Lebanon Gives Flotilla Ships Green Light to Set Sail; Organizers to Sail Soon
21/06/2010 Lebanese Transportation Minister Ghazi Aridi confirmed that the ministry allowed organizers of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla to sail from the northern port city of Tripoli to Cyprus before heading to the Strip, Lebanese newspaper an-Nahar reported Monday morning. 
The vessels will pass through Cyprus so as not to violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The minister added that one of the vessels would undergo a technical checkup before it sails from Tripoli and that the Lebanese government was responsible for the decision.
Diplomatic sources in the United Nations said over the weekend that the UNIFIL headquarters in New York had warned Lebanon that UN naval forces would not allow any violation of Resolution 1701 and would prevent any such violation.
On Friday, Israel warned the UN that the security situation in the Middle East may be undermined as result of the Lebanese flotilla planning to head to the Gaza Strip.
In a letter relayed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Israel's Ambassador to the UN Gabriela Shalev said the "provocative" sail may affect security in the entire region.
Two ships are expected to leave from Lebanon to Gaza: Naji al-Ali – which will be carrying 25 European activists, including parliament members, and some 50 journalists – and Maryam – which is said to carry female activists with chemotherapeutic medications for women and children and humanitarian aid. It is unclear when the vessels will set sail.
Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Sunday that Lebanese sources involved in organizing the flotilla said that their preparations were not yet complete but that activists were on their way to the country to take part in the latest attempt to break Israel's maritime blockade on the Strip.
The participants, including several nuns, have yet to arrive in Lebanon from various European countries, but will be coming "very soon", the sources said.
The London-based Al-Hayat reported on Sunday that two ships were in advanced stages of preparation for sailing to Gaza. Lebanese sources told the paper they had received the authorities' approval for both the passenger list and the cargo.
Julia new Lebanese aid ship to Gaza
[ 21/06/2010 - 09:41 AM ]
TRIPOLI, (PIC)-- A new aid ship, Julia, is expected to head to the Gaza Strip from Lebanon, although Lebanese minister of transportation Ghazi Aridi has denied it permission to sail to Gaza because it has not presented a request to the ministry to sail, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.
The ship had docked in the northern city of Tripoli's port two months ago as it was carrying a shipment of glass for a local merchant, however, most of the cargo was broken and the merchant refused to accept it, and a legal battle ensued resulting with those responsible for the ship being fined.
The owners never paid the $110,000 fine, and it was later revealed that the party behind the Lebanese aid ship Mariam actually paid it.
The same party then requested from Julia's owners that it joins the aid ship campaign to Gaza.
Aridi said: "So far, we have not received an official request specifying the ship's destination." He stressed that the law states that a ship must specify its destination, number of crew, and cargo in order to be granted permission to sail.
European women organize new siege-breaking trip to Gaza
LONDON, (PIC)-- The women for Gaza organization has decided to send an aid ship to Gaza Strip with women on board to break the Israeli naval blockade on the coastal enclave.
The organization, one of the international organizations supporting an end to the siege on Gaza, addressed an appeal on Sunday to all women who refuse oppression and tyranny to join the ship and to support it.
The organization said that it was supportive of Gaza women, widows and prisoners, and called on women worldwide to organize fund-raising campaigns for the ship.
A Lebanese all-woman ship is slated to head for Gaza any time with a load of medicines mainly for cancer patients.
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