining flour to the UN. Neither will receive fresh supplies after Thursday.
Fattouh said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has issued orders to the Ministry of National Economy via its undersecretary Nasser As-Siraj and Chief of Civil Coordination Hussein Ash-Sheikh to do everything possible to ease the suffering of Gazans. He confirmed that both Abbas and the ministries have appealed to Israel to lift the blockade. There has been no response.
Fattouh warned of an impending disaster, and confirmed that he has had no word as to when more wheat will be shipped in.
Bakeries shut down last week after fuel supplies ran out and the Gaza electricity plant ceased to run power to Gaza homes and businesses.
Fifteen Palestinian fishermen along with three internationals have been kidnapped in Palestinian waters by the Israeli Navy. They were fishing seven miles off the coast of Deir Al Balah, clearly in Gaza fishing waters and well within the fishing limit detailed in the Oslo Accords of 1994.
The fishermen and the human right's observers were transferred from 3 separate boats to the Israeli warships. Other Palestinian fishermen reported that the 3 boats were seen being taken north by the Israeli Navy.
The three internationals are Andrew Muncie from Scotland, Darlene Wallach from the United States and Victor Arrigoni from Italy. The U.K., U.S. and Italian embassies in Tel Aviv have been contacted and know about the abductions.
Please call the Israeli Ministry of Justice at +972 26 46 66 66 and register your outrage over these illegal actions by the Israeli Navy. Then call the Embassies in Jerusalem and make sure they know that many of us are appalled by Israel's illegal search and seizure.
Stephen Brown, UK Consulate +972 25 41 41 00 U.S. Consulate General + 972-2-6227230 Luigi MATTIOLO, Italian Ambassador +972 3 5104004
Fifteen Palestinian fishermen and 3 internationals abducted from Palestinian waters off the coast of Gaza
November 18th, 2008 | Posted in Press Releases, Gaza Region | Edit
Gaza City, 10 a.m.- Fifteen Palestinian fishermen and 3 international Human Rights Observers (HRO's) were surrounded by the Israeli Navy and taken from their boats 7 miles off the coast of Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip. The fishermen and the HRO's were transferred from 3 separate boats to the Israeli warships. Other Palestinian fishermen reported that the 3 boats were seen being taken north by the Israeli Navy.
The Human Rights Observers are Andrew Muncie, a Scottish British citizen, Vittorio Arrigoni, an Italian citizen, and Darlene Wallach, an American citizen. They have been volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) since they entered Gaza on ships with the first Free Gaza Movement voyage on the 23rd August 2008. All internationals have previous experience working with the ISM in the West Bank.
Fellow activists have been unable to establish contact with the HRO's or with the fishermen since they were abducted.
Since their arrival, the ISM volunteers have been regularly accompanying Palestinian fishermen who are regularly attacked by Israeli navy vessels from as little as 3km from shore. They have regularly filmed Israeli forces using live ammunition, shells and water cannons against unarmed fishermen.
When confronted by the Israeli Navy, the boats were 7 nautical miles from the shore of Deir al Balah, well within the fishing limit detailed in the Oslo Accords of 1994.
With regular claims that from the Israeli government that it has 'disengaged' from Gaza, these patrols and attacks from the Israeli navy, regularly occuring from as little as 3 miles from shore, represent a clear signal of the continuation of occupation of Gazan territory as well as regular breaches of the current cease-fire.
Over 40,000 people in Gaza make a living from the fishing industry, yet this community has been decimated by Israeli restrictions on fishing rights and the prevention of fuel from reaching the Gaza Strip.
According to the Fishing Syndicate in Gaza, fishermen need 40,000 litres of fuel and 40,000 litres of natural gas each day to operate throughout the high fishing season.
Starting in April each year, there is a migration of fish from the Nile Delta to Turkish waters which Palestinian fishermen have traditionally relied upon. Yet Israel limits fishing 6 miles from the Gaza shore and regularly attacks those who venture further than 3 miles - over 70 fishermen were arrested last year by the Israeli forces. The large schools that form the migration are usually found 10 miles from shore. The average catch of fish was over 3000 tons a year in the 1990's, now it is around 500 tons directly due to the Israeli siege of Gaza.
Also, the water in which the fishermen of Gaza sail in is now receiving 50 million litres of sewage per day because the people of Gaza have no alternative due to the lack of power supplies to sewage treatment facilities.
Thank you for you continued support,
Iyad Burnat- Head of Popular Commitee in Bilin Head of Friends of Freedom and Justice in Bilin
Israel outraged at UN remarks urging end to Gaza blockade
By Amos Harel <mailto:
> , Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies
Israel reacted angrily to comments made Tuesday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, in which she called for an immediate end to its blockade of the Gaza Strip, which she said breached international and humanitarian law.
In a statement from her Geneva-based office, Pillay urged Israel to allow the flow of aid including food, medicines and fuel to resume, and to restore electricity and water services in the Hamas-controlled territory.
Pillay was also quoted as saying that 1.5 million Palestinian men, women and children have been forcibly deprived of their most basic human rights for months.
She also called for Israel to end airstrikes and incursions in Gaza, and for Palestinian militants to stop firing rockets into Israel.
Israel imposed a blockade of Gaza after the Islamic group Hamas violently seized control of the territory in June 2006. It recently tightened the sanctions because of rocket fire at Israeli towns.
Pillay's demands provoked an angry response from Israel's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Aharon Leshno-Yaar, who accused her of being utterly shortsighted and repeating blatant misinformation.
"Overall responsibility for the situation in the Gaza Strip lies with Hamas, which invests all of its resources in arms and terrorism instead of providing for the civilians that it brutally controls," Aharon Leshno-Yaar said, adding that Palestinian groups had fired more 170 rockets and mortars at Israel during the past 10 days.
Leshno-Yaar also rejected Pillay's claim that Israel has cut off essential supplies to Gaza.
"Electricity and water continue to flow from Israel to Gaza, and 33 trucks laden with supplies arrived in Gaza yesterday, with more waiting to enter as soon as Hamas ends its violent attacks," he said.
Earlier Tuesday, Israel resealed border crossings with the Gaza Strip, citing continued rocket fire at its towns, despite warnings from world aid groups of looming shortages of food and fuel supplies in the coastal territory.
Israel had allowed supplies into Gaza for the first time in two weeks on Monday, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert assured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas he would not permit a humanitarian crisis to develop there.
"The crossings are shut because of ongoing rocket fire," Peter Lerner, a defense spokesman said, referring to several barrages of rockets fired from Gaza on Monday that slammed into Israeli towns, causing no injury.
International aid groups said the supplies sent in on Monday were not enough to alleviate food shortages.
Israel has also held up fuel shipments to Gaza's main power plant, leading to daily periodic electricity blackouts for many of 1.5 million Palestinians living in the territory.
Israel had not allowed UNRWA, a United Nations agency that aids some 750,000 refugees in Gaza, to bring in supplies since Nov. 4 during cross-border fighting in which more than a dozen Palestinian militants were killed.
Several Israelis have been lightly wounded by dozens of rockets fired by gunmen after the Israel Defense Forces raids.
Palestinians: IDF tanks roll into the southern Gaza Strip
IDF tanks forged into the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, drawing rocket and mortar fire from Palestinian militants, militant groups said, intensifying violence that has chipped away at a tenuous cease-fire.
Israel and Hamas have been trading fire for two weeks after nearly five months of relative quiet. The June 19 truce is due to expire next month, and both sides might be trying to dictate more favorable terms in anticipation of the agreement's renewal.
The tanks, backed by a bulldozer and military jeep, rumbled about a half a kilometer deep into the tiny seaside strip, residents and Gaza security officials said. Residents said they leveled lands along the border east of the city of Rafah. It was the first ground action in a week.
The IDF described the activity as a routine operation to uncover explosive devices near the border fence in the southern Gaza Strip. It said two mortars were fired at troops, causing no injuries or damage.
The tanks did not respond to the Palestinian fire.
By the army's count, militants have fired more than 140 rockets and mortars at Israel since the truce began unraveling.
At least 17 militants have been killed over the past two weeks, and Israel in an effort to squelch the rocket fire, has kept cargo crossings into Gaza clamped shut for the most part, drastically restricting vital supplies.
Both Israel and leaders of Gaza's ruling Islamic militant Hamas movement have said they hoped the Egyptian-brokered truce could be preserved. But a small, Hamas-allied group said they consider the truce to have broken down, and Israel has threatened to hit hard if the rocket fire persists.
On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Hamas-run Interior Ministry accused Israel of subverting the truce.
"We call on the Palestinian factions to meet to begin an immediate re-evaluation of the calm," spokesman Ihab al-Ghussein said.
The following statement was issued on Friday, 14 November, in New York:
The Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People expresses its utmost alarm about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
The Bureau strongly condemns Israel's decision to seal the borders between the Gaza Strip and Israel, preventing the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance, including food, medical supplies and fuel. The United Nations agencies on the ground, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), have warned that the tight Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip was forcing the suspension of food aid distribution to some 750,000 Gaza residents, because its warehouses had run out of food. As a result of the closure and the lack of fuel supplies, parts of Gaza experienced blackouts that affected many homes and hospitals. Such Israeli action is tantamount to collective punishment and is a violation of international humanitarian and human rights law.
The Bureau calls on the Israeli Government to immediately lift the siege on the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian assistance to enter in order to help alleviate the plight of Gaza's residents, including women, children and the elderly, who have borne the brunt of the suffering brought about by months of closures. The Bureau of the Committee reminds Israel in most resolute terms that, as the occupying Power, it has a clear responsibility under the Fourth Geneva Convention to protect and ensure the well-being of the civilian population under its occupation.
The Bureau is also alarmed by the renewed violence in the Gaza Strip. Recent rocket fire into Israel and Israeli air strikes at Gaza have violated the five-month-old period of calm and could reignite the cycle of violence and jeopardize the political process. The Bureau calls for a cessation of Israeli air strikes and incursions, as well as the rocket fire by Palestinian groups.
The Bureau of the Committee stresses the permanent responsibility of the United Nations towards the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with international law. It calls on the international community to act urgently and decisively in order to move the peace process forward towards achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine through the establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian State, on the basis of the 1967 borders. A settlement should be based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003) and other relevant resolutions.
In the past week former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson has spoken out again about a "whole civilisation destroyed" in Gaza, just as Israel again squeezes the flow of fuel for power stations. To these two latest reminders that Israel is maintaining a state of siege of its 1.5 million people, we would add our own experience.
We are some of the 100 academics and health professionals who were booked to participate in a WHO co-sponsored conference in Gaza, "Seige and Mental Health". Israel requires those wishing to enter Gaza to apply for permits, and the WHO itself made the applications well in advance. Israel turned them all down en bloc just one week before the conference was due to start, clearly a political decision intended to wreck it. We demonstrated in protest at the Gaza Erez crossing but to no avail.
Those opposing calls for an academic boycott of Israel regularly cite 'academic freedom', yet there has been not a murmur of protest from Israeli universities and medical establishment at this latest violation.
Fifteen Palestinian fishermen along with three internationals have been kidnapped in Palestinian waters by the Israeli Navy. They were fishing seven miles off the coast of Deir Al Balah, clearly in Gaza fishing waters and well within the fishing limit detailed in the Oslo Accords of 1994.
The fishermen and the human right's observers were transferred from 3 separate boats to the Israeli warships. Other Palestinian fishermen reported that the 3 boats were seen being taken north by the Israeli Navy.
The three internationals are Andrew Muncie from Scotland, Darlene Wallach from the United States and Victor Arrigoni from Italy. The U.K., U.S. and Italian embassies in Tel Aviv have been contacted and know about the abductions.
Please call the Israeli Ministry of Justice at +972 26 46 66 66 and register your outrage over these illegal actions by the Israeli Navy. Then call the Embassies in Jerusalem and make sure they know that many of us are appalled by Israel's illegal search and seizure.
Stephen Brown, UK Consulate +972 25 41 41 00 U.S. Consulate General + 972-2-6227230 Luigi MATTIOLO, Italian Ambassador +972 3 5104004
-- Greta Berlin Media Team Free Gaza Movement
To His Excellency Ban Ki Mon United Nations Secretary General
Dear highly respected Ban Ki Mon, we would like to pass our greetings and regards from the Gaza Strip. We would like to invite you urgently to pay a visit for the Gaza strip. People are slowly dying as UNRWA halted its services and a total power blackout imposed by Israel. Your expected visit to Gaza would show your interest in saving people lives.
Power, food, medicine, treatment and all aspects of life vanished from the Gaza strip. The 7 crossings are totally closed with no glimpse of hope to re-open them again. Israel went on more deep flagrant violations of all human laws as she blocked the UNRWA aids into Gaza.
Around a million of UNRWA beneficiaries to be exposed to hunger and lack of food. More than 1 million live in deep darkness since 4 days as 80% of Gaza strip out of power.
The current situation doesn't await more and time is running out as:
-Around 80% of Gaza populations live under poverty line. - 1.100.000 peoples depend on humanitarian aids provided by UNRWA, Arab, Islamic and foreign organizations. -Unemployment ratio reached 65% - 60% of Gaza's children suffer from Malnutrition. -About 97% of factories and workshops stopped working, specifically 3900 factories. The industrial zone of Gaza is completely closed. - Individual income 650$ per year and 2 $ a day.. -Freedom of movement from Gaza to the West bank, Jerusalem and outside world is being blocked. - Around 260 people died due to blocking them from either travel for treatment or lack of medicines. - Nearing to 40% of siege victims are from children. - About 150 of medicines sorts are not available in Gaza. - The only medical factory is halted due to shortage of raw materials. - Projects of constructing and developing hospitals, clinics and educational bodies are being suspended! - There are still daily power cuts We hope you take urgent actions and stances to stop this obvious genocide. 1.5 million lives under Israeli collective punishment with no fault they committed.
Independent Palestinian Lawmaker Gamal N. El Khoudary Chairman of Popular Committee Against Siege PCAS
Israel executes four in Gaza; siege affects access to drinking water Press release, Al Mezan, 16 November 2008
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continued to seal off the Gaza Strip for the eleventh day in a row, in an escalation of the collective punishment of Gaza's population imposed since 2000. The IOF resumed its military attacks and killed four Palestinians this morning in an air strike in east Gaza.
The humanitarian conditions have quickly deteriorated in the Gaza Strip as Israel's tight siege has affected all aspects of Palestinians' lives and violated their human rights, which are protected by international human rights and international humanitarian law.
Gaza's power plant has suspended its work for the third day in a row due to lack of fuel necessary to run it. Hospitals and clinics are greatly affected. Not only do they suffer from suspension of surgery sections and intensive care unis, but also from the damage to vaccines and serums that are preserved in refrigerators. Moreover, tens of thousands of Palestinians suffer from a severe shortage of drinking water, especially those who live in tall buildings and have no access to water even when municipalities manage to pump water to their area.
Municipalities cannot run their water pumps for sufficient periods of time due to power failure.
Power failure also disrupts sewage treatment plants and internal transportation due to the lack of fuel. Gas stations are now empty after the IOF stopped pumping fuel supplies for the eleventh day in a row.
Power failure and the lack of fuel negatively impact the education sector especially that the crisis is worsening with the start of school mid-term exams. Students and teachers also have difficulties when they go to their schools and universities.
The Gaza siege is continuously tightened as IOF resumed military attacks and killings of Palestinians in Gaza. This morning, Sunday, 16 November 2008, the IOF killed four Palestinians in an air strike in eastern Gaza city. The victims were identified as Talal al-Amoudi (23), Muhammad Hassouna (22), Ahmad al-Hilo (22), and Basil al-Uff (21).
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights is highly concerned with the IOF's determination on imposing collective punishment on the Gaza Strip in spite of the appeals and frequent condemnations by the United Nations and other international and local human rights and humanitarian organizations.
The Center warns the international community about the outcome of ignoring the exacerbating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and about the international community's failure to fulfill its legal and ethical responsibilities towards civilians in the Strip. This silence, particularly in light of the IOF's contempt for European Union consuls and representatives last Thursday [when it denied them entrance to the Gaza Strip], serves only to encourage Israel to proceed with its violations.
Therefore, Al Mezan Center asserts that the international community and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention in particular must assume their legal and ethical responsibilities and take immediate action to end Israel's gross violations and provide international protection for civilians. The Center also believes that the international community's action is significant in view of the threats of a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip if the IOF continue to imposing the tight siege on it.
Academic freedom and Israel's siege of Gaza Statement by Bureau of Committee on Palestinian rights on situation in Gaza Strip Morocco launches campaign to lift blockade on Gaza 2008-11-18 04:58:32 PCAS condemns Israeli piracy on Gaza's Water
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Official: Israel prevents 15 medicine-laden trucks into Gaza
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. -Article 19.
" In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."-Mother Teresa
“You cannot talk like sane men around a peace table while the atomic bomb itself is ticking beneath it. Do not treat the atomic bomb as a weapon of offense; do not treat it as an instrument of the police. Treat the bomb for what it is: the visible insanity of a civilization that has ceased...to obey the laws of life.”- Lewis Mumford, 1946
The age of warrior kings and of warrior presidents has passed. The nuclear age calls for a different kind of leadership....a leadership of intellect, judgment, tolerance and rationality, a leadership committed to human values, to world peace, and to the improvement of the human condition. The attributes upon which we must draw are the human attributes of compassion and common sense, of intellect and creative imagination, and of empathy and understanding between cultures." - William Fulbright
“Any nation that year after year continues to raise the Defense budget while cutting social programs to the neediest is a nation approaching spiritual death.” - Rev. MLK
Establishment of Israel
"On the day of the termination of the British mandate and on the strength of the United Nations General Assembly declare The State of Israel will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel: it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion it will guarantee freedom of religion [and] conscience and will be faithful to the Charter of the United Nations." - May 14, 1948. The Declaration of the Establishment of Israel
Blog 
technocrati
