New York Jews sail 'True Freedom Flotilla' for Gilad Shalit
New York's Jewish community marks four years since the abduction of the Israeli soldier by Gaza militants.
By Shlomo Shamir Tags: Gilad Shalit Gaza flotilla New York US JewsNew York's Jewish community was set to mark four years since the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Gaza militants with what they call the "True Freedom Flotilla."
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Participants in New York's 'True Freedom Flotilla' for Gilad Shalit on June 24, 2010, including Israeli UN envoy Gabriela Shalev and Israel's Consul General in New York Asaf Shariv |
| Photo by: Ilan Klein |
The name chosen for the event echoes the name of a recent 8-ship flotilla that sailed from Turkey toward Gaza to break the Israeli blockade on the Hamas-ruled territory, which was named the Freedom Flotilla.
The flotilla was to encircle the Statue of Liberty and then sail to United Nations building.
The two-hour event was to involve seven vessels: The Queen of Hearts which can hold up to 600 passengers, another smaller boat and five privately owned yachts.
The flotilla was organized by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, an umbrella group of American Jewish organizations. Israel's mission to the UN has also joined the initiative, as did Israel's Consulate General in New York.
Boats were scheduled to move north on the East River at 12:00 noon New York time on Thursday, June 24th from Houston Street and West Side Highway. The flotilla can be viewed from the East River Esplanade. Entrance to the Esplanade is on the east side of First Avenue at 34th, 35th or 37th Streets.
"For four years, Hamas has denied Gilad Shalit the most basic rights, including visits by international organizations," Israel's ambassador to the UN said on Thursday, adding that this was both illegal and immoral.
Joel Lion, the Spokesperson and Consul for Media Affairs at the Consulate General of Israel in New York, has put together a package full of clothing and food which was to be handed to a Red Cross representative to be brought to Shalit though the organization's international channels.
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This story belongs in The Onion.
Wankers!
Otherwise I fail to see what good this media stunt can do.
I think this is a superb idea- it will truly be helping Gaza!! Not a bunch of thugs supporting terrorism and a poor human rights record by countries like Iran and its proxies~
to name 'True Freedom Flotilla' is not enough must name 'Very Very True Freedom Flotilla' and the sailors of the aforementioned Flotilla must be Israeli comandos...
Is anything being done with the local media who saw fit to cover the mistreatment of a turtle on a plane but made no mention of Gilad Shalit
I think Gilad should be freed. But also the Eleven Thousand Palestinian political prisoners " Gilads' who are in Israeli jails , many with no charges against them and with no hope of being released soon ( in legal limbo).
I say it's about time American and Israeli citizens started starting playing the Media Game. This is the Palestinians' and the Arab World's main weapon. Even if this is a small step - I say go for it. It puts the other side (the truth) out there when it hasn't been before. The Israeli government is so busy defending itself for trying to operate as a legitimate government under impossible circumstances. We need to put the truth out in the same arena that they use. Maybe it takes the love we have for all our children to start a social movement. Maybe that was the purpose for this.
I thought they were going to sail to Gaza. There is no fun, nothing heroic in sailing a boat in the east river... But what do you know....now pro-Israelis are emulating pro-Palestinians... What does this tell you?
I thought they will sail to Gaza to meet him. Nothing heroic in sailing
and 11000 Pals now!!!!!
Sail straight to Gaza - brave, peace loving Jews – as the martyrs from the Turkish Freedom Flotilla have done. Shalit is located in Gaza – not in N.Y. I am sure that the legitimate Government of Gaza i.e. the Hamas won’t kill you - like you have killed the Turks – but to show you the Arab/Palestinian hospitality, inviting you to talks and meals. They are civilized people – contrary to some!
the US congress changing the name of French fries to Freedom fries because France didn't agree with the Iraq war. A silly exercise, changing nothing, not even symbolically. I can only assume the weather was nice for a pleasant day's sailing around New York.
The Israel advocacy camp continually perpetrates the illusion that state institutions (the Israeli Foreign Ministry) and quasi-state institutions (the JNF) are legitimate organizers for 'protests' or in this case 'flotillas.' They are not; they are centers of power. Centers of power are already organized, they don't need to do community organizing. The youth movements who demonstrate for shalit in jerusalem at least successfully put on some sort of popular guise (even though they've been brainwashed by those institutions). This Royal Israeli cruise is a perfect example of how pathetic this quasi-fascist attempt to do state propaganda is. A cruise around the east river in nice suits. As Beinart suggests, there is nothing liberal about this, and we Jewish youth will check our Zionism at the door before we participate in these silly 'demonstrations.' No question Gilad Shalit should be freed; no question that Gaza should be freed; no question the American Jewish establishment has failed.
Israel is imprisoned by their Arab enemies and under siege from every direction. What of the blockade against Israel? Israelis cannot drive East or North freely and risk being murdered traveling in Egypt and Jordan. We are surrounded and locked in.
that means nothing to a freedom fighter my dear . they are fighting for their land so he broke the rule , he should pay for the atrosities isreal has done to the palestinians ,
lets all sign a petition for shalits freedom
Happy birth day Gilad Shalit & have fun ;-)
and, where zoe, may I ask, will you send it?
LOVES IT!
I almost thought these brave human rights supporters were going to break the Gaza blockade from the headline. They are taking a cruise around the statue of liberty. I sincerely hope that Shalit will be freed soon. I hope the US/Israel will negotiate with Hamas and get him freed. Even if Israel frees 1000 Palestinians (from the Occupied Territories), they'll still be holding 5000 +/-. Since these brave & dedicated defenders of human rights and prisoner's rights are American's imbued with an abiding concern for the rights captured soldiers to the extent that they are taking an afternoon cruise around New York harbor & going to the UN as well; maybe they can make a an extra lap for an American soldier who has been held by the Taliban since June 2009. His name Beau Bergdahl, PFC. Never heard of him? Guess he just doesn't get good PR.
by a bunch of terrorists Hamass. He is not a POW!!! You must pay more attention when you read the news!!
When is the last time the U.S. had a soldier abducted from its own soil? oh yeah, that's right, never, because they would unleash all hell on the political entity that would be behind such a kidnapping. I truly hope that's not the only way to negotiate with Hamas.
How stupid ! Yeah, this stunt will do a lot of good. Hamas will get so scared it will immediately release Shalit :-)
Great idea,but not that way...It would be great to mobilize a division of Jewish veterans from the USA,for them to storm the beaches of gaza and not only free Shalit as also wype out the hamas,once and for all...If Israel does it,the whole world corrupted by moslem money and cowardice would go up in arms,but if AMERICAN CITIZENS GO FOR IT, I BET THE WORLD WOULD BARK VERY LITTLE...IT CAN BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shmuel, take your medication, get out of that wheelbarrow, and put some clothes on !
Yes, us Jews should raise money to pay to arm and train a Gaza liberation force to destroy Hamas. Let Israel stay out of it and the world Jewry can rid the world of terrorist, mass murdering Hamas.
any palestinian in sight! right?
The UN issued a report in September 2009 quite rightly calling for the release of Gilad Shalit, although it did balance this by saying that "in the lead up to the Israeli military assault on Gaza (in 2008), Israel imposed a blockade amounting to collective punishment and carried out a systematic policy of progressive isolation and deprivation of the Gaza Strip". http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/0/9B63490FFCBE44E5C1257632004EA67B?opendocument
Why following UN report her while Israel never followed any UN resolution and even imposing siege on Gaza without UN approval! Double standard
Gilad was abducted long before and th UN's reports are so onesided against Israel, that they have no credibility at all!
Absurd. It's time to examine your own behavior.
I understand from your words that Israel must let Hamas,Hezboullah,etc do whatever they want. killing as many jews as they can and say to this Amen.
Good Luck.
as a jew and a mother i follow the new york jewish community and pray that gilat will come back to his parents. as to the hypocritical politicians of america and europe , i say that the day they will regret it is not far.
the world does not care. they only care for their own benefits, collaborating with terror activists.
It's really unworthy to keep this little guy in this mad situation. Actually the stake is too big and stand far above his real statu. It is absolutely not in his gaoler's honor. Actually I agree with any flotilla in favor of his liberation.
boooooooooooo
For one POW You cannot come up with something more original?
He is not a POW.He was abducted from Israel territory by a terror organization and if he is a POW as you claim why don´t you protest against Hamas that forbids the Red Cross to visit him?
And the audience for this undertaking will be whom?
A fair trade, lift entire blockade of gaza for release of Shalit.
And after Israel lifts the blockade weapons will flow to Hamas to attack Israel
Absolutely unfair and shameful. hamas is really harming us by behaving in so depicable manner.
hamas returns shalit and israel doesnt blow gaza back to the stone age that is a fair trade
It is true that this poor young man is paying the price of an arrogant administration. but --- do supporters have the courage to make it to Gaza to free him? Of course not..!
They are not criminals from Turkey.
I am sure that they can then put Hamas to the test and see how they react - they will probably be more responsible than Israel .... maybe - a flotilla around the east river is hardly a brave move.
Hamas - just a social organization deeply concerned for the welfare of others, offering the right to dissent, free speech and differing opinions. These NY Jews should feel safe and secure organizing a Gaza flotilla to save Shalit. After all, Hamas aren’t really antisemitic, just a touch antizionist (so says the Guardian) – something considered relatively moderate these days. At least this is the message we’re getting from the useful idiots on the left side of politics.