Turkish Forum

Month: June 2010

  • PM David Cameron: Blockade actually strengthens Hamas’s grip on the economy and on Gaza

    PM David Cameron: Blockade actually strengthens Hamas’s grip on the economy and on Gaza

    (Reuters) – Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron took part in his first question and answer session in parliament on Wednesday.

    UK

    Cameron formed a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats after an election last month failed to produce an outright winner.

    Below are highlights from the session:

    ON CUMBRIA SHOOTINGS:

    “I regret to report that a number of people have been shot and that at least five people have died. I can confirm that the body of a gunman has been found now by the police.

    “A full statement will be made to parliament tomorrow.”

    ON GAZA FLOTILLA INCIDENT:

    “What has happened is completely unacceptable, we should be clear about that. And we should also deplore the loss of life.

    “We should do everything we can through the United Nations, where resolution 1860 is absolutely clear about the need to end the blockade and to open up Gaza.

    “Friends of Israel, and I count myself a friend of Israel, should be saying to the Israelies that the blockade actually strengthens Hamas’s grip on the economy and on Gaza and it’s in their own interests to lift it and to allow these vital supplies to get through.”

    (Reporting by Adrian Croft and Matt Falloon)

    Reuters

  • Israeli lawmaker: No arms on Flotilla

    Israeli lawmaker: No arms on Flotilla

    A member of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) who was onboard the Gaza-destined aid convoy when it came under Israeli fire dismisses allegations that the Freedom Flotilla was carrying weapons.

    Haneen Zuabi, a senior member of the Balad party, was among hundreds of activist aboard the Freedom Flotilla, which was comprised of nine ships carrying thousand of tons of humanitarian aid for the impoverished people of the Gaza Strip.

    In comments following her release in the Ashdod port on Wednesday, Zuabi disputed Israel’s claims that the ship was carrying weapons for the Palestinian Resistance Movement of Hamas.

    “Our goal was to break the siege. We had no plans for a confrontation. Israel carried out a provocative military operation. Israel is used to doing as it pleases with the Palestinians. The main problem is not the ship, but the siege.” She added.

    On Monday, commandos acting upon direct orders from Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak stormed the aid convoy, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 50 others injured.

    The member of Knesset also said that Israeli forces were seeking to leave behind a high number of casualties.

    “It was clear from the size of the force that boarded the ship that the purpose was not only to stop this sail, but to cause the largest possible number of fatalities in order to stop such initiatives in the future,” Zuabi said.

    The assault sent shockwaves around the world, prompting two countries to withdraw their ambassadors from Tel Aviv and many others summon Israeli envoys.

    The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting in which the 15-nation body called for an “impartial, credible and transparent” probe into the incident and condemned “those acts which resulted in the loss of … civilians and many wounded.”

    HA/SBB/MMN

    Press TV

  • Israel Murders Peace Activists: Butchery at Sea

    Israel Murders Peace Activists: Butchery at Sea

    Considering yesterday�s news about Israeli nuclear submarines being stationed in the Gulf, the world must react quickly and severely. Israel is now officially mad and deadly.

    ————————————————————————————————————————————

    by GILAD ATZMON

    (May 31, 2010) As I write this piece the scale of the Israeli lethal slaughter at sea is yet to be clear.

    However we already know that at around 4am Gaza time, hundreds of IDF commandos stormed the Free Gaza international humanitarian fleet. We learn from the Arab press that at least 16 peace activists have been murdered and more than 50 were injured.

    Once again it is devastatingly obvious that Israel is not trying to hide its true nature: an inhuman murderous collective fuelled by a psychosis and driven by paranoia.

    For days the Israeli government prepared the Israeli society for the massacre at sea. It said that the Flotilla carried weapons, it had ‘terrorists’ on board.

    Only yesterday evening it occurred to me that this Israeli malicious media spin was there to prepare the Israeli public for a full scale Israeli deadly military operation in international waters. Make no mistake. If I knew exactly where Israel was heading and the possible
    consequences, the Israeli cabinet and military elite were fully aware of it all the way along.

    What happened yesterday wasn’t just a pirate terrorist attack. It was actually murder in broad day light even though it happened in the dark.Yesterday at 10 pm I contacted Free Gaza and shared with them everything I knew. I obviously grasped that hundreds of peace activists most of them elders, had very little chance against the Israeli killing machine. I was praying all night for our brothers and sisters. At 5am GMT the news broke to the world.

    In international waters Israel raided an innocent international convoy of boats carrying cement, paper and medical aid to the besieged Gazans. The Israelis were using live ammunition murdering and injuring everything around them.

    Today we will see demonstrations around the world, we will see many events mourning our dead. We may even see some of Israel’s friends ‘posturing’ against the slaughter. Clearly this is not enough.

    The massacre that took place yesterday was a premeditated Israeli operation. Israel wanted blood because it believes that its �power of deterrence� expands with the more dead it leaves behind.

    The Israeli decision to use hundreds of commando soldiers against civilians was taken by the Israeli cabinet together with the Israeli top military commanders. What we saw yesterday wasn�t just a failure on the ground. It was actually an institutional failure of a morbid society that a long time ago lost touch with humanity.

    It is no secret that Palestinians are living in a siege for years. But it is now down to the nations to move on and mount the ultimate pressure on Israel and its citizens.

    Since the massacre yesterday was committed by a popular army that followed instructions given by a �democratically elected� government, from now on, every Israeli should be considered as a suspicious war criminal unless proved different.

    Considering the fact that Israel stormed naval vessels sailing under Irish, Turkish and Greek flags. Both NATO members and EU countries must immediately cease their relationships with Israel and close their airspace to Israeli airplanes.

    Considering yesterday�s news about Israeli nuclear submarines being stationed in the Gulf, the world must react quickly and severely. Israel is now officially mad and deadly. The Jewish State is not just careless about human life, as we have been following the Israeli press campaign leading to the slaughter, Israel actually seeks pleasure in inflicting pain and devastation on others.

    ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED

    Other Top Stories

    Israel Murders Peace Activists: Butchery at Sea by GILAD ATZMON
    19 Killed As Israel Storms Aid Convoy by YOUTUBE
    Nuclear Whistleblower Vanunu: Shame on You Israel by HAARETZ
    Rahm Emanuel’s Father Specialized in Bus Bombings by WAYNE MADSEN (ONLINE JOURNAL)
    Assassination In Dubai: Israel’s Warning To World by GORDON DUFF (VETERANS TODAY)
    ‘The Time That Remains’ Presages End of Israel by GILAD ATZMON

  • BP faces criminal probe over oil leak

    BP faces criminal probe over oil leak

    Oil giant BP is fighting to secure its future as the US government has launched a criminal and civil investigation into the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

    US Attorney General Eric Holder announced the probe into the disaster after the oil giant suffered its biggest one-day shares fall for 18 years.

    Shares plunged by as much as 17 per cent at one stage on Tuesday, before settling around 13 per cent lower. That wiped £12 billion off its market value.

    The stock tumbled into the red after BP’s latest attempts to block the leaking oil well proved unsuccessful and amid mounting fears over the ultimate financial toll on the company.

    Launching the investigation which will involve the FBI, Mr Holder said: “We will closely examine the actions of those involved in the spill. If we find evidence of illegal behaviour, we will be extremely forceful in our response.”

    Though he would not specify which companies or individuals might be targeted, BP’s actions are expected to come under intense scrutiny.

    One analyst said the relentless oil leak – the worst in US history – has the potential to “break BP” if the well is not brought under control soon.

    BP’s “top kill” operation to cap the well with mud and other debris proved unsuccessful over the weekend and the company is now working on using robot submarines in the latest move to stem the flow of oil.

    ITN

  • Israel begins deporting Flotilla activists

    Israel begins deporting Flotilla activists

    Israel has begun deporting the pro-Palestinian activists it took into custody following the storming of an aid flotilla in international water heading to the Gaza Strip over the weekend.

    All 679 detainees taken off the ships, including some 40 Britons, are being deported within the next 48 hours. However, around 50 of the protesters will be held for questioning.

    Some 120 activists have already been bussed to the Jordanian border, where they were greeted by sympathisers. One Briton involved in the flotilla arrived back in Britain on Tuesday night.

    British Foreign Secretary William Hague said 31 British nationals and a further 11 with dual nationality are known to have been detained.

    At least nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed when Israeli commandos raided a six ship convoy on Monday.

    The raid has led to worldwide condemnation of Israel and to calls for its controversial blockade of the Gaza Strip to be lifted.

    ITN

  • Finland summons Israeli envoy

    Finland summons Israeli envoy

    Finland has summoned the Israeli ambassador to condemn a brutal attack on the Freedom Flotilla carrying aid for the Palestinians under siege in the Gaza Strip.

    State Secretary at the Finnish Foreign Ministry Pertti Torstila conveyed Finland’s “disappointment and concern over the increased spiral of violence in the volatile area” to Israeli ambassador to Helsinki Avi Granot.

    “Finland condemns the violent interception of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla on international waters and does not accept the disproportionate use of force against civilians,” AFP reported the Finnish Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement on Tuesday.

    Finland also called for “a reliable and thorough investigation” into the fatal incident by an “independent party.”

    The condemnation comes one day after Israeli commandos launched a pre-dawn assault on the six-ship aid convoy in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, at least 150km (90 miles) off the coast of Gaza.

    The Freedom Flotilla was carrying more than 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the impoverished Gaza Strip, where a years-long Israeli siege has pushed the people on the verge of starvation.

    RB/CS/MMN

    Press TV