CiF Watch Special Report: Latest Assault on Israel’s legitimacy, ‘Air Flotilla 2′, April 15th,...

8/2/2019 CiF Watch Special Report: Latest Assault on Israels legitimacy, Air Flotilla 2, April 15th, 2012

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CiF Watch Special Report:

Latest Assault on Israels

legitimacy, Air Flotilla 2,

April 15th, 2012by Hadar Sela


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CiF Watch Special Report: Latest Assault on Israels legitimacy, Air Flotilla 2, April 15th, 2012

Hot on the heels of the Global March to Jerusalem will come yet another event designed

to continue the assault on Israels legitimacy the April 15 th Air Flotilla 2 (also known asWelcome to Palestine) or flytilla as last years (Hamas approved)similar event was

dubbed.

Once again, the aim is to have large numbers ofinternational activists flying in to Ben

Gurion airport on one day in the words of the organisers as part of the challenge toIsraels illegal siege of Palestine.

There is no way into Palestine other than through Israeli control points. Israel has turned

Palestine into a giant prison, but prisoners have a right to receive visitors.

Welcome to Palestine 2012 will again challenge Israels policy of isolating the West Bankwhile the settler paramilitaries and army commit brutal crimes against a virtually

defenceless Palestinian civilian population.

The similarity of the methodology and rhetoric of this project to that of the Global March

to Jerusalem is no coincidence; several of the organisers and endorsers are mutual to bothcampaigns. In fact,Mazin Qumsiyeh recentlyput out calls for volunteers for both projects

on his blog, claiming that over 1,500 Europeans have already purchased tickets for April

15th whilst the overall target number appears to be 2,500.

Endorsers of the Air Flotillaincludeoccasional Guardian contributor andRight to Enteractivist Sam Bahour,Tony Benn (controversialpresidentof the Stop the War Coalition

which was involved in the GMJ) , Noam Chomsky (a GMJ endorser), Nazareth-based

former Guardian journalist Jonathan Cook, Free Gaza and ISM activist Hedy Epstein andPA Ambassador Manuel Hassassian (whose missionpromoted the Global March to

Jerusalem).

Also on board areRonnie Kasrils (a GMJ endorser),Nurit Peled, John Pilger,Jean Ziegler,

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb ( a GMJ endorser), Susan Abulhawa (a GMJ endorser), Ali Abunimah(whose electronic Intifada ispromoting the Air Flotilla), Mustafa Barghouti (a GMJ

organizer), Abdelfattah Abu Srourof the Al Rowwad Culltural Centre (which supported

the 2011 flytilla and the GMJ) and Desmond Tutu(also a GMJ endorser).

Mustafa Barghoutis Palestinian National Initiative was also an endorser of the Global

March to Jerusalem, as was The Siraj Centre (where Mazin Qumsiyeh is a member of theboard) and the Palestine Justice Networkwhich is currently involved in the organization of

the Air Flotilla. The Palestine Justice Network solicits donations through the InternationalSolidarity Campaign-linked Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement between People, of

which Qumsiyeh is head.

In April 2011 the Palestine Justice Network launched its One State Initiative and as can

be seen from the endorsements, many of the names also appear on the list of those
http://gm2j.co/https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:g0Q_6W_bJPoJ:www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hamas_e152.pdf+&hl=iw&gl=il&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgoSStDIjHAnDi_f5SYmyAbJRcyjqaSy1gDpch336P5PPeF3fAaQRrLZAZYbRlBUpgQ7cmRKiidSRZM_G_6GaihDNAkZqWXIMEC-ESJiiKUTEtljs7rTtfa9Obo4wGccmKtMuXy&sig=AHIEtbT0EydJnJ91rQU8lDTMRglJkjn4RQ&pli=1http://www.welcometopalestine.info/http://cifwatch.com/2011/07/04/next-hamas-supporting-stunt-by-western-activists-the-flytilla/http://cifwatch.com/2011/07/10/guardian-airbrushes-extremist-links-of-british-flytilla-participants/http://cifwatch.com/2011/07/10/guardian-airbrushes-extremist-links-of-british-flytilla-participants/http://airflotilla2.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/airflotilla-july-9-2011-haniyeh-praises-gaza-flytilla-campaign/http://cifwatch.com/2011/07/11/the-flytilla-a-cameo-appearance-by-bigots-and-extremists-within-the-anti-israel-campaign-in-the-uk/http://cifwatch.com/2011/07/11/the-flytilla-a-cameo-appearance-by-bigots-and-extremists-within-the-anti-israel-campaign-in-the-uk/http://londonbds.org/2011/07/24/welcome-to-luton-flytilla-heroes/http://londonbds.org/2011/07/24/welcome-to-luton-flytilla-heroes/http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3705:mass-international-fly-in-to-tel-aviv-to-visit-imprisoned-people-of-palestine&catid=372&Itemid=200272http://gm2j.co/mazin-qumsiyeh/http://gm2j.co/mazin-qumsiyeh/http://popular-resistance.blogspot.com/http://popular-resistance.blogspot.com/http://www.ipk-bonn.de/gesellschaft/news/2011123100.htmlhttp://www.palestinejn.org/http://www.palestinejn.org/http://www.palestinejn.org/http://www.righttoenter.ps/http://www.righttoenter.ps/http://www.righttoenter.ps/http://www.righttoenter.ps/http://cifwatch.com/tag/sam-bahour/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_NoEztr8dghttp://www.workersliberty.org/node/5030http://www.stopwar.org.uk/index.php/lindsey-german/836-how-we-met-lindsey-german-a-tony-bennhttp://www.stopwar.org.uk/index.php/lindsey-german/836-how-we-met-lindsey-german-a-tony-bennhttp://gm2j.co/tag/stop-the-war-coalition/http://www.gmj-na.org/mission.htmlhttp://www.israeli-occupation.org/2012-01-18/jonathan-cook-welcome-to-the-worlds-first-bunker-state/http://www.freegaza.org/en/boat-trips/passenger-lists/75-ninth-trip-to-gaza-in-may-2010/1178-usahttp://gm2j.co/2012/03/15/palestinian-mission-in-uk-promotes-global-march-to-jerusalem/http://gm2j.co/2012/03/15/palestinian-mission-in-uk-promotes-global-march-to-jerusalem/http://www.z-word.com/z-word-essays/franchising-%25E2%2580%259Capartheid%25E2%2580%259D%253A-why-south-africans-push-the-analogy.html?printhttp://cifwatch.com/cif-contributors/john-pilger/http://www.unwatch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=bdKKISNqEmG&b=1317489&ct=5321159http://electronicintifada.net/content/interview-everyone-can-help-welcome-palestine-2012/10706http://electronicintifada.net/content/interview-everyone-can-help-welcome-palestine-2012/10706http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dJxPKeSKtWohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dJxPKeSKtWohttp://mywaytofight.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/53-what-can-you-do-welcome-to-palestine/http://www.almubadara.org/english.phphttp://www.almubadara.org/english.phphttp://www.almubadara.org/english.phphttp://qumsiyeh.org/aboutqumsiyeh/http://qumsiyeh.org/aboutqumsiyeh/http://www.palestinejn.org/he/component/content/section/4http://www.palestinejn.org/component/content/article/47-ongoing/124-join-thehttp://gm2j.co/https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:g0Q_6W_bJPoJ:www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hamas_e152.pdf+&hl=iw&gl=il&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgoSStDIjHAnDi_f5SYmyAbJRcyjqaSy1gDpch336P5PPeF3fAaQRrLZAZYbRlBUpgQ7cmRKiidSRZM_G_6GaihDNAkZqWXIMEC-ESJiiKUTEtljs7rTtfa9Obo4wGccmKtMuXy&sig=AHIEtbT0EydJnJ91rQU8lDTMRglJkjn4RQ&pli=1http://www.welcometopalestine.info/http://cifwatch.com/2011/07/04/next-hamas-supporting-stunt-by-western-activists-the-flytilla/http://cifwatch.com/2011/07/10/guardian-airbrushes-extremist-links-of-british-flytilla-participants/http://airflotilla2.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/airflotilla-july-9-2011-haniyeh-praises-gaza-flytilla-campaign/http://cifwatch.com/2011/07/11/the-flytilla-a-cameo-appearance-by-bigots-and-extremists-within-the-anti-israel-campaign-in-the-uk/http://londonbds.org/2011/07/24/welcome-to-luton-flytilla-heroes/http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3705:mass-international-fly-in-to-tel-aviv-to-visit-imprisoned-people-of-palestine&catid=372&Itemid=200272http://gm2j.co/mazin-qumsiyeh/http://popular-resistance.blogspot.com/http://www.ipk-bonn.de/gesellschaft/news/2011123100.htmlhttp://www.palestinejn.org/http://www.righttoenter.ps/http://cifwatch.com/tag/sam-bahour/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_NoEztr8dghttp://www.workersliberty.org/node/5030http://www.stopwar.org.uk/index.php/lindsey-german/836-how-we-met-lindsey-german-a-tony-bennhttp://gm2j.co/tag/stop-the-war-coalition/http://www.gmj-na.org/mission.htmlhttp://www.israeli-occupation.org/2012-01-18/jonathan-cook-welcome-to-the-worlds-first-bunker-state/http://www.freegaza.org/en/boat-trips/passenger-lists/75-ninth-trip-to-gaza-in-may-2010/1178-usahttp://gm2j.co/2012/03/15/palestinian-mission-in-uk-promotes-global-march-to-jerusalem/http://www.z-word.com/z-word-essays/franchising-%25E2%2580%259Capartheid%25E2%2580%259D%253A-why-south-africans-push-the-analogy.html?printhttp://cifwatch.com/cif-contributors/john-pilger/http://www.unwatch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=bdKKISNqEmG&b=1317489&ct=5321159http://electronicintifada.net/content/interview-everyone-can-help-welcome-palestine-2012/10706http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dJxPKeSKtWohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dJxPKeSKtWohttp://mywaytofight.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/53-what-can-you-do-welcome-to-palestine/http://www.almubadara.org/english.phphttp://qumsiyeh.org/aboutqumsiyeh/http://qumsiyeh.org/aboutqumsiyeh/http://www.palestinejn.org/he/component/content/section/4http://www.palestinejn.org/component/content/article/47-ongoing/124-join-the


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supporting or organising the Welcome to Palestine campaign, as well as on the list of

signatories of the Stuttgart Declaration.

In short, as was the case with the organisers of the Global March to Jerusalem, the Air

Flotilla initiators are united by their rejection of the internationally-accepted route ofnegotiations aimed at leading to a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Their aimis an imposed one-state solution which would result in the end of self-determination for

the Jewish people.

A list of foreign organisations endorsing the Air Flotilla predominantly from the United

Kingdom can be seenhere. Among the individual endorsers isMaha Rahwanji of thePalestine Solidarity Campaign executive committee. The PSC was of course heavily

involved in the organization of the Global March to Jerusalem. Something ofRahwanjis

mindset can beunderstood from herTwittertimeline.

Unsurprisingly, the Iranian regime-linked Islamic Human Rights Commission based in

the UK is alsopromoting the Welcome to Palestine project, as is Irans Press TV

according to which [t]his year, the Welcome to Palestine movement aims to overwhelmIsraeli officials by its sheer number of members.
http://www.propagandistmag.com/2011/07/15/without-hijab-and-kassamhttp://www.propagandistmag.com/2011/07/15/without-hijab-and-kassamhttp://welcometopalestine.info/index.php/wtp-2012-endorsementshttp://welcometopalestine.info/index.php/wtp-2012-endorsementshttp://hurryupharry.org/2011/09/14/brent-psc-founder-psc-executive-committee-member-and-fake-jews/http://hurryupharry.org/2011/09/14/brent-psc-founder-psc-executive-committee-member-and-fake-jews/https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:RmHDQb2kP9YJ:palestinecampaign.org/images/newsmagazine/Palestine%2520NewsSpring%25202010.pdf+maha+rahwanji&hl=iw&gl=il&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi8jUNTFgYQJ-qTPUypyxIWH2f6Y59Kr5hZsnnFD0MjC8_ZReOGE1yzsUEEWqARyJXRlOGc9fHrqDXSbQz6kMr713uA00UvXkpIAwqAinRhVURoa4ZKFBHLtfDt1NXwthvuv7yU&sig=AHIEtbSQqkLCe3TIXxRGh8GrWF3bBxuDUQhttp://gm2j.co/palestine-solidarity-campaign/http://gm2j.co/palestine-solidarity-campaign/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/31/gaza-protesters-friends-boat-israelhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/31/gaza-protesters-friends-boat-israelhttp://pscextremists.blogspot.com/2011/12/maha-rahwanji.htmlhttp://pscextremists.blogspot.com/2011/12/maha-rahwanji.htmlhttps://twitter.com/#!/mahmuhihttps://twitter.com/#!/mahmuhihttp://ihrc.org.uk/activities/alerts/9911-forwarded-alert-global-join-the-welcome-to-palestine-2012-international-inititivehttp://www.presstv.ir/detail/226248.htmlhttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/massive.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/brad.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/zf.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/linguist.jpghttp://www.propagandistmag.com/2011/07/15/without-hijab-and-kassamhttp://welcometopalestine.info/index.php/wtp-2012-endorsementshttp://hurryupharry.org/2011/09/14/brent-psc-founder-psc-executive-committee-member-and-fake-jews/https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:RmHDQb2kP9YJ:palestinecampaign.org/images/newsmagazine/Palestine%2520NewsSpring%25202010.pdf+maha+rahwanji&hl=iw&gl=il&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi8jUNTFgYQJ-qTPUypyxIWH2f6Y59Kr5hZsnnFD0MjC8_ZReOGE1yzsUEEWqARyJXRlOGc9fHrqDXSbQz6kMr713uA00UvXkpIAwqAinRhVURoa4ZKFBHLtfDt1NXwthvuv7yU&sig=AHIEtbSQqkLCe3TIXxRGh8GrWF3bBxuDUQhttp://gm2j.co/palestine-solidarity-campaign/http://gm2j.co/palestine-solidarity-campaign/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/31/gaza-protesters-friends-boat-israelhttp://pscextremists.blogspot.com/2011/12/maha-rahwanji.htmlhttps://twitter.com/#!/mahmuhihttp://ihrc.org.uk/activities/alerts/9911-forwarded-alert-global-join-the-welcome-to-palestine-2012-international-inititivehttp://www.presstv.ir/detail/226248.html


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Purveyor ofanti-Semitic cartoons Carlos Latuff presented a gift to the campaign:

The Welcome to Palestine campaign has no qualms about using the false and highly

charged canard of apartheid on itsofficial website in order to curry support.

Plans are underway to challenge Israeli apartheid during 2012 by having a large number

of international activists land in Tel Avivs Ben Gurion airport.

The campaigns supporting Twitter account described as anawareness campaign goes

even further, propagating lies and descending into anti-Semitic Nazi analogies.
http://jcpa.org/article/anti-semitic-cartoons-on-progressive-blogs/http://www.leedspalestineblog.org.uk/present-carlos-latuff-welcome-palestine/http://welcometopalestine.info/index.php/media-releases/11-everyone-can-help-welcome-to-palestine-2012http://welcometopalestine.info/index.php/media-releases/11-everyone-can-help-welcome-to-palestine-2012https://twitter.com/#!/airflotilla2http://airflotilla2.wordpress.com/http://airflotilla2.wordpress.com/http://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tweet-2.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tweet-12.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/flytilla.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/latuff-ben-gurion-cartoon.jpghttp://jcpa.org/article/anti-semitic-cartoons-on-progressive-blogs/http://www.leedspalestineblog.org.uk/present-carlos-latuff-welcome-palestine/http://welcometopalestine.info/index.php/media-releases/11-everyone-can-help-welcome-to-palestine-2012https://twitter.com/#!/airflotilla2http://airflotilla2.wordpress.com/


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http://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tweet21.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tweet18.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tweet16.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tweet14.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tweet-111.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tweet-10.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tweet-9.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tweet-7.jpghttp://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tweet-6.jpg


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The end-game of the Welcome to Palestine Air Flotilla is, however, revealed in this

Tweet:

One of the people operatingthe Airflotilla2 Twitter account and its online campaign in

general is Gaza Strip-born Ayman Qwaiderwho is currently resident in Spain.

Before leaving Gaza to study abroad, Qwaiderworked for the European Campaign to End

the Siege on Gaza aHamas/Muslim Brotherhood project which is headed by UK-basedHamas operative Mohammed Sawalha. Sawalha was instrumental in the organization of

both the 2010 and 2011 flotillas and was also one of the organisersof the Global March to

Jerusalem.

Ayman Qwaider haswritten for the PalestineTelegraph which is operated bySameh

Habeeb, who is also spokesman for the Muslim BrotherhoodsEuropean Campaign to End

the Siege on Gazaand connected to the Hamas-linked Palestinian Return Centrebased in

London which is proscribed by Israel. Last year Qwaider was active in the flotillacampaign on behalf of the Spanish Boat to Gaza, includinggiving a talkat a Spanish

university.

Part of the online support campaign for the Airflotilla2 initiative includes ane-mailcampaign aimed at members of Parliament.

Palestinians resist. The British Government, however, joins with Israel to isolate the

Palestinians while they are being dispossessed. The UK Government, for example, refused

to support the recent successful Palestinian bid to join UNESCO in the teeth of bitter USand Israeli opposition. The UK Government has also signalled it will oppose the

Palestinian bid for full membership of the UN.

When our governments endorse illegal Israeli occupation, concerned citizens need to take

action.

The main difference between the Airflotilla2 and the Global March to Jerusalem is that the

former is designed to appeal primarily thoughnot exclusively - to European audiences, asreflected in its campaigning andpublicity which includeswebsites and advertising in

various European languages.

FRANCE :[email protected] : [email protected]

SPAIN :[email protected]

ITALY :[email protected]
http://aymanqwaider.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/welcome-to-palestine/http://aymanqwaider.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/welcome-to-palestine/http://govinthelab.com/why-do-i-support-the-welcome-to-palestine-flytilla/http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2011/02/exclusive-interview-with-ayman-qwaider/http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=138096149587084&id=394711615354http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/ipc_e131.htmhttp://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/ipc_e131.htmhttp://cifwatch.com/2010/05/23/sailing-close-to-the-wind/http://www.ihh.org.tr/ii-ozgurluk-filosu-yoluna-devam-ediyor/en/http://gm2j.co/m-k-sawalha/http://gm2j.co/m-k-sawalha/http://www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/10396-for-culture-of-peace-and-recognition-palestine-is-a-unesco-member-state.html%20http:/www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/10396-for-culture-of-peace-and-recognition-palestine-is-a-unesco-member-state.html%20http:/www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/10396-for-culture-of-peace-and-recognition-palestine-is-a-unesco-member-state.htmlhttp://www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/10396-for-culture-of-peace-and-recognition-palestine-is-a-unesco-member-state.html%20http:/www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/10396-for-culture-of-peace-and-recognition-palestine-is-a-unesco-member-state.html%20http:/www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/10396-for-culture-of-peace-and-recognition-palestine-is-a-unesco-member-state.htmlhttp://hurryupharry.org/2010/08/13/fredrick-toben-in-the-palestine-telegraph/http://hurryupharry.org/2010/08/13/fredrick-toben-in-the-palestine-telegraph/http://hurryupharry.org/2010/04/21/the-palestine-telegraph-and-david-duke/http://hurryupharry.org/2009/12/06/the-palestine-telegraph-speaking-troof-to-power/http://hurryupharry.org/2009/12/06/the-palestine-telegraph-speaking-troof-to-power/http://hurryupharry.org/2009/12/06/the-palestine-telegraph-speaking-troof-to-power/http://ko-kr.connect.facebook.com/ECESG/posts/187715681260447http://ko-kr.connect.facebook.com/ECESG/posts/187715681260447http://ko-kr.connect.facebook.com/ECESG/posts/187715681260447http://ko-kr.connect.facebook.com/ECESG/posts/187715681260447http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/ipc_e171.htmhttp://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/ipc_e171.htmhttp://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/ipc_e171.htmhttp://www.rumboagaza.org/dia-de-solidaridad-universitaria-con-la-flotilla-de-la-libertad/http://www.rumboagaza.org/dia-de-solidaridad-universitaria-con-la-flotilla-de-la-libertad/http://coordin8.org.uk/app/index.php/mps/find_mp/w2p2012http://coordin8.org.uk/app/index.php/mps/find_mp/w2p2012http://coordin8.org.uk/app/index.php/mps/find_mp/w2p2012http://www.australiansforpalestine.net/53123http://www.australiansforpalestine.net/53123http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?307824-Bienvenue-Palestine-Call-for-Aid!http://www.facebook.com/pages/BIENVENUE-PALESTINE-GRANDE-MISSION-INTERNATIONALE-DU-15-AVRIL-2012/225117940884232http://bienvenuepalestine.com/?page_id=232http://bienvenuepalestine.com/?page_id=232http://www.psc-manchester.org.uk/?p=250http://www.kaosenlared.net/component/k2/item/7788-welcome-to-palestine-2012-en-el-estado-espa%C3%B1ol.htmlhttp://www.palestina-komitee.nl/agenda/637mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://commentisfreewatch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tweet23.jpghttp://aymanqwaider.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/welcome-to-palestine/http://govinthelab.com/why-do-i-support-the-welcome-to-palestine-flytilla/http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2011/02/exclusive-interview-with-ayman-qwaider/http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=138096149587084&id=394711615354http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/ipc_e131.htmhttp://cifwatch.com/2010/05/23/sailing-close-to-the-wind/http://www.ihh.org.tr/ii-ozgurluk-filosu-yoluna-devam-ediyor/en/http://gm2j.co/m-k-sawalha/http://www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/10396-for-culture-of-peace-and-recognition-palestine-is-a-unesco-member-state.html%20http:/www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/10396-for-culture-of-peace-and-recognition-palestine-is-a-unesco-member-state.html%20http:/www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/10396-for-culture-of-peace-and-recognition-palestine-is-a-unesco-member-state.htmlhttp://hurryupharry.org/2010/08/13/fredrick-toben-in-the-palestine-telegraph/http://hurryupharry.org/2010/04/21/the-palestine-telegraph-and-david-duke/http://hurryupharry.org/2009/12/06/the-palestine-telegraph-speaking-troof-to-power/http://hurryupharry.org/2009/12/06/the-palestine-telegraph-speaking-troof-to-power/http://ko-kr.connect.facebook.com/ECESG/posts/187715681260447http://ko-kr.connect.facebook.com/ECESG/posts/187715681260447http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/ipc_e171.htmhttp://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/ipc_e171.htmhttp://www.rumboagaza.org/dia-de-solidaridad-universitaria-con-la-flotilla-de-la-libertad/http://coordin8.org.uk/app/index.php/mps/find_mp/w2p2012http://coordin8.org.uk/app/index.php/mps/find_mp/w2p2012http://www.australiansforpalestine.net/53123http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?307824-Bienvenue-Palestine-Call-for-Aid!http://www.facebook.com/pages/BIENVENUE-PALESTINE-GRANDE-MISSION-INTERNATIONALE-DU-15-AVRIL-2012/225117940884232http://bienvenuepalestine.com/?page_id=232http://www.psc-manchester.org.uk/?p=250http://www.kaosenlared.net/component/k2/item/7788-welcome-to-palestine-2012-en-el-estado-espa%C3%B1ol.htmlhttp://www.palestina-komitee.nl/agenda/637mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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BELGIUM :[email protected] / et pour Bruxelles

(Brussels): [email protected] : [email protected]

USA:[email protected]

PALESTINE :[email protected] (school project) [email protected]

In the Netherlands, Electronic Intifadas Adri Nieuwhofappears to be utilising her

connections within the human rights/international aid community in orderto publicize the

project.

Several of the Airflotilla2 organisers took part in last years failed flytilla includingMyriam de Ly and David Dupire from Belgium and Mick Napierof the Scottish Palestine

Solidarity Campaign.

Events were held in Paris , Brussels and otherEuropean cities earlier this year to promote

the campaign.

The final speaker in the video Jaques Neno of the EJE (Les Enfants, le Jeu etlEducation) is also one of the projects organisers, along with George N Rishmawi co-

founder ofInternational Solidarity Movement (ISM), head of the International Middle East

Media Center (IMEMC), coordinator of the Siraj Centre and a former board member of thePalestinian Centre for Rapprochement between Peoples. As stated above, Airflotilla2 and

GMJ organizer Mazin Qumsiyeh is connected to both the latter organisations.

Neno tells potential participants that they should expect three possible scenarios. The first

is that they will get arrested. In that case, according, to him you have won because when

Israel puts you in prison it shows how it becomes more and more fascist.

The second scenario involves the activists being prevented from boarding their flights at

the point of departure, as happened in many cases in 2011, but which Neno appears to

consider unlikely this year. The third scenario is that they will reach their destination.

Obviously, provocation and bad public relations for Israel are yet again the real name of the

game and several factors suggest that this latest publicity stunt aimed at undermining

Israels legitimacy should not be taken lightly.

One of these factors is the date which, although originally planned to coincide with the

anniversary of the death of ISM activist Vittorio Arrigoni, is also the day after the end ofthe Pessach holiday when Ben Gurion airport will be particularly busy with a large volume

of travelers. For example, the UK airline Jet2 has added an additional flight to its usualschedule on that day which is probably aimed at returning Pessach visitors to Manchester,

but is likely to be used by Airflotilla2 activists from Scotland and the north of England.

Another factor is the unverified claimby Welcome to Palestine organisers (Palestine

Justice Network) that following the 2011 flytilla during which the majority of activists
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://electronicintifada.net/people/adri-nieuwhofhttp://www.nl-aid.org/continent/middle-east/interview-everyone-can-help-welcome-to-palestine-2012/http://www.nl-aid.org/continent/middle-east/interview-everyone-can-help-welcome-to-palestine-2012/http://www.nl-aid.org/continent/middle-east/interview-everyone-can-help-welcome-to-palestine-2012/http://www.scotsman.com/news/lewis_silversmith_73_in_israeli_jail_facing_deportation_over_protests_1_1741725https://twitter.com/#!/Myriam_De_Lyhttp://www.wherevent.com/detail/david-dupire-soiree-temoignages-palestinehttp://romaincourcelles.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/belgique-palestine-temoignage-de-myriam-de-ly/http://occupiedlove.blogspot.com/2011/10/join-welcome-to-palestine-2012.htmlhttp://www.europalestine.com/spip.php?article6904http://www.presstv.ir/detail/226324.htmlhttp://www.freedomflotilla.it/2012/01/25/benvenuti-in-palestina-assemblea-a-roma-con-sebastian-rodriguez-e-nicolas-shashahani/http://www.freedomflotilla.it/2012/01/25/benvenuti-in-palestina-assemblea-a-roma-con-sebastian-rodriguez-e-nicolas-shashahani/http://www.ejepal.org/lang-pref/en/http://www.palestinejn.org/http://www.lightstalkers.org/george_rishmawihttp://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/international_solidarity_movement_ism_http://www.sirajcenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=129&Itemid=60http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13088630http://palestinejn.org/palestinianspring/http://palestinejn.org/palestinianspring/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://electronicintifada.net/people/adri-nieuwhofhttp://www.nl-aid.org/continent/middle-east/interview-everyone-can-help-welcome-to-palestine-2012/http://www.nl-aid.org/continent/middle-east/interview-everyone-can-help-welcome-to-palestine-2012/http://www.scotsman.com/news/lewis_silversmith_73_in_israeli_jail_facing_deportation_over_protests_1_1741725https://twitter.com/#!/Myriam_De_Lyhttp://www.wherevent.com/detail/david-dupire-soiree-temoignages-palestinehttp://romaincourcelles.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/belgique-palestine-temoignage-de-myriam-de-ly/http://occupiedlove.blogspot.com/2011/10/join-welcome-to-palestine-2012.htmlhttp://www.europalestine.com/spip.php?article6904http://www.presstv.ir/detail/226324.htmlhttp://www.freedomflotilla.it/2012/01/25/benvenuti-in-palestina-assemblea-a-roma-con-sebastian-rodriguez-e-nicolas-shashahani/http://www.ejepal.org/lang-pref/en/http://www.palestinejn.org/http://www.lightstalkers.org/george_rishmawihttp://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/international_solidarity_movement_ism_http://www.sirajcenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=129&Itemid=60http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13088630http://palestinejn.org/palestinianspring/


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were not permitted to board their flights, [a]s a result of legal challenges, many European

airlines not only fully refunded the tickets, but also agreed not to repeat the incident. Inthe event that airlines will refuse to transport the activists, demonstrations are already being

planned.

The International Solidarity Movement in France is already very indignant regarding astatement put out recently by the French Foreign Ministryadvising its citizens not to take

partin the Airflotilla2.

The British government has similarly advised against participation in the project, but such

recommendations are unlikely to make much of an impression on these activists, as can beseen by the reaction of the French organisers.

We have no illusions about our leaders and the fact they eat in the hand of the Israeli

occupation. We know how they behaved in July, and more generally how they refuse to

apply international law and the principle of reciprocity, then they leave to enter France allIsraelis who wish, including criminals war. They do not even defend French diplomats

when they are humiliated, beaten or injured by the police or the IDF.

The method of intimidation will not work. Participants in the mission Welcome to

Palestine have the right, justice and morality on their side. And they are aware of theseriousness of the situation for the Palestinians, every day more persecuted and

dispossessed. They are not ashamed to go visit them. And to do head high, without lying,

without going into the game of the occupant, which would wipe out Palestine and thePalestinians.

Gentlemen of the Quai dOrsay, gentlemen of the government, history will record that youdo not have much dignity.

On the publicity front, the involvement of Ali Abunimah in this campaign means that we

are likely to see a far more intense level of activity, particularly on social networks, thanwas the case with the Global March to Jerusalem which Abunimah and others shunned.
http://www.ism-france.org/communiques/Mission-Bienvenue-en-Palestine-du-15-avril-Israel-menace-le-gouvernement-francais-complice--article-16815http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays/israel-territoires-palestiniens-12265/http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays/israel-territoires-palestiniens-12265/http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays/israel-territoires-palestiniens-12265/http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays/israel-territoires-palestiniens-12265/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/israel-occupiedhttp://www.europalestine.com/spip.php?article7065http://www.ism-france.org/communiques/Mission-Bienvenue-en-Palestine-du-15-avril-Israel-menace-le-gouvernement-francais-complice--article-16815http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays/israel-territoires-palestiniens-12265/http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays/israel-territoires-palestiniens-12265/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/israel-occupiedhttp://www.europalestine.com/spip.php?article7065

CiF Watch Special Report: Latest Assault on Israel’s legitimacy, ‘Air Flotilla 2′, April 15th,...

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