MV Saoirse Sabotaged

MEP for Dublin, Paul Murphy, this morning issued a statement surrounding the supposed act of sabotage directed at the Freedom Flotilla 2:

...The revelation that terrorist-style sabotage of the MV Saoirse caused serious damage to the ship and threatened the loss of life is extremely serious. The evidence pointing towards the Israeli state being guilty is overwhelming. It cannot be a coincidence that two of the boats destined to sail to Gaza have now been sabotaged in the same way, with their propeller shafts damaged.

These attacks match with the Israeli government rhetoric that they would do everything they could to prevent the flotilla from sailing. Those, like Hillary Clinton, who gave an implicit green light to Israeli Defence Forces aggression against the flotilla share responsibility for this sabotage. The sabotage has not only caused tens of thousands of euros of damage to these ships, but also threatened the lives of all the participants aboard. If we had been travelling to Gaza at full speed, an explosion could have been caused that would have sunk the boat and threatened all our lives. An international independent investigation should be launched to fully investigate the sabotage of the ships.

I demand a statement of condemnation of these terror attacks from the Israeli state. If such a statement is not forthcoming, I call on the Irish government to expel the Israeli ambassador from Ireland.

Although I am very disappointed at not being able to sail on the MV Saoirse due to the damage to the ship, this sabotage will not deter me from sailing to Gaza to protest at the continuing siege and virtual imprisonment of the 1.6 million Palestinians living there. I will be participating in the Italian boat as part of the Flotilla and will be setting sail in a few days.

It was a pleasure campaigning alongside the other participants on the MV Saoirse, all of whom made big sacrifices to try to break the blockade to Gaza. The organisers and crew in particular put in a herculean effort to prepare our ship and team and I am very thankful to them. I am deeply disappointed for those that will not be able to travel to Gaza due to this terrorism. However, I am hoping to bring their messages of solidarity to the Palestinian people.

To follow latest updates of the flotilla from Paul Murphy check out paulmurphymep.eu/gaza

Breaking the Silence

There are rare moments when action is taken by individuals that has the potential to change the very nature and premise of a debate. The formation in 2004 of Breaking the Silence may well still prove to be such a moment. The organisation is comprised of Israeli veterans dedicated to stimulating:

...public debate about the price paid for a reality in which young soldiers face a civilian population on a daily basis, and are engaged in the control of that population’s everyday life.

Now, Breaking the Silence is taking the brave move to post videos on Youtube of ex-soldiers speaking about wrongdoing by the Israeli army in the occupied territories. Here is one such example:

The Language of Action

It is not often that I read an opinion piece by a Minister in the Irish Government and appreciate the intended sentiment. However, a recent article by Micheál Martin in the New York Times is worthy of note due to the language deliberately employed by the Minister.

In an otherwise average piece of writing, some key lines stood out when Minister Martin spoke of Gaza and the ongoing devastating impacts that Operation Cast Lead has resulted in;

- I view the current conditions prevailing for the ordinary population as inhuman and utterly unacceptable, in terms of accepted international standards of human rights.

- I genuinely believe that the medieval siege conditions being imposed on the people of Gaza are unacceptable.

- The people of Gaza are justifiably proud of their heritage...(and) deserve the opportunity to have a future in line with their heritage.

Emotive language is all well and good but too often is let down by subsequent inaction. However, by directly referencing human rights and the heritage of the people of Gaza, Minister Martin is challenging the actions of Israel and its claim to certain occupied lands. It is a welcome move and one that desperately needs to be followed by action - at the very least by other European states.

Finally, it should be pointed out that Minister Martin did also call for the release of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier currently enduring his fourth year of captivity. This is as important an issue as the ones already highlighted and should be addressed with similar speed.