Cynthia McKinney to ST: Peace has a chance only with a peace leader in national security adviser position or no one at all in it

ST

Wednesday, 11 September 2019 12:03

Former US congresswoman Cynthia McKinney has said that it might be better for the position of the national security adviser to remain vacant, hoping that President Donald Trump is about to begin to keep his campaign promises about the folly of the US fighting wars for Israel.

In a statement to the Syria times e-newspaper on the effect of the defenestration of John Bolton as President Trump’s third national security adviser, McKinney said: “Given the President’s poor staffing choices, it might be better for the position to remain vacant. Any appointment from the swamp will continue the same pro-Israel, warmongering, swamp policies.”

She believes that peace has a chance only with a peace leader in that position or no one at all in it.

“Even then, the Lobby for war spans both sides of the aisles, both Republicans and Democrats. I have repeatedly made suggestions for Trump of individuals who understand the swamp and are repulsed by what it is today,” she added.

Asked about the reason behind the defenestration of Bolton, McKinney replied:

“Bolton blew the President’s peace initiatives with North Korea, Syria, and Afghanistan. Let’s hope that the President is about to begin to keep his campaign promises about the folly of the US fighting wars for Israel.”

Yesterday, President Trump pushed out John R. Bolton, his third national security adviser.

Cynthia McKinney is an international peace and human rights activist, noted for her inconvenient truth-telling about the U.S. war machine. She was held for seven days in an Israeli prison after attempting to enter Gaza by sea and traveled to Libya during U.S. bombing and witnessed the crimes against humanity committed against that country’s people. In addition to Libya, she has traveled to Cuba, Syria, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and as she puts it:

“Wherever U.S. Bombs are dropping or U.S. sanctions are biting.”

She is the author or editor of three Clarity Press books: she has written one book Ain’t Nothing Like Freedom and edited The Illegal War On Libya and the 2018 book, How the U.S. Creates Sh*thole Countries.

In 1992, McKinney won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was the first African-American woman from Georgia in the U.S. Congress. She was the first Member of Congress to demand an investigation of the events of 9/11/2001. McKinney was criticized and as a result, she was defeated in 2002; however, she ran again and was re-elected in 2004.

In December 2008, Cynthia made international headlines when her boat was rammed by the Israeli military as she was attempting to deliver medical supplies to Gaza. In 2009, Cynthia attempted to reach Gaza again, this time armed with crayons, coloring books, and school supplies. Her boat was overtaken in international waters by the Israeli military and she was kidnapped to Israel where she spent 7 days in an Ramleh Prison. Finally, Cynthia entered Gaza by land in July 2009 with George Galloway’s Viva Palestina USA.

She has over 100,000 followers on FaceBook and more than 30,000 followers on Twitter who live in countries all over the world—from Argentina to Zimbabwe, according to Tweetsmap as of January 2019.

Interviewed by: Basma Qaddour

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

Today we are all Tunisians

By Yvonne Ridley

16 January 2011

Yvonne Ridley pays tribute to the courage of the Tunisian people and reminds us of the stark fact that all the time when the deposed Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was torturing and plundering his people, he had the full support of the USA and European governments.

Over the last few days we have seen some of the bravest people facing down some of the worst.

Armed with nothing more than a revolutionary heart and hopes of a better future they gathered and protested as government forces aimed their weapons and fired live rounds in to the crowds.

But the ammunition and the underlying threats of arrest and torture meant absolutely nothing to the masses – for they had simply lost their fear.

It was the final testament to the brutality of a dictator who has had the support of European leaders and various presidents of the United States.

And that the Tunisian president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, fled from his country like a rat up a drainpipe after 23 brutal years spoke volumes about the character of the man himself.

If he had one ounce of the courage his own people displayed, he too would have stayed but most of these tyrants are gutless with the moral fibre of a dung beetle.

The demise of Ben Ali came when police prevented an unemployed 26-year-old graduate from selling fruit without a licence.Mohammad Bouazizi turned himself in to a human torch on 17 December and died of the horrific burns in Sidi Bouzid, in central Tunisia.

It was the final straw, a defining moment which ignited rallies, marches and demonstrations across Tunisia.

And revelations from WikiLeaks cables exposing the corrupt and extravagant lifestyle of Ben Ali and his grasping wife fanned the flames of unbridled anger from a people who were also in the grip of poverty.

I knew it was coming. I saw the burning desire for freedom in the eyes of the courageous people of Gafsa when the Viva Palestina convoy entered the country in February 2009 on its way to Gaza.

Our convoy witnessed the menacing secret police intimidate the crowds to stop them from gathering to cheer us on.

This vast army of spies, thugs and enforcers even tried to stop us from praying in a local mosque

That they stood their ground to cheer us on prompted me to leave my vehicle and hug all the women who had turned out. We exchanged cards and small gifts and then, to my horror, I discovered 24 hours later that every woman I had embraced in the streets of Gafsa had been taken away and questioned.

Human rights organizations have constantly condemned and exposed the brutality of the Ben Ali regime but that has not stopped America and European leaders from intervening or putting on pressure to stop the brutality.

Sadly, it serves Western interests to have a people brutalized and subjugated.

Now Tunisia is minus one dictator but it is still in a state of emergency. The next few days and weeks are going to be crucial for the Tunisian people who deserve freedom and liberty. My God, they’ve paid for it with their own blood and we must always remember their martyrs.

None of the politicians, secret police or other odious government forces will emerge from this period with any honour and quite a few are already cowering in the shadows.

But perhaps the biggest show of cowardice in this whole sorry episode has come from The White House.

Not one word of condemnation, not one word of criticism, not one word urging restraint came from Barak Obama or Hillary Clinton as live ammunition was fired into crowds of unarmed men, women and children in recent weeks.

And news of the corrupt, mafia-like regime would not have come as a surprise to either of them. We know this thanks to the WikiLeaks cables written by US Ambassador Robert Godec who revealed in one memo: “Corruption in the inner circle is growing.”

But, as the injustices and atrocities continued there was not one squeak from the most powerful nation on earth – until America’s dear friend, Ben Ali, had scuttled from the country.

The reality is the US administration likes dealing with tyrants and even encourages despotic behaviour. Egypt is one of the biggest testaments to this with its prisons full of political opposition leaders. Hosni Mubarak is Uncle Sam's enforcer and biggest recipient of aid next to the Zionist state.

Pakistan's treatment of its own people is little better.Remember when US ambassador Anne Patterson in Islamabad wrote in one WikiLeak cable about the human rights abuses carried out by the Pakistan military? Patterson then went on to advise Washington to avoid comment on these incidents.

But now the US has made a comment on the situation in Tunisia – but only when Ben Ali was 30,000 feet in the air did White House spokesman Mike Hammer issue a statement which read: “We condemn the ongoing violence against civilians in Tunisia, and call on the Tunisian authorities to fulfill the important commitments ... including respect for basic human rights and a process of much-needed political reform.”

Unbelievable. Too little, too late, Mr President. Actually, that statement could have been uttered any time during the last US presidencies since Ronald Reagan.

But as I say, America couldn't give a stuff about the human rights of the people of the Maghreb, Pakistan, Egypt and Palestine, to name but a few.

When US condemnation finally came through the tyrant had fled leaving behind more than 60 civilian martyrs and countless more injured.

I will go to the Tunisian embassy in London as I have done previously and stand shoulder to shoulder with my Tunisian brothers and sisters and their supporters. We will remember the dead, we will pay tribute to the brave and courageous many who are still in the process of seizing back their country, and we will pray that no tyrant will sleep easy in his bed from this moment on.

Today we are all Tunisians.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

Galloway: Aid Aircraft to Fly to Gaza

While WHEELCHAIR critics, are busy in smearing great activists putting their lives at risk, Galloway Galloway revealed that new humanitarian aid convoys would be sent to the Gaza Strip next year to break the Israeli siege on it for the past four and a half years.

08/12/2010 Former British lawmaker George Galloway said that an aircraft is to take humanitarian aid to the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, rallying support for the relief effort.

The pro-Palestinian activist, who has headed several Gaza-bound aid missions, asserted on Monday that humanitarian campaigners would in the future attempt to reach the impoverished coastal sliver by land, sea and air, the Palestinian-run International Middle East Media Center reported.

Galloway, last time, headed Lifeline 5, the fifth Gaza-bound convoy, organized by the UK-based charity Viva Palestina, which tried to break the siege.

Galloway regretted the Arab nations' "negative position and weak commitment" to pro-Palestinian causes and urged them to contribute to the planned relief effort.

Galloway: More aid to be sent to Gaza via land, air, and sea

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

George Galloway announces 10-city speaking tour of Canada

By Defend Free Speech

| October 27, 2010  

Former British MP George Galloway will appear in 10 cities on a pan-Canadian speaking tour from November 16 to 27, 2010. Organized by local peace coalitions and Palestine solidarity campaigns across Canada, the tour is called "Free Palestine, Free Afghanistan, Free Speech."

Mr. Galloway will speak about the Canadian government's attempts to ban him as well as the political situation in the Middle East and Central Asia.

"I'm looking forward to speaking in person with the many Canadians who have defended their right to hear me, including those who disagree with me," said Mr. Galloway from London, U.K. "I'm also looking forward to challenging Jason Kenney to a public debate, who has yet to account for his role in trying to keep me out of Canada."

Mr. Galloway's tour includes the following cities: Montreal (Nov. 17), Halifax (Nov. 18), Toronto (Nov. 20), Hamilton (Nov. 21), Vancouver (Nov. 22), Calgary (Nov. 23), Yellowknife (Nov. 24), Edmonton (Nov. 25), Winnipeg (Nov. 26) and Ottawa (Nov. 27).

On September 27, 2010, the Federal Court of Canada ruled that Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney had attempted to ban Galloway from Canada for purely political reasons: "It is clear that the efforts to keep Mr. Galloway out of the country had more to do with antipathy to his political views than with any real concern that he had engaged in terrorism or was a member of a terrorist organization" (paragraph 8).

The ruling cleared the way for Galloway to return to Canada. On October 2, he arrived in Toronto. The next day, he addressed a crowd of over 800 people at a downtown church.

Details of each event are available here:

National media sponsor: rabble.ca

MONTREAL

George Galloway: Free Palestine. Free Afghanistan. Free speech.

Featuring: George Galloway and special guests
Date: Wednesday, November 17
Time: 7:00 p.m. (doors open 6:30 p.m.)
Location: Salle Marie-Gérin-Lajoie, Pavillon Judith-Jasmin
405 rue Ste-Catherine Est
Local J-M400 (niveau Métro)
Métro Berri-UQAM
Tickets: $15 (Adult), $10 (Students, youth, seniors)
Tickets are available at the door or by e-mailing galloway@canadaboatgaza.org
Organized by: Canadian Boat to Gaza
More information: galloway@canadaboatgaza.org
Local media inquiries: galloway@canadaboatgaza.org

HALIFAX

From Gaza to Afghanistan: Resisting war, occupation and censorship
Featuring: George Galloway and special guests
Date: Thursday, November 18
Time: 7:00 p.m. (doors open 6:30 p.m.)
Location: Saint Mary's University, Room TBA
Tickets: TBA
Organized by: Halifax Peace Coalition

TORONTO

Palestine solidarity and the fight for free speech
Featuring: George Galloway and special guests
Date: Saturday, November 20
Time: 6:00 p.m. (doors open 5:30 p.m.)
Location: Islamic Society of York Region, 1380 Stouffville Road, Richmond Hill
Tickets (includes dinner): $25 (Adults), $15 (Students, youth, seniors)
Tickets are only available in advance by e-mailing info@nowar.ca
Organized by: Islamic Society of York Region
Endorsed by: Canadian Arab Federation, Toronto Coalition to Stop the War
More information: info@nowar.ca
Local media inquiries: info@nowar.ca

HAMILTON

George Galloway: Free Palestine. Free Afghanistan. Free speech.
Featuring: George Galloway and special guests
Date: Sunday, November 21
Time: 2:00 p.m. (doors open 1:30 p.m.)
Location: McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West
Lecture Hall MDCL 1305
Tickets: $20 (Adults), $10 (Students, youth, seniors)
Tickets are available online by clicking here.
Organized by: Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR), Students Resisting War and Occupation (SRWO),Independent Jewish Voices (IJV)
More information: gallowayhamiltontour@gmail.com
Local media inquiries: gallowayhamiltontour@gmail.com

VANCOUVER

George Galloway: Free Palestine. Free Afghanistan. Free speech.
Featuring: George Galloway and special guests
Date: Monday, November 22
Time: 7:30 p.m. (doors open 6:30 p.m.)
Location: St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church, corner of Burrard and Nelson
Tickets: $15 (Adults), $10 (Students, youth, seniors)
Tickets are available at People's Coop Bookstore, 1391 Commercial Drive
Organized by: StopWar.ca Coalition
Endorsed by: UBC-Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, Seriously Free Speech Committee
More information: stopwar@resist.ca
Local media inquiries: stopwar@resist.ca

CALGARY

George Galloway: Free Palestine. Free Afghanistan. Free speech.
Featuring: George Galloway and special guests
Date: Tuesday, November 23
Time: 7:00 p.m. (doors open 6:30 p.m.)
Location: TBA
Tickets: TBA

YELLOWKNIFE

From Gaza to Afghanistan: Resisting war, occupation and censorship
Featuring: George Galloway and special guests
Date: Wednesday, November 24
Time: 7:00 p.m. (doors open 6:30 p.m.)
Location: Northern United Place, 5403 Franklin Avenue
Tickets: $10 (Adult), $5 (Students, youth, seniors)
Tickets are available at the door or by e-mailing focusonpalestine@gmail.com
Organized by: Focus on Palestine Yellowknife
Endorsed by: Alternatives North, Yellowknife United Church
More information: focusonpalestine@gmail.com
Local media inquiries: focusonpalestine@gmail.com

EDMONTON

From Gaza to Afghanistan: Resisting war, occupation and censorship
Featuring: George Galloway and special guests
Date: Thursday, November 25
Time: 7:00 p.m. (doors open 6:30 p.m.)
Location: University of Alberta, Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science (CCIS)
Tickets: $15 (Adults), $10 (Students, youth, seniors)
Tickets are available at the door
Organized by: Edmonton Coalition Against War And Racism (ECAWAR), Canadians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East (CPJME), Palestine Support Network (PSN)
More information: 780-988-2713
Local media inquiries: 780-988-2713

WINNIPEG

From Gaza to Afghanistan: Resisting war, occupation and censorship
Featuring: George Galloway and special guests
Date: Friday, November 26
Time: 7:30 p.m. (doors open 6:30 p.m.)
Location: Broadway Disciples United Church, 396 Broadway at Kennedy
Tickets: $15 (Adult), $10 (student, youth, senior)
Tickets are available at the door
Organized by: Peace Alliance Winnipeg
Endorsed by: Independent Jewish Voices, Canada Palestine Support Network
More information: peace@peacealliancewinnipeg.ca
Local media inquiries: peace@peacealliancewinnipeg.ca

OTTAWA

George Galloway: Free Palestine. Free Afghanistan. Free speech.
Featuring: George Galloway and special guests
Date: Saturday, November 27
Time: 2:00 p.m. (doors open 1:30 p.m.)
Location: TBA
Tickets: TBA
Organized by: Ottawa Peace Assembly

ottawa.peace.assembly@gmail.com
ottawa.peace.assembly@gmail.com
For more information on Mr. Galloway's tour, please click here.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

Galloway: Lifeline 5 achieved its goals

[ 26/10/2010 - 06:12 PM ]

BEIRUT, (PIC)-- Former British MP George Galloway, the founder and head of the Viva Palestina organization, said on Tuesday that the Lifeline 5 aid convoy to the Gaza Strip had achieved great success.

He said during a seminar organized by the civil campaign to support Palestine and Iraq in Beirut that his organization had many future plans including organizing Lifeline 6 aid convoy.

For his part, Kevin Ovenden, who led the convoy into Gaza after Egypt denied Galloway access, said that the convoy went through Rafah border crossing and not through an Israeli terminal as the American New York Times had said.

Ovenden described the Egyptian authorities' decision to ban entry of Galloway along with 17 other activists into its territory en route to Gaza as "regretful, sad, and wrong".

He said that it was the first time such a huge amount of aid managed to enter Gaza, noting that some of the assistance was requested by Gazan institutions such as cancer medicines.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

Ovenden: Lifeline 6 to be organized soon

[ 24/10/2010 - 04:56 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- The delegates of the Lifeline 5 aid convoy left Gaza Strip afternoon Sunday after a three-day visit during which they delivered mainly medical assistance to the tune of five million dollars.

Director of the convoy Kevin Ovenden told a press conference before leaving Gaza that Viva Palestina plans to organize Lifeline 6 aid convoy with the participation of more international institutions and societies, adding that it would also participate in sea convoys to Gaza.

Referring to the number of lifeline 5 members, he said that Gaza was sending 342 ambassadors to defend its cause.

For his part, the head of the Algerian delegation Abdulrazak Al-Maqri said that the delegates attended a three-day training course in breaking the siege during their stay in the Strip.

• Ashkenazi: Navy fired 308 projectiles at Freedom Flotilla activists
• Algerian delegation: Gaza is the hope and dignity of the Arab and Muslim nations
• Ihsanoglu: We must resort to int'l law to break illegal siege on Gaza

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

Haneyya: The arrival of Lifeline 5 in Gaza is a historic moment

[ 23/10/2010 - 10:24 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya hailed the participants in the fifth aid convoy Lifeline for the risks they endured in order to arrive in the besieged Gaza Strip and described their arrival as a historic moment.

"This is a historic moment, and it will be recorded in the history that the [Palestinian] cause is strongly returning to the (Islamic) nation, and that the nation is strongly going back to the cause," Haneyya said in a ceremony held on Friday evening to honor participants of the convoy.

He stressed that the goal is not only to break the blockade but also to end the Israeli occupation because the essence of the Palestinian cause is to eliminate the occupation from Palestine.

The premier highlighted that such convoys are an extension to Al-Furqan victory which was achieved by the Palestinian resistance during the Israeli war on Gaza.

"In the name of the Palestinian people, the government and the resistance factions, we salute you, dear brothers and sisters in the fifth convoy Lifeline, and we express our great appreciation, thanks and pride to you as you continue this blessed march for the sake of Gaza, Jerusalem and Palestine," the premier said.

Earlier on the same day, premier Haneyya warned in a Friday Khutba (sermon) attended by Lifeline activists in Gaza of attempts to dwarf the Palestinian cause and taking it away from its Arab and Islamic depth.

The premier also reiterated his rejection to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, saying such recognition would eliminate the right of return and displace the Palestinians in the 1948 occupied lands.

He pointed, in another context, to the international conference on the issue of Palestinian prisoners to be held soon in Gaza and called for actively participating in it.

For his part, Dr. Ahmed Bahar, the first deputy speaker of the Palestinian legislative council (PLC), received yesterday Lifeline activists at the PLC headquarters in Gaza.

He hailed the efforts they made to break the political siege imposed on Gaza, and said their arrival reflected the Arab and Islamic depth of the Palestinian cause.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

Sawalha: The Siege on Gaza must end now

[ 22/10/2010 - 03:05 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Mohammed Sawalha, the deputy-head of the international committee for breaking the siege on Gaza, said on Thursday that the lifeline 5 convoy came to Gaza to deliver clear and sound message to the world that the blockade must end immediately.

In an interview with the PIC, Sawalha said that the free people of the world support the lifting of the oppressive siege and back the Palestinian struggle for independence and freedom.

"As we arrive in Gaza we forget all the pain [of an arduous journey]. We will always be ready to come to Gaza because Gaza leads the international struggle for freedom and deliverance from [the control of] Zionism. Victory and dismantlement of the racist state are near," Sawalha said.

He said that activists participating in the aid convoy were determined and convinced that they will enter the Gaza Strip, and they kept praying for that, adding that they all enjoyed very high morale despite the hurdles on the way of the convoy.

He expressed disappointment at the Egyptian decision to ban former British MP George Galloway and some other activists from entering Egypt on their way to the Gaza Strip and asked: "Why were those people barred from entering the Gaza Strip? They only came to support the weak and besieged [people of Gaza]".

He called on the international community to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip and to open all border crossings for the residents of the Strip.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ahmad Yusuf, the undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry in Gaza, said that his government was preparing for an official reception in Rafah on Friday, but they were taken by surprise when the Egyptian authorities allowed the activists to enter on Thursday.

He thanked Egypt for facilitating entry of the convoy, adding that this move will hopefully encourage other aid conveys to travel the same route.

He also thanked all those who participated the convoy, especially, George Galloway and said that even though George was not present, he is ever present in the hearts and minds of the people of Gaza




Lifeline 5 enters Gaza Strip amidst big jubilation

[ 22/10/2010 - 02:17 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Members of the lifeline 5 convoy have arrived Thursday to the besieged Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing point after the Egyptian authorities allowed them entry following marathon negotiations full of Egyptian preconditions.

Local Palestinian sources said that a couple of days is needed for the ship carrying the humanitarian assistance anchoring in the Egyptian Al-Areesh port to unload the shipment before sending it to the besieged Strip through the Rafah crossing point.

An atmosphere of Jubilation was engulfing the activists once they stepped into the occupied Palestine as many of them fell in prostration to Allah for enabling them achieve their mission.

"We are with you oh people of Gaza and Allah willing you will win and emerge victorious over your enemies", chanted the activists as they embrace Palestinian officials receiving them at the borders.

"Thanks to Allah that we arrived to Palestine and the land of Gaza after an exhausting five weeks of suffering, and we indeed enjoy very high morale now in Gaza that deserve more than what we are doing for it", said one of the activist as he spoke to the PIC correspondent.

Well-informed sources confirmed that Qatar, which funded the transportation by air of the convoy's activists mediated with the Egyptian authorities to allow the activists and the ship into AL-Areesh.

Egypt had imposed a number of preconditions on the activists and the ship to allow them into Gaza through Egypt, causing delay to the ship's departure from the Syrian port as scheduled, in addition to forcing the activists to travel by air to Egypt instead of accompanying the ship via sea.

Qatar, according to the sources, joined efforts with Syria to convince Egypt not to block the aid convoy. Egypt conceded at last to the two Arab countries mediation.

The ship carries around 140 truck and cars loaded with humanitarian assistance with the aim to alleviate the suffering of the 1.6 million Palestinians blockaded in the Strip for the fifth year now.

Organizers of the convoy asserted that they want to deliver a message to the "civilized" world that the siege on Gaza must end immediately, and the will of the Palestinian people must be respected.


Birawi: Lifeline carries 5 million dollars worth of aid

[ 22/10/2010 - 11:39 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Spokesman for Lifeline 5 aid convoy to the Gaza Strip, Zaher Birawi, said on Thursday that the convoy carries with it 5 million US dollars worth of aid for the besieged people of Gaza, including medical, humanitarian and educational aid.

In a statement to PIC Birawi said that the arrival of Lifeline activists into Gaza as an indicator that the Egyptian authorities have rectified its earlier fault with regard to the aid convoy.

He added that the activists will remain in the Gaza Strip for three days and will be leaving on Sunday morning and that they will be making field visits to areas destroyed by the Israelis during the war on Gaza and meeting some of the affected families.

Birawi said that the Egyptian authorities allowed 342 activists from 30 different coutries, 12 of them Arab countries, into the Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian authorities however barred 17 activists, including the leader of the convoy George Galloway, from entering Egypt on their way to the Gaza Strip.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

Viva Palestina 5 arrives in Arish after lengthy delay

Jano Charbel

Thu, 21/10/2010 - 10:17

Photographed by Jano Charbel

Arish--The first of two passenger airplanes--part of the fifth and largest Viva Palestina convoy--arrived in Egypt Wednesday evening on its final stop before heading on to the Gaza Strip. The arrival in Arish port city follows an 18-day clearance delay in Latakia, Syria.

The second passenger airplane is scheduled to land at Al-Arish on Thursday. Each aircraft carries 155 delegates and activists from around the world. An aid ship with a cargo of 30 delegates and several tons of humanitarian aid is also set to dock at the Egyptian port city Thursday.

Viva Palestina describes itself as "A Lifeline to Gaza."

The convoy hopes to unload and transport its aid cargo to Gaza on Thursday. Egypt previously denied entrance to 18 members of the convoy, including former British MP George Galloway.

Following lengthy negotiations, Egyptian authorities agreed to grant the Viva Palestina activists access into the Gaza Strip for three days. From Colorado, independent activist Guy Benintendi, one of three Americans partaking in the convoy, said "we are pawns in the hands of the Egyptian government." He blamed the 18-day delay on "diplomatic and bureaucratic obstacles." Israel and other states may be behind this delay, he added.

One of the convoy's chief organizers, the Palestinian-English Zaher al-Berawi, said Viva Palestina, international institutions, the Egyptian government, the Egyptian people, and all the free people of the world, hope and strive to end the siege on Gaza. He praised "the Egyptian government's efforts, and its coordination with us to make this dream a reality."

The convoy includes 140 vehicles and a total of 340 delegates from 30 countries, according to al-Berawi. He added that over 80 percent of the aid is in the form of medical supplies, 10 percent in educational material and school supplies, and another 10 percent are emergency and relief equipment. The supplies are valued at US$5 million.

"The aid does not include any building materials [concrete, reinforced steel, pipes, etc.] as it was not allowed according to the agreements we had concluded with the Egyptian Embassy in Damascus," al-Berawi told Al-Masry Al-Youm. Jordanian associations and trade unions intended to deliver construction materials as part of the convoy but were not permitted to join, he added.

Israeli authorities have explicitly prevented the entrance of all such construction materials into the besieged Gaza Strip since 2007.

Even after its devastating war against Gaza from December 2008 to January 2009, Israel maintained its stance.

Egypt had similarly closed off its Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip after Hamas seized power in 2007. Egyptian authorities re-opened the Rafah border following the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, in which eight Turks and one Turkish-American were killed by Israeli commandos.

One of the 115 Algerian activists participating in the convoy, former Algerian MP Mohamed Douibi was previously part of the Freedom Flotilla. He was aboard the ship that bore the brunt of this Israeli attack, the Mavi Marmara. He pointed to his injured eye and said, "Israeli commandos boarded the ship I was on and fired a rubber bullet at my face. It hit me in the eye, and I'm still being treated for this injury I sustained."

"This assault made me even more adamant in my decision to defy Israel's siege on Gaza. This is why I am participating in this convoy."

This is the first Viva Palestina convoy in which he has participated. He said that he intends to partake in forthcoming Viva Palestina convoys "until the siege is lifted."

John Hurson, from Tyrone Ireland, one of eight Irish delegates partaking in this convoy, described Egypt's decision to deny entrance to 18 activists as "ridiculous."

"The Egyptian government told the world that it would open its border with Gaza indefinitely," said Hurson. "It has now become obvious that this announcement is a lie." Egypt's decision to bar these activists "puts more of a spotlight on Egypt as being a party complicit in this siege," he added.

George Galloway is considered persona non grata by the Egyptian government.

He was barred from entering Egypt during the Viva Palestina 3 convoy attempt which arrived in the Port of Arish in January, 2010. Having waited for several days in the Jordanian Port of Aqaba, for clearance from Egyptian authorities, it was then ordered to be rerouted to Latakia. The convoy arrived in the Syrian port only to be delayed for several more days.

Upon arrival in Arish, the convoy waited again for clearance. Impatience and frustration led some activists to break down one of the port's gates. Clashes between Viva Palestina activists and Egyptian police ensued. More than 20 members of the convoy were injured, along with around 10 policemen.

Mahmoud Khaled, one of 90 Viva Palestina 5 activists from Jordan said, "we're happy to be in Egypt, but we'll be even happier when we get into the (Gaza) Strip and are able to deliver our aid to that besieged populace."

He added that nine Jordanians were denied entrance into Egypt, including 83-year-old Ismail Nashwan. Egyptian authorities reportedly claimed that Nashwan is a Turkish troublemaker, "although he is not a Turk, and is too old to be a troublemaker," according to Khaled.

The Viva Palestina 5 convoy originated in London. It departed Saturday, 18 September and drove southwestwards through Europe and Turkey, and arrived in Latakia on Saturday, 2 October. In Latakia, the convoy was joined by two other contingents from Algeria and Morocco.

Viva Palestina's convoy reaches Gaza

Press TV

Thu Oct 21, 2010 1:46PM

Activists with the Viva Palestina-organized convoy chant slogans before their departure from Istanbul, Turkey on September 28, 2010.

Lifeline 5, the fifth aid convoy organized by the UK-based charity Viva Palestina, has crossed Rafah, the border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

On Thursday, the aid mission of 150 vehicles entered the coastal sliver, carrying around $5 million in food, medicine and basic supplies.

The move signified disruption of Tel Aviv's siege of Gaza, which has been depriving its 1.5-million population of food, fuel and other necessities for more than three years.

Headed by former British lawmaker George Galloway, the convoy departed from London on September 18. It crossed France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria and Egypt on its way to the enclave.

The trip was made despite the likelihood that the activists come under the attack of the Israeli military, which had killed nine activists in May during an assault on Freedom Flotilla, a convoy of the same mission.

Israeli paper The Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday that the Israeli forces were awaiting the arrival of the activists.

Citing a source with Israel's military, the paper wrote, "The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is prepared" for the convoy.

There, however, has been no news yet of Tel Aviv-ordered aggression on the activists.

The convoy was also fearful of confrontation by the Egyptian authorities. In January 2010, the Egyptian riot police injured 55 people in the port of El Arish during clashes with the Viva Palestina's previous aid convoy.

Speaking to a Press TV correspondent, however, Lifeline 5's spokesman, Zaher Birawi, said that the Egyptians had refrained from imposing any conditions on the mission's entry into the sliver.

"The Egyptians are facilitating and making easy and smooth the entrance to Gaza," Birawi said.

HN/MGH

  

Viva Palestina convoy reaches Gaza

Pro-Palestinian activists enter Gaza through Rafah crossing with $5m of aid for residents of Israeli-blockaded strip.

Last Modified: 21 Oct 2010 17:26 GMT

Hundreds of peace activists have arrived in Gaza carrying humanitarian supplies [Reuters]

Pro-Palestinian activists in more than 100 cars and trucks have crossed into the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip through Egypt's Rafah crossing with aid worth nearly $5m.

The multinational "Viva Palestina" ship arrived at Egypt's port city of al-Arish from Lattakia, Syria, earlier on Thursday.

About 300 activists then flew into al-Arish airport and converged with the ship's passengers before entering Gaza.

The activists had initially joined up in Syria from Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, and more than two dozen other countries.

The convoy, which was organised by George Galloway, a British politician, originally departed from London on September 18 and arrived in Syria two weeks later.

The activists then waited for over two weeks in Lattakia for permission from the Egyptian authorities for the shipment, which includes medical supplies and school equipment, to be allowed to enter al-Arish port.

The aid does not include any building materials, which the Egyptian authorities did not allow, as part of the agreement permitting the activists to enter Gaza for three days.

Israel has kept Gaza under a blockade since 2007, saying it is a necessary step to stop arms reaching the Hamas group running the strip.

Several dozen survivors from the Israeli attack on May 31 on the Turkish aid ship the Mavi Marmara were among those in the "Viva Palestina" convoy.

'Summary executions'

Israeli commandos killed nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists when they boarded the Mavi Marmara, the main vessel in a 'Freedom Flotilla' also attempting to deliver aid to Gaza.

Israel's leaders said their troops opened fire in self-defence after being set upon by activists.

However, a UN inquiry last month found that Israeli troops broke international law by boarding the flotilla and found that the killings of activists on-board were comparable to "summary executions".

After an international outcry over the Mavi Marmara raid, Israel relaxed its embargo but construction materials remain restricted.

Gazans have limited freedom of movement and Israel still enforces its naval blockade.

VIVA PALESTINA: THE LARGEST AID CONVOY HAS ENTERED GAZA

VIA My Catbird Seat

- 22. Oct, 2010
The Viva Palestina convoy of almost 150 vehicles, 370 people from 30 different countries and $5 million of aid has entered Gaza.

YouTube – Veterans Today -

Amidst scenes of jubilation from thousands of Palestinians there to greet the convoy, Kevin Ovenden, the convoy director, expressed his joy at being in Gaza once again. “We have driven more than 3,000 miles to bring this essential aid and to break this illegal siege of Gaza. We have been joined by supporters from Morocco and Algeria and from the Gulf States and Jordan, to make this the biggest convoy ever to break the siege of Gaza. We are absolutely overjoyed to be here and to bring with us the soil from the graves of those who were massacred on the Mavi Marmara which will be used to plant trees as a memorial to their sacrifice.”

The convoy set out four weeks and five days ago from London. It travelled through France, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Syria. Everywhere the reception was fantastic and the generosity of well-wishers unsurpassed. Towards the end there was a frustrating delay in Syria whilst negotiations at the highest levels were conducted with the Egyptian authorities. In the end it was all worth it as the Egyptian authorities decided to allow passage of the whole convoy, sadly excluding just 17 members of the convoy including George Galloway.

The convoy will be handed over in its entirety to the relevant bodies tomorrow and the members of the convoy then expect to leave Gaza and return home in the next 48 hours after celebrations and formal thanks are given.


YouTube – Veterans Today -

Tuesday 19th October

CONVOY FINALLY SETS SAIL FOR GAZA

After a wait in Syria lasting sixteen days, the convoy of 150 vehicles and 370 people is just setting sail from Latakia, Syria, on the final leg of the epic journey to deliver aid to Gaza. The last formalities have been completed and the vehicles are on board.

Convoy members are jubilant that their objective of bringing medical aid to the besieged people of Gaza is finally in sight. Some 30 of the human rights activists, including survivors of the Mavi Marmara, will make the voyage to Al Arish in Egypt, passing the place at which the Mavi Marmara was attacked.

A memorial ceremony will be held at the exact spot where the massacre was carried out. The convoy will reach Al Arish tomorrow evening.

The bulk of the activists from Britain, Northern Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, Qatar, Malaysia and more than a dozen other countries will be reunited with their vehicles there, having flown the final leg of the journey into Egypt. Convoy leaders are now hopeful that the convoy will enter Gaza on Friday.

For more details go to: http://www.vivapalestina.org/home.htm
Also see 

GEORGE GALLOWAY FLIES TO TORONTO AFTER FEDERAL COURT DECISION

Lifeline 5 lands in El Arish en route to Gaza

[ 21/10/2010 - 11:26 AM ]

EL ARISH, (PIC)-- The first batch of activists on the Lifeline 5 convoy arrived Wednesday night at the El Arish airport in Egypt in their last stop before heading out to the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid.

MENA news agency reported Wednesday that the first group of 155 activists was waiting to unite with another set of convoy members, with whom they would spend the night in El Arish in wait for the cargo ship carrying the humanitarian aid set to anchor at the El Arish port later tonight.

Official Lifeline 5 spokesman Zahir Al Beirawi said he was happy with Egypt’s decision to allow the convoy’s activists to travel by air to El Arish.

Informed by Egypt’s ambassador to Damascus Shawki Ismail, he said the decision had a very positive impact on the convoy members.

The Gaza-bound Lifeline 5 convoy left the Syrian port of Lattakia with delays due to poor weather conditions.

Exclusive sources told the PIC earlier that the state of Syria intervened with Cairo at the last minute to see the convoy’s entry into El Arish.

Lifeline 5 departed from the British capital of London on Sept. 12 and landed in Syria on Oct. 2 through the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey. It consists of 43 trucks, 85 activists, and humanitarian aid contributed to the Gaza Strip by Europeans and Turks.

Qatar and Syria intervene with Egypt to facilitate Lifeline 5 mission


River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

We Are in Gaza!!! Viva Palestina 5 Land Convoy

Via Gaza, Gaza, Here Comes Azura!

Salam and hi my dearest family and friends,

At 10pm, Malaysian time today, we, the Viva Palestina 5 Land Convoy is destined by the Al Mighty to be standing in the land of the Prophet, Palestine.

To be exact, Gaza....

I cannot express my feelings as we were nearing to the Border moments before.

When I saw the sign, 5 km to Rafah Gate... I was like.... someone pinch me....

I snapped 2 photos of the road signs and sent them to my super girls- Zab, Jem and Azian.

And as expected, all the 3 cry babies started crying....

Haiyo....

Guys,  stopped  crying ok... you are not helping me here..... I cannot go into Gaza crying.... not especially when I have Mr Malaysia Tough Man (who was selected among the 30 to be on the cargo vessel to El Arish Port) beside me- Dr Musa!


Then, suddenly.....  I saw the infamous Rafah Border- the yellow brick shaped like an upside down half-U that if we get passed it, will bring us all to Palestine...

This is the same gate that I have been seeing all these while in the news, video clips and youtube videos...

My heart just beat so fast.

Then at 22.10, Malaysian time, I sent out a message to my 3 beloved darlings...

** Oct 21 Thu 22:10 **
 Azura:  We are standing in palestine !! Alhamdulillah

 ** Oct 21 Thu 22:28 **
 Azura:  Its thinking of the 3 of you that makes my eyes teary. You have all worked so hard for this n I wish you were all here.

And they answered me...




 ** Oct 21 Thu 22:28 **
  Jem:  We r azura :) u r representing all of us and we were meant to be here for a reason! Its ok! We r there!! :)

 ** Oct 21 Thu 22:32 **
 Azian: We are Azura, somewhere in yr pocket..:)  
 
 
 ** Oct 21 Thu 22:38 **
 Zabrina:  :'( :'(


(Zab as usual, speechless... and prefer to express using her crying emoticons)


Zab, remember what I said?

 "we shall only cry if it will make us stronger"

And of course, she refused to listen to me on this matter... Azura, why can't you just let me cry!!

Ok Zab... cry away babe... I know you will anyway....

I have so much to share but for the time being, I am too busy hugging the Gazan women!

And I chocked when one of them whispered to my ears - thank you for not forgetting us...

Yes, Zab.... this time I cried....

I will leave you with these photos and will be posting more very soon, inshaAllah....

Love from, (guess where??)

Yes, you are right!

Love from Gaza, (p/s: i have been waiting to sign off this way for years!)
Azura

(posted by Sis Zabrina for Azura in Gaza!) (p/s: I have been waiting to sign off on your blog this way for weeks!)

Egyptian Police Escorting Convoy to El Arish Port

El Arish Port, Egypt

Don't worry officers, we come in peace....

Dr Musa- terrified by my driving skills!

Closing into Rafah Border

Rafah - 5 km ... the sign that makes my Zab, Jem and Azian cried...

Looking for Palestine? Go straight ahead!

The yellow gate that has been appearing in my dream for years....

Please enter Palestine one by one....

My sisters in Palestine....

The teacher who has drawings for Malaysian children!

Yeah!! We broke the siege!!!

5000+ km of driving is worth this moment of happiness!

Speech! Speech! Speech!

Just now was at the border... now really going into the city of Gaza....

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian