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Is Greece Being Blackmailed to Put the Brakes on Gaza Flotilla?
The 50 passengers and crew on the U.S. boat to Gaza have converged in Athens, Greece, ready to head out to sea to join an international fleet of ships that will challenge the Israeli-imposed naval blockade of Gaza. But on Thursday, June 23, when the boat was scheduled to leave its port outside Athens and move closer to an international meeting point, the boat’s owner was suddenly served with a complaint by an unknown individual that the boat was not seaworthy. The captain, convinced that the complaint was bogus, was nevertheless told by Greek authorities that he could not set sail until they did a thorough inspection.
Also on Thursday, Greek port authorities issued an unusual warning to all ship captains to steer clear of the coordinates that correspond with Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The advisory said there will be continuous electronic surveillance of the region to “record the movements of ships that will possibly participate in such an action.”
It appears that the Greek government is bowing to intense pressure from the Israelis—and possibly the U.S. government—to try to block the flotilla. The American passengers on the U.S. boat, called The Audacity of Hope, are pushing the Greek government to do a quick inspection, as they are convinced the ship would pass muster. “The boat we are leasing for this journey has been worked on for months by qualified technicians and is ready to sail,” said organizer and passenger Ann Wright. “We do not believe it needs to be re-inspected, but we are open to the Greek authorities doing this quickly so that there will be no further delays.”
The move to block the U.S. boat is just the latest in a flurry of recent activity designed to thwart the flotilla. Israel has publicly stated that it is pressuring countries around the world to stop their citizens from participating. Its pressure on the Turkish government was so intense that the Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, the same ship that was so violently attacked last year, recently announced that it would not be joining the flotilla.
Several boats in the international flotilla are now docked in Greece. To its credit, the Greek government has taken a position that the blockade on Gaza must be lifted and many people in the government are sympathetic to the aims of the flotilla. But Greece is being battered by a severe economic crisis that has wreaked havoc within the government itself. The passengers speculate that Israel, which has extensive trade and investment ties with Greece, is callously taking advantage of the economic hardship the Greek people are experiencing right now to put the screws on the Greek government.
They also see the hidden hand of the United States behind this, as the Obama administration has been publicly railing against the flotilla, calling it a “provocative act” against Israel and issuing harsh travel warnings to Americans against any attempts to reach Gaza by boat. The U.S. passengers speculate that the Obama Administration is using economic blackmail on the Greek government. Greece's economic and political crisis is a result of extreme austerity measures imposed by the European Union and the largely U.S.-controlled International Monetary Fund (IMF). The United States may well be using its leverage at the IMF over the implementation of an ongoing bailout of European banks with massive Greek debts to compel the Greek government to block the U.S. boat.
"Greece is not going to be able to meet the targets that it is pledging to the IMF and the European authorities. In this situation the IMF and therefore the U.S. government will have enormous leverage because these institutions will decide what will be acceptable benchmarks for Greece to receive future tranches of IMF/EU funding," said Mark Weisbrot, Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington DC.
Passengers on the U.S. boat are asking Greek government officials to clarify the situation. “Is our boat being blocked from leaving Greece because of an anonymous request of a private citizen concerning the seaworthiness of the ship, a situation could be easily dealt with by a quick inspection, or is this a political decision by the Greek government in response to economic pressure?,” asked passenger and political analyst Robert Naiman.
In any event, the flotilla participants remain determined to set sail. “We have overcome many roadblocks along the way and we will overcome this one as well,” said passenger and CODEPINK organizer Ridgely Fuller. “We might not have the economic clout of the U.S. and Israeli governments, but we have morality and the support of the Greek people on our side.”
Medea Benjamin is a passenger on the U.S. boat to Gaza, called the Audacity of Hope.
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Show AllIsraelis have lost their conscience or humanity if they can stand by while their government prepares another massacre of unarmed civilians. After decades of stealing land and murdering women and children, Israelis have come to believe their own lies and are locked into defending the indefensible. A worldwide boycott is the only way to treat murderers and thieves. They may have corrupt governments on their side, but worldwide, the people have turned against Israel--not out of any misguided notion of antisemitism, but out of a sense of outrage at the injustice, apartheid, cruelty and inhumanity that Israel stands for.
The same thing could be said about the US also.
"--not out of any misguided notion of antisemitism"
The outrageous conduct of Israel toward its Islamic neighbors could very well result in a worldwide increase in antisemitism, if it hasn't already.
"A worldwide boycott is the only way to treat murderers and thieves."
Exactly Right.
"Israelis have lost their conscience or humanity if they can stand by while their government prepares another massacre of unarmed civilians."
Everyone needs to be aware that Israelis call Gentiles Goyim. Goyim means cattle to all who care what Israelis think about the rest of us. A massacre of Goys is nothing more than weeding the garden to them. They are the Chosen so anything goes and people wonder why they have had troubles with the native populations where ever they have gone.
On a blockade of 200 nautical miles plus which is totally illegal under international law and classed as an act of War. 29 standing ovations to Netenyahu's speech in Congress. You couldn't make this up. Just what is Israel and its colony USA afraid of ? American warships aught to be escorting this group of incredibly well principled and brave blockade busters at least for the memory of those US sailors murdered from the USS Liberty by Israeli Forces. Americans - look where your Tax Dollars are being spent to starve and brutalize many on the planet. God speed and a fair passage to all the people and ships taking part on the Convoy.
It looks like after reading this article that one should not be expecting to see anythime soon Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden or Barack Obama interceding on behalf of The Audacity of Hope by appealing to the Greek government to allow the ship to sail on its vogage post haste. Perhaps these three will show their true colors by appearing as passengers on that ship in order to demonstrate their support for the Palestinian people.
Free Gaza.
The American people must be very proud of the role their government is playing to stifle any form of dissent against its Israeli hand-puppeteer's brutal occupation of the Palestinian territories. Or they would be very proud if the media which tells them what they may or may not think would report on it.
Anything Obama and Clinton do with regard to Israel can be described as an unnatural act. What the Congress does would shock the sensibilities of Hustler.
This is a contest between The Audacity of Servile Subservience and The Audacity of Hope. I have no sympathy for the Greek government nor the Turkish government that are allowing themselves to be whipsawed and blatantly manipulated by the two most amoral and criminal entities on earth.
Are the activists physically on the boat at this point? Because if they are not, or cannot force themselves past the police onto the boat, fire up the engines and cast off, the boat is never going to sail.
Considering the average age of the passengers is 65 and mostly female (like all the US activist left, it seems - where are the young people?). I don't see much hope of the Audacity joining the flotilla.
One can only wonder about the influence of the IMF and bankers on the Greek policies. Is there an implied threat regarding the Greek financial situation? Does anyone know? Otherwise, putting effort into obstructionism makes no sense.
I suppose that's one way to prevent a protest... I wonder, the next time I read about police suppression of dissent, will I hear the police say they wanted to inspect the shoes to make sure the protesters were wearing proper shoes?
As Israeli writer Gideon Levy has pointed out, Israel is the only country in the history of the world where the oppressors hjave attempted to perceive themselves as being the victims.
And if they are allowed to set sail, what then? A confrontation with the IDF?
Will the conscience of the world suddenly wake up and shine a moral light on the dark tragedy in Palestine? I doubt it; especially not in the USA. Not with the Anthony murder trial and the republican circus filling the news hole. Our administration and congress will never oppose israel, whatever the astrocity, whatever the crime.
Publicity? If the Greek Govt does let them sail, they ,might erect a cross at the bow, and lash a one of the protestors to it. Give them a target, and an image to send around the world, and remember.
I'm sure the harbor-master would prevent the sailing of any Greek, Israeli or American-owned cargo ship on any anonymous representation of unseaworthiness lodged with him...and would protect the identity of the complainant from the affected corporation. Rules are rules, and the law is the law, and they are to be applied universally and even-handedly.
The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread...Anatole France
Not just local Southern state governments but the Federal Government as well fought the Civil Rights movement here, from the White House to the FBI. Don't be surprised by Clinton since both she and Senator Edwards, while campaigning for the Presidency, made it clear they supported occupation and ethnic cleansing, which their branch of the Methodist Church apparently supports as well.
What precisely is the difference between the conduct of Israel each and every day and the conduct of a strictly criminal enterprise? Could it be that God makes them do what they do? How many more years will the taxpayers of America and Germany be expected to involuntarily support this mafia?
I would argue God granted man free will, he doesn't force anyone to do anything.
I would argue god is a myth created to enslave the ignorant.
There is truly nothing Israel could do that would result in US aid being cut off. They could nuke Iran, drive the Palestinians out of the occupied territories, anything. The US government is Israel's servile puppet. It is truly pathetic and outrageous to see the US and world reduced to such servility before the criminal enterprise that is the Israeli govt.
"The US government is Israel's servile puppet."
We're beyond the level of nation states. Since the global financial mafia influences the behavior of both nations profoundly, and since the global financial mafia is thick with Zionists (look up the percentage of billionaires in the world who are Zionist, 40-50%?), any talk of Israel as a nation state telling the US what to do is sort of out of focus. Forget nation states. It's global class warfare we're dealing with here.
American Ship not seaworthy and the Greek Maritime Inspection or whatever it's called will do a safety inspection: Well as a former Radio Officer who sailed on Ships under "Flag of Convienance". I was on a Greek Operated Freighter in 1980 sailing from U.S. to Canada and as far as safety? Well I dont want to say it was a joke but the Greeks have been notorious for operating merchant ships in very marginal condition. In 1998 the Oceanos a Greek Operated Cruise Liner and it's Capt. was Greek. The ship started sinking off the Coast of South Africa and when the first Helicopters arrived the Capt. was one of the first to leave as well as most of his officers and Crew. The Entertainment Crew were the ones that did most of the assistance to the Passengers to get airlifted off. That is one of many. Others - The Argo Merchant in 1976, A Passenger Ship of Greek Operations in the Bahamas in the late 60's caught Fire and burned to the Waterline. I can't think that Greek Safety Standards are that high but they must meet "IMO" (International Maritime Organization). A function of the United Nations to set uniform Standards for Safety of Life at Sea. (SOLAS).
It is very noticeable the Obamabots and other Democratic Party supporters avoid commenting on articles like these where Obama and the Democrats support Israel's ethnic cleansing over Americans activists doing the right thing, or like other articles where Obama and the Democrats support undeclared illegal wars, raid US peace activist homes...
But, without a doubt, the Obama and Democratic Party supporters will be out in full force over the next year or so before the election hoping we have amnesia and trying to scare us into supporting them as they claim the other side is worse. Where is Van Jones and the American Dream on this? Hiding in a closet.
Do real progressives push revenge through ecocide?
Who does?
Well, I sure hope the Greeks bargain hard and get their debt forgiven for this complicity with Zion. Otherwise, they would be giving in to the pressure in order to get a bad deal? How nuts is that?
In the meantime, let us all pray to the gods to help the flotilla escape from Greek waters just as they helped Aeneas so long ago.
Taken to its philosophical roots, it is the proverbial conservative aggression toward liberals.
Taken to its economic roots, it is conservative elite's greed against liberal's social egalitarianism
Taken to its ecological roots, it is the conservative's bestial reaction to overpopulation coupled with resource defense and concentration versus liberal's humanistic, scientific approach to conservation.
Taken to its religious roots, it is the proverbial conservative elite's superstitious fear of other conservative superstitious elites
Direct democracy
ships don't have brakes - unless you count the anchor.
The only thing I think would work in the situation as it stands now would be for both sides, Israelis and Palestinians to be disarmed. No weapons for any of them, period. Enough is enough. If they are still compelled to fight, it's mano y mano.
Draw a line, split the land up and be done.
Your comment suggest that the fighting is between two equals. It is not and the suggestion is dishonest. First, Israel is the aggressor and has one of the strongest militaries in the Middle East. The Palestinians are defending themselves with rudimentary weapons including stones. Israel is occupying Palestinian land, the Palestinians are not occupying Israeli land. The line has been drawn up in the past, e.g., 1967 borders, but Israel refuses to accept it, and based on Netanyahu's recent rhetoric, he wants all the Palestinians out of the West Bank and put into Jordan. Pure and simple ethnic cleansing.
It seems the oppressed from their history, have learnt only how to be oppressors themselves.
We owe a great debt to Greece for our institutions, Senate, government, Western philosophy and thinking. I think therefore I am Greek, we are all Greeks. No money can pay this great debt to our Western societies, from Britain to Canada and Shakespeare to Joyce. Thank you Greece!
Israel needs to pay back the billions in welfare the US has so generously given in the billions annually to this small racist and apartheid made up place. For what reason I will never understand, when so many Americans at home are in need.
Corp-rat media pundits in Amerika continue to preach that the "evil peace protesters" must be stopped for the "glories of Israel" (and the criminal $yndicate in Tel Aviv). Indeed! The pundits claim it's the patriotic duty of every fat-ass consumer/citizen in faster poo-food Amerika to blindly support (and also $upport) the ethno-racist Zionist bigots in the APARTHEID Israeli theocrazy... and enable them to openly commit kidnapping, torture, murder, piracy on the high seas, ethnic cleansing... and Jim Crow genocide in the WARSAW GHETTO OF GAZA!
Of course Israel is putting the arm on Greece!
It's called buy em' or bop em'.
The hubris filled fascists running the show in Israel are even managing to scare off Jewish Israeli citizens! Look at this video about the fact that fully one third of Israelis have passsports for some other country. There is no country on earth with that percentage of people who want to be able to make a quick exit. One out of every 5 Russian Jews that moved to Israel have gone back to Russia.
http://www.gilad.co.uk/writings/rt-israelis-want-to-run-away-to-safety.html