Alert: "The Spirit of Humanity" Seized

23 miles off the coast of Gaza, 15:30 pm--

"Today Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, "The Spirit of Humanity, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Noble Laureate Mairead Maguire and former US Congress woman Cynthia Mc Kinney. The passengers and crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel. " This cruel response to acts of kindness and concern for the well being of the people Gaza--their hardships just recently underlined by the Red Cross report describing the effects of the Israeli continued closing of the borders so rebuilding supplies cannot get in as well as other necessities of life--is further sad evidence of the national policy of Israel to make life as harsh as possible for the every day people of Gaza--this boat carrying medical supplies, reconstructive supplies and children's toys can be no threat to the power of Israel--but the message of world concern it represents will be Israel's undoing-others who live far away from the walls and checkpoints that make Palestinians invisible except as controlled workers or the hated other do see the faces of the imprisoned, the hopeless, the suffering--this Jewish woman sees their faces and joins with so many Jewish voices in Israel and without, and others, who say the shanda, the shame, is growing with every passing desperate day. ON JULY 4TH, from 12-1, WE WILL BE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE GPO IN DOWNTOWN MELBOURNE AS WE DO THE FIRST OF EVERY MONTH TO PROTEST THIS ACT OF SEIZURE AND THE DAILY VIOLENCE OF THE OCCUPATION. To register your own protest, e-mail Mark Regev, the public relations voice of this regime, in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office--mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il

You can fax the Israeli Ministry of Justice at +972 2646 62357

More information: Jewish Peace News, jnp@jewishpeacenews.net and http://www.freegaza.org/

As the chairperson of Free Gaza Movement Huwaida Arraf said, "Israel's deliberate and premeditated attack on our unarmed boat is a clear violation of international law and we demand our immediate and unconditional release."

Joan