Friday, September 17, 2010

The Audacity of Hope: the New Ship of Fools

The Free Gaza folk are at it again. Trying to raise $300,000 for an American boat to Gaza ("The Audacity of Hope") they organized a fundraising Gala aboard the Freda B and set off for a sunset cruise of the Bay.
Note to Paul Larudee : If you were able to raise $300,000, don't you think that money might be better spent building a school? Filling a library? Starting a day care center? Building a soccer field? Do you really think another Mediterranean cruise is the best use of your time and effort and money? Have you considered direct aid to the people? And the answer, of course is no. There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to the Bloomberg news, The Gaza economy expanded about 16 percent during the first half of this year . During a typical week, Israel coordinates the transfer of over 100 trucks carrying over 15,000 tons of supplies to Gaza . In 2009, more than 738,000 tons of food and supplies entered the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government excludes only only weapons and items with a military use from Gaza
The goal of free Gaza has never been to aid to Gaza. Many of the so-called "aid" ships have been found with nearly empty hulls , or carrying used clothing and expired medicine. The goal is to "break the siege", to open the waters off Gaza to Iranian weapons.

So on a beautiful Wednesday evening, Sept. 15 Free Gaza chartered a schooner, the "Freda B" to raise money for terror.
And they were met at the dock by ship of protesters. The group organized by Stand With Us/San Francisco Voice for Israel organized a "counter protest at sea", and held flags and signs "Free Gaza from Hamas" and "Yes to Peace. No to Terror" .

By all accounts, the protest at sea was a resounding success. Like the US marines, those that believe that the Jewish people have the right to self determination in their ancient homeland are determined to fight for Israel's right to exist "in the air, on land, and sea"

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