- News
-
- Sport
-
- Entertainment
-
- Advice
-
- Roots
-
37 Comments
Larger Text
Print
E-mailIrish ship to run Gaza blockade, bring food to Palestinians
Published Thursday, April 22, 2010, 7:35 AM
Updated Thursday, April 22, 2010, 10:39 AM
The 'Rachel Corrie'
A 1200-ton cargo ship that was abandoned in July 2009 off the coast of Ireland will be used by the Irish Free Gaza movement to try and run a Gaza blockade to deliver food and supplies to Palestinians.
The boat has been repainted and refitted and is called the 'Rachel Corrie' after an American activist crushed to death in 2003 by an Israeli military bulldozer as she attempted to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home in Gaza.
Derek Graham one of the organizers of the flotilla, "We are doing this to show the people of Gaza that they are not alone. There's nothing going into Gaza, no aid. We are prepared to run the blockade to try and get aid in. We have done it before. Out of eight previous attempts, five were successful.”
The Free Gaza Movement along with the Turkish humanitarian organization, IHH, the European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza and the Greek and Swedish Boat to Gaza organizations will sail 8 boats led by the Rachel Corrie loaded with building supplies as well as taking 600 passengers and journalists at the end of May to run the Gaza blockade.
The Rachel Corrie was abandoned in the town of Dundalk, near the Irish border by its owners after it was discovered they had not paid the crew, all from Lithuania. Free Gaza activists bought the ship for $100,000.
Organizers say that on May Day weekend, a mini convoy of vans loaded with medical supplies from eight different cities in Ireland and England will be delivering and loading these supplies on the ship.
People in Norway have donated more than 6 tons of paper and school supplies with a goal of 25 tons to be loaded as cargo.
Israel refuses to allow paper and supplies in for the children.
One of Free Gaza’s organizers, Caoimhe Butterly, stated "The public response to the cargo ship has been immense, and we hope that in the remaining three weeks before we set sail, communities across Ireland will continue to mobilize and gather supplies. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a symptom of Israel’s siege and Occupation, and this flotilla will spotlight the devastating collective punishment that is being imposed on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip."
Most recent of 37 comments - See all comments
It may take several minutes for your comment to appear.
Report abuse
Posted by dvwolfman on Jun 04, 2010, 10:36 AM EDTI think this is an act of great courage and I herald and salute all those involved. I am Jewish by birth and think that the Palestinian/Israeli situation is awful...I think that the Prime Minister of Israel needs to step down over this, and peace talks need to begin...The people of Palestine are clearly being oppressed! Those are children being herded around by Tanks! That is wrong!
Posted by IrishAndProud on May 04, 2010, 03:36 PM EDT
Why don't we just cut to the chase here, and say what a hearty lot on one side of this issue are thinking: 'Israel's a dirty little apartheid state, the Jews are illegitimate, and when every last one of them DIES, the world will be a better place?' Come on...THAT'S...WHAT...THEY'RE...HOPING...FOR. Yes...being Jewish in your own ancient land is inherently being an arrogant extremist...so, let's just walk away from Israel and let their peaceful, loving terrorist murderer neighbors have at them. With any luck every last Jew will DIE...and then flowers will bloom, birds will sing and Lennon's song 'Imagine' will waft out over the assemble throng, while we all dance naked holding hands (just like they did at Woodstock, centuries ago). Ahhh...I can just smell the crisp, spring air (tinged with the smoldering remains of Jewish kids' bodies). Anyone for 'kumbaya'?
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 30, 2010, 05:05 PM EDT
Plastic--I am surprised you see hate, or hatred, from myself, or my 'side.' I actually don't hate, and feel sorry for anyone caught in the middle of bad leadership, even if they voted for it. I don't accept a lot of current 'internationally cacepted' borders or indictments, as I thnk the UN and so much of the world has lost its sense and moral compass. I am just horrified with what goes on in so many places. And you are correct-- even though the history I state is accurate, the fact is, a Palestinian identity has developed, just as an Israeli identity (divorced pretty much from a Jewish identity) has developed since 1948. The questoin is, does the world constantly change, do states and governments fall and borders change, and people remain refugees, each time an identity or even population shift occurs? I wish the Palestinian people, and their leaders, had made better choices each step of the way. Many people could have worked out a peaceable existence; so very many lives could have been saved. But when one side in a dispute calls for the destruction of the other, where is the possibility for coexistence? So much more, but I am trying to keep the posts short. I must end with: I do not hate, and I do wish people would learn and not accept the media's conclusions.
Posted by plasticpaddy on Apr 28, 2010, 11:53 PM EDT
These misguided idiots with boats are humanitarians providing the civilian populace of Gaza with aid. Whatever you think of the political situation, how could you in all sincerity call people trying to deliver aid to those suffering as idiots, and for a learned man such as yourself solasbeire to laud such a statement is worrying and callous. Solasbeire is indeed correct about the Palestinian state and its historical existence, however a people do have the right to rule themselves and one can argue against the settlements as they are built on internationally accepted Palestinian lands. Just return to the previously agreed upon borders after the war and lets try and foster goodwill by working on any issue of common importance as opposed to concentrating on that which devised us. The hate on the side of solas and Lorieann is just as dangerous as the hate they see in the Palestinians.
Posted by seanomelbourne on Apr 28, 2010, 06:50 PM EDT
Solas your phd only gives you knowledge on what you read and your are influenced by the authors. Did I hurt your intellectual snobbery or your narrow point of view.
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 28, 2010, 02:56 PM EDT
Lorieann, I agree.
Sean, when you are ready to really learn what happened, on an intelligent educated level, your comments might be worth discussing further. Until then, there is no room for discussion with one who not only does not know the facts, but ignores them or twists them and would rather wallow in ignorance. So be it.
Posted by seanomelbourne on Apr 27, 2010, 11:21 PM EDT
Thank you for re-installing my comments.
Posted by seanomelbourne on Apr 27, 2010, 07:50 PM EDT
My second comment has been withdrawn. I have read insulting and unreasonable language on this site yet fair political comment is removed. An Irishman died and went to heaven,Peter was showing him around and he marveled at the sight and happiness of everyone. at the end of the road stood a 50 ft. wall, Who"s in there? he asked. The Americans and the Is--rae--lis. They think they are the only ones up here.
Posted by seanomelbourne on Apr 27, 2010, 07:41 PM EDT
Solas I posted two separate comments one was posted and then withdrawn. Maybe the truth is censored at Irish Central so much for free speech. AS grey said in his poem " I'm wasting my sweetness on the desert air".
Posted by seanomelbourne on Apr 27, 2010, 07:37 PM EDT
The irrelevancy was you straying from the point in question, again to muddy the waters.You disagree then agree with your comments on the old testament "They claim the old testament was perverted by Jews and Christian". Therefore they must have a belief in the old testament as I stated.And yes there are belligerent Arab states maybe you should be honest with yourself and ask why. Being an atheist Free's the mind from all those falsities of religious fervour and allows one to concentrate on injustice from whatever quarter it comes from.
Posted by seanomelbourne on Apr 27, 2010, 07:24 PM EDT
You are again flirting with the truth, Palestine has existed as an entity for all of the last 2000 years and more, Ramses fought the Hittites in PALESTINE. Your acceptance of Zionism coupled with Hebrew is cowardly way of you condoning the land grab and the herding of Palestinians into ghetto's.Maybe you should hand Memphis to the Chickasaw,the black hills to the Lakota Sioux or Florida back to the Seminole. And close the Indian ghetto's you call reservations.
Posted by LORIEANN on Apr 27, 2010, 06:43 PM EDT
who are these misguided idiots with this boat...... why have not the muslim surrounding states not helped the palistinian refugees.....their housing is bulldozed by the jewish state in response to palistinean family member being a suicide bomber as an attempt to discourage this behaviour. There are many Arabs in Isreal who own businesses, hold political office, hold great jobs....can the same be said of any arab state in the middle east?
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 27, 2010, 03:33 PM EDT
BTW--I brought up not as 'irrelevanices' the facts that some muslims are non-Arab, etc. because you had remarked in context of the land :' Islam is a Semitic religion, they accept the old testament and are of the same race as the Jewish people or Christians who took a different path by including the teachings of Jesus.' This actually is also not factual; Islam (the religion of Muslims, by the way, who are not just arabs, by the way) does not accept the 'old testament.' They say it has been perverted first by Jews, and then by Christians. And, as I pointed out before, Muslim clerics and other leaders and media in several Muslim countries, discriminate and spew vitriol against Jews, not just Israelis, not just Zionists, so it is incorrect and disingenuous to say the problem is with Israel and Zionism.
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 27, 2010, 01:46 PM EDT
Tht is pretty funny sean, since I teach about it, and have studied from primary and secondary sources for quite some time. There has never been a country or state Palestine, there has never been a commonwealth or state with government on that patch of earth other than that of a Jewish commonwealth or state. There have been empires that have controlled the entire area, but never a specific state or country there. I would be glad to give you history lessons, if that is what you value. Also, having studied the 3 major religions for my doctorate, I DO know the difference between Hebrew religion, Judaism, and Zionism, and I will tell you that Zionism has always been an integral part of Hebrew-ism and, as it developed, in Judaism. It is all extremely relevant now, especially with people masking anti-jew and anti-Judaism sentiment with anti-zionism. I strongly urge you to investigate the matters with accuracy, with prmiary sources if possible.
Posted by seanomelbourne on Apr 27, 2010, 12:00 AM EDT
Solas "let there be light" to say Palestine never existed is
a ridiculous statement.Of course there are Muslims who are non-Arab,as there are Christians or Jews who are not from the middle east .Why do you muddy the waters with irrelevancies? you may need to understand the difference between anti Hebrew and anti Zionism.Bye the way using the word plague was just to make a point. We all have the right to be a believer or a dissenter. You seriously need a history lesson in regards to "Palestine"
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 26, 2010, 03:58 PM EDT
I don't see anyone here denying the possibility of eventually having a Palestinian state, but the more knowledgabe ones know there was never one yet. Arabs are a semitic people, yes, but many muslims are neither arab nor semitic. Same race? If you are talking about religion alone, it goes beyond race. And I truly do not understand the realtionship between being a 'proud atheist' and wishing plague on religious fervour; I would think one could be a proud atheist and not wish ill on anyone or anything, or at least understand that some believe differently and not wish them ill for it. Or does being a 'proud atheist' mean not accepting any other belief or stance? Co-existing peacefully and in harmony is not a 'right' but rather an action based on hard work, with hope and an important goal, and a responsibility for all humans. I do not see how wishing plague on something with which you do not agree is showing responsibility in working toward peaceful and harmonious co-existence.
Posted by seanomelbourne on Apr 26, 2010, 02:14 AM EDT
Ignorance seems to be bliss for the "Palestinian state" deniers. fact! Islam is a Semitic religion, they accept the old testament and are of the same race as the Jewish people or Christians who took a different path by including the teachings of Jesus. As a proud atheist a plague on all your religious fervour. It's all about human behaviour and the rights of all people to co-exist peacefully and in harmony.
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 24, 2010, 11:25 PM EDT
By the way--perhaps you ought to look up the terms 'racial profiling' and 'genocide' along with researching actual history and sociology, and forget about the staged photo ops and PR, else it sounds like another '4 legs good, 2 legs bad' scenario.
To me, hearing clerics say to kill Jews anywhere, and have that backed up in real life with bombings and slaughter of Jews anywhere, not just in Israel, smacks more of intent toward genocide, don't you think?
And since Palestinian muslims and Christians are not a race, I don't see how racial profiling fits here either. IF you want to say that those firing rockets, smuggling weapons, and planning and carrying out suicide homicides, (and the duly elected government that supports and encourages them), against whom the closures and blockades are aimed, are a race, I am intrigued and would love for you to explain that further.
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 24, 2010, 10:53 PM EDT
I am surprised that an Irishman would have such archaic racist ideas! Aside from the fact that centrality and holiness of the Jewish HOly Land is part of Jewish belief, no matter if one is a convert or not, no matter if white or not, Abraham and Sarah migrated to the area and were most likely white; Esau and King David had red hair, etc. It has also been proven genetically that most Jews are descended from 4 mothers, women of mideastern descent. So while it is true there were some converts along the way, and unfortunately far more rapes including 'first night first-rights' where the Christian overlords forced themselves on Jewish brides in the same manner as was done to Scot and Irish Catholics at various points, it is also true that most Jews in the world today are indeed descended maternally(which is how Judaism defines Jewish descent)from original Jewish ancestors. Further, many of the male lines have also been proven genetically.
It was not always 'internationally accepted Palestinian lands' but rather recently due to PR and terror, and, I suspect, antisemitism/anti-Jew sentiment. As for abuses-- it is possible there are some, and it saddens me anywhere in the world, but there are an awful lot of abuses everywhere and Israel does seem to be singled out, yet abuses against Israelis seems to be ignored. WHy is that, do you think?
Posted by plasticpaddy on Apr 23, 2010, 05:41 PM EDT
By the way--Israel DID vacate 'Gaza' and left greenhouses so the Palestinians could have viable food and income sources. Do you know what happened to them? Look it up! Israel is not building settlements or homes in Gaza. They are bulding settlements and homes, or expanding existing ones, on land that was integral to the Jewish Holy land and religion from biblical times" - you forget that the Israeli Jewish peoples are mostly white European converts to Judaism and as such have no claim to such land, while I respect the point you make about not placing our understanding of the Iriush situations on other places where such an understanding might not hold true, but still you take it too far, yes they are building on internationally accepted Palestinian lands, and everyone knows it is not in Gaza. Either way the State of Israel is committing human rights abuses and their blockade of Gaza amounts to racial profiling and genocide. Despite your understanding of the situation you cannot condone their actions!
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 23, 2010, 01:50 PM EDT
Which countries can you name, where gaining territory in a war, especially when that war was from surrounding countries looking to destroy it, gave that territory up and let the borders be as vulnerable as they had been? And which people has such an historical and religious claim to the sites in these areas, sites that were desecrated by others when they had control, including the desecration by murder? And why is it people on this planet can accept the Church having control of Vatican City, Muslims having control of Mecca and all of Saudi Arabia(to the exclusion or demoniszation of others), yet cannot accept Jews having control of their historical and religious homeland, holy sites, religious centre?
How is that any other nation can settle their people anywhere, and every nation is expected to allow immigrants to settle without discrimination, yet Jews are not considered to be permitted to do so? And that it is acceptable for so many places, even possibly those so-called occupied territories, to be Jew-free, like Hitler wanted Europe?
Again, people have to examine the actual facts, learn the total history, not just the soundbites and public relations. And it should be sooner than later, than too late.
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 23, 2010, 01:48 PM EDT
It seems that many people accept several premises as true that are not, especially because they do not present the full picture. The Palestinians did not 'make room' for the Israelis; there was neither a Palestinian nor an Israeli natonality at that point, but rather a Palestinian 'identity' which included Christians, Jews, and Muslims in that area-a very wide area called Palestine. There had ALWAYS (for thousands of years) been a Jewish population and presence there, and Jews had continuously, over ages, settled there no matter who was in control of the land, buying parcels of land from whomever was in control. There were Christian and Muslim populations there as well, although not for as long as the Jewish presence, and certainly not as integral part of the religions for themselves as it was and is for Jews.
Second--Some accept as premise that land was taken from Palestinians--again==learn the history, look at the maps. What is now called occupied west Bank was actually absorbed by Jordan, and interestingly never labeled on maps as occupied, and never termed Palestine. Who urged these poor people to leave homes with the promise that the 'intruders' would be slaughtered and their blood would be spilled into the sea, and then the whole land (including the Jewish owned land)would be theirs? Who made these poor people, after forced from their homes, live in abject poverty and not integrated into states where they were, into the state (Jordan) that took over a part of their land?
Posted by Monsoonman on Apr 23, 2010, 01:30 PM EDT
Keep your posts succinct and you will see that they will appear. The editors do not like to have wordy competition to interfere with their with their propaganda.
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 23, 2010, 01:16 PM EDT
I wrote a long post and then resubmitted it as i did not see it. Is there a word limit to the posts? Or is someone deleting mine?
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 23, 2010, 01:08 PM EDT
By the way--Israel DID vacate 'Gaza' and left greenhouses so the Palestinians could have viable food and income sources. Do you know what happened to them? Look it up!
Israel is not building settlements or homes in Gaza. They are bulding settlements and homes, or expanding existing ones, on land that was integral to the Jewish Holy land and religion from biblical times. But I know that nowadays, people dismiss Jews and their religious claims and needs.
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 23, 2010, 12:30 PM EDT
ach--I just realized I had written before 'never failed to make a good choice' when really, they never failed to make a wrong choice.
Posted by Searlit on Apr 23, 2010, 11:59 AM EDT
Just as The Palestinians had to make room for The Israelis' in 1949, the Palestinians need a home,as well. Territory that was taken from the Palestinians during wars has been occupied by Israel. Athough Israel agreed to vacate the Gaza Strip, they are still trying to make settlements there. How can there ever be peace as long as this happens?
Posted by killowen on Apr 23, 2010, 11:09 AM EDT
Thanks to those who care about a people so abused by
the powers that be. Saint Patrick's blessings be on
such souls.
Posted by Monsoonman on Apr 23, 2010, 11:05 AM EDT
solasbeire: Excellent post. There is the true story behind the headlines. Seems the "victims" are the usual suspects, in this case it is innocent children, the pawns of the puppet masters over there who don't bat an eye to see a child used as a suicide bomber...Innocent "poster children" make many rush to a cause without looking at who is making them poster children....If they start to useuse innocent puppies they should capture the Hollywood PETA crowd too and gain total world press opinion.
Posted by solasbeire on Apr 23, 2010, 10:12 AM EDT
I am posting this a second time as it seems my previous posting disappeared--if it reappears, please ignore this one:)
Somewhere along the line, people have to realize that we cannot champion every cause that is supposedly fighting occupation, because not everything called an occupying force is actualy an occupying force, and not everyone who makes himself to be a victim is actually a victim, other than of his own (or his leaders') doing. The children are persecuted, are the real victims, for sure, but by the 'adults' in their lives--their parents, teachers, and leaders-- who have never failed to make a good choice for the children, their future.
Rather than jumping on the bandwagon of every cause that is supposedly against occupation, and supposedly helping the supposed poor victims against the supposed evil nasty occupiers, perhaps everyone ought to learn in detail what was and is really going on here. This conflict, the partition, the land, has not the same issues that Ireland did. Do not extrapolate our history, strife, and struggles to another area when you do not really know the issues, when the issues, history, and truth, are not the same.
- Buy yourself a two-bedroom cottage in rural...
- Cancer ‘caused 44 percent of 2011 deaths’...
- JFK intern and former mistress Mimi Alford...
- Catholic leaders meet at Vatican conference...
- ‘Grey’ star Liam Neeson angers animal rights...
- Ian Paisley seriously ill in Belfast hospital...
- IRA victim’s daughter calls for public release.
- Press comes down hard on Tom Brady after...
- Bill Clinton to host New York round-table...
- Canadian province looks to Ireland to fill...
- JFK intern and former mistress Mimi Alford...
- Bridget Moynahan snipes at her ex Tom Brady,.
- Buy yourself a two-bedroom cottage in rural...
- Catholic leaders meet at Vatican conference...
- Irish woman carrying her father’s child claims.
- Press comes down hard on Tom Brady after...
- ‘Dirty Dancing’ legend Patrick Swayze was...
- Olivia Wilde goes topless for FHM - SEE PHOTOS.
- GOP Senator Scott Brown now the key figure...
- Canadian province looks to Ireland to fill...
- Buy yourself a two-bedroom cottage in rural...
- Canadian province looks to Ireland to fill...
- Irish ultra runner says beer is secret to...
- Bill Clinton to host New York round-table...
- Irish whiskey now outsells Scotch single...
- Cancer ‘caused 44 percent of 2011 deaths’...
- Bloody Sunday victims remembered on 40th...
- Jim Sheridan to remake “Into the West” in...
- Dallas St. Patrick’s Parade to be cancelled...
- Irish moonshine, poitín, on its way to the...
Most Recent Blog Posts
