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WHY WAS THIS EXPLOSIVE REPORT NOT ON THE FRONT PAGE OF EVERY MAJOR NEWS SOURCE IN AMERICA! 10/06/10
UN: Israel Executed Flotilla Activists
US citizen on Gaza Flotilla Executed per UN Sept 22 2010
§ ≈∞ ≈∞ ≈∞ ≈ §
05/27/10
CBS News
Israeli Commandos To Block Gaza Activists “Israel on Thursday unveiled a massive makeshift detention center in the country’s main southern port and announced the end of days of intense naval maneuvers, vowing to stop a flotilla of hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists trying to break a 3-year blockade of the Gaza Strip this weekend.”
“But the tough response threatened to backfire by breathing new life into the activists’ mission and drawing new attention to the oft-criticized blockade of Gaza.”
“End of days”? Interesting turn of phrase 
Aljazeera: Freedom flotilla due to leave southern Turkey
05/30/10
Washington Times:
Pro-Palestinian aid flotilla and expected naval showdown with Israeli gunships “The flotilla, which includes three cargo ships and three passenger ships, is trying to draw attention to Israel’s three-year blockade of the Gaza Strip. The boats are carrying materials that Israel bars from reaching Gaza, like cement and other building materials. The activists say they are also carrying hundreds of electrical-powered wheelchairs, prefabricated homes and water purifiers.”
This is terrible PR for Israel. Big bad military gunships preventing people from helping other people to survive. Israel, We The People are watching.
MSNBC:
Bloody Israeli raid on flotilla sparks crisis “Israeli commandos rappelled down to an aid flotilla sailing to thwart a Gaza blockade on Monday, clashing with pro-Palestinian activists on the lead ship in a botched raid that left at least nine passengers dead.”
06/01/10
Michael Moore Com:
Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern: Obama’s Timidity and Deaths at Sea “A chief lesson to learn from President Barack Obama’s recent unwillingness to stand up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud Lobby is that such timidity can get people killed.”
06/02/10
Panasonic:
Flotilla activist: ‘We never saw any knives’
Captured Press TV journalist onboard Gaza Flotilla describes ordeal [3 parts]
RT:
Gaza aid activist aboard Flotilla: Israeli ships fired before boarding
It seems that our U.S. government has turned to the right side of history overnight—even if just a tiny bit—by announcing that it fully supports the UN Security Council’s decision to demand an independent investigation: Sec. of State Hillary Clinton: “We support, in the strongest terms, the Security Council’s call for a prompt, impartial, credible, and transparent investigation.”
06/01/10
Politico:
‘We’re the only ones who believe them’ “For while much about the incident remains unclear, a day of carefully parsed statements from the White House and State Department left at least one irrefutable aftershock: With much of the world expressing fury over the raid, the contrast with Washington’s muted response could not have been more striking.”
” ‘The situation is that they’re so isolated right now that it’s not only that we’re the only ones who will stick up for them,’ said an American official. ‘We’re the only ones who believe them — and what they’re saying is true.’ ”
CNN: Eyewitness and victim recounts Israeli flotilla attack on American Boat
” First reports coming out of Israeli violent acts against unarmed humanitarian aid workers. Huwaida Arraf, one of the Free Gaza Movement organizers, told CNN Israeli troops roughed her up when they responded aggressively to her ship, a smaller one in the flotilla that was near the Turkish vessel where the casualties occurred.”
Freed activists cast doubts on Israel raid account
Activists Tell of Live Fire During Israeli Raid
German activist gives his account of the attack on flotilla, Norman Paech
Jewish Rabbis Condemn Israeli Massacre of Free Gaza Flotilla
AJE: Anger in Turkey over Israeli flotilla raid
05/31/10 MSNBC: 10 die in Israeli raid on aid flotilla “Israeli commandos on Monday stormed six ships carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists on an aid mission to the blockaded Gaza Strip, killing at least 10 people and wounding dozens.”
“The operation in international waters off the Gaza coast was a nightmare scenario for Israel that looked certain to further damage its international standing, strain already tense relations with Turkey and draw unwanted attention to Gaza’s plight.”
Any doubt left that a war against goodness and Light around the world is being waged? We shall begin now to see the masks ripped off the faces of Sinister Ones and the Light will expose their True Identity as international chaos ensues. Welcome to the Awakening.
Middle East Blog“The collection of weapons includes a crudely-made slingshot, a thin metal pipe, and what appears to be a plastic bag filled with marbles. Nowhere is there evidence of guns, or even of knives. Most of the weapons appear to be improvised out of materials found on board the ship.“
Wouldn’t most anyone who had just witnessed shots fired before the commandos boarded and saw a fellow activist murdered be picking up whatever they could to defend themselves? I would expect that the men especially would try to protect the women, the child, and the elderly activists onboard. When I watched Netanyahu’s speech to his nation, I felt utter pity for this man who actually seems to believe that everyone in that region is a “terrorist” except Israel [dissociative] and to live a life in such fear is not a life at all but a sentence.
Guardian UK: Turkey withdraws ambassador to Israel over deaths “Turkey’s deputy prime minister says Turkey is withdrawing its ambassador to Israel, canceling three joint military drills and calling on the U.N. Security Council to convene in an emergency session about Israel.”
Times Online: Gaza flotilla deaths: the world reacts “”
Gaza flotilla deaths: the world reacts “Outrage spread around the world this morning as news broke that Israeli forces had attacked a convoy bringing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, killing at least ten people in international waters. Israel says its forces faced resistance from activists armed with knives and metal bars – but the international outcry has continued.”
ISM:
US activist loses eye after being shot in face with tear gas canister by Israeli soldier at Gaza checkpoint “21-year old Emily Henochowicz was hit in the face with a tear gas projectile fired directly at her by an Israeli soldier during the demonstration at Qalandiya checkpoint today. Israeli occupation forces fired volleys of tear gas at unarmed Palestinian and international protesters, causing mass panic amongst the demonstrators and those queuing at the largest checkpoint separating the West Bank and Israel.”
Irish Gov’t Challenges Israel: MV Rachel Corrie Heading for Gaza “This is a major development. The MV Rachel Corrie cargo ship, whose passage to join the Freedom Flotilla may have been delayed because of sabotage by Israelis, is now heading for Gaza — and it has the full support of the Irish government. This is no longer just a question of how easily Israel can trample on the rights of a humanitarian organization.”
“The Irish prime minister, Brian Cowen, has warned Israel that it will face ‘the most serious consequences’ in the event that any harm comes to Irish citizens on board the humanitarian relief vessel.”
Mail Online:
Turkish navy [considering] following Gaza flotilla raid “Israel is facing another potentially explosive confrontation at sea as pro-Palestinian activists sent two more boats to challenge its blockade of the Gaza Strip.”
“Turkey – one of Israel’s closest Muslim allies until Monday’s clash left several of citizens dead – was last night reported to be considering sending a naval escort for the boats.”
UN News Center: “2 June 2010 – Strongly condemning Israel’s actions against the humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza Strip, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted today to dispatch an independent, international probe into violations of international law resulting from Monday’s incident.” ["32" yes votes, 3 "no" votes from Italy, Netherlands, and....of course.. the United States.]
UN rights body votes to dispatch independent probe into ‘attack’ on Gaza aid convoy
Turkish customs officials deny Israeli claims weapons were onboard Gaza aid ships “Turkish officials have denied claims leveled by Israeli authorities that weapons were onboard one of the six aid ships attacked by Israel on Monday. “
“Officials from the Customs Undersecretariat said every passenger was searched before getting on the ship with the help of X-ray machines and metal detectors. Senior officials from the undersecretariat said Israel’s allegations were tantamount to ‘complete nonsense.’ “
American Everyman:
12 Americans on Gaza Flotilla inluded USS Liberty Survivor Among 12 U.S. Citizens Abducted by Israel “Jean Meadors, wife of Joe Meadors, 63, of Corpus Christi, Texas, a Navy veteran also on board a seized ship, said Monday evening that she believed he was safe, ‘but I’d like to hear that from him.’ She said his exact status, whether under arrest, detention or otherwise, was unclear. AP
Former U.S. Navy signalman Joe Meadors from Corpus Christi, TX. was on board the U.S.S. Liberty in 1967 when Israel attacked her and nearly sank her killing 34 American sailors and injuring 173.
06/01/10 Military Today Liberty Survivor Aboard Gaza Flotilla “One of the Americans taken into custody by Israeli forces that stormed and took over several Gaza-bound ships in the Mediterranean Sea on the night of May 31 was a survivor of the 1967 Israeli attack on the U.S. intelligence ship Liberty.”
“Joseph Meadors, who was a signalman aboard the USS Liberty, took part in the flotilla in part to refocus attention on Israel’s attack on Liberty, according to James Ennes, another survivor of the June 8, 1967 attack. Ennis, author of Assault on the Liberty, told Military.com in an email that Meadors’ wife learned today that he has since been released and on his way back to their home in Corpus Christi, Texas.”
US Military – Phil Tourney USS Liberty Survivor Speaks Out to You
Gaza Freedom Flotilla Activists arrive in Athens, June 3, 2010
Committee to Protect Journalists:
CPJ denounces Israel’s use of footage seized in flotilla raid “The Committee to Protect Journalists denounces Israel’s editing and distribution of footage confiscated from foreign journalists aboard the Gaza-bound flotilla that was raided on Monday.”
“CPJ’s Abdel Dayem said: ‘The treatment meted out to our colleagues is unacceptable. It is Israel’s responsibility to conduct its operations in ways that also allow journalists to report the news.’ ”
06/03/10
American Public University:
South Africa urged to withdrawn ambassadors from Israel “South Africa’s deputy minister of international relations, Sue van der Merwe, summoned Israeli ambassador Dov Segev-Steinberg to register the government’s ‘strongest possible protest’ to the Israeli government, after an attack on the ship, the Mavi Marmara on Monday morning.”
“The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said it was outraged by the incident, which it called ‘state-sponsored piracy’, and urged South Africa to withdraw its ambassadors from Israel, as done by Spain and Sweden.”
Guardian UK:
Gaza aid flotilla: Israeli sabotage suspected “Israel gave strong indications today that its forces had secretly sabotaged some of the ships bound for Gaza as part of the freedom flotilla.”
“An unnamed Israeli Defence Force source who briefed the Knesset’s foreign affairs and defence committee on the widely criticised armed interception of the flotilla at sea, also spoke of ‘grey operations’ being mounted against the flotilla. No further detail was reported, probably because of the military censorship rules binding the Israeli media.”
“Al Jazeera’s Jamal Elshayyal has been released by Israeli authorities following Monday’s deadly raid on the Mavi Marmara aid ship that was destined for Gaza. Our producer, who reported from the ship as Israel launched the raid, was on the top deck when the ship was attacked. Here, he tells his account of what happened.”
U.S. Citizen shot four times in the head, once in chest
This was a blatant assassination of a journalist, there can be no doubt. One more thing. Israel is promoting this video of a Muslim talking about “martyrdom.” May I emphasize here that martyrdom is not an exclusively Muslim viewpoint? There is a flood of literature regarding the Roman Catholic Church of Christian “martyrs” being raised to levels of Sainthood because giving their lives “for the cause”. And the Jewish have their Holocaust martyrs. From my perspective, we must move from the celebration of dead martyrs [Pisces the fish] to the uplifting celebration of living, loving humanitarians [Aquarius the Spirit giver]. In short, Do onto other as you would have done onto you.
Turkey will “never forgive” Israel
06/04/10
Guardian UK:
Autopsy Reports Obtained by Guardian: Nine Turkish men shot a total of 30 times “The results revealed that a 60-year-old man, Ibrahim Bilgen, was shot four times in the temple, chest, hip and back. A 19-year-old, named as Fulkan Dogan, who also has US citizenship, was shot five times from less that 45cm, in the face, in the back of the head, twice in the leg and once in the back. Two other men were shot four times, and five of the victims were shot either in the back of the head or in the back, said Yalcin Buyuk, vice-chairman of the council of forensic medicine.”
“The findings emerged as more survivors gave their accounts of the raids. Ismail Patel, the chairman of Leicester-based pro-Palestinian group Friends of al-Aqsa, who returned to Britain today, told how he witnessed some of the fatal shootings and claimed that Israel had operated a ‘shoot to kill policy’.”
New video of the Mavi Marmara during israeli IDF attack
“Victims say soldiers started shooting before boarding and they killed 2 activists, photographer ‘Cevdet Kılıçlar’ was shot in his head and died. Then we started to defend ourselves by using sticks and slingshots. We captured 10 soldiers, grabbed their weapons and threw guns into sea. Although we treated wounded soldiers, they shot the doctor too but he didn’t die. Each soldier had a list, they were looking for them, they shot some of them. Activist “İbrahim Bilgen” was killed thinking he was ‘Raid Salah’ and the soldier reported ‘Salah is dead’. Then, the IHH leader Bülent Yıldırım said enough is enough and showed white flag, but soldiers kept shooting.
SOTT: Murder Inc: Israeli Advance Targeted Assassinations Death List Found on Flotilla
Dubai already has an arrest warrant out for Netanyahu and Barak for authorizing the illegal assassination of an “enemy.” [See above starting 01/29/10]. They should immediately act on that warrant just to get them off the world stage before they bring on WWIII.
Alternet:
Obama Must Join Global Condemnation of Israeli Flotilla Assault “Global leaders, including Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi, have come out on the side of justice and law. So must President Obama.”
“On no other foreign policy issue is this administration so out of touch with the majority sentiment worldwide. When President Obama visited Cairo just a year ago, he promised a new era in U.S. relations with the Muslim world where there would be a sustained effort to ‘listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground.’ “
Press release: Turkish activist account of Israeli raid: [unedited transcript]”Dear Press members, as you know, we have organised an activity with the participation of the peace activists from all over the world, there were people from more than 50 countries. 35 parliament members, many politicians, intellectuals, press members, we have departed with 9 ships in total, some ships were sabotaged on the way,some waited and couldnt countinue. We have waited a few days at sea, then countinued with the remained ships. Actually, to tell you the truth, as all of you think, we also didnt expect Irael to make an armed intervention to us,we didnt foresee it.Because Israel were saying, ‘We will come with all our fleet’ but we were saying ‘You are misleading this crisis management, your advisors mislead you, especially this zionism regime isolates Jew people,leaves Israel alone in world day by day, be careful’ we gave messages like this. But it come to such a state that Israel press constantly called us,they tried to intervene between the live cast.(live broadcasting and satellite connection was cut by Israel about 04:00 am,31st of May) And we had a 1 year old baby on board,women,children, and old people, christians, jews, atheists.We were together with people from all kind of opinions . And we actually have never been in Irael waters.This is the first time in world history, they have declared an open-ended military excercise.And Israel said this, 68miles as target range. It is incredible. When we looked at radars, we understand that it was a virtual military excercise, because other ships were wandering, Still, We sailed in 80 miles away, we sailed in international waters, but Israel did not understand this. And in an early date, our captain will also speak, we will set forth the truth with all documents, our route was Egypt waters, our aim was to enter via Egypt waters. There is nothing to concern to Israel. Despite all these, all of a sudden, zodiac boats started to surround us, the drones, choppers, F16s, 5 big warships and submarine.. What were we broadcasting on that ship?? We thought that they are trying to scare us, they would not attack us open seas, at least we thought they would not act so stupidly.” [Entire transcript can be read here]
UN rights chief ‘follows’ calls for Israel International Criminal Court referral “The UN human rights chief said Saturday that Israel could face prosecution for a deadly raid on a Gaza aid flotilla and that she was following requests for a referral to the International Criminal Court.”
“Israel, like Sudan, is not an ICC member, but the court’s prosecutor could investigate the Jewish state following a Security Council directive, as happened in the Darfur case.”
06/06/10
Global Research CA:
Was Obama Admin. [i.e. Rahm Emmanuel] involved in the Planning of the Israeli Attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla?“There are indications that the US was consulted at the highest levels regarding the nature of this military operation. Moreover, in the wake of the attacks, both the US and the UK have unequivocally reaffirmed their support to Israel.“Several high level US-Israel meetings were held in the months prior to the May 31st attacks.”
“Rahm Emmanuel, Obama’s White House chief of Staff was in Tel Aviv a week prior to the attacks. Confirmed by press reports, he had meetings behind closed doors with Prime Minister Netanyahu (May 26) as well as a private visit with President Shimon Peres on May 27.
Guardian UK:
Israel forced to apologise for YouTube spoof of Gaza flotilla “The Israeli government has been forced to apologise for circulating a spoof video mocking activists aboard the Gaza flotilla, nine of who were shot dead by Israeli forces last week.”
“The YouTube clip, set to the tune of the 1985 charity single We Are the World, features Israelis dressed as Arabs and activists, waving weapons while singing: “We con the world, we con the people. We’ll make them all believe the IDF (Israel Defence Force) is Jack the Ripper.”
“The Israeli government press office distributed the video link to foreign journalists at the weekend, but within hours emailed them an apology, saying it had been an error. Press office director Danny Seaman said the video did not reflect official state opinion, but in his personal capacity he thought it was “fantastic’.”
We The People must demand that the Obama admin. send Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. back home; post online access to an open, transparent list of ALL those in our government who have been accepting the bribes of AIPAC; and remove Rahm Emmanuel and all other Zionists who have contributed to this despicable, narcissistic behavior from our government. That’s just for starters….
Huffington Post:
UN chief moving ahead with probe of Israeli raid “An Israeli official said Sunday that U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon is moving ahead with plans for an international commission to investigate Israel’s deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. “
“Ban wants former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, a maritime law expert, to head the panel, which would include Israeli, Turkish and U.S. representatives, the Foreign Ministry official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because Ban has not announced details of his proposal.”
Haaretz:
Report: Erdogan considering visiting Gaza to ‘break blockade’ “Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is weighing the possibility of traveling to the Gaza Strip in order to ‘break the Israeli blockade,’ the Lebanese newspaper al-Mustaqbal reported on Saturday, according to Army Radio.”
Cyprus Mail (a May 29 2010 article before the attack)
Cyprus stops MPs from joining Gaza flotilla “CYPRIOT authorities prevented pro-Palestinian activists, including 30 MPs from nine European countries, from leaving the island yesterday to join a flotilla in international waters, which is on its way to blockaded Gaza.”
“This is the eighth time activists have tried to break the Israeli embargo on Gaza. On the seven other occasions, the aid ships left from Cyprus’ ports.”
“What is unusual this time is not the actual ban on the Free Gaza ships docking at the island’s ports, but the government’s refusal to allow small vessels to leave the island simply to drop people off at a ship in international waters.”
“The government also denied it bowed to pressure from Israel to put the ban in place.”
In hindsight, this is a highly revealing article that I have not seen covered in the media at all. It is also “unusual” because it implies Cyprus had some kind of warning that European MPs should avoid this particular flotilla. Actually, alot of prior news entries posted on this page seem to put a few more puzzle pieces together.
more…
05/29/10
RT: Freedom flotilla ready to break through blockade “The parliamentarians made up of Ireland’s Chris Andrews from ruling party Fianna Fail, Aengus Ó Snodaigh from Sinn Fein, and senator Mark Daly; Swiss PM Mehmet Kaplan; former Italian senator Fernando Rossi; Hedy Epstein, an 86-year old US citizen whose parents were killed in the Holocaust; Kiriyak Tsonev, a former Bulgarian envoy to all Arabic countries; Oslo city council member Erling Folkvord; as well as Swedish journalists and writers from Sweden and France – all these people had spent 18 hours trying to board ships in Cypriot harbors to join the Gaza Freedom Flotilla that was waiting for them.”
Newly released footage:
06/07/10
Veterans Today—Military Veterans & Foreign Affairs Journal:
Gordon Duff: Can Israel Be Saved From ‘Crackpot’ Netanyahu? “Political instability in Israel, rigged elections, ethnic cleansing, political violence and massive financial corruption are tearing at the fabric of society. Netanyahu has taken a lesson from the playbook of the former Maoist regime in Albania with some of the polish and sophistication of his idol, former US Vice President Dick Cheney. ‘Keep em’ scared, keep em’ at each other’s throats.’ “Israel’s propaganda machine, drunk with its successes in managing the news in the US through its stranglehold on the media, went overboard in reaction to the powerful forces aligned against them in the Freedom Flotilla, a virtual army of highly credible and dedicated activists from countries around the world. Israel started by contacting the US and Britain indicating that the Flotilla was carrying weapons of mass destruction, including a missing atomic bomb, part of a secret inquiry in Britain tied to the death of weapons expert Dr. David Kelly. “
06/06/10 Al Jazeera talks to US activist (Marine Corps vet Gordon Duff) named by Israel as a ‘terrorist’
SignOnSanDiego:
Egypt: Gaza blockade a failure, border stays open “An Egyptian security official declared the blockade of Gaza a failure Monday and said his country will keep its border with the Palestinian territory open indefinitely.”
“The security official called it a ‘continuously embarrassing situation’ for Egypt and blamed Israel for thinking the closure could pressure Hamas to release the captured soldier, Gilad Schalit.”
and the Blame Games continue.
Israel broke the seize fire Agreement and their attack on the Flotilla Ship was a violation
Members of the Israeli navy have gunned down four Palestinian divers at sea.
Haaretz:
U.S. demands IDF probe how American lost eye at West Bank protest “The United States embassy has demanded an investigation into how an American citizen lost her eye last week at the Qalandiyah checkpoint after being struck by a tear gas grenade.”
“Henochowicz’s attorney, Michael Sfard, yesterday demanded that the Samaria and Judea District police (which investigates suspected criminal use of weapons by Border Policemen in the West Bank ) launch an investigation. “According to testimony I have begun to receive, the firing was at close range and was directly aimed, and if this is correct, it is clearly a criminal act for which those involved must answer. My client and her family have authorized me to say that they demand that her unnecessary injury be fully investigated, and that we spare no effort to ensure that law enforcement authorities carry out their duty in this matter,” Sfard wrote in his demand.”
MiddleEast Org Wash. Report [Thanks to Real News Network for the lead]
ISRAEL’S Dr. STRANGELOVE – Dr. Uzi Arad “This is the man who probably should be criminally indicted for Israel’s high-seas massacre of people on the Peace Flotilla. The latest total is 64 badly wounded, killed, or missing. Turkey, Egypt, and other countries should certainly blacklist him from any further visits. He is Israel’s Dr. Strangelove.”
“One of the first things Rahm Emanuel did in the White House, himself an orthodox Jew with exceedingly close ties to Israel, was to arrange that the pending trial of accused Israeli Lobby AIPAC spies be ended and for Arad’s status to be changed and his visa, long denied by the Bush/Cheney Administration, approved.”
06/08/10
Israel Admits It Doctored Flotilla Audio Tapes “The IDF admitted today in a press release that it doctored audio footage from its exchanges with the Gaza flotilla in order to paint the flotilla passengers as anti-Semites.”
“According to our Captain of Challenger 1, Denis Healey, a man with 25 years of experience on the sea, there would be no way that anyone could communicate with each other without the entire fleet hearing the exchange. “There was no exchange like this by anyone on any boat during the entire time I was piloting the boat,” said Denis. Huwaida Arraf, the woman you hear on the radio, concurred. “The open channel is always the open channel, and everyone knows who is on the radio.”
06/04/10 Knesset member Huwaida Arraf claims voice data manipulation: “[T]he presence of her voice in the alleged transmissions ‘proves that the audio has been edited by the IDF and sheds serious doubt on the authenticity of the audio material as a whole, as does the sound and voice quality of the other statements supposedly made by people on the Mavi Marmara.’ “
06/09/10
Arab News Com:
Israel concedes stealing 17 passports during flotilla raid “Israel acknowledged to Jordan on Monday that it had seized passports of 17 activists during its bloody raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last week and promised to hand them later to the Jordanian embassy in Tel Aviv, a senior official said.”
” ‘Passports are documents protected by international law and should not be confiscated for any reason,’ (Jordan’s Minister of State for Media Affairs Nabil) Sharif said. The chairman of Jordan’s Trade Union Council, Ahmad Armouti, on Sunday warned Israel against using the nine Jordanian passports in espionage activities as it did during the assassination of the Hamas commander Mahmoud Mabhouh in Dubai early in January.”
Australians for Palestine:
Obama to offer Abbas fresh aid for Gaza in flotilla aftermath “President Barack Obama on Wednesday is expected to offer Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas fresh U.S. aid for Gaza as Washington seeks to contain the fallout over Israel’s raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla.”
Ray McGovern on Israel’s Terrorism (3 segments)
Obama urges Israel to end Palestinian ‘siege’ “Barack Obama, the US president, has called on Israel to lift the “siege” on Palestinians, after a meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president. Wednesday’s meeting in Washington also resulted in a $400m US aid package for Gaza and the West Bank. Abbas said Obama’s statement is a ‘positive signal’ that the US cared about the suffering of those in Gaza and the Palestinian people.”
Flotilla Survivors spokesman Col. Ann Wright Calls Rep Brad Sherman’s Bluff
Part 2
10 June 2010 DN! EXCLUSIVE: New Video Smuggled Out From Mavi Marmara of Israel’s Deadly Assault on Gaza Aid Flotilla In a Democracy Now! exclusive we bring you a sneak preview of previously unseen raw footage from the Mavi Marmara that will be formally released at a press conference at the United Nations later in the day.
FULL ONE HOUR RAW FOOTAGE MAVI MARMARA RELEASED
06/12/10
France 24:
Spain’s Zapatero urges ‘strong joint EU position’ on Gaza-Israel blockade ”After talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Spanish Prime Minister José Zapatero called for a “strong joint EU position” on Gaza and Israel’s blockade. Spain is set to propose Monday that the 27-nation bloc call for an end to the blockade.”
” ‘We want to forge a strong, joint EU position towards what happened in Gaza and the humanitarian situation in that area,’ he said after talks with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.”
06/13/10
Gaza Flotilla testimony – Palestine Solidarity Campaign meeting (multipart)
Richard Silverstein Com:
Barak Cancels French Visit For Fear of Arrest Involving Gaza Flotilla Attack “Ehud Barak’s office announced tonight that he had cancelled a planned trip to France, where he was to take part in the dedication of the Israeli pavillion at the Eurosatory International Defense Week there and have consultations with the French foreign and defense ministers. The purported reason for the cancellation as relayed by his spokesperson, was that he had to remain in Israel to help assemble the panel of experts to investigate the Gaza flotilla massacre.”
“A confidential Israeli source informs me (and AP confirms) that the real reason was that Palestinian activists in France had filed legal complaints against him over his involvement in the flotilla affair. He was afraid he might be arrested.”
Las Vegas Sun:
In boost for Hamas, top Arab diplomat visits Gaza “The Arab world’s top diplomat declared support Sunday for the people of blockaded Gaza in his first visit to the Palestinian territory since Hamas violently seized control of it three years ago.”
“Israel, meanwhile, appeared to grow more isolated in the fallout over the May 31 raid as Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak abruptly canceled plans Sunday to visit Paris.”
“The head of the 22-member Arab League met Sunday with the top Hamas leader in Gaza, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, in a significant diplomatic boost for Hamas. The meeting took place in Haniyeh’s home in Gaza’s Shati refugee camp, and the men later walked around the neighborhood for 10 minutes. ‘The acrimony between Gaza and the Arab nation ended today and forever,’ said Bassem Naim, a Hamas Cabinet minister who greeted Moussa.”
06/14/10
YouTube:
Freedom Flotilla Collapsing Israeli Government: The Knesset erupts with MK Hanin Zoabi speech–English subtitles
06/15/10
DN!
Red Cross Israel Blockade of Gaza Is Illegal
At the end of this news piece, we see a clip of what Sen. (NY) Charles Schumer said about Gaza: “And to me, since the Palestinians in Gaza elected Hamas, well certainly there should be humanitarian aid, people not starving to death (but) to strangle them economically until they see that that is not the way to go….makes sense.”
In 2000 and in 2004 (unbelievably), our own country elected Bush/Cheney whose administration approved torture, terrorized citizens in other nations who had nothing to do with 9/11, spied on its own people, and the list goes on. Can one imagine someone such as a Chuck Schumer telling an audience that Americans across the country should be strangled economically until we see the “ways of our errors“ in voting that cartel in?
Please contact Senator Schumer and let him know this was unacceptable. We need a Col. Ann Wright to march to Sen. Schumer’s office and protest this completely illogical, unfeeling, irrational remark.
DN!
New York Lawmakers Call for Probe of Flotilla Activists “A group of New York officials have called on the State Department to investigate the visa applications of two international activists who are scheduled to speak at a Brooklyn church on Thursday about their experience on the Mavi Marmara, the Turkish humanitarian aid ship attacked by Israeli commandos two weeks ago.”
Rep. Carolyn Maloney: “We have an obligation to protect our borders against potential terrorists, and the State Department should be extra cautious with those who want to arm and help Hamas. After all, Israel is called the ‘little Satan,’ and America, we’re called the ‘big Satan.’ And if Gaza flotilla participants were willing to die as martyrs against Israel, we can assume that they would be just as willing to die as martyrs against the United States.”
Also at the press conference were New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and three other members of the New York congressional Democratic delegation: Charlie Rangel, Eliot Engel and Jerrold Nadler.
All I can say is that the Zionist snake den has been rattled and now we begin to see the venomous fangs emerge and reveal the Truth in heretofore hidden places.
Who they are targeting:
Kevin Ovenden (video below) and Ahmet Faruk Ünsal
Flotilla activist survivors starting to report their credit cards were stolen and used in Israel after their capture!
Haaretz:
Italian flotilla journalist: My credit card was used after IDF confiscated it “A few days ago Luppichini discovered that while he was confined in Be’er Sheva and after he was back in Italy – a day after his deportation – purchases were made with his credit card, which the Israeli authorities had confiscated.”
Former U.S. nurse and Aid Worker Kathy Sheetz (video report:)
06/17/10
Gaza blockade will be eased and brief interview with Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad
Passengers grabbed Israeli weapons to stop the killing “After seeing passengers shot at close range they tried to grab the weapons to stop the killing. Kenneth Nichols O’Keefe was later beaten by the Israelis.”
“A US war veteran said yesterday he confronted Israeli commandos when they raided a Gaza-bound aid ship which he had boarded as a peace activist, Anatolia news agency reported. Kenneth Nichols O’Keefe, his face bruised and still stained with blood, flew to Istanbul from Tel Aviv, on his way to Ireland, the report said.
‘We overpowered three Israeli commandos. They looked at us… They thought we would kill them, but we let them go,’ O’Keefe said, adding he took the weapon of one of the soldiers and emptied it, according to Anatolia. The ex-marine said he saw five people being killed on board the Mavi Marmara.”
NEW AID SHIP “MARIAM” TO SAIL TO GAZA
06/19/10
Al Jazeera:
Israel warns Lebanon aid ships “Israel has told the UN that it will use ‘all necessary means’ to stop ships from Lebanon from carrying humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.”
“A group of Lebanese women activists joined by Europeans and journalists are planning to sail for Gaza in the latest bid to break Israel’s blockade of the coastal enclave. ‘Hezbollah confirms that it decided from the very beginning to stay away from this humanitarian act in terms of organisation, logistic support and participation so as not to give the Israeli enemy any pretext to attack the participants,’ Hezbollah said in a statement.”
YouTube Lebanese aid flotilla virgin mary set sail for Gaza.
A senior Israeli military official has warned the Beirut government against allowing an aid ship to depart Lebanon for the besieged Gaza Strip.
‘I say clearly to the government of Lebanon: You are responsible for the sea vessels leaving your ports with a clear and known intention of trying to break the naval blockade on Gaza,’ Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Thursday. The warning came days after a group of female Lebanese activists announced a plan to send an aid ship loaded with medical supplies to Gaza.
Al Jazeera – Focus:
The meaning of strangulation by Mark Levine “(Journalist Helen) Thomas was forced into retirement for declaring that Jews ‘should get the hell out of Palestine,’ but New York Senator Chuck Schumer, one of the most powerful politicians in the US, has avoided any criticism or even major press coverage for remarks he made only days later that supported the continued ‘economic strangulation’ of Gaza; in part, because, he essentially argues, the inhabitants of the benighted Strip are not Jewish.”
“In other words, what Senator Schumer says actually can cost people – Palestinians, Israelis, Americans – their livelihoods and even their lives, not to mention help prolong or alleviate one of the world’s most intractable conflicts. And yet no one in official Washington even blinked. To consider the implications of these comments, it is worth considering what would happen if any Arab or Muslim, never mind a US senator, explained that because Israelis do not support a two-state solution, and do not believe in the Quran – that is, have not converted to Islam – and have voted in one of the most right-wing governments in their country’s history, the US, or the world more broadly, is justified in trying to “strangle Israel economically” until it moderates its policies.”
Again, I hope his NY constituants wake up and remove this dangerous man from office.
McClatchy:
Israeli document: Gaza blockade isn’t about security“As Israel ordered a slight easing of its blockade of the Gaza Strip Wednesday, McClatchy obtained an Israeli government document that describes the blockade not as a security measure but as “economic warfare” against the Islamist group Hamas, which rules the Palestinian territory. “McClatchy obtained the government’s written statement from Gisha, the Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, which sued the government for information about the blockade. The Israeli high court upheld the suit, and the government delivered its statement earlier this year. Sari Bashi, the director of Gisha, said the documents prove that Israel isn’t imposing its blockade for its stated reasons, but rather as collective punishment for the Palestinian population of Gaza. Gisha focuses on Palestinian rights.”
Press TV:
Israelis robbed us, Flotilla members say “The British daily The Guardian said on Friday that the Israelis not only seized money and goods destined for the impoverished people of Gaza but also confiscated most of the personal possessions of the Freedom Flotilla activists. Soldiers had used confiscated debit cards to buy items such as iPod accessories, while mobile phones seized from activists have also been used for calls, it added.”
” ‘When they take things like people’s videos and debit cards and use them, and their mobile phones, it becomes a bit of a joke,’ he said. ‘We were held hostage, we were attacked, and now there’s been theft. If the police confiscate your goods in the UK, they’re not going to use your goods and think they can get away with it.‘ “
06/20/10
San Francisco Chronicle:
Protesters at Port of Oakland picket Israeli ship “
.”
YouTube: Kevin Neish was onboard MV Mavi Marmara stolen by israeli pirates “The Victoria resident was onboard the MV Mavi Marmara when it was on its way to the Gaza Strip and intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces. Seven activists and two journalists were killed in the confrontation that ensued. Neish said that he believes that the IDF fired on activists before Israeli soldiers were on board the Mavi Marmara. ‘Considering what I saw, it was murder,’ Neish said. ‘They killed two journalists right between the eyes. No accident, no mistake, just right between the eyes.’ “
06/21/10
COUNTRIES ISSUE TRAVEL ADVISORIES TO ISRAEL:
Foreign & Commonwealth Office UK: “
- In the early hours of Monday 31 May, members of the Israeli security forces boarded and forcibly took control of a number of ships in international waters as they were heading towards Gaza with the intention of breaking the naval blockade currently in place. Nine people died and dozens more injured. Participating in a convoy of this kind brings a real risk of injury or death. We strongly advise against anyone attempting to break the naval blockade in this way.
- On 22 April 2010 a rocket, possibly aimed at Eilat, Israel, exploded in Aqaba, Jordan. There were no casualties. Visitors to Israel’s Red Sea coast should remain alert to the possibility that Eilat was an intended target and follow the directions of Israeli security personnel.
- UK passport holders should be aware of a recent Serious Organised Crime Agency investigation into the misuse of UK passports in the murder of Mahmud al-Mabhuh in Dubai on 19 January 2010. The SOCA investigation found circumstantial evidence of Israeli involvement in the fraudulent use of British passports. This has raised the possibility that your passport details could be captured for improper uses while your passport is out of your control. The risk applies in particular to passports without biometric security features. We recommend that you only hand your passport over to third parties including Israeli officials when absolutely necessary.”
read more…
U.S. Department of State:
The State Department strongly urges that U.S. citizens refrain from all travel to the Gaza Strip. This recommendation applies to all U.S. citizens, including journalists and aid workers. U.S. citizens should be aware that as a consequence of a longstanding prohibition on travel by U.S. government employees into the Gaza Strip, the ability of consular staff to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens there is extremely limited.”
“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) strictly controls the crossing points between Israel and the Gaza Strip, and has essentially sealed the border. The security environment within Gaza and along its borders, including its border with Egypt and its seacoast, is dangerous and volatile. U.S. citizens are advised against traveling to Gaza by any means, including via sea. Previous attempts to enter Gaza by sea have been stopped by Israeli naval vessels and resulted in the injury, death, arrest, and deportation of U.S. citizens. From December 27, 2008, through January 17, 2009, the IDF conducted a major military operation in Gaza. Israel and Hamas, a State Department-designated foreign terrorist organization that violently seized power in Gaza in June 2007, declared separate truces to end the fighting. Occasional small clashes continue to occur along the border. Rockets and mortars are still occasionally fired into Israel from Gaza, and the IDF continues to conduct military operations inside Gaza, including airstrikes. The IDF has also declared an exclusion zone inside Gaza along the border with Israel and has taken lethal measures against individuals who enter it.
This is insane. UK and US had better ACT on disarming Israel militarily, stop supporting it while it seems to dictate all the rules, and stop telling it’s citizens who the “terrorists” are. WE KNOW who the terrorists are…Netanyahu and IDF/Mossad idealogues…they have flexed their Zionist muscle far too much. DEMAND that the U.S. break ties with Israel and do what this government is mandated to do—protect its own citizens.
06/23/10
BDS Movement:
Swedish Dockworkers Union blockade of Israeli goods begins – ten containers held “In the harbor of Gothenburg the blockade were initiated without any complications. About ten containers, both Israeli imports and exports were immediately identified in the container terminal. All of which have been separated and will stand untouched in the harbor of Gothenburg until the end of the blockade at 24:00 the 29th of June.”
Rabble TV YouTube:
Jesse Rosenfeld: the Palestinian struggle, BDS, & Canadian state “aid” (multipart)
06/27/10
Noam Chomsky: Israel’s Attack on Gaza Flotilla, “Sheer Criminal Aggression”
06/29/10
Below is the GCP chart showing the abupt rise in Global Consciousness arising from the Gaza Flotilla attack.
Significantly large network variance. Suggests broadly shared coherence of thought and emotion. The index is less than 5%
BBC:
Turkey bars Israel military flight after Gaza raid “Turkey’s prime minister confirmed that a ‘ban’ had been implemented following the 31 May raid, in which nine Turkish citizens on the flotilla were killed.”
“A senior Turkish foreign ministry official told the BBC there was now an official policy in place of banning Israeli military aircraft from Turkish airspace, but on a case-by-case basis.”
07/07/10
CBS News:
Israel Keeping Flotilla Ships Until Inquiry Ends” ‘One thing is certain. Nothing will be done with these ships until after the Turkel inquiry because they might want to inspect them,’ Defense Ministry spokesman Shlomo Dror said.”
“Ceylam Ozem, a spokeswoman for the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv, said her government has asked ‘from day one’ for the ships to be returned. ‘They are Turkish owned. The Israelis have still not answered our demand,’ she said.”
07/08/10
Xinhuanet:
Lebanese aid ships to arrive in Gaza soon: Palestinian official ” A Palestinian official said Sunday that two Lebanese aid ships are expected to arrive in Gaza in a couple of weeks. According to al-Khoudary, the ships should have headed to Gaza in mid-June, but Israeli threats forced the organizers to delay the sailing date.”
“The Lebanese ships, named Mariam and Naji al-Ali, will carry 50 international and Arab female activists, journalists and medical supplies mainly for kidney dialysis and cancer treatment units, al- Khoudary said.”
07/10/10
Aljazeera:
Libyan aid ship sails for Gaza “A Libya-sponsored ship carrying 2,000 tonnes of aid has set sail from Greece for the blockaded Gaza Strip in spite of warnings from Israel not to approach the Palestinian territory. The captain of the Al-Amal vessel, a Cuban national, confirmed to Al Jazeera on Saturday shortly before leaving the Lavrio Port, in southeastern Greece, that he planned to head for Gaza.”
“Greek authorities inspected the vessel before it was allowed to set sail.”
” ‘If there is a desire to send products to the Palestinians, these can be delivered to Israel and [in] this way, we can make sure that there are no weapons,’ Arieli said.”
Israel apparently distrusts Greece’s own inspection of the ship, discovering no weapons at all? They dig diplomacy (what little there is of it) into the ground, deeper and deeper.
07/12/10
Haaretz:
Israel Navy probe of Gaza flotilla raid finds ‘planning and intel flaws’ “The probe concluded that due to the fact that a mass offensive against Israel’s commando officers was not taken into account, the officers acted accordingly under the circumstances.”
” ‘The soldiers wanted to wear their ceremonial uniform, they expected to engage with the passengers in conversation and that was a defect,’ a military official told Israel Radio. ( ) ‘In light of the situation that developed they acted accordingly.’ “
Well of course, they would not have come to any other conclusion than that their soldiers expected a ceremonial tea party and were not prepared for what they twistedly insist was a ”planned attack” by peace activists. Did anyone actually believe their internal investigation would state otherwise? This sounds oh so much like the “intel flaws” cited ad nauseum about 9/11, as well as Condoleezza Rice after 9/11 saying “I don’t think anybody could have predicted that these people would take an airplane and slam it into the World Trade Center… “.
07/13/10
Aljazeera:
Israeli ‘ultimatum’ over Gaza ship “The Israeli navy has ordered a Libyan aid ship bound for the Gaza Strip to change course before midnight [2100 GMT] or risk being taken over, activists on board said.”
“But the Israeli navy denied issuing any such ultimatum. The navy did confirm that it has been in contact with the Al-Amal, and said it had ‘begun preparations for stopping the ship’.”
“The ship set sail from Greece on Saturday. The Israeli government has warned that allowing the ship to breach the Gaza blockade would have ‘very serious consequences’ for Israeli security.”
07/16/10
Ausralians for Palestine:
Flotilla journalists sue Israel “A group of journalists has announced that it plans to sue Israel over its deadly raid on a flotilla of aid ships bound for the Gaza Strip in May.”
“The group of more than 30 journalists includes reporters from Turkey, Spain, Germany, Lebanon, Egypt, the United Kingdom and the United States.”
Antara News:
Lawyers from 60 countries, including Indonesia, to sue Israel “Lawyers from 60 countries, including Indonesia, will gather in Istanbul, Turkey, July 15-16, to prepare a legal suit against Israel for its attack on the Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla.”
“Meanwhile, Jose Rizal Jurnalis, presidium chairman of MER-C (Medical Emergency Rescue – Committee) Indonesia, the Free Gaza Flotilla was aimed at pressuring Indonesia to end the blockage over Gaza. He also reminded that Israeli intelligence agents had also been involved in the murder of a HAMA(S) leader in one of the Middle East countries several months ago.”
07/18/10
Hurriyet:
EU foreign policy chief tours Gaza, pushes for complete end to Gaza embargo “The international community must pressure Israel to go beyond easing its Gaza embargo and throw open the territory’s long-blockaded borders, the EU foreign policy chief said after a tour of the Hamas-run coastal strip.”
” ‘The position of the EU is very clear. We want to see the opportunity for people to be able to move around freely, to see goods not only coming in to Gaza but exports coming out of Gaza,’ Ashton said at her first stop, the Megapharm pharmaceuticals company. Later, she told a news conference that ‘what needs to happen now is continued international pressure to move forward.’ “
08/02/10
RT:
“Israeli prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu is likely to agree to an international investigation of his country’s storming of an aid ship in May. The controversy caused by the Gaza aid flotilla killings has put international pressure on the Jewish state. RT’s Paula Slier reports from Tel Aviv.”
08/09/10
Olympian:
Israel threatening to quit UN probe into flotilla “Israel threatened Monday to pull out of a U.N. inquiry into a deadly raid on a Turkish flotilla heading for Gaza, after the U.N. chief said there is no agreement that the panel would refrain from calling Israeli soldiers to testify.”
“Israeli officials said the agreement to take part in the U.N. probe was conditional on the panel relying on reports from Israel’s own military inquiry, not testimony from soldiers.”
But at a Monday news conference at U.N. headquarters, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was asked whether he had agreed not to summon Israeli soldiers before the panel. ‘ No, there was no such agreement behind the scenes,’ Ban said, adding that the panel is supposed to work with the Israeli and Turkish inquiries. ‘And whatever is needed beyond that, they will have to discuss among themselves, in close coordination with the national government authorities, that they can take their own future steps,’ he said.
It was just a matter of a few days before we see this fall apart. Without testimony by Israeli soldiers, it becomes a 2-dimensional investigation.
Jurist:
Netanyahu: Israel complied with international law in flotilla raid “His testimony was the first heard before the Turkel Commission, a civilian investigatory commission created by the Israeli government [JURIST report] in June.”
“In June, Netanyahu appointed former Israeli Supreme Court justice Yakov Turkel to head an internal probe, approved by the Israeli cabinet that month. The Israeli government has agreed to cooperate with the international commission appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official website] last week. The panel will consist of four members, including former New Zealand premier Geoffrey Palmer [official profile], former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe [BBC profile] and two other members, one appointed by Israel and the other by Turkey. Ban described the panel as ‘unprecedented,’ and stated his hope that the ‘agreement will impact positively on the relationship between Turkey and Israel as well as the overall situation in the Middle East.’ “
09/05/10
YNet Israel:
Soldier admits to looting Turkish ship “Less than two weeks after Ynet reported on the looting of the Mavi Marmara, the Military Prosecution is expected to file an indictment Thursday against a soldier who admitted to stealing a laptop computer, two camera and a compass belonging to the passengers of the Turkish vessel, which was seized by Israeli commandos as it was making its way to Gaza.
“IDF investigators obtained information indicating that computers stolen from the flotilla were being traded within the army. The probe found that among the suspects were commanders who were tasked with preventing unauthorized personnel from boarding the Marmara while it was docked in Ashdod’s port.”
Yes, and there is the little matter of stolen credit cards from Mavi Mamara passengers that actually were used for purchases in Israel as well. Brazen.
09/23/10
Guardian UK:
UN panel accuses Israel of war crimes for ‘unlawful’ assault on Gaza flotilla
“The report by three experts appointed by the UN’s Human Rights Council (UNHRC) described the seizure of MV Mavi Marmara, a Turkish vessel, by Israeli commandos as illegal under international law. It condemned the treatment of the passengers and crew as brutal and disproportionate. It also said that the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian enclave is illegal because of the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
“”A series of violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, were committed by the Israeli forces during the interception of the flotilla and during the detention of passengers in Israel prior to deportation.”
This is a baby step, but Lady Justice perhaps is peeking out from the blindfold at last?
09/02/11
Telegraph UK:
Turkey Expels Israel’s Ambassador Over Flotilla Raid
“Turkey said on Friday that it was downgrading its diplomatic and military ties with Israel and expelling its ambassador in a display of anger at Israel’s refusal to apologize for a commando raid last year on a Turkish protest flotilla bound for Gaza in which nine people died.”
Haaretz: Turkey vows to take legal action against Israelis involved in Gaza flotilla raid ” Turkey said on Friday it will seek to prosecute all Israelis responsible for the deaths of nine Turkish activists during an IDF raid on a ship bound for the Gaza Strip in May 2010. Turkey will take legal actions against the Israeli soldiers and all other officials responsible for the crimes committed and pursue the matter resolutely,” Turkey’s embassy in Washington said in a statement.”
I remain confident that within the next 15 months, the world will know the TRUTH about what 1948 was really about and why the U.S. has groveled at the feet of Israel since. It won’t be pretty but it will be cathartic.
09/09/11 Haaretz: Turkey plans diplomatic assault on Israel after its refusal to apologize for Gaza flotilla raid
Latest
05/23/12
Veterans News Now:
Turkey Indicts Israeli Commanders—Terrorists
“A Turkish prosecutor has prepared an indictment seeking life sentences for four former Israeli military commanders over their alleged involvement in the 2010 killing of nine Turks on a Gaza-bound aid ship, Turkish newspaper Sabah reported on Wednesday.”
Names of Israeli forces responsible for murdering innocent civilians revealed
