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03 Jul 2011 16:39

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World: Making amends: Greece floats a completely different flotilla idea

  • blocked A couple days back, Greece blocked a flotilla headed towards Gaza from heading out of one of its ports. It understandably drew a lot of controversy from certain quarters of the political sphere — but briefly took attention off the country’s austerity crisis.
  • allowed Now, it seems that Greece is ready to offer up a mea culpa to Palestine — in coordination with the United Nations, they’ll send a ship loaded with aid over to Gaza, which they’ll offer up to the Palestinian Authority — but, as you’ll note, they aren’t working with Hamas. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Jul 2011 12:02

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World: Greece’s not-so-hot week ends with a blocked flotilla to Gaza

  • action Despite a ban blocking flotillas headed towards Gaza from leaving Greek ports, an American one attempted to do just that yesterday. It was turned away by the Greek coast guard, which reportedly pointed machine guns at flotilla passengers. This comes  on the heels of Greece’s austerity vote.
  • reaction As you might imagine, reaction to this news was emotional on both sides. “Greece sold its body to the banks and its soul to Israel and the United States,” said one activist on the flotilla. The ship was named “The Audacity of Hope,” meaning Obama was indirectly dragged into this situation, too. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 May 2011 12:29

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World: Egyptian Gaza border opens, finally giving Palestinians a way out

  • Opening this door does not mean Egypt wants to allow bombs and explosives … Egypt wants to allow safe passage of individuals who want to conduct their lives.
  • Senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath • Expressing his approval for Egypt’s decision to permanently open their Rafa Border to Gaza, the region’s main outlet to the outside world. It’s all a part of the Egyptian government’s desire to build a stronger relationship with the Palestinians. Hamas’ Deputy foreign minister, Ghazi Hamad, calls this “a unique move and a positive development.” As for those allowed to leave the tiny, dense region of Palestine, they’re thrilled to finally get to leave. “The closure did not affect only the travel of passengers or the flowing of goods. Our brains and our thoughts were under blockade,” said Khaled Halaweh, a 28-year-old man who hopes to study at Alexandria University, but hasn’t been able to leave the Gaza region in seven years. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Jul 2010 11:19

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World: Israeli soldiers are gonna face charges for their conduct in Gaza

  • How bad the 2008 conflict was is up for debate. Investigators for the Israeli government looked into 150 separate incidents of possible misconduct during late 2008’s Operation Cast Lead. Allegations include manslaughter and, in one case, using a Palestinian man as a “human shield.” How many people died in the incident, and how many of those were civilians? Depends on who you ask:
  • 1,400 estimated Palestinian deaths, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights; they say most were non-combatant
  • 1,166 estimated Palestinian deaths, according to the Israeli government, which says 60 percent of those were “terror operatives” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Jun 2010 11:15

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U.S., World: Obama itching for another bailout, this time for the Gaza Strip

  • $400 million for schools, housing and businesses source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

07 Jun 2010 10:42

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World: Israel attacks a bunch of Palestinian divers off of Gaza

  • 4 divers were killed; Israel says they were plotting an attack source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Jun 2010 11:35

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Politics, World: Israel to UN: We don’t need no stinkin’ international oversight!

  • We are rejecting an international commission. We are discussing with the Obama administration a way in which our inquiry will take place.
  • Israel’s US ambassador, Michael Oren • Regarding the country’s response to the UN’s proposal of an international commission to study what happened during the flotilla incident. Why reject the proposal? “Israel is a democratic nation,” Oren says. “Israel has the ability and the right to investigate itself, not to be investigated by any international board.” But we’re guessing the international board might have slightly less bias in the situation than Israel might. Just a hunch. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink
 

05 Jun 2010 11:55

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World: The “Rachel Corrie” Israel/Gaza incident much more subdued

  • We are not afraid.Everyone on the boat is very calm.
  • Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire • Aboard the Rachel Corrie, an aid ship headed to Gaza, not long before it was intercepted. Unlike the prior flotilla act a week ago, there was no violence this time. In fact, Israeli authorities boarded with the activists’ permission this time. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Jun 2010 10:27

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World: Flotilla activists chewed up, spit out after Israel stops detaining them

They’re not in Israel anymore, but they’re not back home, either. It’s kinda like they just threw them out on the edge of the curb, eh? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

02 Jun 2010 21:00

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World: Benny Netanyahu works tired TV reference into flotilla quote

  • This was not a love boat, this was a hate boat. These were not peace activists, there were supporters of terrorism.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu • Saying an incredibly quotable quote in the wake of the whole flotilla situation. His take? The entire world is rushing to judgment and being hypocritical towards Israel. Which, admittedly, wouldn’t be the first time. But that said, he’s perhaps being a little over the top. “Israel can not permit Iran to develop a Mediterranean port a few dozen kilometers from Tel Aviv,” he said. Er, uh, we’re talking about Gaza, right? Say what you will about Israel’s actions, but the above quote hilarious because it’s so flip. source
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