Cynthia McKinney Reportedly Taken Captive By Israeli Navy
From 911truth.org:
Cynthia McKinney Reportedly Taken Captive By Israeli Navy
GreenPartyWatch.org
June 30th, 2009 by Ronald Hardy
http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2009/06/30/cynthia-mckinney-reportedly-taken-captive-by-israeli-navy/
The latest from http://www.freegaza.org reports that the humanitarian vessel Spirit of Humanity has been attacked and boarded by the Israelis 23 miles off the coast of Gaza. Former US Congresswoman and Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney is among the 21 human rights workers taken prisoner off the ship.
[23 miles off the coast of Gaza, 15:30pm (http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/hope-fleet-news/976-israel-attacks-justice-boat-kidnaps-human-rights-workers-confiscates-m...)] - Today Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (see below for a complete list of passengers). The passengers and crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.
"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, a former U.S. Congresswoman and presidential candidate. "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."
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.
"The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza, hope that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to transport their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools, hospitals and thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught of "Cast Lead". Our mission is a gesture to the people of Gaza that we stand by them and that they are not alone" said fellow passenger Mairead Maguire, winner of a Nobel Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland.
Just before being kidnapped by Israel, Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza Movement chairperson and delegation co-coordinator on this voyage, stated that: "No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any sort of threat to Israel. We carry medical and reconstruction supplies, and children's toys. Our passengers include a Nobel peace prize laureate and a former U.S. congressperson. Our boat was searched and received a security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before we departed, and at no time did we ever approach Israeli waters."
Arraf continued, "Israel's deliberate and premeditated attack on our unarmed boat is a clear violation of international law and we demand our immediate and unconditional release."
For more information contact:
Greta Berlin (English)
tel: +357 99 081 767 / friends [at] freegaza.org
Caoimhe Butterly (Arabic/English/Spanish):
tel: +357 99 077 820 / sahara78 [at] hotmail.co.uk
http://www.FreeGaza.org
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Cynthia McKinney Demands Immediate Release
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/30/cynthia-mckinney-aboard-boat-...
Cynthia McKinney Demands Immediate Release After Her Gaza-Bound Boat is Seized by Israeli Navy
Former U.S. lawmaker and Green Party leader Cynthia McKinney, a longtime activist for the Palestinians, says her boat, the Spirit of Humanity, was carrying medical supplies, cement, olive trees and children's toys to Gaza when it was seized by an Israeli navy ship.
FOXNews.com
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Former U.S. lawmaker and Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, whose relief boat was seized by an Israeli naval ship Tuesday for the second time in a year, is demanding the immediate release of her and 20 other activists.
McKinney, a longtime supporter of Palestinians, said her Greek-flagged boat, the Spirit of Humanity, was carrying medical supplies, cement, olive trees and children's toys to Gaza when it was boarded by the Israeli navy.
"This is an outrageous violation of international law against us," said McKinney. "Our boat was not in Israeli waters and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip. 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."
The Israeli military issued a statement Tuesday saying that the boat had attempted to break a blockade of Gaza and was forced to sail to an Israeli port after ignoring a radio message to stay out of Gaza waters.
The statement said navy personnel boarded the freighter Arion without any shots being fired, and those on board were to be handed over to immigration authorities. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said Israel was planning to free the crew and passengers.
"Nobody wants to keep them here," he said. "They will be released as soon as they are checked."
The humanitarian cargo was also to be trucked into the Gaza Strip after a security check.
In a statement released by the Green Party, McKinney said she had sent appeals to Obama and the State Department for assurances of protection for the relief mission. She said the boat was sailing in international waters when it was seized.
The White House nor the State Department was immediately available for comment.
This isn't the first time a boat carrying McKinney has clashed with an Israeli navy ship. In December, McKinney was among 16 people aboard a medical supply boat that collided with an Israeli naval ship as it tried to enter coastal waters around Gaza.
At the time, the group claimed the Israeli military fired machine guns into the water in an attempt to the stop the boat's progress. But a spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry said "physical contact" was made only after the aid boat failed to respond to radio contact and he denied any gunfire had occurred.
Israel launched an offensive in December against Gaza in an attempt to halt years of Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel. The two sides reached a cease-fire in January.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
the subtle spin
I'm (sort of) impressed that FoxNews picked it up. I guess it's too big for the media to ignore. But when you read at the end:
"Israel launched an offensive in December against Gaza in an attempt to halt years of Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel."
......it becomes further apparent that the "victim (Israel)" has well-placed people protecting it's interests and making sure stories like this don't spin out of control. The closing sentence is quite selective and revealing, reminding (telling) us who are the good guys and the bad guys. I'm sure the spin coming out of the State Dept. will be similarly apologetic, convoluted and even more ambiguous.
Kudos for their bravery, courage and determination to Cynthia and everyone involved in this truly humanitarian effort. If the larger Peace and Justice crowd had this type of courage and determination, they might actually get somewhere.
WHAT??
Is this for real?!
What Threat??
I can't wait to hear what spin they try to put on this---there is no excuse--but they will find one. No threat whatsover. No threat--pure harrasement.
I'm getting deja-vu
.
Cynthia McKinney
I would imagine that the governments of the United States and Israel are delighted.
Wake up my friends
this is all out war. I can smell a revolution. It isn't just us 9/11 truthers. The entire planet is fed up. Hang on tight. The next few years will be tough ones.
Cynthia McKinney is on our side:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eootfzAhAoU
At RAW STORY
http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/06/30/israel-captures-peace-activists-e...
Doctors Needed
Well it's nice to have a humanitarian ship garnering lots of publicity after the kidnap of McKinney and others, but it would be real news if doctors were on board and they got abducted and not able to go where they're needed. Sorry to be more cynical than people who write here, but politicians are always looking for publicity, and it would be more helpful to the Palestinians if they received visits from more professional medical people.
The Press Conference No One Attended.
If it’s about Israel…. the media is not interested.
If it condemns Israel…. the media is definitely not interested.
Yesterday afternoon, NYC Council Member Charles Barron called a Press Conference to discuss ‘zionist piracy on the high seas’. Not a single member of the Corporate Media attended the conference… in fact, the only people representing the ‘media’ at all in attendance were our roving photographer Bud and his sidekick Chippy Dee. Again, the power of the Blogesphere proves its strength.
On this note…. Chippy Dee had the following observation:
Interestingly, if you Google the event there is loads of info on the blogs but nothing in the press. We’d be in total ignorance without bloggers. No wonder they’re trying so hard to get rid of this thorn in their side. With all the tumult,
are you hearing about the military coup in Honduras? It is starting – attempts to destroy the new democracies.
http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/the-press-conference-that-no... Ap
Update on Cynthia McKinney in Israel.
Former U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney speaks from an Israeli Prison.
She is still imprisoned?
Together with the rest of her entourage? How can this be?