Breaking the blockade in the Gaza Ghetto


by Mordecai Briemberg

Canpalnet , the Canada Palestine support network , is raising money for

the Free Gaza flotilla  which is leaving ports in Cyprus this week to

attempt to break the  siege on Gaza. We are  sending along the original
letter sent out by Mordecai Briemberg  with accompanying information .

If you can—please send any contribution ,large or small made out to
Canpalnet 123 North Sea Avenue, Burnaby, B.C., V5B 1K4  and we will send
it along directly . So far  Canpalnet has raised 3000$ and this has been
used to buy cement and other materials .

THE SHIPS ARE SAILING

On May 24, 2010, the Freedom Flotilla sets sail for Gaza determined, once
again, to challenge Israel’s blockade of 1.5 million Palestinians trapped
in an open-air prison.  Three cargo ships are loaded with 5,000 tons of
reconstruction materials, medical and school supplies. At least five
passenger boats with over 600 people from 40 countries on board will
accompany the cargo ships.
These passengers include members of Parliament from around the world, U.N.
human rights stalwarts, trade union activists, as well as journalists who
will document the largest coordinated effort to directly confront Israel’s
illegal blockade of Gaza and take in basic supplies. This is the biggest
internationally coordinated effort to directly challenge Israel’s ongoing
occupation, aggression, and violence against the Palestinian people.

John Ging, the Director of Operations of the UN Relief and Works Agency
for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, has called upon the international
community to break the siege on the Gaza Strip by sending ships loaded
with desperately needed supplies to the beleaguered territory. Denis
Halliday, former UN Assistant Secretary Generaland participant in the
flotilla, has welcomed John Ging’s call to break the illegal siege.

The flotilla sails under the coordination of the Free Gaza Movement, which
consists of numerous human rights organizations, including the Turkish
Relief Foundation (IHH), the Perdana Global Peace Organization from
Malaysia, the European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza, and the Swedish
and Greek Boat to Gaza initiatives.
.

Canpalnet already has forwarded $1,000 to the Free Gaza Movement
specifically to purchase 160 bags of cement in Ireland that have been
loaded on the cargo boat, christened the “Rachel Corrie”, that is part of
the flotilla.

Send your solidarity donation to “Canpalnet” and mail it to: 123 North Sea
Avenue, Burnaby, B.C., V5B 1K4 and we will send it to the Free Gaza
Movement in one thousand dollar amounts as we receive them.

An Israeli government official has said in an interview that “about half
of the Israeli naval forces will participate in an operation [training to
prevent the flotilla from bringing supplies to Gaza]”. You already have
shown you “will not celebrate” such cruel actions. You are not a person
who needs us to detail the well-documented inhuman conditions imposed on
the children, women and men in Gaza.

We simply ask you, with respect, to sustain your support for justice, that
indispensable foundation for peace.

On behalf of Canpalnet,

Mordecai Briemberg

For further information, go to the website for the Free Gaza Movement:
www.freegaza.org


Adala – Canadian Arab Justice Committee is a Vancouver-based advocacy
organization working to build the capacity of interested Canadians to
better respond to the media and policy makers and to promote fair coverage
and balanced decision-making. Adala is a member organization of the
Canadian Arab Federation.

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