Opinion Editorials, September 2010

Jewish Sailors Confront Us with Reality:

Official Statement of Jewish Boat to Gaza

Gush Shalom supports Jewish Peace Boat. "We applaud the courage of the Jewish peace activists, working to end the Gaza Siege and get for its inhabitants the natural right to come and go, like everywhere else in the world"
The Jewish Peace Boat, sailing today from Cyprus in the direction of Gaza, is a reminder of the isolation which we in Israel bring upon ourselves. A country bound upon conquest and occupation, whose government is hostage to extremist settlers, is increasingly losing also the support of world Jewry.

Gush Shalom, the Israeli Peace Bloc, applauds the courage of the Jewish peace activists who confront us with this reality, and who work to end the siege of Gaza and secure for its citizens the natural right to come and go, like everyone elsewhere in the world.

A sane Israeli government would allow the boat to get to its destination without hinderance. Nobody could possibly argue that the arrival of ten peace activists in Gaza could in any way endanger Israel's security.
Contact: Adam Keller, Gush Shalom Spokesperson, 03-5565804 or 054-2340749
 
  
Jewish Boat to Gaza sets sail from Cyprus
 
A boat carrying aid for Gaza's population and organized by Jewish groups worldwide has set sail from Cyprus today at 13.32 local time.
 
The boat, Irene, is sailing under a British flag and is carrying ten passengers and crew, including Jews from the US, the UK, Germany and Israel as well as an Israeli journalist.
 
The boat's cargo includes symbolic aid in the form of children's toys and musical instruments, textbooks, fishing nets for Gaza's fishing communities and prosthetic limbs for orthopaedic medical care in Gaza's hospitals.
 
The receiving organization in Gaza is the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, directed by Gaza psychiatrist Dr. Eyad Sarraj.
 
The boat will attempt to reach the coast of Gaza and unload its aid cargo in a nonviolent, symbolic act of solidarity and protest - and call for the siege to be lifted to enable free passage of goods and people to and from the Gaza Strip.
 
The boat will fly multicolored peace flags carrying the names of dozens of Jews who have expressed their support for this action, as a symbol of the widespread support for the boat by Jews worldwide.
 
Speaking from London, a member of the organizing group, Richard Kuper of Jews for Justice for Palestinians, said today that the Jewish Boat to Gaza is a symbolic act of protest against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and the siege of Gaza, and a message of solidarity to Palestinians and Israelis who seek peace and justice.
 
'Israeli government policies are not supported by all Jews,' said Kuper. 'We call on all governments and people around the world to speak and act against the occupation and the siege.'
 
Regarding the threat of interception by the Israeli navy, Kuper said 'This is a nonviolent action. We aim to reach Gaza, but our activists will not engage in any physical confrontation and will therefore not present the Israelis with any reason or excuse to use physical force or assault them.'
 
Passenger Reuven Moskovitz, 82, said that his life's mission has been to turn foes into friends. "We are two peoples, but we have one future", he said.
 
Satellite phone on board for contact to the passengers: 00 8821668610337
 
Media Contact in London for interviewing the Boat's organizers: Yosh, 0044 7816 448307 media@jewishboattogaza.org
 
Media Contact in Israel: JNews 00972 549270796
 
Passengers and crew for interview:
 
Reuven Moskovitz, from Israel, is a founding member of the Jewish-Arab village Neve Shalom (Oasis of Peace) and a holocaust survivor. Speaks German, Hebrew and English.
 
Rami Elhanan, from Israel, lost his daughter Smadar to a suicide bombing in 1997 and is a founding member of the Bereaved Families Circle of Israelis and Palestinians who lost their loved ones to the conflict. Speaks Hebrew and English.
 
Lilian Rosengarten, from the US, is a peace activist and psychotherapist. She was a refugee from Nazi Germany. Speaks English and German.
 
Yonatan Shapira, from Israel, is an ex-IDF pilot and now an activist for Combatants for Peace. Speaks Hebrew and English.
 
Glyn Secker, from the UK, is the boat's captain and a member of Jews for Justice for Palestinians. Speaks English.
 
Dr. Edith Lutz, from Germany, is a peace activist and a nurse. She was on the first boat to Gaza in 2008. Speaks German and English.
 
Alison Prager, from the UK, is a teacher and peace activist. She is media coordinator for the boat. Speaks English.
 
Itamar Shapira, from Israel, is Yonatan's brother, and a member of the boat's crew. Speaks Hebrew, Spanish and English.
 
Eli Osherov,  Israeli reporter from Israel Channel 10 News.
 
Supporters: Jewish organizations and individuals from UK, Holland, Germany, US, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, France, Austria, Australia and Israel.
 
Organizers and sponsors: European Jews for a Just Peace, Jews for Justice for Palestinians (UK), Juedische Stimme fuer einen gerechten Frieden in Nahost (Germany), American Jews for a Just Peace (USA), Jewish Voice for Peace (USA), Jews Against the Occupation Sydney.
 
Visit www.jewishboattogaza.org and join us on Facebook and Twitter

--
Miri Weingarten, Director
JNews
60 Farringdon Road
London EC1R 3GA
Tel. 0207 324 2575
Fax 0207 749 0566
Mob 0753 1719159
Skype: miri.weingarten
www.JNews.org.uk
 

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