WRITE! for Justice, International Law, and Human Rights in Palestine
From the US Campaign to End the Occupation:
In an international act of piracy and murder in international waters, the Israeli navy intercepted, boarded, and opened fire on humanitarian activists on a flotilla of ships attempting to deliver humanitarian supplies to the Israeli-blockaded Palestinian Gaza Strip.
According to news reports, Israeli commandos killed as many as 19 humanitarian activists on board one ship, and have abducted all 700 passengers on board the six boats composing the flotilla who are in the process of being sent against their will to Israel for arrest and/or deportation.
The reaction of the Obama Administration to Israel’s attack on the humanitarian aid flotilla, which included U.S. citizens, has been tepid. A White House spokesperson stated that he “deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained.”
Of course, this statement completely ignores U.S. complicity in arming Israel and enabling its human rights abuses. In July 2008, the United States signed a contract worth $1.9 billion to transfer the latest-generation of naval combat vessels to Israel at U.S. taxpayer expense. Currently, Congress is in the process of appropriating a record $3.2 billion in military aid to Israel this budget year.
Events are moving quickly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apparently canceled his meeting tomorrow at the White House to return to Israel. Later today, the UN Security Council is set to address Israel’s attack on the humanitarian flotilla. For the latest news from the flotilla, please click here.
Please WRITE! in support of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla:
1) Contact the U.S. Mission to the United Nations at (212)415-4062 right away and demand that U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice vote to support a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel’s action and initiating an investigation.
2) Contact the US State Dept. and demand accountability for Israel’s actions (202)647-4000
3) Contact the White House opinion line at (202)456-1111, the switchboard at (202)456-1414 or email http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
4) Please contact the mainstream media and let your voice be heard — it is critical that we try to prevent the Israeli talking points from dominating the airwaves and there will be formidable opposition.
CNN TV
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.html?39
CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.html?4
Tel – (404)827-1700, tell them you want to comment on coverage of the Gaza aid flotilla
Washington Post
Tel – (202)334 7400 (Foreign news desk), (202)336-7470, comment on op-eds
Email – foreign@washpost.com, letters@washpost.com
Wall Street Journal
Tel – (212)416-2000
Email – newseditors@wsj.com, wsj.ltrs@wsj.com
New York Times
Email — letters@nytimes.com, public@nytimes.com, foreign@nytimes.com, to send comments and suggestions (about news coverage only) or to report errors that call for correction, e-mail nytnews@nytimes.com or leave a message at 1(888) NYT-NEWS.
Fox News
Tel – (202)895-3000
Email –foxnews@wjla.com
Associated Press
Tel — (212)621-1500
Email — info@ap.org
For further information:
Haaretz: The Second Gaza War — Israel Lost at Sea
Mondoweiss: Facing Armed Attack in International Waters
Freegaza: Press Release and Media Contact Information
Freegaza: Israel’s Disinformation Campaign Against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla
http://www.gazafreedommarch.org
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Some issues and propaganda arguments to watch out for:
CNN Dedicates Space to solely to the Israeli Military Version
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/05/31/gaza.flotilla.israeli.raid/
AP, CNN and the Underreporting of Casualties (9 activists and 6 soldiers?)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_ISRAEL_PALESTINIANS?SITE=NYSAR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/05/31/gaza.protest/index.html
NY Times Outrageous Characterization – Isabel Kershner
“The criticism (of Israel’s actions) offered a propaganda coup to Israel’s foes, particularly Hamas, the militant group that holds sway in Gaza”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/world/middleeast/01flotilla.html?hp
Israeli PM Netanyahu: Flotilla raid was self-defense
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177022
Israeli FM Lieberman: Flotilla is an attack on Israel’s sovereignty
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177047
Barak, Ayalon, etc.: Flotilla Organizers to Blame
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=176998
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