Cynthia McKinney: Boat Attacked By Israeli Forces

Ha'aretz reports that a boat carrying aid to Gaza clashed with Israel's navy. The activists on board the boat say they were shot at; an Israeli spokesman denies this account.

An Israel Navy ship clashed on Tuesday with a small boat carrying international activists with aid destined for Gaza, an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

There were no reported casualties from the incident involving the small cabin cruiser "Dignity" that sailed from Cyprus late on Monday.

One of the boat's passengers was former congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney.

The 66-foot yacht Dignity, flying the flag of Gibraltar, left Larnaca Monday with almost 4 tons of Cypriot-donated supplies and 16 passengers, including former US Representative Cynthia McKinney, Cypriot lawmaker Eleni Theocharous and activists from Britain, Australia, Ireland and Tunisia, organizers said.

"Our boat was rammed three times, twice in the front and one on the side," McKinney told CNN Tuesday morning. "Our mission was a peaceful mission. Our mission was thwarted by the aggressiveness of the Israeli military."

Comments

[SantaFeScribe]

To see the YouTube of CNN video showing tour of the "Dignity" including Cynthia McKinney standing in front of the ship after it's been rammed by Israeli Navy in Tyre, Lebanon. Also Cynthia writes a first-hand report on www.freegaza.org , where you can also access the CNN video.
Thanks.

[paulisy]

After reading many of the uneducated and misinformed individuals on this board I would like to mention that you all should know this. There are 15 million Jews in the world today and 6 billion others. In other terms they make up approximately .25% of the worlds popluation. For some reason though everyone in the world focuses on what this little country, the size of New Jersey, is doing to protect the little land that it has. They are surrounded by 500 million arabs who are lead by dictators who inform them that the enemy is Israel and they must die. Put yourself in their shoes and tell me what you want to do. Show force so that you aren't wiped off the face of the earth or make sure that your enemies know you will not be f-cked with.

[paulisy]

Continued.­..

It has been studied that Israel has the military capability to wipe five of the surrounding countries out (crystal desert) within 15 minutes using their unmatched air, ground, and now navel nuclear prowess yet they choose to put their own people in endanger to limit the civilian death/injuries in the territories in question. Why, for some reason they continue to try and play the PR card even though no matter what they do they lose. Additionally, I heard a mention from someone on this board that the US should stop funding Israel. That takes the cakes. Does any who is not Jewish know that Israel houses some of the most brilliant minds in the world not to mention the support that Israel gives the US. Lets forget all that and just put some other items out there.

[paulisy]

Continued.­..

Right now there are hundreds of thousands of innocent people dying in other countries like Zimbabwe, Georgia, Northern India/Pakistan boarder, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, the Congo, Somalia, etc. The list goes on forever but where does the world focus, where can everyone join hands and hate together, the JEWS. The evil JEWS who bring to this world what,178 Nobel Prize winners? Yes, the JEWS and more specifically Israelis are targets because they are a common enemy and easy to pick on. But, let's not forget the kicker, people who are from the Palestinian territory of what was the Ottoman Empire, who I agree, should have a land of there own so that they are not persecuted are shund not by the JEWS and Israel, because they allow Arabs to become Israeli citizens but the rest of the Arab world. Yes, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and on and on. Why? Because they don't want to deal with them and because by having this conflict between the Israelis and the Arabs they keep the focus off of the miserable Dictatorships in their own country where they rape women and kill with cause but the world is just that snowed by the racist and antisemitic things that people like Cynthia "I tuck my p-nis between my legs" McKinney says.And that my friends is the hard truth from someone who has been in most countries in the world and grown up in a US government family.

[paulisy]

Continued.­..

Chew on that for a while and respond with uneducated, uninformed, nonsense or see the light for what it is and realize that unfortunately for the Israelis they have to do to what they have to do and the people from the Palestinian territory will continue to suffer sadly because the attacks will never stop from the Arab world and Israel will never stop defending. Please realize that with a $100 billion economy, they (Israel) generate twice as much GDP per person than we do in the US and also support the economies of some arab countries like Egypt so if the US did not fund Israel, it would hurt but they would get by just fine and instead, the US would be hurt economically, militarily and overall from a safety standpoint. Enjoy.

[Michale32086]

@Knowbetter

}}}}
Yeah, everybody knows what a formidable foe the Palestinian Navy is.
{{{{

Err... It's the Israeli Navy that controls the seas...

Michale...­.

[MajorKong]

It wasn't called the USS Liberty by any chance?

[mad1nola]

The day the US says ENOUGH all this will stop. No more arms, no more money, Israel, you're on your own I bet they'll want to talk peace and mean it. As long as we let them act like spoil brats and yield to their every whim they will to continue to behave like this. I am not say the Palistinians are right but I don't know how much these people can stand without lashing out. I really wish Israel and US would stop hidding behind this prophecy BS when justifying our protection of these people while turning our backs on a much needier people. If we don't like Hamas wipe them out but leave the civilians alone. You cannot provoke an uprising by bombing, starving, and subjagating people you on stoke and nurture hatred and vengence.

[seaworthy]

Problem is, Hamas installs itself amongst civilians, hoping that the world will (rightfully so) voice outrage over the unavoidable civilan casualties. Hezbollah does the same.

It is next to impossible to take out Hamas or Hezbollah without involving those innocents.

I am staunchly pro-Palestinian, I feel that they got seriously left behind in '48 and their situation has worsened and worsened since. The last 60 years of constant humiliation and inequality on a global level has served to create the seething hatred and resentment on both sides that we all get to deal with.

Palestine needs a homeland and the right to exist just like Israel. Palestinians can not be ignored or pushed aside as if they don't matter or are newly-arrived interlopers. Until that happens, the world will continue to see this scene played out over and over again. Until Palestine is a recognized nation, Israel can continue to "defend herself" by invading and bombarding at will without any real opposition or condemnation from the international community or UN, as they are not doing so to a sovereign nation.

I have been to the West Bank. I have stood before the "security barriers" build by the Israeli gov't. They have created a ghetto and impoverished a major city, stolen land by annexing disputed settlements and holy places. It is heart-wrenching to helplessly watch while the world turns a blind eye because of the Holocaust or fear of being tagged as anti-Semetic.

[rudiy]

This could happen as soon as Hamas and Hezzbollah recognize Israel's right to exist and the Arab nations and Muslims stop sending weapons and money, not for humanitarian purposes.
As to leaving civilians alone, I guess sending rockets into civilain areas is not objection to you.

[hotwire]

After reading the posts here one can only come to the conclusion that 99.333% of you actually dislike Jews and the State of Isreal. Now, before you say, it's not the jews we don't like, but what they are doing, just remember, everything before but is BS.

[1differentdrummer]

Great generalization, but it is without foundation. How much US $$$ goes to Israel in aid each year? We send a ton. They are our friends, but war is not the answer. The problem is water, Israel wants Gaza water. Hamas thugs poop out mortar rounds and rockets into Israel in a completely irrational, irresponsible way and Israel reacted irrationally with massive attacks, in a pre-emptive war. Israel and Hamas need to stop. Israel needs to stop incursions and settlements in Gaza. The US needs to counsel calm and peace and enable the peacemakers on both sides. This "you actually dislike Jews" crap is without foundation and without merit.

[Prattvictory2]

Cynthia McKinney interviewed:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x254098

[ryancammer]

i truly support the israeli operation in gaza. think about it: the hamas government condones firing rockets at civilians. civilians. not military, but people just trying to live their lives. and why? there are a number of justifications, but the fact is, this is terrorism, and has a profoundly negative impact on the lives and mental states of hundreds of thousands of people. why should the israeli government allow it to happen?

however, the israeli military seems to like to shoot at ships. this isn't the first time it's happened, nor will it be the last. just do a google search for "u.s.s. liberty". the israelis intentionally almost sunk a united states navy vessel. there are theories about why it happened, but the bottom line is that it was certainly ordered, and the brass knew full well it was an american navy vessel. of course, it also appears that johnson personally called off a counterattack, according to retired navy admirals who were either personally involved, or investigated the incident.

i support israel's right to self defense, but if they fire on an american vessel, or a vessel carrying americans, i say fire right back.

[SiberianRat]

Is this a surprise? Israel has a history of such aggression.

[pkafin]

Name one other ship carrying relief supplies to Gaza that has been treated this way.

[marbou888]

What everyone seems to be forgetting is that there are elections coming up in Israel and the real reason for what is happening is given here.

In the run-up to the election, observed Michael Warschawski, a founder of the Alternative Information Centre in Jerusalem, “all Israeli leaders are competing over who is the toughest and who is ready to kill more”.

[mattheweste]

Yes. Hundreds murdered for a photo-op.

[pkafin]

You are partially correct. But only partially. Hamas, like Hezbullah in 1996, is engaging in behavior that they know will bring a large Israeli response close to an Israeli election. In 1996, Hezbullah's shelling of Norther Israel was just enough to convince the Israelis to elect Netanyahu over Peres. Netanyahu was not good for momentum in the Oslo peace process and Hezbullah knew that. If Hamas get's Netanyahu elected again, they will have achieved their goal of pushing back any type of 2 state solution.

[chaos4700]

LOL! Oh yeah right. The primary motivation of Hamas and Hezbollah are to scare Israelis into electing politicians that condone the slaughter of civilians. We already know by the words of Israel's own political leaders that their participation in the two state solution has been a sham for years now, if not for the entire history of Israel's existence. For instance, scroll down here for the quote from Dov Weissglas:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article491335.ece

[Mygirl]

Cynthia this is your Soul Sister speaking..­....It's time to hang it up. You served, now go home.

[LAGuy83]

Yeah, go home and let the world fall to pieces...l­eave it to our corporate backed representatives to get the job done.

Your defeatism makes me want to puke.

[Asean4Obama]

I just hope that Obama will be more fair in dealing with the Palestinian issue. My god, if Netanyahu will be the next PM of Israel things will get worse. Also Mubarak of Egypt, King Abdullah of Jordan, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, the emirs of the Gulf States will face massive pressure in their country by siding with Israel and Bush. The only winner in the latest conflicts are terrorist groups because they will recruit thousands more.

When Arafat was the chairman of Fatah the Israelis didnt wanted to negotiate with him, because he wasnt that weak as Abas is today and they labelled him a terrorist.

The US and Western powers supplies weapons to Fatah for almost two years so the Iranian supplies weapons for Hamas.

If Israel wants peace with the Palestinans of both West Banks and Gaza, all they have to do is give the land back as in 1967. Its that simple.

Why don't they want to give the land back and why do the Europeans and the world economy are idle on this? Its the European and US zionists that messes up things in the Middle East.

2000 years ago, jews were not Europeans or caucasians. Of the 13.5 million jews worldwide around 5.5million live in Israel, 5 million in the US and 2 million in Europe. Would jews be black, Asian or Arabs, the US or Europe wouldnt care a damn about Israel.

[chaos4700]

Excellent post. You've framed the issue and the underlying foundation for where we are today quite succinctly.

[janmarie]

I am having hopes that the tide is turning zionist propoganda about 'poor little isreal' is finally turning!

[sector1463]

You don't like people asking other people what is arbitrary?

[ObjectiveRealist]

It initially seems unbelievably petty, and cruel to a degree that it must be strategically unwise, for Israel to block *relief* and *aid* supplies from Gaza, but a fact-check shows that Israel has been doing exactly that, since November!

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29161&Cr=gaza&Cr1=

According to Geneva Convention 4, that is prohibited, and Israel has been ruled an occupying force, in 1979 and is thus governed by Convention 4. Given the known effects that prolonged lack of food has on humans, it is no exaggeration to call this blockade an act of war.

Israel broke the cease-fire, in violation of the Geneva Conventions, on 26 November 2008.
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/12/30-10

[rich misty]

Agreed

[politisite]

The Ship has been able to get through before with no problems. Clearly this was to provoke an incident. In the past the Israelis allowed the ship to pass when communication was established. Why was McKinney on Board, what about a former GITMO detainee and 14 other folks with some questionable backgrounds. The Israelis said they did NOT fire on them. They stated that they did not get replies back from warning transmissions.

Concider if America was getting rockets lobbed over it's borders and was in a military fight. Wouldn't our Coast Guard defend our coast past 90 miles? Our CG does this every day. Ships can pass w/out problems if identified. The Israelis were concerned that weapons were being shipped in from Iran and other places.

McKinney and Crew knew in advance this would be dangerous. Bottom Line is Free Gaza and McKinney were out to cause an incident to cast negitive Light on Israel and Limelight on themselves.

[thepoliticalcat]

Look, Israel has attacked American forces before with impunity. They have lied about what they're doing in Gaza, about their many attacks on unarmed American peace activists, on American troops in uniform, the human rights outrages that they have perpetrated upon Palestinians, their forcible evictions of Palestinian Muslims and Christians, their refusal to permit these people to return to their ancestral homes once they leave the nation. As a longtime student of the Holocaust and a lifelong supporter of Israel, I am simply horrified by their behaviour of late. I do not blame the average Israeli. Many of them have fought their own government on the issue. But the Likudniks, the hard-right hawks, and the military-industrial complex? Do not believe them.

[erinaceus]

"Wouldn't our Coast Guard defend our coast past 90 miles? Our CG does this every day. "

Can you produce even one report of a US warship (coast guard or otherwise) RAMMING an unarmed vessel on a humanitarian mission flying a neutral flag? The coast guard interdicts, intercepts, searches, and boards illegal immigrant vessels, pirate ships, and drug runners all the time without firing a shot, much less ramming.

"Why was McKinney on board...et­c."

Because she was a peace activist conducting a humanitarian mission. The last I heard, most former congressmen do not conduct military raids, but they do participate in acts of international diplomacy and goodwill.

"The Israelis said they did NOT fire on them. They stated that they did not get replies back from warning transmissi­ons."

The Israelis have a long history of lying about their naval activities, and opening fire (even on allies) if they're in a pissy mood. Google "USS Liberty" if you don't believe me. You can argue your point of view with the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the former Secretary of State, and other ranking military officials, whose provenance you will probably find to be less "questionable" than peace activists.

[Balzac]

I would have written a will before getting on that boat. What happened to Rachel Corrie and others who've used direct non-violent action against the Israeli military is something I would be thinking about if I were on that boat.

[guajiro]

Or even the United Nations soldiers photographing the Israel bombardment of Lebanon a few years back who were wiped out by an Israeli air attack on their well known and well marked observer positions. I've never known ANY country that could so easily kill people of any country without repercussions. Even a U.S. teacher was assassinated in his college office by the Israelis about 15 yrs back.

[marbou888]

And don't forget what happened to the USS Liberty in 1967. It's as if American leaders are glad to see their own citizens get killed by Israeli forces.