Israel Flouts International Law Again and Murders Innocent People.

[jodevizes]

The Israeli armed forces have flouted international law by attacking civilian ships in international waters and killing civillians.
As usual they lied and said they were shot at first. Then they said they were attacked with sticks and knives. Well, pardon my ignorance, but if you are sailing in international waters, if you are attacked, you are justified in defending yourself. If this were off the Somalia coast, they would be called pirates.

They are slowly strangling the Gaza strip by denying it access to building materials so that the people can rebuild their houses and schools.

They are not joining talks to keep the Middle East nuclear free

What a shame George and Tony aren't still in power, they could have found another country to invade.

Am rather gobsmacked that I am unable to find any condemnation from our government. Have checked Telegraph, Times, Guardian, DM and BBC websites. Here is what other governments have said.

Have sent a tweet to Hague, I am sure one of many to do so.

It's not a "Jewish lobby" please. It's a "pro-Israeli lobby."

Secondly the US supports Israel not because some folks in that lobby are manipulating its foreign policy. The US supports Israel for its own concerns.

Very powerful lobbies like environmentalist lobbies are not supported by the US as that does not coincide with US interests.

BBC saying 19 dead.

Prolesworth's link says Hague has issued a statement "deploring" the attack, at 12:03. A bit late. But haven't followed other countries in summoning ambassador.

I think this gives an idea of where this government is going to be wrt Israel.

Maybe it has changed since I lived in New York and there there was a very powerful, political Jewish lobby that supported Israel and made sure that Presidential candidates they supported felt the same.

So no condemnation of Israel's action by either UK or US, just 'deploring loss of life'. Big difference imo. If no loss of life I assume there would have been no comment at all

No, you're wrong. Look, it's not a "Jewish" lobby. It's a "pro-Israel" lobby. Get the difference? Very thin ice you're treading on...

And like I say, the US supports Israel for its own concerns. If supporting Israel didn't suit the US, it wouldn't support it...ditto Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Colombia...

I've got a friend on one of those boats too.

footage from one of the ships

(Wait a bit and you'll get the report in English)

It's shocking stuff.

Sorry, I'll try that link again.

Footage from one of the ships

(wait for English report)

I can't comprehend how a nation of people who suffered so many atrocities against them are so willing to do the same to others.

What you can do to help ...

(Copied from the Stop the War Coalition at stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1906/1/)

PROTEST TO FOREIGN SECRETARY WILLIAM HAGUE:

BY EMAIL: [email protected] AND [email protected] AND [email protected]

BY LETTER TO: William Hague MP, Foreign Secretary, King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AH

PROTEST TO YOUR MP:
findyourmp.parliament.uk

PROTEST TO DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER NICK CLEGG
EMAIL: [email protected]

LETTER TO: Nick Clegg MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Also there's a protest outside Downing Street this afternoon at 2.00pm.

Thanks Prolesworth, haven't heard any news yet but we think the boat she was on wasn't one of the ones stormed by the IDF - or at least it wasn't the one they shot at.

Hope your friend's ok too lowrib - do you know which boat they were on?

The Israeli guy on the news is saying the Israeli troops were only defending themselves

Hmm. Lets see. If you watch the link above you'll see the Israeli troops fired live ammunition onto a ship containing civilians. They continued to fire onto the ship after the ship raised a white flag. They then boarded the ship and continued to fires live rounds.

The ship wasn't even in Israeli territory, they were in international waters.

A 3 year old could work out who the aggressor is!

this makes me so angry.

I really hope you hear news of your friend soon. Wasn't the wallender novelist on some convey and has missed hay because of it? If a multinational mix of journos, peace activists etc have been caught up in this then SURELY we must see more vocal criticism of Israel and it's actions. ( note to any future mud slingers- I said Israel, not Jew)

Hi Missus84. I don't know which ship she's on. I know she was on one of the Turkish ships. I've been looking out for her in all the footage, but I can't see her. I'm meant to be doing stuff today but none of it seems that important now.

I hope your friend's OK too.
Assuming they're both OK, it must still be terrifying, no matter how brave you are.

"I can't comprehend how a nation of people who suffered so many atrocities against them are so willing to do the same to others."

Oh dear. Read some history.

It's not mud slinging SeaShells, it's called not lapsing into casual anti-Semitism over the brutal actions of the Israeli state.

I agree with you coolfonz, but there seem to be some on mn at the moment that will misread your posts and bang goes any debate, just mud slinging. They are not here yet

www.stopwar.org.uk/

I really hope anyone with friends or family get news soon.

Emails sent

Thanks Prolesworth, SesShellsOnTheSeaShore and anyone else who's writing an email or an letter.

This is what the MP Jeremy Corbyn wrote, for an example.

To: Rt Hon William Hague MP

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

By email to [email protected]

May 31st 2010

Dear William,

I am writing this urgently to express my shock and outrage at Israel?s behavior in attacking, boarding and killing people who are on the humanitarian flotilla to Gaza.
Apparently 20 people have been killed and I am concerned for the fate of all those involved including the British nationals on board. I know two of them very well, Sarah Colborne and Kevin Ovenden.

I hope that the UK Government has already protested in the strongest possible terms to Israel on this attack, in international waters, on a vessels carrying aid to the people of Gaza. I also hope that there will be an immediate suspension of the EU Trade Agreement, reference to the UN Security Council and appropriate and immediate sanctions made against Israel for this clearly illegal acts.

Additionally I hope we will put pressure on the USA to act accordingly and specifically revoke the planned further military aid of $150millions for a missile system.
I visited Gaza earlier this year as part of a pan European Parliamentary delegation and saw for ourselves the continuing destruction from ?Operation Cast Lead?, the shortages of medicines and vital supplies and the isolation and imprisonment of the people. The continued blockade and under-supplying of Gaza is appalling and also illegal. Not surprisingly the people look to other countries to recognise their plight and put appropriate pressure on Israel.

I would be obliged if you could tell me what actions have been taken by the British Government in respect of the illegal attack and over the safety of British nationals on the vessels.

With thanks,
I await your response,

Jeremy Corbyn MP

(Copied from stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1908/27/)

that's slightly more verbose and eloquent than mine!

I know it won't be read, so I put in the subject "please condemn Israel's actions" in the hope that as it gets scanned, I can appeal to their sense of justice, (there was more in the body of the email!)

"I'm not holding my breath for anything to be done about it, or for governments to even condemn them.

Israel can get away with anything, no one cares about the illegal nukes, human rights abuses, massacres etc angry

IMO they are up there with North Korea. "

IMO They are worse than N Korea because they get help from the American Government and possibly the English!

You are absolutely right Coolfonz, there is a difference; it is not a "jewish" lobby but a "pro-Israel/pro-Zionist" lobby. There are many Jews who disagree with Israel's policies and actions and even their claim to a state.