Dear Israel: It is YOU who is the provocateur, not us

(NEW YORK) - As we get ready to sail in two weeks, Israel has stepped up the threats, threatening to sue the Canadians who are going, threatening to sue the satellite phone company if they provide us with service, threatening to kill and maim us if we don't stop, then saying, "I told you so...we said we would kill you."

This behavior has got to stop. Israel is behaving like the schoolyard bully who parents and teachers fear, because his parents are rich and have contributed to the school. It's time for us to put our foot down.

Start calling your member of parliament/congress now. Start writing letters to the editor. Start a civil movement on social networks of outrage against Israel's attacks on civilians. Distribute this statement below and post on your websites.

Regarding statements of government officials in Israel (echoed by officials in other countries) about diplomatic initiatives to impede the “Freedom Flotilla II- Stay Human” mission to Gaza, Palestine, we say:

Proper diplomacy does not exclude humanitarian action; Instead of seeking to prevent an international community of concerned citizens from taking nonviolent action in defense of liberty and human rights, diplomacy must pursue such actions and encourage them.

It is, therefore, a provocation to label the humanitarian action taken by movements supporting human rights to sail to Gaza a “provocation.”

It is a provocation that powerful states and international organizations, such as the US, Israel, the EU and the UN, are asking people to be silent and not react to violations of law and the disdain for universal values.

It is a provocation that international diplomacy is demanding that solidarity action from "people to people" be stopped.

It is a provocation that this international peaceful action is threatened with violence, and the powerful of the earth “wash their hands” of the consequences if Israel attacks us.

It is a provocation that these powerful entities justify, a priori, the murders, wounding, arrests and torture of unarmed human rights activists that took place one year ago on board all six ships of Freedom Flotilla 1.

We are determined to sail to Gaza, and we will. Our cause is just and our means are transparent. International diplomacy must do what it has refused to do for years, to undertake initiatives that it has turned away from for decades. Instead of condoning threats of repeated violence against unarmed civilians sailing in international waters, the global community must legally sanction the perpetrators of such crimes.

Those who seek to uphold and defend freedom, human rights, and justice must do more than denounce belligerent occupation, man-made humanitarian crises, ethnic cleansing, wanton violence against civilians, and the fierce oppression of social movements.

Civil society must be present, direct, and pro-active; it must transcend the political process of handling and resolving crises, which governments and international organizations carry out slowly, indecisively and, above all, with their self-interest at the forefront.

The grossly unjust and unlawful blockade of the Gaza Strip and the ongoing belligerent occupation of the rest of Palestine is a stark case of states sacrificing principle and human rights for power and self-interest.

The Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human mission is a healthy reaction to the apathy of the international political community. We are sailing to confront massive injustice with global nonviolent action. This mission puts on notice all those who, for many years, have passively watched the tragedy of Palestine, as well as those who directly contribute to it.

Therefore, direct action taken by civil society to uphold freedom, human rights, and justice (such as Freedom Flotilla II - Stay Human), not only helps to build a different level of conscience, but is, and has to be, a means for the public to become a part of change and a direct challenge to governmental bodies that will not be stopped.

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Jamila June 16, 2011 7:11 pm (Pacific time)

First let's reason then work together. The blockade a legal one on Israel waters - why the hell do you want to be a provocateur? need to help Gazans? No problem with that, Israel wants to do it so let them, you'll save money, and maybe lives too remember it could be yours.

Editor:: No, Israelis do not want to help Gazans; some do yes, but your political doctrine is in no way written to benefit anyone in Gaza. You want people to read your words and suddenly believe that this humanity killing blockade is legal? If so you're doing the devil's work. Why must you and yours always lie? Why do you always abuse the extremely important subject of truth? Why must supports of Israel always concoct stories? What is it about your passion to maintain the Genocide of Palestine that erases any accuracy in what you convey? I know I am asking the same question different ways, but it is to counter you guys who always try to slip your shit in with the guise of peace which it is not. You don't approve of and act supportive of governments that behave like monsters if you care about peace.

You speak out and take the higher road and if you really care, then you join the resistance and do everything in your power in your life to change what is wrong in this world. It seems to me that Israel needs to rejoin the human race and learn to integrate, because the Palestinians aren't going anywhere. If another Cast Lead happens I think mankind itself will invade and overthrow Israel's fascist single religion racist government. I could go on; don't lie on our pages and attempt to use Salem-News.com for propaganda that serves occupying governments. It is bad enough that the US is in the same exact place with all of this, the daddy warbucks of Israel's madness.

As I write this, a video is being produced in our studio by an incredible singer named David Rovics who is Jewish. He is part of the human race like me; a real brother, not a member of a separatist society with delusions of superiority to we Goyam. I have a few things for you that they didn't teach you at hasbara school friend. And as a final note, the Mavi Marmara was attacked in International Waters and even if Israel had a point, they didn't wait until the ship was in their waters, or even pointed toward Gaza; it had been running a parallel course along the coastline when attacked. Together, we Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindu, Atheists, Agnostics.... the undecided, all of us, we shall win peace. Religion was never meant to divide and kill. That is the ill mannered decision of weak and fearful men.

Mustafa June 16, 2011 11:44 am (Pacific time)

I support your determination to help the poor and abused people of Gaza. The large group of Palestinian activist will sail and break the unjust and unlawful blockade of Gaza. Bring along with you food and supplies for those needy people. Take swimming lessons, and just in case bring along with you shark repellent gadgets. Wishing you bon voyage and good luck!

lejardin June 13, 2011 3:57 pm (Pacific time)

"Our writer Ken O'Keefe personally disarmed two of the IDF 'commandos'..." WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN SMOKING, YOU BLITHERING MORON!? OBVIOUSLY, NOTHING EVEN REMOTELY LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENED!

Tim King: See the crazy stuff that these Israelis try to put out? Ken's role aboard the Mavi Marmara was epic and he showed the world that there was never an intent to kill Israelis. It is 100% documented fact and everyone knows, and even your own compadres tried to suggest he was there to 'train Hamas' which is bullshit, since Hamas is a highly trained and organized military/political organization that stands tall for Palestine in the face of Israeli aggression. Just because Ken is a Marine Combat Veteran doesn't mean he is training other military groups. You guys need to take some truth serum, wouldn't that open some eyes?

Jammy June 13, 2011 8:51 am (Pacific time)

Unsigned article? Why would a newspaper publish an unsigned article? Do the math - nobody wants to take credit for it because they are ashamed of it. Do the math. The above article is biased against Israel, the USA's greatest ally in the Middle east.

The so-called freedom flotilla carried cargo such as night vision goggles, ballistic vests and gas masks.

It was not a freedom flotills. It was a provocotive action.

Your paper is a rag.

Editor: Well, this writer doesn't want their name used; one can imagine why that may be the case. The flotilla was a group of peace activists who, like so many others, refuses to be idle while Israel occupies and brutalizes the Palestinian population. The flotilla was carrying good, brave people who only wanted to help, and of course they fought the thugs who invaded their ship, that is what people do at sea when armed military invaders attack them in open international waters where Israel had NO jurisdiction. Your Israeli soldiers were killing people before they ever boarded the ship. Our writer Ken O'Keefe personally disarmed two of the IDF 'commandos' and could have sent them packing to the great beyond, but even in spit of the fact that Ken had fully loaded weapons, and these murderous idiots had killed several of his friends, Ken didn't take the bait and you assholes have not a point to make. You can't treat people like animals and get away with it, people are paying attention, people will stop this madness..

Raphael June 13, 2011 4:19 am (Pacific time)

"I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle...Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations... 17 And it shall be, that whoso of the families of the earth goeth not up unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain." Zechariah 14, Circa 520 BC

Robert June 12, 2011 5:54 pm (Pacific time)

Dear Editor,
Afraid to post my comment?

Editor: Afraid of posting your rant about support for Israel, the oppressive occupying apartheid state? I'm not afraid of anything, some say I lack the sense for that, but I am a bit disgusted and we do not exist as a propaganda board for racist representatives of governments that practice state terrorism. And tell the damned Nazi's the same thing, after all you guys took a page from their book right?

Larry June 12, 2011 5:34 pm (Pacific time)

Israel's problem is that screwing the Palestinians has become an ingrained part of their identity. Israel's supporters need to recognize that brutalizing another group is nothing to be proud of. Let it go, it doesn't hurt Israel to let the Palestinians live with some dignity and hope.

David June 12, 2011 2:41 pm (Pacific time)

Good for you. By all means sail to gaza and waste your time. you will never reach gaza so it doesn't really matter. If ypu really want to do some good in the world then go try to stop the genocide in darfur. Or the hanging of gays and stonning of women going on in many muslim countries. Or how about trying to help the only person in gaza who really needs help. That is Gilad. There is no one in gaza who is dying of starvation. Their life expectancy is better then a lot of countries in the region, so spare me the anti-israel propaganda

Editor: You are a man of no truth, even if you toss in a couple of fragments of it. The population of Gaza has been savagely battered by an unreasonable and unfair system of apartheid that you David, would not accept, yet you expect others to? Gilad is not in Gaza by the way, where people are denied the right of return. You guys have gotten away with a lot, and you have been embarrassed and a sore in the world; a festering, bleeding sore. And look at the lengths people have to go to do defeat your small minded religious circus show. The words of God were never mean to enslave a population. You guys are wrong, the flotillas will reach Gaza and things will change. You can flail your arms for days and it means nothing.

Lejardin June 12, 2011 2:24 pm (Pacific time)

I'm really hoping they blow you out of the water. Um... "You who IS the provocateur"? No speakum dat Inglich?

Editor: Do you realize how bad you continue to make Israel look? These people don't want to hurt anyone, they want to help people and are being denied that. You actually how they are injured? You are a sick little man.

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Dear Israel: It is YOU who is the provocateur, not us

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