NOVANEWS
Dear Friends,
Tonight’s message begins with a needless killing of a 19 year old Palestinian. The Israeli radio news reported that he died in the hospital, and that the soldiers had shot at the lower part of the body, but said nary a word about his being left to bleed to death. Another family mourning. For what! By the way, this being left to bleed to death is nothing new. It is an every day practice of Israeli soldiers! Well, I’m exaggerating a little, but not much. Disgusting!
Item 2 also talks about shooting, but this time about shooting fishermen out fishing.
Item 3 contains 2 items: an update on the flotilla, and a request for help.
Item 4 is a French translation of Gush Shalom’s press release about taking the new law to the Supreme Court. Yesterday I sent out the English. I include the link, in case you missed it and do not speak French.
Item 5 reports EU concern over the new Israeli law making boycotts of settlement products, etc. illegal. How about sanctions, friends! Why just talk, no action?
Item 6 is the link to the latest ‘Today in Palestine.’ Please do check this out so that you will know what is happening in this small part of the world!
All the best,
Dorothy
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1. 1. Palestine: Palestinian youth killed by Israeli army in Nablus
13-07-2011
http://imemc.org/article/61666
IMEMC & Agencies:
Palestinian medical sources reported that a 19-year-old college student was shot and killed, on Wednesday at dawn, by Israeli military fire in Al Far’a refugee camp, north of the northern West Bank city of Nablus; several residents were kidnapped.
The sources identified the slain youth as Ibrahim Sarhan, a student of the Al Najah University in Nablus.
Eyewitnesses reported that at least eleven armored Israeli military vehicles invaded the refugee camp approximately at 3 a.m., broke into and searched several homes causing damages.
The eyewitnesses added that as Sarhan was walking towards the camp’s mosque to perform dawn prayers, soldiers opened fire at him hitting the major artery in his thigh.
Seeking help, the youth then tried to drag himself into a nearby home, but the soldiers grabbed him dragged him on the ground, before leaving him to bleed to death by preventing local medics from approaching him.
Following the killing of Sarhan, dozens of residents took off to the streets, and clashed with the invading forces.
Later on, soldiers broke into dozens of homes and searched them before kidnapping several residents. All of the kidnapped residents, except for two, were released later on, eyewitnesses said.
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2.
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Civil Peace Service Gaza | al-Mina | Gaza City | Gaza Strip | 11111 | Palestinian Territory, Occupied |
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3.From Alice F Azzouzi
Electricity CUT again–and its still hotter than hell!
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Thanks to everyone for bombarding the Greek Embassy and consulates and the US State Department with strong complaints about the continued imprisonment of the Audacity of Hope and the shore electricity being cut yesterday to us.
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Call the Greek Embassy in Washington and .the Greek consulates around the Country and the State Department-Kim Richter Write a text message 202-647-8308
Embassy of Greece
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Consulate General – New York
69 East 79th Street
New York, NY 10021
Telephone: 212.988.5500
Fax: 212.734.8492
Web Address:http://www.ypex.gov.gr/www.mfa.gr/AuthoritiesAbroad/North+America/USA/GeneralConsulateNewYork/en-US/
E-mail: nycons@greekembassy.org
States of Jurisdiction: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania
Hours of Operation: Mo – We & Fr: 9:00am – 2:30pm, Tu & Th: 9:00am – 3:30pm
Passports Applications Acceptance Mo – Fr : 9:00am – 12:30 pm
Consulate General – Chicago
650 North St. Clair Street
Chicago , IL 60611
Telephone: 312.335.3915
Fax: 312.335.3958
Web Address: http://www.greekembassy.org/chicago/
E-mail: grgencon.cis@mfa.gr
States of Jurisdiction: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, N.Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, S.Dakota, Wisconsin
Hours of Operation: Mo – Fr 9:30am – 2:00pm
Consulate General – Boston
86 Beacon Street
Boston , MA 02108
Telephone: 617.523.0100
Fax: 617.523.0511
Web Address: http://www.greekembassy.org/boston/
E-mail: boston@greekembassy.org
States of Jurisdiction: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Hours of Operation: Mo – We & Fr 9:30am – 1:30pm, Th 9:30am – 1:30pm & 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Consulate General – San Francisco
2441 Gough Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
Telephone: 415.775.2102
Fax: 415.776.6815
Web Address: http://www.greekembassy.org/sanfrancisco/
E-mail: sfgr@greekembassy.org
States of Jurisdiction: Alaska, California (Zip Codes 93000 and up), Idaho, Montana, North Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Hours of Operation: Mo – Fr 10:00am – 2:00pm
Consulate General – Los Angeles
12424 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Telephone: 310.826.5555
Fax: 310.826.8670
Web Address: http://www.greekembassy.org/losangeles/
E-mail: lagr@greekembassy.org
States of Jurisdiction: Arizona, California (Zip Codes 90001-92999), Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, South Nevada
Hours of Operation: Mo – Fr 9:30am – 2:00pm, Visa Section 10:00am – 12:00pm
Consulate General – Tampa
601 Bayshore Blvd., Suite 800
Tampa, FL 33606
Telephone: 813.865.0200
Fax: 813.865.0206
Web Address: http://www.greekembassy.org/tampa
E-mail: grgencon.tam@mfa.gr
States of Jurisdiction: Alabama, Florida, Mississippi
Hours of Operation: Mo – Fr 10:00am – 2:00pm ( BY APPOINTMENT ONLY )
Consulate – Atlanta
Tower Place, Suite 1670 3340, Peachtree Rd., N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30326
Telephone: 404.261.3313
Fax: 404.262.2798
Web Address: http://www.greekembassy.org/atlanta/
E-mail: atlanta@greekembassy.org
States of Jurisdiction: Georgia, Kentucky, S. Carolina, Tennessee
Hours of Operation: Mo – Fr 10:00am – 2:00pm
Consulate – Houston
520 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 450
Houston , TX 77027
Telephone: 713.840.7522
Fax: 713.840.0614
Web Address: http://www.greekembassy.org/houston/
E-mail: houston@greekembassy.org
States of Jurisdiction: Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands
Hours of Operation: Mo – Fr 10:00am – 2:00pm
Many thanks from those of us sweltering in the Greek heat as we protect the Audacity of Hope!!!
Ann
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Ann Wright
microann@yahoo.com
Facebook: http://www.www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504291178
Twitter: annwright46
“Dissent: Voices of Conscience” www.voicesofconscience.com
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From Irish
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=56455
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ATHENS, Jul 12, 2011 (IPS) – The French vessel Dignité-Al Karama is the only boat from the Freedom Flotilla II actually sailing for Gaza in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade imposed in 2006. At the same time, six Spanish members of the humanitarian aid mission went on hunger strike in the Greek capital.
The hunger strikers, who have occupied the Spanish embassy in Athens since Jul. 5, were travelling on the Spanish ship Gernika (Guernica) that was part of the flotilla carrying 500 activists from 45 different countries, and 5,000 tonnes of aid, bound for the Gaza Strip.
Nearly all the ships have been confined to port in Greece for the last 10 days, except for the Dignité-Al Karama which sailed from the French island of Corsica Jun. 25, evaded the Greek blockade on more than one occasion and remains the only vessel of the flotilla still sailing freely.
With 10 representatives of several delegations of the humanitarian coalition on board, the Dignité received permission Jul. 9 to sail for the island of Rhodes, Manolis Plionis, a member of the Greek delegation of the Freedom Flotilla II – “Stay Human”, confirmed to IPS.
From on board the Dignité, French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Nicole Kiil-Nielsen told IPS that after having been stopped last week in Ormos Kouremenos, in Crete, they were taken to Sitia by the Greek coast guard and eventually allowed to sail from there.
“We had to stop in Crete to refuel, as we did not have enough fuel to reach Gaza,” Kiil-Nielsen said. “Now, the Dignité is free and we are organising another group of passengers, probably international, to go on to Gaza.”
Manuel Tapial, coordinator of Rumbo a Gaza (Sailing to Gaza) Spain, told IPS that “the Dignité-Al Karama is heading for Gaza on its own, representing the dignity of the flotilla, and carrying representatives of the international coalition delegations.”
In addition to the crew and MEP Kiil-Nielsen, passengers include Vangelis Pissias, the coordinator of the Greek delegation, Swedish-Israeli musician Dror Feiler and actor Guillermo “Willy” Toledo, representing the Spanish delegation.
Meanwhile, six Rumbo a Gaza activists began a hunger strike at the Spanish embassy in Greece Monday Jul. 11, after medical checks. Two other members of the group participated in the protest from Madrid.
In a communiqué released Monday, the activists said they would fast until “the Spanish government shows some sign that it will intercede (with the Greek authorities) so that the Gernika may sail freely across the Mediterranean.”
The six hunger strikers are among a score of activists who occupied the Spanish embassy in Athens with the declared intent of remaining there until their country’s Foreign Ministry responded to their demands, and until their ship, held by the Greek authorities in Kolymbari, Crete, was released and allowed to go to a safe port or return to Spain.
However, the activists say they have only received an official statement from the Foreign Ministry announcing its decision “not to make any public commitment to the release of the Gernika,” which prompted them to take stronger measures in pursuit of their demands.
In an open letter sent Monday, Tapial upbraided the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party’s (PSOE) prime ministerial candidate Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba: “The government you represent has forsaken us, and our only remaining option is protest action to rescue the Gernika, by right and with dignity.
“Mister Rubalcaba, as leader and candidate of the PSOE, speak out and call for the release of the Gernika, a ship bought with the money of thousands of people throughout Spain who believe that a project like this one is necessary to show effective support for the besieged people of Gaza.
“Listen, commit yourself and take action,” the Rumbo a Gaza coordinator demanded.
The Gernika is still confined to port in Greece, in spite of having resubmitted to the authorities all the necessary documentation for permission to set sail, said Elvira Souto, one of the hunger strikers.
Eight other vessels, including two cargo ships, are still blocked in various Greek ports, while an Irish ship is in a Turkish port undergoing repairs for alleged sabotage suffered two weeks ago.
The crew of the Canadian vessel Tahrir has decided to give up plans to sail to Gaza for the moment; the U.S. ship Audacity of Hope is still in custody in Athens; and the other French boat, the Louise Michel, the Italian vessel Stefano Chiarini, the Freedom for All, the Methimus II and the Gernika are regrouping, ready to form a new flotilla, columnist Eric Verlo wrote in his blog at www.notmytribe.com.
In a move to exert further pressure, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman telephoned Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma and persuaded him to withdraw his country’s flag from the Swedish/Greek/Norwegian vessel Juliano, giving the Greek coast guard the opportunity to block the ship in Heraklion.
Greece and Israel are currently carrying out joint military manoeuvres, the sixth held in a short space of time.
Israeli ambassador to Spain Raphael Schutz said there is “no humanitarian crisis” or shortage of food and medicine in Gaza. The Freedom Flotilla should be seen “for what it is: a propaganda event intended to build solidarity with a terrorist group that wants to wipe Israel off the map and kill the greatest possible number of Jews and Israelis,” he argued. (END)
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Ann Wright
microann@yahoo.com
Facebook: http://www.www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504291178
Twitter: annwright46
“Dissent: Voices of Conscience”www.voicesofconscience.com
Greta Berlin, Co-Founder
+33 607 374 512
witnessgaza.com
www.freegaza.org
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freegaza
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4. Hi Dorothy,
I thought this French translation on Uri’s request might be of interest. It refers to the anti boycott law.
Brigitte
[For the English see http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/events/1310485548 Dorothy]
Date:13 Jul 2011 15:41:18 +0100
From: larosierejfrancois@yahoo.fr
To: conseil@nord-palestine.org
Subject: [conseil] Israël: loi sur le boycott
En attendant elle a été approuvée. Amitiés. Jean-François
Gush Shalom adresse une requête à la Cour Suprême: la Loi sur le Boycott
est anti-constitutionnelle et anti-démocratique, en réprimant toute critique de la politique
dans les Territoires Occupés.
Communiqué de presse – 12 juillet 2011
Gush Shalom -(le Bloc de la Paix)-, qui dans les années 1990 a été le premier organisme israélien à mener un boycott des produits des colonies, a présenté aujourd’hui (mardi 12 juillet) un appel à la Cour Suprême contre la “Loi sur le Boycott” approuvée la nuit dernière par la Knesseth en session plénière. La requête a été enregistrée pour Gush Shalom par les avocats Gaby Lasky et Neri Ramati.
L’appel déclare que la nouvelle loi viole les principes démocratiques fondamentaux: “la majorité parlementaire cherche à travers la Loi sur le Boycott comme à travers d’autres parties de la législation, à réduire au silence toute critique de la politique gouvernementale en général et de la politique du gouvernement dans les Territoires Occupés en particulier , et d’empêcher un dialogue politique ouvert et productif, qui constitue la base du fonctionnement d’un régime démocratique “(art. 7).
L’appel remarque aussi que “la réduction a-priori au silence de la voix d’un camp par le parti de l’autre camp, nuit de façon substantielle à la liberté d’expression et constitue un signe clair de l’affaiblissement du régime démocratique” (art. 32)
De plus, il est prouvé que la Loi sur le Boycott est anti-constitutionnelle et anti-démocratique en tant qu’elle viole le droit à la liberté d’expression et à l’égalité, qui sont des droits fondamentaux des citoyens d’Israël” (art. 7) -une violation qui n’est ni “proportionnée”, ni “dans un but digne de valeur”, les seules circonstances dans lesquelles une telle violation pourrait être considérée comme acceptable.
En outre, il est déclaré que la nouvelle loi occasionne un préjudice sévère à la Liberté de Vocation des sociétés commerciales, à la liberté professionnelle des sociétés, puisqu’elle brouillerait la différence entre des produits fabriqués à l’intérieur du territoire souverain d’Israël et ceux fabriqués dans les colonies des Territoires Occupés: il pourrait être demandé (dans certains pays) aux sociétés israéliennes cherchant à entrer sur des marchés étrangers et à accroître le commerce de leurs biens de déclarer qu’elles n’assurent pas de production dans les Territoires ou qu’elles n’achètent pas de biens qui y sont produits. D’ailleurs, l’article 4 de la Loi sur le Boycott ren d de telles sociétés susceptibles de perdre des avantages significatifs provenant de l’Etat –d’Israël-” (art. 59).
L’appel affirme que le boycott est un outil légitime dans le discours démocratique, qui ne doit pas être enfreint. Des exemples variés et constituant des précédents sont cités, allant du boycott par les ultra-Orthodoxes des restaurants qui servent de la nourriture qui n’est pas kasher au récent boycott du fromage fermier au prix excessif, ou au boycott du tourisme vers la Turquie lancé par des syndicats israéliens. En même temps que de tels exemples israéliens sont mentionnés des cas historiques de boycotts qui ont conduit à un changement politique et à un changement en conscience, comme le boycott lancé en Inde par le Mahatma Gandhi contre les produits britanniques, les boycotts de la communauté afro-américaine contre la ségrégation dans les années 1960, et d’autres. Par cons&ea cute;quent, la nouvelle loi passe passe pour être une violation du principe d’Egalité parce qu’elle vise le droit des opposants à l’occupation à s’engager dans un boycott idéologique, tandis que d’autres sortes de boycotts sur une base idéologique qui se poursuivent en Israël seront autorisés à continuer sans être interrompus, tels qu’un boycott des artistes qui n’ont pas fait leur service militaire dans les Forces de Défense Israéliennes, celui des chanteurs homosexuels ou celui des entreprises qui n’observent pas le Sabbat.
L’ancien député Uri Avnery, militant de Gush Shalom, a déclaré: “La Loi sur le Boycott est une tache noire sur les lois de l’Etat d’Israël. J’ai l’espoir sincère que la Cour l’invalidera et auverz ce qui reste de la démocratie israélienne.”
Pour plus de renseignements: Adam Keller, 054-2340749.
(traduction Y.J.)
!DSPAM:4e1da6e013952121316661!
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5. Haaretz,
July 13, 2011
European Union expresses concern over Israel’s boycott law
EU says legislation may affect freedom of expression in Israel; mixed reaction among European Jewish organizations.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/european-union-expresses-concern-over-israel-s-boycott-law-1.373076
By Danna Harman and Jonathan Lis
Tags: Israel boycott Benjamin Netanyahu
The European Union put out a carefully worded but clearly critical statement on the new Israeli boycott law on Wednesday, saying it intended to “discuss this matter and raise our concerns with the Israeli authorities.”
“The EU recognizes Israel’s sovereignty in the legislative process.
Furthermore, the EU does not advocate boycotts,” a spokesperson for foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.
“However, as part of such fundamental values as free expression and speech that the EU cherishes and shares with Israel, we are concerned about the effect that this legislation may have on the freedom of Israeli citizens and organizations to express non-violent political opinions.”
Meanwhile, the umbrella organization of French Jewish organizations in France, known as the CRIF, welcomed the controversial new Israeli boycott law Wednesday. The CRIF’s director general Haim Musicant pointed out that a similar such law has long existed in France, much to the satisfaction of the French Jewish community.
“Commercial boycotts of Israel have been illegal in France for many years,” he explained to Haaretz. “And this has been good in fighting such negative action. I believe this is a good model. I know that many other European countries are looking into adopting the French models themselves.”
But, even as such official Jewish organs were applauding the Israeli measures, other community voices were speaking out against them. Yachad, a new British Jewish Israel advocacy organization inspired by the American J-Street, decried the law.
“Yachad will not join those who call for a boycott of Israeli produce because we believe in debate and we are opposed to a policy of isolation. However, we fiercely and unapologetically defend the right of Israelis and Jews to express their opinion as enshrined our tradition and as stated in Israel’s own Basic Law of Human Dignity and Liberty,” said Daniel Reisel, Yachad’s chair.
“The first and most obvious problem with the boycott law is that violates the freedom of individual free speech. To seek to punish someone for their political opinions limits their freedom, creates a climate of fear and suspicion, and compromises the ability of every person to speak their mind,” Yachad went on to said in a statement. “Second, the law violates basic freedom of expression and debate in a democratic society….(and) finally, the anti-boycott law is likely to prove counter-productive. People who have previously resisted the idea of boycotts as political leverage may now start to consider it simply due to the infringement of their freedom of speech which the current law entails.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the boycott law, which was passed in the Knesset Monday night. The law, which penalizes people or organizations who call for a boycott on Israel or the settlements, provoked sharp criticism from opposition MKs and leftist organizations in Israel.
Netanyahu said the law does not taint Israeli democracy. “What stains (Israel’s) image are those savage and irresponsible attacks on a democracy’s attempt to draw a line between what is acceptable and what is not,” he said.
According to the law, a person or an organization calling for the boycott of Israel, including the settlements, can be sued by the boycott’s targets without having to prove that they sustained damage. The court will then decide how much compensation is to be paid. The second part of the law says a person or a company that declare a boycott of Israel or the settlements will not be able to bid in government tenders.
On Tuesday, Israeli leftist organizations launched a legal and a public campaign against the law.
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