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Last update - 19:28 29/07/2008
U.S. leftists confirm plans to sail to Gaza to break siege
By The Associated Press
Tags: Gaza Strip, Israel 

A group of U.S.-based activists confirmed Tuesday it would challenge Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory by sailing boats from Cyprus to Gaza next week.

The Free Gaza group said it would make the trip in two Greek-flagged boats, after raising most of the $300,000 needed for the voyage from private donations.

Paul Larudee, one of the event's organizers, said the group will deliver 100 hearing aids to a Palestinian charity as a form of humanitarian aid.
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"Israel says it's pulled out its soldiers from Gaza so they should have no objection to us going there," said Larudee, whose group is based in El Cerrito, California.

"We have been in contact with the authorities in Greece, in Cyprus and with the Palestinians ... There is no reason to contact the Israeli authorities because we will not be using their territory."

About 40 people from 16 countries, including Israelis and Palestinians, would take part in the event, he said during a news conference in Athens, adding that private boats were also invited to join the activists.

Israel imposed an economic blockade on Gaza after Hamas came to power last year.

Free Gaza organizer Greta Berlin said the group had bought two wooden sailboats that had been renamed for the voyage: The 21-meter Free Gaza and 18-meter Liberty.

The boats will sail from the Cypriot port of Larnaca to Gaza on Aug. 6 or 7, Berlin said.

"Our primary reason is for human rights but we will also carry a small amount of aid - 100 hearing aids that will be given to Palestinian children.

She said one aim was to create a permanent maritime link between Cyprus and Gaza. The activists have prepared publicity events if the trip to Gaza is blocked by Israel, Berlin said, including the release of 5,000 balloons from the boats.

"If the ship is prevented from reaching Gaza, we'll stay for 10 days at sea ... Then we'll go back to Cyprus and try again," she said.

In 1988, the Palestinian Liberation Organization staged an unsuccessful effort to sail from Cyprus to the Israeli port of Haifa. The ship, named the Sol Phryne, was damaged in a mine attack in the Cypriot port of Limassol. A day earlier, three PLO officers were killed in Limassol by a bomb planted in their car.

That voyage had been timed to coincide with 40 years since the founding of Israel. Next week's trip will mark the 60th anniversary, organizers said Tuesday.

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      1.   Maritime link between Cyprus and Gaza 19:35  |  Greg 29/07/08
      2.   surprise 19:51  |  Ethan 29/07/08
      3.   You rock 20:05  |  MaryAlecia 29/07/08
      4.   This dog may bark...but the caravan will pass by... 20:25  |  JP 29/07/08
      5.   We are tired of people.... 20:35  |  Hani 29/07/08
      6.   There only a pawn in their game 20:43  |  Adan 29/07/08
      7.   Godspeed ! 20:49  |  Chella 29/07/08
      8.   Hani - you`re right to feel that way 20:52  |  Hannah 29/07/08
      9.   Adan in Houston 21:08  |  Jane 29/07/08
      10.   Good ! Hamas has planted lots of IED`s along Gaza beaches ... 21:13  |  Ali 29/07/08
      11.   Hani in Khan Younes 21:15  |  Palestinian Brit 29/07/08
      12.   #7 21:19  |  Jane 29/07/08
      13.   Gaza 21:25  |  Lauren Helfand 29/07/08
      14.   Bon Voyage 21:34  |  Steve 29/07/08
      15.   Chella 21:38  |  Speed Queen 29/07/08
      16.   Hani, Israelis are also tired...probably some common ground there 21:42  |  JP 29/07/08
      17.   MaryAlecia 21:47  |  rich 29/07/08
      18.   I especially like the part... 21:49  |  Daniel 29/07/08
      19.   Turnabout is fair play 21:51  |  Natallie Durson 29/07/08
      20.   Gaza 22:03  |  Mark 29/07/08
      21.   If they try to enter Israeli waters without permission 22:04  |  Ben 29/07/08
      22.   If they try to enter Israeli waters without permission 22:04  |  Ben 29/07/08
      23.   protesters 22:09  |  fish 29/07/08
      24.   Israeli law bans entering Gaza, 100% legal to board the boats 22:09  |  Dr. L. Brnd 29/07/08
      25.   Gaza Siege 22:12  |  Darren 29/07/08
      26.   No. 5 22:13  |  Mexi 29/07/08
      27.   Sink these fools if they don`t stop & turn around. 22:14  |  Wise Saba 29/07/08
      28.   Bravo,Free Gaza Movement! The link between Cyprus and Gaza is a 22:20  |  lakshmi 29/07/08
      29.   Kudos! What a wonderful idea, good luck. 22:22  |  POP 29/07/08
      30.   SInk `em and apologize 22:25  |  Kenny 29/07/08
      31.   #11 Ben Gaza waters are not Israeli waters. 22:35  |  Labhras 29/07/08
      32.   Boat people, when folks like lakshmi like your idea.... 22:39  |  JP 29/07/08
      33.   Newsflash Israeli Navy boat accidentally rams lefty boats 22:43  |  Joe Frazier 29/07/08
      34.   Blown out of the water! 22:44  |  Anti Left-wing 29/07/08
      35.   U.S. leftists=Bored rich kids with no job and nothing else to do! 22:45  |  GET A JOB 29/07/08
      36.   Labhras contradicts himself at every turn. 22:50  |  JP 29/07/08
      37.   Paul LaRudee supports suicide bombers 23:05  |  Slibovitz 29/07/08
      38.   Hey, Labrahas - parse this. 23:09  |  Elihu 29/07/08
      39.   Wartime military blockade 23:09  |  Slibovitz 29/07/08
      40.   Why is International Solidarity Movement not mentioned anywhere 23:10  |  Freethinker 29/07/08
      41.   #31 THE LUDICROUS LABARSE OF ARABIA AND LAW 23:16  |  victor hardman 29/07/08
      42.   Insolit happening in M.E. 23:18  |  Jose Marcio 29/07/08
      43.   WILL ANY OWNER CHARTERE A BOAT TO THESE BUFFOONS? 23:22  |  victor hardman 29/07/08
      44.   A tip of the hat to these good people! 23:25  |  Danny 29/07/08
      45.   huh? 23:27  |  John Muhamed BenAdam 29/07/08
      46.   Children are Deaf from Their Father`s Guns 23:45  |  Slappy 29/07/08
      47.   # 30 kenny 23:46  |  Axel 29/07/08
      48.   # 22 ben 23:49  |  Axel 29/07/08
      49.   "Newsflash Israeli Navy boat accidentally rams lefty boats" 00:07  |  Andreas 30/07/08
      50.   As an American Catholic, I say attack them. 00:07  |  Alexander 30/07/08
      51.   Do you feel relieved, Hani? Nice, encouraging words 00:08  |  Andreas 30/07/08
      52.   Israeli law? I`ve never heard of such a thing. 00:10  |  Andreas 30/07/08
      53.   " SInk `em and apologize" 00:12  |  Andreas 30/07/08
      54.   The arabs in gaza will abduct them and hold them for ransom as 00:20  |  Avram 30/07/08
      55.   #36 JP re spelling 00:30  |  Labhras 30/07/08
      56.   (San FranGazo) Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair!Tra lala 00:37  |  Alan 30/07/08
      57.   Andreas and the law 00:59  |  utagawa 30/07/08
      58.   let them land on a gaza beach. 01:11  |  leo 30/07/08
      59.   Hani in Khan Younis, this is Yousef from Khan Younis 01:19  |  sad palestinian 30/07/08
      60.   JP - spelling 01:31  |  ku 30/07/08
      61.   #24 Brant draws the short straw 01:31  |  Johnboy 30/07/08
      62.   Sail boats 01:37  |  Philippe 30/07/08
      63.   GREAT! How to end occupatio: expose its war crimes to the world 01:46  |  Historian 30/07/08
      64.   #L. Brnd. "Unlimited force by Israeli Navy." 01:54  |  Maureen Ann