Israel attacked a humanitarian boat carrying medical supplies and staff to Gaza. CNN correspondent Karl Penhaul was aboard the 60-foot pleasure boat Dignity when the patrol boat rammed the vessel, causing extensive damage.
The Dignity was flying the flag of Gibraltar and carrying crew and 16 passengers, including physicians from Britain, Germany and Cyprus and human rights activists from the Free Gaza Solidarity Movement. Former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney was also on board.
The boat later docked in the Lebanese port city of Tyre with severe damage was visible to the forward port side of the boat, and the front left window and part of the roof had collapsed. It was flying the flag of Gibraltar.
The captain said there was no warning before the attack and that an Israeli officer radioed them later to stay that they were rammed because they were involved in terrorist activities. A spokesman, however, said that the boat was told that the area was a closed military area and says that the collision was accidental.
The boat was in international water about 90 miles off Gaza.
In a written statement, the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast, based in Atlanta, Georgia, said McKinney “has taken it upon herself to commit an act of provocation . . . We regret that during this time of crisis, while Israel is battling with the terrorist organization of Hamas and defending its citizens, that we are forced to deal with Ms. McKinney’s irresponsible behavior.”
In the meantime, the United Nations has complained that Israel is not allowing sufficient medical and humanitarian supplies into Gaza. According to Aidan O’Leary of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA at least 62 civilians have been killed in Israeli air strikes since Saturday. UNRWA has called for Israel to open more border crossings to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
For the full story, click here.
“We Lived to Tell the Story: Lebanon Rescued Us: Cynthia McKinney”
My personal, and I know the group’s, thanks must go to Al Jazeera, that allowed three of their reporters to be onboard with us on our voyage. As a result, Al Jazeera carried the story of the Dignity live, from castoff in Cyprus when our spirits were high, right up through the manacing maneuvers of the huge, super fast Israeli ships before they rammed us, ………… Al Jazeera carried our story as “breaking news” and performed a real service to its audience and to us.
opednews.com/articles/We-Lived-to-Tell-the-Story-by-Cynthia-McKinney-090101-305.html
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What a total farce! McKinney had THREE Al Jazeera “reporters” on the vessel when they tried to run the Israeli blockaide! Unbelievable that Mr. Turley would put this on his blog without the little details like Al Jazeera being the ones doing the reporting of the incident along with the likes of Cynthia McKinney! This is an insult to every Israeli alive & dead!
Israel often reminds me of Lord Scalia; the epistemic ‘whiz’ who claimed in Harmelin v. Michigan that arriving at the predicates ‘cruel & unusual’ does not necessitate a judgment of PROPORTIONALITY.
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=501&invol=957
Mespo,
§ 2339B – Providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations applies to American citizen, includes provisions for extra-territorial actions, and HAMAS is officially listed as a terrorist organization. McKinney – if HAMAS was the intended recipients of the cargo – attempted to provide them material support or resources. I believe that would constitute a prima facie case against her. Whether or not a jury would convict her is…a matter for a jury to decide (pun very much intended)
Mike,
That was a great explanation of your reading of the Palestinian/Israeli mess. I believe your take of the Saudi influence on this situation. The Bush family has been in the pockets of the Saudis for years and that “friendship” has been very fruitful for both parties. I guess my question is how do we put an end to it and start the parties on the road to co-existence?
I second that Mike!
Jill,
Thank you and I wish you and the rest of the usual suspects all the best for the coming New Year and many more to enjoy afterwords.
To Prof. JT thank you for this site and the opportunity it gives us all to learn and to vent.
Mike,
Thank you for that explanation. I will look into what you said and I’m glad you wrote it here. Happy New Year!