I admit I overestimated the strength of Greece’s democracy. Or let me put it this way: I didn’t see how thin the varnish of what we call Israeli democracy really is.
17 July 2011, Haaretz הארץ (Israel)
By Henning Mankell*
I will try to summarize this year's Gaza flotilla. Everyone knows that the goal this time was to return with more unarmed ships and a more representative selection of people and organizations. Last but not least, we would return with more MPs. We succeeded in organizing this.
But suddenly this peaceful protest against the illegal Israeli blockade turned into a Greek tragedy, as if a modern-day Euripides had conceived it. Obviously we had predicted that the Israeli army might use a tactic that prevented the flotilla from leaving foreign ports. We assumed that Israel, as always, would claim that it could do whatever it wanted. And it can, as long as it is protected and financed by the United States.
But the U.S. is not the power it used to be; one day that protection will cease - shall we say in five years? In this context it might be wise to mention that, as I write this, NASA's huge funding will be reduced to a minimum. And the reason for the dismantling of this prestigious project is the deteriorating U.S. economy. What other reason is there?
But we weren't prepared that Greece would so easily sell its national soul to Israel, disguised as threats and harassment. I criticize myself for not foreseeing this. Greece's economic crisis weakens the nation. But it came as a surprise that Greece, when faced with Israel's threats (supported by the United States ), would roll over so completely. Moreover, I fully admit that I overestimated the strength of Greece's democracy. Or let me put it this way: I didn't see how thin the varnish of what we call Israeli democracy really is. Israel's actions remind me more of a military dictatorship's methods.
I'll come back to why Greece has been brought to its knees, and why a relatively small solidarity movement like our flotilla manages to create turmoil in international politics and frightens Israel into challenging its neighbors and the EU.
First, this needs to be said: Because Greece prevented our ships from leaving its ports and our ships were sabotaged by unidentified hostile divers, no flotilla will sail for Gaza right now. But some ships might act on their own. Since this would break our common cause, I deeply disagree with it. Most likely, however, the Greek coast guard will stop the ships, because the Israelis don't want bad publicity like last year, when Israeli commandos fired at will from helicopters. Hence, it's better to make Greece responsible. Israel and those opposing our cause will regard this as a failure for our side, and Prime Minister George Papandreou will get a pat on the back from his Israeli friends (but the protests in Greece will increase).
But this is not a failure. We will return with broader support and a bigger flotilla, and I promise that the Israeli regime won't have a quiet moment until this illegal blockade is broken. Our action has had more impact this year - unlike last year when the media didn't pay attention until the commandos started killing people.
Even though our ships didn't move an inch, this is yet another failure for Israel. The regime's desperate fear increases the opposition against human rights violations in Gaza. According to basic international law, it's illegal to collectively punish people as is done in Gaza.
In the same way I always claim that Gilad Shalit should have been released long ago and that Hamas' rocket attacks against Israel must stop, I claim that we must look at this situation from this perspective: What comes first, oppression or rebellion? Not even Israel's intellectuals can wave their magic wand and make reality disappear - the reality that the Palestinians are treated as second-class citizens in their own country. The Gaza blockade is not mainly about concrete, diapers or medicine. It's about the human dignity that Israel deprives its own citizens of. Thus, it provokes desperate actions.
But for me the biggest mystery is that the Israeli regime doesn't realize that it's digging holes for itself, and that the situation in the end will be unbearable. Why are they blindfolding themselves?
Why is Israel moving the blockade - or ironically one could call it "outsourcing" the blockade - to Europe this year? What's the difference from last year? Naturally, it's about the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. The Israelis find this development most worrying. But they also understand that they can profit from the concerns in governing circles in Europe and the United States. Last year, significantly more international institutions openly supported our flotilla. But now when the MENA region is unstable, it's very convenient to forget about the Palestinians again and ensure that Israel can maintain some sort of order in the region.
Who cares about some ill-treated Palestinians when the stability of the oil-producing countries is an issue?
Once MENA's situation becomes clearer, the support for our cause will increase. And my guess is that it will be bigger than ever.
That's how cynical our world is. But I don't think Israel should make too much of a triumph of this. In Europe - and in Greece not least - the indignation over Israel's brutal meddling in Greece's internal affairs is growing.
Through its actions the blindfolded Israeli regime is becoming a global outcast. Why don't they consider what's best for them? With what arguments do they defend the Gaza blockade if the next election ends in Hamas' defeat? How do they justify the building of new and bigger illegal settlements and the violations they constitute?
Therefore, it should be regarded as something positive when Yedioth Ahronoth's Roni Shaked says "it would be better to get rid of the blockade than to chase protesters." That is, if my sources are right about that quote.
Undoubtedly, it would have been a good first step on the road that needs to be taken; that Israelis and Palestinians together, on equal terms, create a common future.
How it should look is not for me to say. Nor did I ever intend to.
*The writer, a best-selling Swedish author, is part of the Gaza flotilla movement.
Mostrando postagens com marcador Mankel. Mostrar todas as postagens
Mostrando postagens com marcador Mankel. Mostrar todas as postagens
terça-feira, 19 de julho de 2011
quinta-feira, 30 de junho de 2011
Gaza-bound: A mystery worthy of Henning Mankell
29 June 2011, Canadian Boat to Gaza http://www.tahrir.ca (Canada)
Source: Haaretz.com
Swedish author Henning Mankell, who took part in last year's flotilla and is joining the currently planned one, said that the flotilla was not a declaration of war, but a declaration of peace.
By Amira Hass
GREECE - The organizers of the flotilla to Gaza yesterday remained vague about the date it would set sail and its ports of call. The unexpected delays are worrying the organizers although they are trying not to show it.
At a press conference yesterday in Athens, they promised that despite the open and covert pressure by Israel and other governments, about 10 ships - among them two cargo vessels - will set sail this week to Gaza. They also stressed that the departure of a French ship from the port of Corsica on Saturday is proof that there is a limit to the pressure Israel can exert.
The press conference was held before it became known that Israel had decided to backpedal on the Government Press Office's threat Sunday that foreign journalists who took part in the flotilla would not be allowed into Israel for 10 years. The speakers at the press conference called on the free press to prove that it is indeed free and not to be frightened by Israeli threats.
The uncertainty about the date the flotilla will set sail is not detering hundreds of activists, who are already in various locations throughout Greece and are set to board the ships. Dozens of activists attended yesterday's press conference, armed with well-made signs and rhythmic calls that sometimes turned the press conference into a pep rally.
But the organizers of the briefing did not share the various reasons for the delay. A few days ago, the Greek port authority required the Greek-Swedish cargo ship to undergo repairs, soldering work and the addition of equipment that its crew said were completely unnecessary. As for the American ship, an anonymous complaint had been lodged that it was not seaworthy. According to Army Radio, the group behind the complaint is Shurat Hadin, the Israeli Law Center.
Yesterday, a port authority inspection team checked out the American ship. Also yesterday, a surprise "stricter than usual" inspection was made of the Canadian vessel, the Tahrir. According to information that reached the organizers Sunday, a similar inspection is planned for the Italian ship.
Delaying tactics
Prof. Vangelis Pissias, a member of the flotilla's steering committee, told me that the Greek government has not acceded to the call by an extreme right wing Greek political party, LAOS, to prevent the flotilla to Gaza for reasons of "national interest," but it has meanwhile taken various administrative steps to delay it.
Pissias also said the fact that officials in Israel were able to report "the prevention of the departure of six ships anchored in Greece," even before the organizers of the flotilla knew about it, shows Israel's involvement. The surprise and meticulous inspections of the ships a few days after they had already been inspected and vetted as seaworthy, are the "technical" version of an outright prohibition on sailing.
At the press conference Pissias said the Greek government is under pressure not only from the Israeli government but by other governments as well. But Pissias also said that, at the same time, popular pressure is being applied that's making it hard for Greece to give in to Israel.
Dror Feiler, the spokesman for the flotilla and chairman of European Jews for a Just Peace, explained how popular support is expressed: Today and tomorrow, a general strike will be held in Greece against the austerity steps the government intends to adopt at the behest of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. But the port workers' union announced that in solidarity with the flotilla to Gaza, the stevedores who would be loading the flotilla vessels had been exempted from the strike.
Also, in Syntagma Square in Athens, where daily protests are being held against Greek government policies, the protesters - supporters of direct democracy - voted to support the flotilla and to install a giant screen so they could follow the progress of the ships.
Pissias also said that in the end, the Greek government would not be able to break the law and prohibit the ships from departing. That was also the message the government conveyed indirectly - through members of parliament that support the flotilla - to its organizers.
The French representative at the briefing, Thomas Sommer-Houdeville, said the French government had received "advice" (he did not specify from whom ) on how to prevent the departure of the flotilla. Right wing groups in the Jewish community also demonstrated against the flotilla, he said. Nevertheless, on Saturday the flotilla's French ship set sail for Greece (another French ship is already in Greece ). That is proof, Houdeville said, that there is a limit to Israel's ability to apply pressure, and that Israel cannot decide who has the right to sail the Mediterranean.
A French participant in the flotilla told Haaretz that representatives of the flotilla's organizers had met with government officials who "advised" them on how to hamper the ships by various technical means, but that the advice was rejected.
The African-American author Alice Walker said at the press conference that she would sail on the American ship because, when African-Americans were slaves and during the fight for civil rights, they were helped by outside communities. Walker said this was a noble tradition that defined people as human beings. Walker complained that U.S. President Barack Obama had forgotten this tradition when his government opposed the flotilla.
The Swedish author Henning Mankell, who took part in last year's flotilla and is joining the currently planned one, said at the press briefing he imagined there were people in the room who would report directly to the Israeli government and the Shin Bet security service. He said he asked that the report say that the actions of the flotilla was not a declaration of war, but a declaration of peace.
Source: Haaretz.com
Swedish author Henning Mankell, who took part in last year's flotilla and is joining the currently planned one, said that the flotilla was not a declaration of war, but a declaration of peace.
By Amira Hass
GREECE - The organizers of the flotilla to Gaza yesterday remained vague about the date it would set sail and its ports of call. The unexpected delays are worrying the organizers although they are trying not to show it.
At a press conference yesterday in Athens, they promised that despite the open and covert pressure by Israel and other governments, about 10 ships - among them two cargo vessels - will set sail this week to Gaza. They also stressed that the departure of a French ship from the port of Corsica on Saturday is proof that there is a limit to the pressure Israel can exert.
The press conference was held before it became known that Israel had decided to backpedal on the Government Press Office's threat Sunday that foreign journalists who took part in the flotilla would not be allowed into Israel for 10 years. The speakers at the press conference called on the free press to prove that it is indeed free and not to be frightened by Israeli threats.
The uncertainty about the date the flotilla will set sail is not detering hundreds of activists, who are already in various locations throughout Greece and are set to board the ships. Dozens of activists attended yesterday's press conference, armed with well-made signs and rhythmic calls that sometimes turned the press conference into a pep rally.
But the organizers of the briefing did not share the various reasons for the delay. A few days ago, the Greek port authority required the Greek-Swedish cargo ship to undergo repairs, soldering work and the addition of equipment that its crew said were completely unnecessary. As for the American ship, an anonymous complaint had been lodged that it was not seaworthy. According to Army Radio, the group behind the complaint is Shurat Hadin, the Israeli Law Center.
Yesterday, a port authority inspection team checked out the American ship. Also yesterday, a surprise "stricter than usual" inspection was made of the Canadian vessel, the Tahrir. According to information that reached the organizers Sunday, a similar inspection is planned for the Italian ship.
Delaying tactics
Prof. Vangelis Pissias, a member of the flotilla's steering committee, told me that the Greek government has not acceded to the call by an extreme right wing Greek political party, LAOS, to prevent the flotilla to Gaza for reasons of "national interest," but it has meanwhile taken various administrative steps to delay it.
Pissias also said the fact that officials in Israel were able to report "the prevention of the departure of six ships anchored in Greece," even before the organizers of the flotilla knew about it, shows Israel's involvement. The surprise and meticulous inspections of the ships a few days after they had already been inspected and vetted as seaworthy, are the "technical" version of an outright prohibition on sailing.
At the press conference Pissias said the Greek government is under pressure not only from the Israeli government but by other governments as well. But Pissias also said that, at the same time, popular pressure is being applied that's making it hard for Greece to give in to Israel.
Dror Feiler, the spokesman for the flotilla and chairman of European Jews for a Just Peace, explained how popular support is expressed: Today and tomorrow, a general strike will be held in Greece against the austerity steps the government intends to adopt at the behest of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. But the port workers' union announced that in solidarity with the flotilla to Gaza, the stevedores who would be loading the flotilla vessels had been exempted from the strike.
Also, in Syntagma Square in Athens, where daily protests are being held against Greek government policies, the protesters - supporters of direct democracy - voted to support the flotilla and to install a giant screen so they could follow the progress of the ships.
Pissias also said that in the end, the Greek government would not be able to break the law and prohibit the ships from departing. That was also the message the government conveyed indirectly - through members of parliament that support the flotilla - to its organizers.
The French representative at the briefing, Thomas Sommer-Houdeville, said the French government had received "advice" (he did not specify from whom ) on how to prevent the departure of the flotilla. Right wing groups in the Jewish community also demonstrated against the flotilla, he said. Nevertheless, on Saturday the flotilla's French ship set sail for Greece (another French ship is already in Greece ). That is proof, Houdeville said, that there is a limit to Israel's ability to apply pressure, and that Israel cannot decide who has the right to sail the Mediterranean.
A French participant in the flotilla told Haaretz that representatives of the flotilla's organizers had met with government officials who "advised" them on how to hamper the ships by various technical means, but that the advice was rejected.
The African-American author Alice Walker said at the press conference that she would sail on the American ship because, when African-Americans were slaves and during the fight for civil rights, they were helped by outside communities. Walker said this was a noble tradition that defined people as human beings. Walker complained that U.S. President Barack Obama had forgotten this tradition when his government opposed the flotilla.
The Swedish author Henning Mankell, who took part in last year's flotilla and is joining the currently planned one, said at the press briefing he imagined there were people in the room who would report directly to the Israeli government and the Shin Bet security service. He said he asked that the report say that the actions of the flotilla was not a declaration of war, but a declaration of peace.
POR QUÉ ALICE WALKER VIAJA A GAZA
POR QUÉ ALICE WALKER VIAJA A GAZA
30 junio 2011, Rebelión http://www.rebelion.org (México)
John Catalinotto
Workers World/Traducido para Rebelión por Christine Lewis Carroll
En estos momentos, es decir 28 de junio, en el puerto cerrado por huelga de Atenas, hay 350 personas valientes listas para zarpar a bordo de una docena de barcos, con el fin de entregar ayuda y solidaridad al pueblo de Gaza. Los pasajeros, en su mayor parte estadounidenses y europeos, están a bordo de barcos procedentes de Estados Unidos, Argelia, Australia, Bélgica, Canadá, Dinamarca, Gran Bretaña, Francia, Grecia y Noruega.
Muchos integrantes han sido activos en los movimientos de solidaridad y en contra de la guerra. Todos ellos saben que el año pasado, los señores de la guerra israelíes ordenaron a sus soldados saltar el buque turco Mavi Marmara que pretendía entregar ayuda humanitaria a los palestinos que se encontraban asediados en Gaza. Sin provocación, los asesinos israelíes abatieron a nueve personas de origen turco.
Desde entonces, la comprensión sobre el papel opresivo del Estado israelí y su alineación con cualquier ofensiva imperialista reaccionaria en la región y en el mundo se ha extendido y profundizado. Por otra parte, hay reconocimiento y solidaridad con los levantamientos liberadores en el norte de África y el sudoeste de Asia, que derrocan o amenazan los regímenes imperialistas títeres desde Túnez y Egipto a Yemen y Bahrein. La Plaza de Tahrir en El Cairo ha inspirado la lucha desde la Puerta del Sol en Madrid al Capitolio en Madison, Wisconsin.
Entre las personas listas para zarpar, hay escritores e intelectuales conocidos más allá de los círculos progresistas. El autor sueco Henning Mankel, favorito de los aficionados a las historias de misterio, se encuentra en la flotilla, igual que el año pasado. Santiago Alba Rico, autor, filósofo y guionista, es portavoz del Gernika, el buque procedente de España. Y en el barco estadounidense, The Audacity of Hope [Audacia de la Esperanza], se encuentra la autora afro-americana y premio Pulitzer Alice Walker, cuya explicación de las razones para viajar a Gaza merece señalarse aquí:
“Hay, para mí, una percepción de pagar una deuda con los activistas israelíes de derechos civiles que se enfrentaron a la muerte por defender a la población negra del sur de Estados Unidos cuando nosotros lo necesitamos en otros momentos. Estoy especialmente endeudada con Michael Schwerner y Andrew Goodman que oyeron nuestros gritos de auxilio -el gobierno, entonces como ahora, fue glacialmente lento en proteger a los opositores no violentos- y se solidarizaron con nosotros.
Se encontraron con las porras y balas de los ‘muchachos’ del Condado de Neshoba, Misisipi, y fueron apaleados y acribillados hasta la muerte, junto con James Chaney, un joven negro de gran valor que murió con ellos. De modo que, aunque nuestro buque se llama The Audacity of Hope, ondeará la bandera de los Goodman, Chaney y Schwerner en mi propio corazón.
¿Y qué decir de los niños de Palestina que fueron ignorados en el último discurso de nuestro presidente sobre Israel y Palestina y cuya existencia empobrecida, aterrorizada y segregada fue objeto de burla cuando el Congreso de los Estados Unidos ovacionó recientemente al primer ministro de Israel? Veo a los niños, a todos los niños, como el recurso más preciado de la humanidad, porque es a ellos a quienes dejamos el cuidado del planeta. No se debe poner a un niño por encima de otro, ni siquiera en una conversación informal, y mucho menos en discursos que llegan a todas partes del globo.”
Washington, Tel Aviv y el régimen servil de Grecia están haciendo todo lo que pueden para sabotear la flotilla. La Secretaria de Estado, Hillary Rodham Clinton, ya ha dado su apoyo al uso de la fuerza por parte de Israel. Pero el pueblo reacciona de manera distinta. Los trabajadores griegos, en medio de la huelga general, se han comprometido a cargar los buques de la libertad, y los ‘indignados’ de la Plaza Syntagma siguen el progreso de la flotilla desde grandes pantallas de televisión.
¡Viva la Flotilla de la Libertad II! ¡Viva el Mavi Marmara! ¡Viva el pueblo de Gaza!
Fuente: Workers World (printed edition)
30 junio 2011, Rebelión http://www.rebelion.org (México)
John Catalinotto
Workers World/Traducido para Rebelión por Christine Lewis Carroll
En estos momentos, es decir 28 de junio, en el puerto cerrado por huelga de Atenas, hay 350 personas valientes listas para zarpar a bordo de una docena de barcos, con el fin de entregar ayuda y solidaridad al pueblo de Gaza. Los pasajeros, en su mayor parte estadounidenses y europeos, están a bordo de barcos procedentes de Estados Unidos, Argelia, Australia, Bélgica, Canadá, Dinamarca, Gran Bretaña, Francia, Grecia y Noruega.
Muchos integrantes han sido activos en los movimientos de solidaridad y en contra de la guerra. Todos ellos saben que el año pasado, los señores de la guerra israelíes ordenaron a sus soldados saltar el buque turco Mavi Marmara que pretendía entregar ayuda humanitaria a los palestinos que se encontraban asediados en Gaza. Sin provocación, los asesinos israelíes abatieron a nueve personas de origen turco.
Desde entonces, la comprensión sobre el papel opresivo del Estado israelí y su alineación con cualquier ofensiva imperialista reaccionaria en la región y en el mundo se ha extendido y profundizado. Por otra parte, hay reconocimiento y solidaridad con los levantamientos liberadores en el norte de África y el sudoeste de Asia, que derrocan o amenazan los regímenes imperialistas títeres desde Túnez y Egipto a Yemen y Bahrein. La Plaza de Tahrir en El Cairo ha inspirado la lucha desde la Puerta del Sol en Madrid al Capitolio en Madison, Wisconsin.
Entre las personas listas para zarpar, hay escritores e intelectuales conocidos más allá de los círculos progresistas. El autor sueco Henning Mankel, favorito de los aficionados a las historias de misterio, se encuentra en la flotilla, igual que el año pasado. Santiago Alba Rico, autor, filósofo y guionista, es portavoz del Gernika, el buque procedente de España. Y en el barco estadounidense, The Audacity of Hope [Audacia de la Esperanza], se encuentra la autora afro-americana y premio Pulitzer Alice Walker, cuya explicación de las razones para viajar a Gaza merece señalarse aquí:
“Hay, para mí, una percepción de pagar una deuda con los activistas israelíes de derechos civiles que se enfrentaron a la muerte por defender a la población negra del sur de Estados Unidos cuando nosotros lo necesitamos en otros momentos. Estoy especialmente endeudada con Michael Schwerner y Andrew Goodman que oyeron nuestros gritos de auxilio -el gobierno, entonces como ahora, fue glacialmente lento en proteger a los opositores no violentos- y se solidarizaron con nosotros.
Se encontraron con las porras y balas de los ‘muchachos’ del Condado de Neshoba, Misisipi, y fueron apaleados y acribillados hasta la muerte, junto con James Chaney, un joven negro de gran valor que murió con ellos. De modo que, aunque nuestro buque se llama The Audacity of Hope, ondeará la bandera de los Goodman, Chaney y Schwerner en mi propio corazón.
¿Y qué decir de los niños de Palestina que fueron ignorados en el último discurso de nuestro presidente sobre Israel y Palestina y cuya existencia empobrecida, aterrorizada y segregada fue objeto de burla cuando el Congreso de los Estados Unidos ovacionó recientemente al primer ministro de Israel? Veo a los niños, a todos los niños, como el recurso más preciado de la humanidad, porque es a ellos a quienes dejamos el cuidado del planeta. No se debe poner a un niño por encima de otro, ni siquiera en una conversación informal, y mucho menos en discursos que llegan a todas partes del globo.”
Washington, Tel Aviv y el régimen servil de Grecia están haciendo todo lo que pueden para sabotear la flotilla. La Secretaria de Estado, Hillary Rodham Clinton, ya ha dado su apoyo al uso de la fuerza por parte de Israel. Pero el pueblo reacciona de manera distinta. Los trabajadores griegos, en medio de la huelga general, se han comprometido a cargar los buques de la libertad, y los ‘indignados’ de la Plaza Syntagma siguen el progreso de la flotilla desde grandes pantallas de televisión.
¡Viva la Flotilla de la Libertad II! ¡Viva el Mavi Marmara! ¡Viva el pueblo de Gaza!
Fuente: Workers World (printed edition)
quinta-feira, 26 de maio de 2011
Nouvelle flottille pour Gaza en juin ; Mankell à bord
26 mai 2011/ L’Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS) http://www.france-palestine.org
L’Express et Afp
L’auteur suédois de romans policiers Henning Mankell fera de nouveau partie de la flottille internationale qui doit tenter d’acheminer de l’aide humanitaire à Gaza fin juin.
Une flottille internationale de 15 navires prendra la mer dans la dernière semaine de juin pour acheminer de l’aide humanitaire à Gaza, un an après un raid israélien meurtrier sur une première flotille, a affirmé vendredi une ONG turque, coorganisatrice du projet. A bord des navires, affrétés par 22 ONG, prendront place quelque 1.500 militants en provenance de plus d’une centaine de pays [1].
Parmi eux, Henning Mankell le "père" du commissaire Wallander, qui avait déjà participé il y a un an à un premier convoi intercepté en mer par l’armée israélienne au cours d’un raid meurtrier, fera partie de la délégation suédoise à bord de la "flottille de la liberté 2", indique l’ONG dans un communiqué.
Huit Suédois figurent déjà parmi les militants pro-palestiniens d’une centaine de pays, qui doivent embarquer sur une quinzaine de navires, selon Ship to Gaza. Au total, Ship to Gaza Suède s’attend à ce qu’une vingtaine de Suédois embarquent sur la nouvelle flottille, explique l’ONG qui précise qu’elle a refusé de nombreuses candidatures.
Le précédent de 2010
Le 31 mai 2010, une première flottille composée de six navires ayant à bord 682 personnes avait été interceptée par l’armée israéliennes dans les eaux internationales. Neufs ressortissants turcs, dont une personne ayant aussi la nationalité américaine, avaient été tués au cours de l’opération à bord du navire amiral de la flottille, le Mavi Marmara, affrété par une ONG islamiste turque.
Le drame avait provoqué la réprobation internationale et de vives tensions entre la Turquie et Israël.
[1] un bateau suisse se joindra à la Flottille de la Liberté:
CONFERENCE DE PRESSE "UN BATEAU SUISSE POUR GAZA"
"Le bateau suisse partira aux alentours de la dernière semaine de juin et son retour est prévu à la fin du mois de juin. Il restera deux ou trois jours sur place", a indiqué mardi le président de l’ONG genevoise "Droit pour tous", à l’origine du projet. Le port de départ a été choisi, mais pas divulgué pour l’instant. Une participation allemande s’est par ailleurs greffée au navire suisse.
Quelque 220 ONG helvétiques soutiennent le projet, par des messages de soutien ou la récolte de fonds. Les conseillers nationaux Joseph Zisyadis (POP/VD), Carlo Sommaruga (PS/GE), Jean-Charles Rielle (PS/GE), ainsi que le chanteur Michel Bühler ont confirmé leur présence sur le bateau suisse en partance vers Gaza, a précisé M. Gharbi. Il comptera au total 40 à 45 personnes, dont 10 Allemands.
Le retard de financement face à l’afflux d’inscriptions, ainsi que des décalages dans la coordination européenne expliquent le report du départ. Il a aussi été repoussé pour permettre à de nouveaux arrivants d’intégrer l’expédition.
Le coût de l’aventure helvétique est devisé à quelque 300’000 euros (environ 370’000 francs), y compris le prix du bateau. La participation suisse est de deux tiers et l’allemande d’un tiers.
Le bateau va aussi et surtout embarquer environ 4’000 tonnes d’aide, principalement sous forme de matériel médical et de maisons préfabriquées.
http://www.urgencepalestine.ch 24.05.2011
http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/mo...
L’Express et Afp
L’auteur suédois de romans policiers Henning Mankell fera de nouveau partie de la flottille internationale qui doit tenter d’acheminer de l’aide humanitaire à Gaza fin juin.
Une flottille internationale de 15 navires prendra la mer dans la dernière semaine de juin pour acheminer de l’aide humanitaire à Gaza, un an après un raid israélien meurtrier sur une première flotille, a affirmé vendredi une ONG turque, coorganisatrice du projet. A bord des navires, affrétés par 22 ONG, prendront place quelque 1.500 militants en provenance de plus d’une centaine de pays [1].
Parmi eux, Henning Mankell le "père" du commissaire Wallander, qui avait déjà participé il y a un an à un premier convoi intercepté en mer par l’armée israélienne au cours d’un raid meurtrier, fera partie de la délégation suédoise à bord de la "flottille de la liberté 2", indique l’ONG dans un communiqué.
Huit Suédois figurent déjà parmi les militants pro-palestiniens d’une centaine de pays, qui doivent embarquer sur une quinzaine de navires, selon Ship to Gaza. Au total, Ship to Gaza Suède s’attend à ce qu’une vingtaine de Suédois embarquent sur la nouvelle flottille, explique l’ONG qui précise qu’elle a refusé de nombreuses candidatures.
Le précédent de 2010
Le 31 mai 2010, une première flottille composée de six navires ayant à bord 682 personnes avait été interceptée par l’armée israéliennes dans les eaux internationales. Neufs ressortissants turcs, dont une personne ayant aussi la nationalité américaine, avaient été tués au cours de l’opération à bord du navire amiral de la flottille, le Mavi Marmara, affrété par une ONG islamiste turque.
Le drame avait provoqué la réprobation internationale et de vives tensions entre la Turquie et Israël.
[1] un bateau suisse se joindra à la Flottille de la Liberté:
CONFERENCE DE PRESSE "UN BATEAU SUISSE POUR GAZA"
"Le bateau suisse partira aux alentours de la dernière semaine de juin et son retour est prévu à la fin du mois de juin. Il restera deux ou trois jours sur place", a indiqué mardi le président de l’ONG genevoise "Droit pour tous", à l’origine du projet. Le port de départ a été choisi, mais pas divulgué pour l’instant. Une participation allemande s’est par ailleurs greffée au navire suisse.
Quelque 220 ONG helvétiques soutiennent le projet, par des messages de soutien ou la récolte de fonds. Les conseillers nationaux Joseph Zisyadis (POP/VD), Carlo Sommaruga (PS/GE), Jean-Charles Rielle (PS/GE), ainsi que le chanteur Michel Bühler ont confirmé leur présence sur le bateau suisse en partance vers Gaza, a précisé M. Gharbi. Il comptera au total 40 à 45 personnes, dont 10 Allemands.
Le retard de financement face à l’afflux d’inscriptions, ainsi que des décalages dans la coordination européenne expliquent le report du départ. Il a aussi été repoussé pour permettre à de nouveaux arrivants d’intégrer l’expédition.
Le coût de l’aventure helvétique est devisé à quelque 300’000 euros (environ 370’000 francs), y compris le prix du bateau. La participation suisse est de deux tiers et l’allemande d’un tiers.
Le bateau va aussi et surtout embarquer environ 4’000 tonnes d’aide, principalement sous forme de matériel médical et de maisons préfabriquées.
http://www.urgencepalestine.ch 24.05.2011
http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/mo...
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