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"The Only Democracy In The Middle East"

Vomit, puke, boke......................

http://www.palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=15985

The U.S. corporate media have provided little coverage on some important happenings in the Middle East during the past 18 months. You might ask what's the big deal -- bad stuff happens there all the time and it doesn't concern me. In this case, recent events have the potential to create an international crisis in the coming days. Before getting to the possible explosive situation, we first need some background information.

One key event is that Gaza has become a flash point in the relations between Turkey and Israel. In a dramatic reversal, Turkey has moved from close relations with Israel to being quite critical of Israeli policies, particularly of those against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. For example, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan labeled Israeli actions in Gaza during its December 2008 attack a "crime against humanity".

Taking a longer-term view, Erdogan also said: "Civilians and children are dying in Gaza. Those who keep their silence over these attacks out of whatever concern or for whatever diplomatic reason, will pay the price before history." His statements offered quite a contrast to the tepid and shameful position taken by U.S. officials.

In addition, Erdogan has identified Israel as the principal threat against peace in the Middle East. He also backed the adoption of the Goldstone Report that called for an independent investigation of Israeli and Hamas war crimes. Although most of the countries around the world agreed with this position, the U.S. and a few other nations opposed an independent investigation of the war crimes charges.

To put it mildly, none of Erdogan's comments have endeared him to Israeli officials.

In addition, the Turkish Prime Minister has said that it is a priority for him and Turkey to lift the unjust siege on Gaza. Israel has maintained this siege since 2007 and, combined with the devastation caused during the Israeli attack, Palestinians are merely surviving, not really living. Israel has not allowed materials into Gaza for rebuilding and it allows just enough food in to prevent the Palestinians from starving.

This past January Turkey strongly supported the Viva Palestina convoy's effort to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza. The convoy of over 500 international humanitarian activists was able to deliver more than 150 vehicles carrying medicine and other aid to the besieged Palestinians. Arriving in Gaza was a major accomplishment, but the aid that the convoy brought in was a drop in the bucket compared to the need.

In early May of this year, John Ging, Head of United Nation's Relief and Works Agency in the Gaza Strip, said: "We recommend the world send ships to the shores of Gaza, and we believe that Israel would not stop these vessels because the sea is open, and many human rights organizations have been successful in previous similar steps, and proved that breaking the siege on Gaza is possible."

Currently eight ships from several nations including Turkey are doing just that. These ships, the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, have as their goal to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Israel has said that it will not allow this current flotilla to reach Gaza, and it will use military means if necessary to stop the ships.

Two key points are: 1) the Turkish ship will be flying the Turkish flag; and 2) Turkey is a member of NATO. What might happen if Israel were to attack a Turkish flagged vessel carrying humanitarian aid in international waters? The precedent has been established that an attack on one NATO member state will be viewed as an attack on NATO. How would NATO respond to an Israeli attack on a Turkish flagged vessel? Even if the Turkish ship were not flying its flag, how would the world respond to an attack on unarmed vessels carrying humanitarian aid in international waters?

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla is now on its way and is scheduled to reach Gaza this week. Since the U.S. corporate-dominated mainstream media seem to be ignoring this issue, go to freegaza.org or to international media for updates on this looming crisis. There is still time for Israel to avoid an explosive situation by simply complying with international law and honoring its responsibilities to the Palestinians. Unfortunately it is doubtful that Israel will do so.

- Ron Forthofer is a retired professor of biostatistics. He contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.

Can we please ignore the elephant in the room here for a minute....

Israhell who have upwards on 300 undeclared nuclear weapons, and have NOT signed the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. is not the problem.

We must back Uncle Sam and Israhell in their quest for more Islamic blood by bombing and
going to war with Iran who don't have a nuclear weapon, and have signed up to the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Chomsky wasn't denied entry to Israhell, but rather denied entry to Palestine by Israhell.
He delivered his lecture the following day via Video link from Jordan.


Check out this story about the whistle blower on Israhell's Nuclear capabilities:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10145852.stm

Mordechai Vanunu, the technician who revealed that Israel had nuclear weapons, has begun a three-month jail term for violating the terms of his release in 2004.

Mr Vanunu was convicted by an Israeli court in December 2009 and sentenced to six months' community service.

He refused, saying he would be in danger of being assaulted by a member of the Israeli public.

The court then returned him to jail instead.

Mr Vanunu spent 18 years in jail for revealing the existence of the clandestine Israeli nuclear programme.

Before being led away he shouted "You didn't get anything from me in 18 years; you won't get anything in 3 months. Shame on you, Israel."

He was arrested on suspicion that he met foreigners, violating conditions of his 2004 release from jail.

His lawyer said his arrest was because of his relationship with his Norwegian girlfriend, not for revealing secrets.

After his release from prison in 2004, the Israeli authorities banned Mr Vanunu from speaking to foreign media and travelling abroad.

In 2007, Mr Vanunu, a Jewish convert to Christianity, was sentenced to six months in prison for breaking the conditions of his parole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLposShsDIo
Eoin Mulligan interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onBxFkA_ETk
Pat McEneaney interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Su_cjoq3GE
Joe McMahon interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCUVKE1mYN0
And a bit of craic at Casement..................

All videoes by Jerome Quinn

Tyrone's Justin McMahon is the BBC man of the match

Full time score:

Antrim 1-13   Tyrone 2-14

Mc Gourthey points for Antrim 2 minutes into injury time

Tommy Mc Guigan with a good point from play.
5 between them with a minute left.

Sean Cavanagh scores a free.

4 between them now with 2 minutes of normal time left

Mc Gourthey with a point for Antrim

3 between them now with 4 minutes left

Antrim 1-11   Tyrone 2-12

Penrose with another free

5 minutes left

Cunningham hits his 5th point.

1 goal between the teams with 7 minutes left.

Niblock hits the net for Antrim.

Antrim 1-10  Tyrone 2-11

55 minutes gone

Sean O'Neill and Peter Harte on for Dooher and Ryan Mc Meniman

Penrose scores a free for Tyrone

Antrim 0-10  Tyrone 2-11