"Gaza's Ark" flotilla seeks to break blockade - from Gaza to Europe

[Scootaloo]

This discussion thread was locked by Lithos (a host of the Israel/Palestine group).

An ark is literally a large floating vessel designed to keep its passengers and cargo safe,” say the group preparing ‘Gaza’s Ark’. But their ark, they say, is “a vessel that embodies hope that the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip can soon live in peace without the threat of the Israeli blockade.”

An initiative by Palestinians in Gaza and international solidarity activists, Gaza’s Ark entails “purchasing a run-down boat from a local fishing family,” says Michael Coleman, a member of Free Gaza Australia and on the Gaza’s Ark steering committee.

“The refurbishing will be done by Palestinians in the port of Gaza, and the sailing will be with a mixed crew of Palestinians and internationals,” says David Heap, spokesperson for Gaza’s Ark in Canada and Europe. The sailing date has not been announced yet.

http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/03/now-gazas-ark-prepares-to-dare-israel/

In May 2013, our international solidarity campaign purchased a large fishing vessel in Gaza and work started immediately to convert it into a cargo ship that will carry products made in Palestine to buyers all over the world.

This is the idea behind Gaza’s Ark. Palestinian workers in the port of Gaza are rebuilding a vessel with the help of international experts to challenge the blockade from the inside out.

The work in the port of Gaza is helping to revive a boat building industry that has nearly disappeared due to the devastating effect the blockade had on fishing and shipping in Gaza. The work is planned to take a few months with the goal of having the Ark ready to sail this fall.

The money we are raising is being spent in Gaza, not as aid but as job opportunities and business transactions. Nearly all of the project’s three hundred thousand dollar budget will be spent in Gaza.

http://palestinechronicle.com/gazas-ark-is-different/#.Ud3Mc238J8E

Project's homepage: http://www.gazaark.org/

[shira]

1. Oh great, more Greta Berlin and her hateful Jew-bashing crew. n/t

[Scootaloo]

2. Thanks for your thoughtful input

Anything to say about the project at hand, though?

[sabbat hunter]

3. number of issues with the article

1) Israel's blockade is legal under international law, and their boarding of vessels trying to run the blockade was also legal. The extent of use of force is what the issue with the so called freedom flotilla.
2) contrary to the article, Gaza is not under occupation. Israel does have a right to control its own borders, allow or not allow items and people from in and out of Gaza to Israel.
3) Hamas won by about 30k votes, but not a majority of the votes. It then used force to take complete control over gaza.
4) the article fails to note that if it were not for attacks on Israel from Gaza after Israel withdrew unilaterally, there would be no need for a blockade.

[azurnoir]

4. Thanks for posting this ark will make a reverse run

from Gaza to the EU, wonder where Israel will arbitrarily set the limits this time

[Lithos]

5. Locking

This is really a press-release, not a news article. Also, over a month old.

When it sails, please post again.