Mom and Dad's Visit

Here are pictures taken while my parents were here visiting from May 20-June 5. Enjoy!

עזה

I just composed a short rebuttal to a comment on Facebook that was posted in response to a video Amalia put up, and wanted to share it here, as it sums up some of my thoughts on the recent flotilla crisis . I am interested in hearing your thoughts.

Grace, a few things.

First, in response to your claim that the IDF admitted the transmission was a fake [original transmission at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dE2StbDL_Q]:

"So to clarify: the audio was edited down to cut out periods of silence over the radio as well as incomprehensible comments so as to make it easier for people to listen to the exchange. We have now uploaded the entire segment of 5 minutes and 58 seconds in which the exchange took place and the comments were made. This transmission had originally cited the Mavi Marmara ship as being the source of these remarks, however, due to an open channel, the specific ship or ships in the 'Freedom Flotilla' responding to the Israeli Navy could not be identified."

Source: http://imeu.net/news/article0019173.shtml

The broadcast Amalia posted is the unedited version, so you can hear everything. It may not have been the Mavi Marmara, but it was one of the ships in the flotilla commenting.

Second, the "music video" posted admittedly makes light of the tragic situation, which you may, understandably, view as inappropriate [found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOGG_osOoVg]. The fact is, human lives were unnecessarily taken. It is a real tragedy that any lives had to be lost, but the simple fact is that the Mavi Marmara was defiant and violent towards the Israeli Naval Officers. The music video captures much of the current Israeli sentiment, as people here are shocked and baffled as to how the world could react the way it is, knowing the sequence of events that took place one week ago.

Let me remind you that Israeli forces were beaten with metal rods and stabbed before any shots were fired on the Mavi Marmara. You can't just "raise a white flag" after severely injuring people who have not yet attacked you. Here is one of the videos, just in case you didn't see or hear about it on Democracy Now!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYjkLUcbJWo

Grace, there are extremists on both sides. Those who attacked Uri Avnery obviously have no right and are not supported by any mainstream Israeli view. What I wonder is, "what kind of attitude exists among some members of the population" of Gaza who launch indiscriminate rockets into Israel nearly every single day, despite international condemnation. It's the same kinds of people who attack Avnery, who launch rockets into Israel, and who plot to kill presidents-- we all know these aren't mainstream opinions.

Also, your assertion that the Rachel Corrie, luckily, did not suffer the same fate as the Mavi Marmara is because it was "delayed" is inaccurate. 5 ships passed into Israeli waters unharmed before the Mavi Marmara incident. Why? Because as Jared pointed out, they didn't beat soldiers with metal pipes and knives. After docking in Ashdod, their cargo was inspected and allowed through. (By the way, Israel allows in about 15,000 tons of supplies into Gaza each week.)

The Gaza blockade is a legal method of warfare, so long as several preconditions are met (which they are), and it is officially sponsored by the US and maintained with Egypt. The article below clearly shows that the steps Israel took in boarding the Mavi Marmara were completely justified, even in international waters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockade_of_the_Gaza_Strip#Legal_arguments

Should the blockade's severity be reevaluated? Yes. Was Israel right to defend itself against the terrorists aboard the Mavi Marmara? Yes. Was trying to break the blockade the best way to shed light on Gaza's situation? Clearly not.

Grace, it is clear that the intentions of those aboard the Mavi Marmara were not solely to bring supplies into Gaza. They had a mission, and that mission was to provocate. They succeeded in that they brought the Gaza situation to the forefront of the world's consciousness, but unfortunately a terrible and avoidable tragedy occurred. I can only hope that soon the 'blame game' will cease and meaningful debate and discussion can ensue, in order that quality of life for those on both sides can be elevated.