Cynthia McKinney and Other Humanitarian Activists Refuse to Sign Israeli Documents; Remain in Custody
July 4th, 2009Via: Seattle Times / AP:
Most members of a group of foreign peace activists seized at sea by the Israeli navy remained in custody Friday, three days after their failed attempt to run Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, relatives and supporters said.
In the most recent attempt by activists to break a two-year blockade of Gaza, a group called the Free Gaza Movement sent the ship loaded with humanitarian supplies and 21 activists and crew members from Cyprus.
The Israeli navy intercepted the ship Tuesday after it ignored repeated messages saying it would not be allowed to enter Gaza waters and ordering it to turn back.
Among those being held Friday were former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire, said Sandra Law, mother of detained British activist Alex Harrison.
Law, speaking from her London home, said her daughter was being held with other women from the group at Ramle jail, near Ben-Gurion Airport. She said she spoke briefly with her daughter Friday.
“The conditions (in the jail) aren’t great, but they’re certainly not as bad as they could be,” Law said. “They’re in good spirits.”
She said the planned deportation of the activists may have been delayed by their refusal to sign legal documents in Hebrew, which they do not understand.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said those who signed an undertaking to return home voluntarily could be released immediately and repatriated on the first available flight.
He said the law demanded that those who refused that option must be held for 72 hours before being served a compulsory-deportation order.
Compare the media and the Obama admin.’s reaction to this story and compare it to the Somalian pirate issue where a private companies for profit American sea captain’s abduction and rescue warranted the immediate deployment of US navy seals a couple of months ago. Not to mention the constant media attention that received compared to no media attention at all for these Gaza activists.
In this scenario, for the 2nd time, unarmed peace activists were abducted by ISraeli thugs in international waters. The first time, their boat was destroyed after the Israeli’s rammed it. This time, they are abducted and their boats navigational equipment is destroyed, it’s aid supplies confiscated, and its passengers physically assaulted and then kidnapped to Israel and then to prison.
If there is one thing above everything that drives people crazy, it is this type of hypocrisy.