John Klusmire, Gaza Boat's U.S. Captain, Released From Custody In Greece

PIRAEUS, Greece (AP) — A Greek court has released from custody the American captain of a boat participating in an international flotilla aiming to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza strip.

John Klusmire, the captain of the Audacity of Hope, had attempted to set sail from a port near Piraeus last week in defiance of a Greek ban on the flotilla boats leaving port. He was arrested on Saturday on charges of setting sail without permission and endangering passengers, and had been in custody since then.

One of his lawyers, Manolis Pefanakis, said a court in Piraeus released him from custody Tuesday. Supporters at the courthouse cheered and chanted slogans in celebration.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities detained three activists attempting to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, after a boat set sail in defiance of a Greek ban, officials and pro-Palestinian activists said Tuesday.

David Heap, a spokesman for the Tahrir, identified those detained as Canadians Sandra Ruch and Soha Kneen, and Australian Michael Coleman. The boat tried to leave the southern Greek island of Crete on Monday, but was forced to turn back by Coast Guard vessels.

The Greek Merchant Marine Ministry said one of the Canadians, who was responsible for the boat, was arrested on charges of illegally sailing without permission. The other Canadian national and the Australian were arrested for using kayaks to block a coast guard vessel from setting sail to stop the flotilla boat.

Also Tuesday, a small group of activists from a Spanish-run boat in the flotilla entered the Spanish embassy in Athens and began a sit-in, hanging a Palestinian flag from a balcony and demanding that Spain pressure Greece to let their boat sail.

Manuel Tapial, a spokesman for the Spanish vessel Gernika, said the protesters were peaceful. A statement from the organization in charge of the vessel, Rumbo a Gaza, said protesters were not interfering with the work of embassy staff.

Greece last week banned all boats participating in the Gaza flotilla from leaving port, citing security concerns after a similar flotilla last year was raided by Israeli forces, leaving nine activists on a Turkish boat dead. The Greek foreign ministry has offered to deliver the humanitarian aid the activists want to take to Gaza.

Israel says it imposed the blockade in 2007 to stop weapons reaching Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza. Israel eased its land blockade after an international uproar over last year's raid on the Turkish boat.

French pro-Palestinian activists said in Paris Tuesday one small boat was in international waters and on its way.

Jean-Claude Lefort, a spokesman for the group, told The Associated Press Tuesday that the Dignite-Al Karama left a port near Athens early Monday with eight activists and two crew members on board. If true, it would be the first flotilla boat to leave Greece.

However, the claim could not be confirmed. Greek authorities said they were looking into the report. Greek activist Dimitris Plionis said during a news conference in Athens that the boat had been in a "safe" area "in this part of the Mediterranean." He said it was not sailing to Gaza at the moment, but was waiting for other boats from the flotilla to join it.

The captain of another boat in the flotilla, the Audacity of Hope, appeared in court in Piraeus Tuesday to give a deposition after being arrested over the weekend for setting sail in defiance of the Greek ban.

John Klusmire was led into the building in handcuffs, holding a bottle of water and escorted by police.

"It's a terrible, terrible thing that the government of Greece has done. We are here in support of the captain, an honorable man and a professional sea captain," said one campaigner, retired U.S. Army Col. Ann Wright, at the courthouse. "It is terrible that they feel they had to keep him in jail."

Comments

[IDFsoldier]

06:04 PM on 07/06/2011

The flotilla is nothing more than a bunch of Hamas suicide bomber supporters sending suicide bomber ships to kill innocent Israelis.

[kentah]

12:36 PM on 07/19/2011

You do your position a huge disservice by attempting to propagate this childish fantasy that any human can tell is nothing but a lie. Alice Walker a suicide bomber? Hedy Epstein? Seriously? Medea Benjamin? Thank you for exposing the paranoia and poor propaganda of the IDF and the Israeli government.

[SpoonieLuv]

12:43 AM on 07/06/2011

Those 'terrorist supporters' prop up your militant groups with their tax dollars. Your comment demonstrates why it is irresponsible of the US government to continue this policy of giving Israel such a free hand in its affairs. I do not doubt that if it weren't for American patronage, Israel would indeed execute all of the activists. However, we must guide the Israelis toward peace with their neighbors. As this IDF 'soldier' demonstrates, they are far too incapable to do so on their own.

[realpeace285]

04:46 PM on 07/05/2011

Syria is a mess due to oppressive, crazy leaders.
Lebanon is a mess because it's partially controlled by crazy Hezbollah.
The Palestinians voted for the worst possible people, Hamas, who think blowing up a schoolbus makes God happy.
Egypt is in poverty and run by corrupt people as well.

And then there's Israel, the most modern, free country in that entire region of Earth, who are next to the West Bank which no longer launches constant attacks on Israel, and next to Gaza, which WAS launching NONSTOP terrorist attacks against Israel, so TO DEFEND ITSELF, Israel blockaded Gaza.

And now misguided, radical, FAKE peace activists on useless boats want Israel to defend itself less, so more rockets can be fired into Israel.

[Freenation]

05:12 PM on 07/05/2011

"And then there's Israel, the most modern, free country in that entire region of Earth"

ok end the marketing and now the reality: ruled by Likud crazies (and lieberman party priceless) who were elected to power by Israelis (hey gazans are not the only people at fault here)....and let's not forget about the occupation and apartheid part...

[realpeace285]

05:38 PM on 07/05/2011

Cue crazed exaggeration against Israel. See above.

[graffitijoe]

02:11 PM on 07/05/2011

Here is a solution to the Palestine/Israel issue:

Instead of importing vast amounts of labor from Pakistan and the Phillippines - the "moderate" and rich Arab gulf states - Saudia Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait can allow the Palestinians to emigrate to do the jobs that they won't do for themselves.

The only reason it won't work - the other Arabs dislike the Palestinians only a little bit less than they dislike the Israelis and they want to keep the Palestinians there as a useful battering ram against the Israelis.

[Thaddeus Carpenter]

03:23 PM on 07/05/2011

How generous of you... Somehow I doubt your compassion...

[ArthroughpadNY]

03:33 PM on 07/05/2011

No just not knowing what the Israelis have given the west and you. Maybe one day you will take the time to research it, but I doubt it.

[Galilee]

01:06 PM on 07/05/2011

I guess @rianna supports the pro-Hamas flotilla fools. Otherwise why post such non-stories?

[Thaddeus Carpenter]

12:38 PM on 07/05/2011

Some people are too blind to see the Greeks are trying to save their lives.... That is about as humanitarian as you can get....

[skialethia]

12:49 PM on 07/05/2011

Here's what's going on:

1. The Greek people are 110% with the Palestinians

2. The Greek Government is a desperate lackey that will sell its soul to survive

[Thaddeus Carpenter]

12:59 PM on 07/05/2011

The reason changes nothing.... It is still humanitarianism.... The only people keeping those protesters alive are the greek officials...

[graffitijoe]

01:13 PM on 07/05/2011

1. You lost me at 110% - this is not about effort in a football game - and of course YOU can't speak for all Greek people.

2. You are right - like ALL politicians everywhere the Greek Government will do anything to survive

[kaarnak1969]

12:26 PM on 07/05/2011

These people do not want to help anyone they want to destroy Israel

[Thaddeus Carpenter]

01:06 PM on 07/05/2011

Please... Brutality? I say kid gloves at worst.... Why do you think the US pays Israel?? So they will support US interests... Don't be naive... We pay Israel to NOT annihilate its neighbors....

[graffitijoe]

01:32 PM on 07/05/2011

So, like Ahmadinejad and so many other "leaders" in the middle east, you admit - the goal IS to destroy Israel.

[Freenation]

01:03 PM on 07/05/2011

destroy israel how? by distributing medications to palestinians?

[devildog09]

01:44 PM on 07/05/2011

You don't need to run a blockade to deliver medicine. The Israeli gov't releases shipments for delivery as soon as they are inspected for contraband weapons.

[skialethia]

01:49 PM on 07/05/2011

Yes, because when people get sick they sometimes die without medication and Israel's into slow genocide.

[graffitijoe]

12:25 PM on 07/05/2011

Of all the places in the Middle East where chaos reigns and people are being brutally victimized by their own rulers these "brave peace activists" are going after Israel.

Tunnel vision!

[Desert Dune]

12:35 PM on 07/05/2011

yeah, there were all the bad things going on in the world when apartheid existed in South Africa. Still, the world decided to unite against apartheid.

Some causes are more important because of the symbolism that they carry. The world has decided that apartheid system does not belong in 20th century. Israel must end its occupation and its racism against Palestinians.

[graffitijoe]

01:08 PM on 07/05/2011

When you bring up an apartheid analogy it doesn't help your argument with me. If anyone in the middle east is being targeted for violence and oppression it is the Isrealis.

The only reason Israel has not been wiped out already is becasue they refuse to be - and they have the talents and resources to prevent it - not that the Arab states around them haven't tried, aren't still trying and threaten to keep trying in the future.

[Thaddeus Carpenter]

02:06 PM on 07/05/2011

The palestinians have never had a country... Human rights are a fantasy that is only available if the people in power allow you to have them... Assuming that you are born with rights simply because you are born is a false sense of entitlement...

[graffitijoe]

12:21 PM on 07/05/2011

Why did this flotilla pull into Greece in the first place? Why not pull ino a nearby Arab country that would surely support them like ...Libya ...uh, no not Lybia, ...uh Egypt ..umm, no maybe umm ... Syria ...

Well, I guess Greece isn't such a bad choice after all!

[CANTHATBE]

12:08 PM on 07/05/2011

Who cares if Greece goes bankrupt if they are helping block aid to others.

[Wingsweaver]

12:08 PM on 07/05/2011

You'd think Greece would have better things to do considering their entire economy is literally in shambles.

[graffitijoe]

01:36 PM on 07/05/2011

That's what I often think about the US, too!

[skialethia]

12:05 PM on 07/05/2011

Blackmail and bribery?

http://mondoweiss.net/2011/07/a-pipeline-of-injustice-greek-consular-official-admits-that-natural-gas-pipeline-drives-greek-complicity-in-gaza-siege.html

This old man, he played one
He played knick-knack on my thumb
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
GIVE YOUR DOG A BONE
This old man came rolling home

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/greece-21.gif

[Sam Adamson]

12:43 PM on 07/05/2011

I don't know if this is true, but I find it very funny that a pro-Palestinian will complain about economic incentives for political position when the Palestinian cause is promoted and supported from day 1 by petro-Dollars and political blackmail with Arab oil.

Funny.

[skialethia]

01:25 PM on 07/05/2011

It's one thing to help a government survive and quite another to help a nation of millions overcome a brutal occupation. I don't give a "ratsaz" about petro-dollars and everyone Israel, U.S., Saudi Arabia and all exploit the Palestinian cause for their greed and gain and Israel benefits more than anyone by robbing Palestinians blind of their land and resources by keeping a lifeless sham of a peace process going indefinitely. All I care about is that the scourge of Israeli Occupation of Palestine is eliminated once and for all!

None of those three have the moral high-ground, on the contrary, what is being done to Palestinians is the height of immorality!

[anotherbowlplease]

11:56 AM on 07/05/2011

Boycott anything Greek.
Don't spend your vacation money there.
The 20 pices of silver they got from the Israelis for stopping the boats, is really going to hurt them in the pocketbook.
And by the way, they can shove their olive oil too.
Jailing an American Captain?
Where is the outrage from our Government?

[skialethia]

12:12 PM on 07/05/2011

The barcode starts with 520.

[anotherbowlplease]

12:39 PM on 07/05/2011

Israeli barcode is 729

[luckybear]

12:16 PM on 07/05/2011

Greece doesn't make anything. Hence financial crisis. Our government isn't outraged because Klusmire didn't follow procedures, broke the law and therefore was arrested.

[skialethia]

12:47 PM on 07/05/2011

Maybe you're not aware it produces olive oil, olives, feta and honey and has an important tourism industry, huh?

[Texanbybirth]

11:51 AM on 07/05/2011

Sink his boat "Audacity of Hope", it will hit bottom as fast as Obama.

[anotherbowlplease]

01:18 PM on 07/05/2011

Eliminate an American to support a jew.
Thanks for that Bibi.

[Vlady]

02:49 PM on 07/05/2011

>>Eliminate an American to support a jew.

...which one American you want to eliminate?

[abolaf]

11:50 AM on 07/05/2011

Question--Why aren't these 'concerned and compassionate' souls sailing someplace where people are really being murdered, tortured and deprived of their freedoms? Like in Syria.

Answer---Because the Left has been an ally of Fascist dictators for quite a while now and the Syrians might treat them a bit more harshly than they would like. They might be 'concerned and compassionate' but the 'flotilla' crowd are obviously a bunch of publicity seeking cowards. It's a lot safer to play their game with the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel.

[skialethia]

12:18 PM on 07/05/2011

Oh you mean like support Bashar's opposition, the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, who are supported by the OPPRESSIVE tyrants in Saudi Arabia?? LOL!

[Konrad Klean]

12:39 PM on 07/05/2011

This article and their action isn't about Syria, its about Gaza, your attempt at misdirection is particularly poor. Next you'll be telling them to sail to Burma.

[abolaf]

12:52 PM on 07/05/2011

No, it's about a group of delusional fools who instead of sailing where there efforts are really needed, Syria, a country bordering on Israel, instead choose, for their own publicity-seeking buzz, to assist the Fascist rulersof Gaza, Hamas. You are the one trying to misdirect by avoiding that very obvious question. Try again.