Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., August 24, 2008 Av 23, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:59 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Activists sail from Cyprus on Friday in bid to bust Gaza siege By Ofri Ilani Tags: Israeli blockade, Gaza Strip  Human rights activists are planning to break Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip by sailing in two yachts from Cyprus this morning to the Gaza Strip. The ships, Free Gaza and Liberty, had originally planned to set sail three weeks ago, but technical problems and bad weather anchored the ships in Crete. This week, the group managed to sail from Crete to Cyprus, and yesterday completed their preparations for the voyage. Advertisement Israel plans to block the ships from reaching Gaza. The activists say they want to break the blockade, but even if they are stopped they will view it as an achievement as they will show Israel is enforcing the blockade on civilians, too. Forty-six activists will set sail on two small yachts. Jeff Halper, the only Israeli on board the ships, said: "It is very crowded. There are not enough sleeping berths for everyone but since the trip is only 30 hours, I believe we will make do." The activists have come from the U.S., Britain, Germany, Greece, the Palestinian Authority and other countries. Yesterday they organized a press conference in Larnaca to announce their intention to sail. They also held a memorial ceremony for the 34 sailors on the U.S.S. Liberty, an intelligence gathering ship attacked by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967. They said sailors from the Liberty contacted them and asked them to note the attack, as one of the ships bears the same name. They tossed 34 flowers into the sea as a memorial. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Nail in the coffin? Haniyeh: Arrival of blockade-busting boats spells end of Gaza siege. Operation Shalit Islamic Jihad urges Palestinian groups to kidnap Israeli soldiers.   1.   all the best... 08:16  |  ravi 22/08/08   2.   Perhaps it will capsize 08:47  |  judith 22/08/08   3.   Some in the Left have made allies with the devil. 08:47  |  Jean Van Daem 22/08/08   4.   Reality revealed 08:53  |  truth 22/08/08   5.   God speed, go in peace 09:12  |  AngelaJerusalem 22/08/08   6.   The only Israeli? 09:28  |  David 22/08/08   7.   human rights activists or Pro Palestinian terror supporters?! 09:31  |  arthur 22/08/08   8.   OF COURSE IT`S CROWDED, THEY`RE NOT BUSTING A RUSSIAN BLOCKADE! 09:34  |  Truthteller 22/08/08   9.   Israeli citizens, Holocaust survivor among boat crew 09:35  |  David 22/08/08   10.   OH FOR SOME ISRAELI IMAGINATION!!!!!!!! 10:56  |  Brant 22/08/08   11.   blah blah blah 11:17  |  rich 22/08/08   12.   Truth in Melbourne 11:20  |  rich 22/08/08   13.   The border is opened so they can now go protest the Qassams 13:46  |  Conroy 22/08/08   14.   For "Truth", Such As It Is 15:58  |  eva 22/08/08   15.   Spotlighting the Truth: A Thug`s Nightmare 19:59  |  Gray 23/08/08

Read & React Ma`aleh Adumim mayor to appeal new West Bank fence route Responses: 151 Haniyeh: Arrival of blockade busting boats spells end of Gaza siege Responses: 115 Livni: World pressure on Israel, PA could spark third intifada Responses: 142 Mofaz: Israel must show a tough stance against regional foes Responses: 93 Karim Sadjadpour: Iran doesn't want to bomb Israel, just vote it out of existence Responses: 82 More Headlines 21:56 Haniyeh: Arrival of blockade-busting boats spells end of Gaza siege 17:36 Islamic Jihad urges Palestinian groups to kidnap Israeli soldiers 01:35 Despite row over cuts, gov't likely to approve 2009 budget 09:16 Obama chooses Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as VP running mate 22:49 ANALYSIS / Obama played it safe, but is Biden good for Israel? 21:59 Paul McCartney announces he will perform in Israel next month 03:30 U.S. entrepreneur makes aliyah seeking 'next big invention' 08:17 Country or family? Israeli soldiers may have to choose which to defend 19:50 New film follows Holocaust refugees-turned-soldiers 00:36 Olmert eyes Russia trip 'to discover what they're planning to sell to Syria' 15:06 Still aiming for 2008 peace deal, Rice heads to Israel, West Bank 13:29 Four die on Israel's roads within 24 hours 00:34 Democrats in Israel irate over Hikind's support for Huckabee 09:59 Ma`aleh Adumim mayor to appeal new West Bank fence route Previous Editions Select Day 22 aug 21 aug 20 aug 19 aug 18 aug 17 aug 15 aug 14 aug 13 aug 12 aug 11 aug 10 aug

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com MBA in Israel in English APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved