| Font Size |
An e-mail circulated by pro-Palestinian activists in the US said an American ship named after US President Barack Obama's autobiography, will join a flotilla of other vessels from Europe, Canada, India, South Africa and the Middle East in an additional attempt to break the Israeli naval blockade in early autumn.
The new campaign comes amid an increased international hue and cry to force the Jewish state to lift its siege of the
coastal territory.
The effort is supported by several prominent figures, including Prof Rashid Khalidi, a well-known critic of Israel whose friendship with the US President has raised eyebrows here.
It aims to raise USD 370,000 next month to obtain possession of a ship that could accommodate between 40 and 60 people, and for operational expenses, the email said.
Right-wing columnists immediately seized on the involvement of Khalidi, whom they portrayed as a friend of Obama who was supporting Hamas.
Khalidi said he does not know what the ship will ultimately be named, but added the White House should not be embarrassed by the name 'The Audacity of Hope', and should
instead call for Israel's naval blockade of the Hamas-controlled territory to be lifted, the report said.
The Columbia University History Professor, a US national born to a Palestinian refugee, Khalidi said that although he will participate in the fundraising event for the ship, he will not be sailing in it himself.
"Given the national-religious hierarchy which determines what the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) can do to
whom, the fact that the ship is American will make it harder to deal with it as the Mavi Marmara was dealt with," he said referring to the Turkish aid ship raided by Israeli Naval commandos on May 31, on which nine activists were killed in the ensuing fight.
Khalidi characterised the blockade as a measure "imposed on a population of 1.5 million people who are effectively imprisoned, and most of whom are deprived of living a normal life".
This form of collective punishment could constitute a war crime, he said.
When asked by the Israeli daily if he was aware of the proposed name of the ship and whether the choice of name was appropriate, the professor said, "I am not one of the organisers of this effort, and had no knowledge that this name had been chosen".
Khalidi said if the name is a problem for the Obama administration, it can simply insist publicly that Israel lift the siege.
"That of course would require it to respond to the systematic mendacity of those in Congress and elsewhere who support the siege. It is shameful that the US and Egyptian
governments are complicit in this indefensible siege," he asserted.
He said the fact that the ship is American would bring attention to the Gaza issue, which had begun to have an impact on American public opinion.
"This has not been the result of the ineffective efforts of the two feeble Palestinian 'authorities', nor has it mainly been the result of the work of activists, important though this has been," he said.
"It has primarily been a natural response to the actions of successive Israeli governments," he said.
He said the actions have appeared more and more unjustifiable to growing segments of US public opinion, and asserted that the only place that has remained largely impervious to this change has been the US Congress.
"This is especially the case among younger people, who can detect the deception and chicanery which are an essential part of 'selling' such rotten goods as occupation, discrimination, and attacks on civilians.
"It is also visible in widening sectors of the American Jewish community", he noted.
Khalidi argued that Israel's blockade of Gaza was punishing civilians while having little effect on the militant Hamas administration.
He insisted that the siege is not imposed on the Hamas government, or on a 'terrorist entity', as the Israeli government describes the entire Gaza Strip but on the population as a whole.
"Moreover, it hardly affects that government, as has been amply reported... and other organs not known for their sympathy for Hamas", he pointed out.
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
|
|
it takes courage to stand up to a rogue state that blocks food, water, essential medicines, construction material, you name it, from a native people it is intent on wiping out. it takes courage to do what is right even if a terrorist state tries to terrorise humanitarian activists into giving up efforts to lift the seige by killing them in international waters. proud to know there are some indians left who will follow the founding father Mahatma and resist oppressive colonialism.
The whole flotilla is concocted of lies and distortions by terrorists and their useful idiots. Didn't you learn anything from the vicious attack in Mumbai? Israel is trying to defend itself against the same kind of cruel fanaticism. The Indian anti-terror authorities should arrest them all.
All normal aid can get to Gaza by land only those that want weapons into Gaza go by sea. Israel will never allow ships into Gaza for this reason. Humas charter calls for Israel destruction. Why aid terrorist??
Israel is one of the few countries with favourable opinion of India. Israel considers India to be its ally and yet some people with no brains sending an "aid" ship to Israel. Useless, incomprehensible, irresponsible people.
A very good effort by indian people.
Israel is a tiny country, fighting for its survival while being surrounded by hostile muslim countries. The Palastinians use the aid they get to make rockets and bomb Israili cities. And, now Indians want to add to their problems! Shameful.
Moving against Israel is a big loss for India. So stay neutral.
Good job India,Keep up the good work.We need to show the world where we stand.We are against the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine. The people of Palestine are suffering under Israeli occupation since 1948.
Taking a stand against the Apartheid Regime of Israel is a just and principled act. And as regards the constant demonizing of Hamas, people need remember that both the US and Israel supported the democratic election in which Hamas was elected to power. Had Israelis and their American lapdogs believed Hamas could win, they never would have allowed a Democratic election to take place.
Salute to Indians, I don't know why people cant see the difference between helping the people of Gaza. People all over the world from European countries are going including Jews. Indians should be part of this global communist as well. Kudos.
The Indian government should object to and take stern criminal action against individuals who are Indian citizens aspiring to be part of this illegal act. I don%u2019t have a problem if these so called saviours of Islamic brotherhood jump onto any other ship and sail the world but do not misrepresent India on international front. If want to do some social service start at home by helping the needy in our own country.
India should stay neutral. It is a wrong move to go against Israel.
Whatever this Indian ship is called and whatever it does with whoever on board,it must not forget that it is aiding an internationally condemned terrorist organisation called Hamas which has the blood of hundreds of innocents (PALESTINIANS INCLUDED) on its hands. The route to supply goods to the Palestinian population in Gaza is fully open and internationally laid down. The Israeli have all the right to guard their coast against intruders.This is what Pakistan to Indian fishermen and vice versa.
THE ANTI-GAZA BLOCKADE CAMPAIGN IS A CAMPAIGN OF THE TERRORISTS AGAINST ALL THE DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES. NOW ALL THE MARITIME NATIONS ARE THREANTENED BY TERROISTS TURNED PIRATES FUNDED BY STATES FIRMLY INFLUENCED BY RUTHLESS TERRORISTS ORGANISATIONS OF THE WORLD. THERE IS GOING TO BE MANY MORE SOMALIAS, NORTH KOREAS,AND PAKISTAN CONTROLLED BY PIRATES AND TERRORISTS IF THE SANE WORLD FAILS TO CRUSH THESE DESRUCTIVE ELEMENTS.
Why are people just anti Israel. Why are they not asking questions about HAMAS going on a killing spree and taking control from PLO. Why not HAMAS be subjected to human rights violations. We all know HAMAS is a very rabid terror organization that rules with arms and killings. Why are so many of them supporting and why is US allowing this to happen.
Arabs have never helped India. India's application to join the OIC (Organization of Islamic countries) was rejected despite India having the second biggest population of Muslims. Arabs have always justified the Pakistan sponsored terrorism in Kashmir as an Islamic freedom struggle. Why would we be supporting Arabs. Gaza is ruled by terrorists anyway and they get all the aid they need by land. India should ban this ship and its owners from ever entering India again.