Paul Larudee
Kathy Sheetz
Greta Berlin
Before you readers fall too deeply for the line that Israel attacked a bunch of peace-loving humanitarians en route to Gaza, and if you have not already been cured of that illusion by the videos showing what actually happened, you might like to know who is actually behind these flotillas. The two main players are the Free Gaza Movement based in El Cerrito, California and the International Solidarity Movement based in the East Bay area of California. They advertise themselves as peace-loving humanitarians who care so deeply for the poor Palestinians. In reality, their goal is linking up with the Palestinians and other assorted Islamists to bring about the fall of Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state. The other player is the Turkish "aid" group, IHH, which intelligence sources (including Israeli intelligence) believe has ties to Hamas and even al-Qaeda.
The three names you need to know are Greta Berlin, Paul Larudee and Kathy Sheetz of the International Solidarity Movement. These characters were involved in the first Free Gaza flotilla that arrived in Gaza in August of 2008. As their reward, they were feated by Hamas and their leader Ismail Haniya.
Larudee and Haniya
They also got a US Congressional Certificate of Recognition from California Congressman Mike Honda (CA) last January. Honda is running for re-election in California's 15th district. He is supported by that pseudo Jewish organization, "J Street".
This the same northern California crowd that tried (unsuccessfully) to boycott Trader Joes because they sell Israeli products. They also sponsor many speakers at university campuses to blast Israel.
http://www.sanjosepeace.org/article.php/20100202164111785
All three were involved in the this last flotilla that was intercepted by the Israeli Defense Force. Berlin became separated from the flotilla in Cyprus while Larudee and Sheetz were detained by the IDF.
The point is this; the people behind this flotilla are dedicated to bringing about the end of the Israeli state.
Sounds to me like you've documented that a whole lot of people with a whole lot of opinions are cheerfully using each other to advance their own respective agendas. Aside from the fact that you have some axes of your own to grind, it sounds like politics as usual to me. No, wait, your axes are politics as usual too. That's not even evil, per se, but don't pretend that your insights are more than they are, or these other folks are less than they are.
ReplyDeleteWould I enjoy shaking the hand of a Hamas leader? No, to my knowledge, they oppose the separation of church and state. Too bad a piece of the Palestinian cause fell into such hands. But, people do have to eat.
Siarlys,
ReplyDeleteI still say you need to cut down a bunch of trees so you can see the forest that is in front of you. These people are committed leftists who have linked hands with the Islamists.
There are no "committed leftists." There are some anchorless "useful idiots" who have no communist movement to attach themselves to, and have gone adrift and rudderless, swept hither and yon by any passing current that might grab them.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, this was the photo I mentioned later, in which Haniya has a look on his face that says "My, what a lot of useful idiots."