|
| |
Dear Family and Friends,
Early Monday morning (May 31, 2010), a tragedy happened in international
waters. A tragedy that - for us - has both personal and political
implications. Please take a minute and read a bit further.
On that morning Israeli soldiers
stormed the lead ship of the six-vessel Freedom Flotilla aid convoy in
international waters and killed 9-19 unarmed civilian human rights workers
aboard, wounding 50-80 others.
We have friends on those ships. Any one of us could
have been on those ships. This is the very work we do. And when a country -any country
- can attack unarmed international human rights workers delivering aid and
there is not an immediate out-cry from the international community, it puts
all of us at greater risk, and it undermines the work we are doing. Work
that we believe is critical in providing an alternative to the wars that
have taken the lives of so many.
Beyond that are the obvious moral and political issues.
A Recap of What has Happened:
Activists were headed to Gaza to draw attention to the blockade which Israel and
Egypt imposed after the democratic election of Hamas group and subsequent
seizing of power in Gaza. This blockade is supported by U.S. tax dollars.
According to reports, the attack took place in international waters 75-80 miles
off the Gaza coast. Shock and dismay swept the planet after Israeli commandos
stormed the Free Gaza Movement flotilla bound for Gaza. The flotilla carried
over 600 passengers and 10,000 metric tons of humanitarian aid. When the Israeli
forces stormed the flotilla, at least 15 activists were killed.
The Free Gaza Movement
is a growing group of citizens from around the planet who are dedicated to
opening the borders of Gaza. The movement’s strategy is to send ships to Gaza.
To enter Gaza they have to pass through the Israeli gunboats blockade. This
action draws attention and shines a light for the world to see the illegal and
unjust blockade of Gaza. The strategy and actions are public and promoted
worldwide before, during, and after each action. The Free Gaza Movement has
managed to reach Gaza by sea five times, and it has been violently blocked by
the Israeli Navy three times in the past.
We believe there are at least three important points that need
be continually raised as we take solidarity action steps:
1. Gaza is encircled and imprisoned by Israeli gunboats, tanks, helicopters,
drones, planes, gun towers, and electrified fence and USA tax dollars fund this.
The entire population of Gaza are prisoners in their own land. At the same time
the imprisoned people of Gaza are regularly under Israeli attack. This three
year long Israeli blockade and the continued Israeli attacks on Gaza by land,
air, and sea are criminal. Gaza’s borders must be opened. (Significantly, with
every sailing, the Free Gaza Movement demonstrates that the Mediterranean Sea is
a good way to open Gaza.) The urgency of ending the blockade grows by the day,
as Palestinians living in this prison are denied their most basic rights. In
addition, the urgency of ending Israeli military invasions and attacks on Gaza
is essential.
2. Military attack on vessels and the killing and wounding of civilians sailing
in international waters is a violation of international law (Note especially the
United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas) The Israeli military has
attacked the Free Gaza flotilla and killed at least 9 and possibly as many as 19
civilians and wounded many others who were on that flotilla.
3. The work of unarmed civilian peace teams is successful, in part, because we
have the power to discourage violence by demonstrating that "the whole world is
watching". If there is not a global outcry against unwarranted perpetrations of
violence, then the work of organizations like MPT is undermined - no matter if
that work is in Gaza, the West Bank, the U.S./Mexico border, Rwanda, Darfur,
Colombia, Sri Lanka, or any other place in this world.
Here are some ways you can help:
1. Call and/or email the US State Department.
Main Switchboard: 202-647-4000. Insist that the state department find out about
the Americans in the flotilla that was attacked by Israel in international
waters. Mention Huwaida Arraf by name. Huwaida is recognized by local media.
2. Email President Obama – Visit this site:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
3. Contact Senator Levin – Email and postal contact center:
http://levin.senate.gov/contact/
4. Contact Senator Stabenow – Email and postal contact center:
http://stabenow.senate.gov/contact.htm
5. Share information about Gaza and the Israeli attack on the flotilla
with family and friends. Invite them to take solidarity actions
6. Call local news media and ask them to find out about the Americans on
aboard. This will help get the American connection on the news.
7. Post your comments in response to articles published on the web. This
is a well read section of the Internet. Here you can raise points of view. And
don't forget to post to social networking sites like Facebook and
Twitter.
8. Write letters to the Editor of your newspaper
9. Sign the
CODEPINK petition asking Obama to join other Nobel Prize laureates in
condemning the killing of the international humanitarian activists. Join this
call to Obama to be a real leader.
10. Keep tuned to what is happening—this event and its aftermath are
unfolding with each passing moment.
For mainstream breaking news and published articles, all major news agencies are
covering the attack on the flotilla including NPR, Associated
Press, Reuters, BBC
For independent news go to freegaza.org,
DemocracyNow, and Free
Speech TV
For video, latest updates and live coverage go to:
http://witnessgaza.com/
11. Watch for and participate in community protests decrying Israel's
actions. You can watch for activities posted to our
web calendar, and those of the peace & justice groups you most respect.
MPT friends - Huwaida Arraf, Ann Wright, Hedy Epstein (all of whom were on
board the flotilla) - and other members of Free Gaza urge us to end our silence
and join a nonviolent movement that will not be stopped: Join
international efforts to help end the human suffering created by Israeli’s
strangulation of Gaza.
We at Michigan Peace Team hope and pray you will support the Free Gaza Movement
in word and action. This movement does what governments refuse to do – take
action to defend the lives and dignity of 1.5 million Palestinians under siege
in the Gaza Strip. It is a movement that proves that the State of Israel cannot
sustain its illegal blockade in the face of widely reported humanitarian efforts
by non-violent activists, acting in accordance with international law. At the
same time we hope you will condemn the piracy action of the Israeli military
against the flotilla last night.
With sincere appreciation for your support in our quest to end violence and
pursue justice -
All of us at Michigan Peace Team
--
Michigan Peace Team
808 W. Barnes Ave.
Lansing, MI 48910
Phone: 517- 484-3178
Email:
michiganpeaceteam@gmail.com
|
