Israel/Palestine
Related: About this forumTurkey, amid Islamization and anti-Semitism, fit for EU membership?
Posted on June 23, 2013 by Ben Cohen / JNS.org and filed under Opinion, World.
By Ben Cohen/JNS.org
Its a familiar pattern.
The citizens of a Middle Eastern state explode with frustration against their corrupt, repressive government. They gather for noisy, impassioned demonstrations in their capital city. The authorities react violently. Images of middle-aged women and wheelchair-bound individuals being tear-gassed, clubbed, and sprayed with water cannon race across social media platforms like wildfire. The protests then spread to other cities. The authorities step up their repression.
And then, inevitably, the countrys political leaders snarl that outside forces are stoking the discontent. Newspapers and websites are suddenly full of lists of American neoconservatives, illustrated with lurid graphics that superimpose the logos of organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) over pictures of demonstrations. No one needs to say the word Jew in order to know whos being referred to here.
So where is this happening? In Bahrain? Egypt? Tunisia?
Actually, no. What Im describing is taking place in a non-Arab, inwardly Muslim but outwardly secular candidate nation for European Union (EU) membership.
http://www.jns.org/latest-articles/2013/6/23/turkey-amid-islamization-and-anti-semitism-fit-for-eu-membership
King_David
(14,851 posts)''Among the new details that I found most striking:
1. The BBC uncovered footage showing passengers using tools to cut railings to create clubs.
2. The BBC also showed video of passengers throwing bottles, chairs, and other objects at the Israeli boats. They were unable to board the ship using boats so they were forced to use helicopters. From IHH activist Ergun Trabzon
As the Israelis came close, they threw their hooks onto the bottom decks. Our friends down there cut them off. From above we threw chairs and anything we could find down on them, and after a while they moved away.
3. An interview with a crew member of the Mavi Marmara said that 40 IHH activists took control of the ship on the evening of May 31st and restricted access to the deck. Israeli Maj Gen (Retired) Giora Eiland believes that these forty people were the troublemakes, while the remaining passengers were largely innocent, peaceful bystanders.
4. Two injured Israeli soldiers were taken captive. They had to jump overboard to escape their captures.
5. As for the cargo the "peace" activists wanted to deliver, this is what Jane Corbin had to say:
So what about the aid the IHH said was the reason for their mission? Some of it has arrived in Gaza from Israel and is sitting in a warehouse: mobility scooters, hospital beds and drugs. But I found that two thirds of the medicines are out of date and useless.
What do the coordinators of the flotilla really think about the those who lost their lives? Don't take it from me. Listen to the words of Lubna Masarwa, Co-coordinator of Free Gaza:'' etc etc
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/08/19/894722/-Mavi-Marmara-Exposed-by-the-BBC#