Gaza Activists Still Determined to Sail Despite Greek Ban, Captain’s Arrest
- Posted on July 3, 2011 at 12:48pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Organizers of a Gaza-bound flotilla said Sunday they have not abandoned their plans, despite a Greek government ruling that bars vessels from leaving Greek ports for the Palestinian territory.
The campaign to breach Israel’s sea blockade of Gaza suffered a major setback when Greece announced its restrictions on Friday, and authorities arrested the captain of a boat carrying American activists that tried to leave Greece without permission.
However, organizers of the flotilla were trying to maintain momentum with planned protests in Athens in the face of increasing calls for them to scrap their campaign. On Saturday, the Middle East Quartet of Mideast mediators — the U.S., U.N., EU and Russia — urged governments to discourage Gaza-bound flotillas that could escalate tension in the region.
Activist Dimitris Plionis said there would be “some action” at the beginning of the week, but he did not specify what the pro-Palestinian activists were planning to do, presumably because Greek authorities might try to thwart their efforts.
“The ban is there and we have already said that we are still considering to sail,” Plionis said. “This story is not finished.”
Without elaborating, he noted that “ships are free to go to other locations” besides Gaza.
The comment raised the possibility that organizers have debated whether their vessels could declare they are bound for another destination, and then turn toward Gaza once they are in international waters.
Israel says it imposed the blockade in 2007 to stop weapons reaching Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza.
Nine activists on a Turkish boat were killed last year in an Israeli raid on a similar flotilla, and Israel eased its land blockade after an international uproar over the incident. But Israel has pledged to thwart any attempt to reach Gaza by sea, and that aid deliveries can occur through its own established channels.
Activists reject that option, saying Israeli restrictions on the Palestinian territory of 1.5 million amount to a human rights violation.
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Comments (128)
ripley
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:41pmIt is time for the Israeli military to start blowing people right out of the water. I support Israel.
Report Post »Bulldog43
Posted on July 4, 2011 at 11:49pm@ Ripley Just like they did with the USS Liberty
Report Post »Bodine
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:38pmthese terrorists efforts are to well exposed now, the world has seen and spoken and all see for what it is. their mission is over.
Report Post »Whostolemypig
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:36pmDistracting from the issues?
Report Post »Dinkiecb
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:36pmOh come on .. let em feed the fishies .. let em go and get their ship sunk!
Report Post »Whostolemypig
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:34pmSince you seem to be wacko liberal, her is another toy for your collection. http://headostate.com/
Report Post »quicker
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:33pmGoe`s to say that some of the Greeks do have some commen sence.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:33pmThe fact is, if I understand international maritime law correctly, is that if they sail from a legitimate national seaport (Greece in this case) in violation of the nations laws, they can be considered to be pirates and hijackers of the ships on the high seas.
May God keep them in port, and if they do decide to run, may they be stopped at sea well short of Israel and the blockade zone.
Report Post »http://artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm
Counter-Culture Revolutionist
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:33pmThis may be the first of many miracles which the Lord will perform on behalf of Israel. Keep praying!
Report Post »octopnw
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:33pmThe “Americans” on that ship are bigger terrorists than al-Qaida!
Report Post »Rob
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:33pmWHY do American Jews love our Muslim president so much?
Report Post »johndobee
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:49pm“WHY do American Jews love our Muslim president so much?”
Report Post »Rob, that is the million dollar question. I heard an answer recently, and it really does make sense. The liberal jews who back Obama are JINOS. Jews In Name Only. They’re lineage is jewish, but they aren’t practicing jews at all. They aren’t religious, and they have more in common with American agnostics. They’ve always lived here and have no feelings of allegiance to Israel for religious reasons. They have no feelings of allegiance to Israel at all. They are just like every other American liberal. They hate Israel simply because Republicans are staunch defenders of her.
patriotforlife
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 7:00pmI don’t think they will be so quick to vote for him this time.
Report Post »dirtybirb
Posted on July 4, 2011 at 10:45amSearch mikva +obama to learn why the Labor party supports him. Read Grace Halsell’s “Journey to Jerusalem” and “Prophecy And Politics” to learn why they control America’s political system. Beware of prophets making huge profits.
Report Post »Truth Wins Every Time
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:30pmThey will learn the lesson the hard way…..Israel will defend herself.
I support and stand with Israel.
For those of you who were Decatur Eagle fans…..try this…http://www.wildearth.tv/petes-pond-mashatu-botswana-africa-waterhole-wildlive-webcam-live
Report Post »jessieH
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:29pmSome people are just hell bent on commiting suicide. You board those boats! Go ahead and sail to your deaths. Israel will destroy the boats, and you will be forgotten. You board those floating targets. The world will be a better place without your bigotry.
Report Post »gnat128
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:29pmWhat is with the misdirected determination of the flotilla activists…Any suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza is self-inflicted by their own governing authority. If they want to save the Gazans, then work alongside with Israel and save them from their own tyranny! Israel sends in 6,000 tons of aid to Gaza DAILY which is more than the 4,000 tons the flotilla is carrying. Any basic understanding of the actual issue will put it in perspective and make a much more positive impact, if that is what their true “humanitarian” conscience is asking of them.
Report Post »lynnissmart
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:28pmMay the Gaza bound flotillas get what they deserve!!!!!!
Report Post »lynnissmart
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:26pmIf you want to make an ad, go to an ad site……the Blaze is not an ad site……we are just going to ignore you…..stupid people w/ads trying to take down this site…..GO AWAY!
Report Post »Oh My God
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:21pmGod’s hand at work!
Report Post »blackcatrun
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:19pmSwalt, You are correct but the ship is leaving port for anouther destination suddenly turns towards GAZA is insane and would be resoanble for Israel to command it turn about and if the ship refused sink it.
Report Post »Israel has no idea what is on that ship it could be a massive explosive device for all they know.
georgeisn6
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:09pmIt is horrifying, those big old three million Israeli’s are holding off those poor little old five hundred million ahabs again, it is just to lopsided, we must rush in and help those poor little ahabs.
Report Post »Israel is The Good One
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:08pmI am buying something from Greece online, we should all do it and let the company know we are doing it in appreciation for them doing this for Israel.We all say we will support those who support Israel and here is our chance to do it. Buy something, big or small from a Greek company.
Report Post »Falsegods
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 3:16pmTo Israel is the good one,
The Greeks in the US. Have the best family restaurants, good food and friendly.
I think we’ll have Greek food tonight. Greektown.
Report Post »HairRazor
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 3:59pmhad some greek peaches in a dole fruit cup… pretty good. I hope they enjoy the boat ride.. good food, fun in the sun.. maybe take on water and wade in some sea weed on the bottom along the way.
Report Post »swalt
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:04pmThese people are bound and determined to start a war, with Israel being made to look like the bad guy. They are through with simple “nudging” and have moved on to “pushing hard.” They know Israel WILL NOT back down and allow unsearched ships into Gaza. I stand with Israel! If they try to run the blockade, sink the twits.
Report Post »WILLIAM E.
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:03pmI believe Glenn Beck mentioned the real intent of the flotillas.Mainstreet news again siding up !!
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:02pmStubborn fools!
Report Post »Actually, it seems that with all the deterents, “the U.S., U.N., EU and Russia — urged governments to discourage Gaza-bound flotillas that could escalate tension in the region.”, and Greece’s action, that if Israel is forced to take action against the flotilla it will be seen as even more justified.
psst
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:01pmIMO, if people are willing to die for a /their cause/s, I think he/she/they should be accomodated.
Report Post »I hope the Israeli government have this same opinion/position.
Especially if these person/.s cause/s are such that it will cause/bring bodily harm to me and mine.
When a person/s main goal is/are to help my enemies who are sworn and determined to wipe me and mine off the face of the map. Well, the obvious is ,well obvious to what should happen.
twistin
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 9:42pmI also have no problem with facilitating those who wish to be martyrs for Allah. By all means, ladies and gentlemen, be martyrs, unwitting or otherwise, for people who want to kill you anyway.
Sh*t for Brains kinda sums it up for me.
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 12:58pmswim there morons…
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 12:54pmDavey Jones Locker is waiting for you Flotilla Morons. Your Ships will make Great Reefs for Divers, and be Great Fishing areas for Anglers. Goahead with your plans to run the Blockade, and I will renew my fishing license.
Report Post »kerf
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:09pmSharks are Gods creatures too, they deserve to eat. Won’t be too bad so long as they can stomach Marxist meat.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:37pm@russell_barnes
Just wanted to tell you that your advertising stinks and the more you post it, the less I want to have anything to do with you or what your selling or promoting! Your nothing but irritating and abnoxious!
Report Post »Don’t have a nice day!
ronmorgen
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 6:22pmHeh, that’s great poetry.
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:20pmI STAND WITH ISRAEL
Gaza activists won’t be happy until they start a war.
We need to stand with Israel. Did you see Glenn Becks post-Fox Interview, he reveals a few things about the future. Watch the whole interview here: http://tiny.cc/wlhgw
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:37pmGreece’s legal standing, I understood before, was that the captain would be knowingly endangering the people aboard the vessel. As such, they are prohibited from leaving port.
Now, just because you have a different captain, does not change the fact that there is danger ahead for all souls aboard.
As such, I understand they would still be able to prohibit that, or any other, vessel from leaving port.
Personally, I am less worried about those that are knowingly going into danger, than I am worried about those (media/press/dupes/‘useful idiots’) who are unknowingly going into danger. After all, everyone aboard is SAYING they are only “on a mission of peace”. And we ALL know they would NEVER LIE, now would they?
Even IF, and that is a BIG “IF”, even IF they were have no intent on attacking anybody on THIS trip, it is a part of a larger overall attack – send out dry runs, acclimate the media and the people to “peaceful” missions – then, when the scrutiny is eased… ATTACK!!!
Don’t trust them any further than you can blow their boat out of the water, blindfolded.
They have already shown their true intentions. It is too late for these anti-Israel, Jew-haters to claim anything other than ill intent toward Israel.
Report Post »( I didn’t use “anti-semite” because I understand it can include people other than Israelis and/or Jews.)
Stoic one
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 1:44pmHEY BLAZE! this is too many changes in the posting mechanics! since you have morphed it so much; YA got an instruction manual?!?!!?!?!?
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 2:07pmLet them see OSAMA at the bottom!
Report Post »Falsegods
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 3:01pmLook !
Report Post »The ship of fools .
TheCenturion
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 3:42pmMiss Code Pink herself needs to captain the ship, and hand them over to the Mossad!! Game over.
Come on Bernadine, show us your bravery, you terrorist..
Report Post »patriotforlife
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 7:01pmJust keep poking the bear. Don’t b*tch when the bear eats you.
Report Post »1Dave
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:51amInvolved Americans need to be arrested for supporting Terrorism!
Report Post »