If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Blog
If I remember correctly, didn't President Bush, the father, at one point make an appeal to the American people on television?
It's a crucial test case not only of the prospects that the media will serve the interests of the 99% rather than the 1%, but of the prospects for a foreign military and economic policy that reflects the values and interests of the 99%, rather than those of the 1%.
Hamas officials have said that Israel pledged to lift the Gaza blockade as part of the prisoner exchange that freed Shalit. Egyptian officials have also indicated that lifting the blockade was part of the deal. But Israeli officials have said that Israel did not agree.
There can never be a functioning and vibrant Palestinian polity until there is freedom of movement for the Palestinian people. The wall must come down, the blockade of Gaza must end.
Through it all, the Israelis helped us turn a potential non-story into a media blitz that has not ended. The passengers are now returning home to the local public spotlight.
Senator Kirk, we are your constituents. It's not too late for you to acknowledge that your earlier call for military action against us jeopardizes our safety and to reverse your claim which insinuates that we are dangerous people.
Our cargo is not humanitarian aid, as some of the other ships are carrying, but thousands of letters from the U.S. people, letters of compassion, solidarity and hope written to people living in the Gaza Strip.
As a passenger on the upcoming U.S. boat to Gaza, I read with keen interest the New York Times' account last week of Israeli military preparations to confront the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.
What does it mean that the U.S. Boat to Gaza is a quarter Jewish? Maybe it means that we can openly contest a construction of Jewish identity based on supporting the obstruction of Palestinian freedom.
The logic of the argument that the blockade of Gaza is automatically justified by the threat of violence to Israel from Hamas is essentially the same logic that the Bush-Cheney Administration used in justifying its decisions to torture detainees.
A year ago, activists tried to break the blockade of Gaza with an international flotilla of ships. They failed. Now an even larger flotilla is preparing to set sail in June. And when the Audacity of Hope sets sail, I will be on it.
The Gaza strip must cope with a drug shortage, even though Israeli and Egyptian officials talk about easing the blockade that has left this crowded enclave effectively isolated since July 2007.
One, largely unrecognized, price of the blockade of Gaza is that it's hampering women's efforts to cooperate and build a movement that can effectively advance gender equality.
Last week, news about the latest aid ship aiming to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza received little media attention. Tragically, all parties involved finally did what they were supposed to do and not many people heard about it.
If you believe the media, great strides are being made in the direction of Middle East peace, and the prospects are hopeful. Personally, I am not as hopeful
Israel's policies towards Gaza may actually be empowering Hamas as the governing party. Lifting the siege of Gaza during Ramadan would be a powerful symbolic gesture and shift the pressure on Hamas to reciprocate.
