Friday, June 11, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO ANTI-ISRAEL WINDBAGGERY

As the charming miss Chou noted yesterday, San Francisco supervisors John Avalos, David Campos, Chris Daly and Sophie Maxwell introduced a resolution savagely condemning Israel’s interdiction of the Gaza Flotilla, and calling for President Obama to work to end the "siege on Gaza".

It is, as to be expected, a long and pompous screed.


FULL TEXT OF RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, San Francisco is the birthplace of the United Nations (UN), an international institution founded on the cooperation of all nations and dedicated toward lasting world peace; and

WHEREAS, San Francisco’s legal status as a City of Refuge is based on the recognition and understanding of our population’s unique relationship to international struggles and the overall principle that human life, whether here or abroad, has value and dignity; and,

WHEREAS, The San Francisco Bay Area is home to many people with ties to Israel and Palestine; and,

WHEREAS, People have a responsibility to speak out against oppression and historically, the San Francisco Bay Area communities have been at the forefront of speaking freely against injustice, taking part in humanitarian actions, and joining in solidarity with global movements for peace and justice; and,

WHEREAS, Since June 2007, the Israeli government, maintaining the need to protect its southern region against rocket attacks from Gaza, instituted a military blockade on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated regions in the world; and,

WHEREAS, The blockade, carried out by Israel and Egypt, collectively deprives the entire population of Gaza of adequate provisions of food, medicine and medical equipment, fuel, building material, and other supplies necessary for basic necessities and free mobility into and outside of the Gaza Strip; and,

WHEREAS, According to Amnesty International “rather than targeting armed groups, the blockade mainly hits the most vulnerable, such as children, who make up more than half of the population in Gaza, the elderly, the sick and the Gaza Strip’s large refugee population;” and,

WHEREAS, The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) states that the number of refugees living in abject poverty in the Gaza Strip has tripled since the blockade began; and,

WHEREAS, The UNRWA further states that these families lack the means to purchase even the most basic items, including soap, school materials, and clean drinking water and, according to the UN, more than 60 percent of households are currently “food insecure;” and,

WHEREAS, on January 8, 2009, the United Nations Security Council at its 6063rd meeting adopted Resolution 1860, on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors in File No. , which is hereby declared to be a part of this resolution as if set forth fully herein, which emphasized “the need to ensure sustained and regular flow of goods and people through the Gaza crossings” and “calls for the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment” and “welcomes the initiatives aimed at creating and opening humanitarian corridors and other mechanisms for the sustained delivery of humanitarian aid;” and,

WHEREAS, John Ging, the Director of the UNRWA Operations in Gaza in an interview with Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, called on the international community to take responsibility of the blockade and pursue “practical ways to break the siege” and Director Ging urged the world to send ships to the shores of Gaza, stating “We believe that Israel will not intercept these vessels because the sea is open, and human rights organizations have been successful in similar previous operations proving that breaking the siege of Gaza is possible;” and,

WHEREAS, The international human rights community headed by the Free Gaza Movement and The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), a Turkish nongovernment organization, organized the Freedom Flotilla consisting of six ships, including the MV Mavi Marmara, in an attempt to bring much needed aid to Gaza and provide pressure to break the blockade; and,

WHEREAS, The Freedom Flotilla carried approximately 800 international civilians from 40 different countries, five of whom were San Francisco Bay Area residents, representing all ages, genders, and religions. Notable people aboard the flotilla included an elected member of the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset Haneen Zoubi; internationally renowned Swedish novelist Henning Mankell; a number of parliamentarians from European and Arab national legislatures; Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan; and former UN Assistant Secretary-General Denis Halliday, who were aboard the MV Rachel Corrie; and,

WHEREAS, The Freedom Flotilla is the ninth vessel voyage of its kind to make its way to the blockaded Gaza Strip since 2008; and,

WHEREAS, The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) operating from warships and attack helicopters in the vicinity forcibly boarded the Freedom Flotilla in international waters on May 7 31, 2010, resulting in the loss of at least nine lives and injuries to over 50 other civilians; and,

WHEREAS, International law prohibits the interdiction of vessels in international waters 9 and a violation of this may be considered an act of war; and,

WHEREAS, On Friday, June 4, 2010, The Guardian (UK) reported nine Turkish men aboard the MV Mavi Marmara were shot a total of 30 times and five were killed by gunshot wounds to the head, according to Dr. Haluk Ince the vice-chairman of the Turkish Council of Forensic Medicine, which carried out the autopsies for the Turkish Ministry of Justice, and among those killed was a 19 year old United States citizen;” and,

WHEREAS, Members of the Freedom Flotilla included five San Francisco Bay Area activists, Iara Lee, a filmmaker from San Francisco; Katherine Ellipt Sheetz, a registered nurse from Richmond; Gene St. Onge, a civil engineer, and Janet Kobren, a retired school teacher, both of Oakland; and Paul Larudee of Richmond, co-founder of the Free Palestine Movement who told the Associated Press that he was beaten six times by the Israeli Defense Forces, receiving multiple bruises and a black eye; and,

WHEREAS, The Elders, a group started in 2007 by Nelson Mandela including six Nobel peace prize winners, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, former US President Jimmy Carter, detained Burmese leader Aung 1 San Suu Kyi, and former Archbishop Desmond Tutu, released a statement condemning the attacks as “completely inexcusable” further stating, “this tragic incident should draw the world’s attention to the terrible suffering of Gaza’s 1.5 million people, half of whom are children under the age of 18,” and describing the treatment of the people of Gaza as “one of the world’s greatest human rights violations” and that the blockade is not only “illegal, it is counterproductive” because it empowers extremists in the Palestinian territories; and,

WHEREAS, In a statement by the President of the United Nations Security Council, on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors in File No. , which is hereby declared to be a part of this resolution as if set forth fully herein, released after the attack on the Freedom Flotilla, he “stresses that the situation in Gaza is not sustainable… In that context, it reiterates its grave concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and stressed the need for sustained and regular flow of goods and people to Gaza as well as unimpeded provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza;” and,

WHEREAS, The Israeli government has attempted to control the information about the IDF attack on the Freedom Flotilla in such a way that a thorough and accurate accounting is extremely difficult; and, WHEREAS, The IDF’s claims that they were the victims of an attack even though it was the IDF who forcibly boarded the Flotilla ships from attack helicopters and warships in international waters at 4:30 a.m.; and,

WHEREAS, The United Nations Security Council has also referenced the IDF’s handling of the media surrounding the event as follows: “Given that those who had been on-board the ships were now in Israeli custody, including reporters who were travelling with the convoy, and had had their transmission equipment confiscated by the boarding Israeli forces, further information from the organizers of the convoy had been minimal since this morning. We have no independent information on what transpired;” and,

WHEREAS, As reported on Democracy Now on June 4, 2010, the Israel Defense Forces issued a press release two days after the assault saying that approximately forty flotilla passengers “are mercenaries belonging to the Al Qaeda terror organization;” and,

WHEREAS, Despite inquiries by independent journalist Max Blumenthal and other press colleagues to the Israeli military press office to substantiate these claims, no evidence was provided to back up these statements and the IDF has since modified their original headline “Attackers of the IDF Soldiers Found to be Al Qaeda Mercenaries” to “Attackers of the IDF Soldiers Found Without Identification Papers;” and,

WHEREAS, United States Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has called for an impartial inquiry on the Israeli raid on the Freedom Flotilla and the easing of the Gaza blockade; and,

WHEREAS, At least 50 countries have officially condemned or protested Israel’s actions against the Freedom Flotilla; several countries, including South Africa, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Turkey, have recalled their Ambassadors in protest; and international organizations, including the UN Human Rights Commission and the European Union, have condemned Israel’s attack; and,

WHEREAS, On June 7, 2010, Egypt announced that it would leave its border with 1 Gaza open for humanitarian aid and restricted travel, thus ending Egypt’s part in the blockade of Gaza; and

WHEREAS, 50 members of Congress have signed a letter authored by Congressman Keith Ellison, on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors in File No. , which is hereby declared to be a part of this resolution as if set forth fully herein, to President Obama expressing concern about the conditions in Gaza and urging his leadership in addressing the situation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the City and County of San Francisco denounces all forms of violence against civilians and encourages nonviolent solutions to humanitarian crises in the aforementioned region, and globally; and urges all San Francisco residents to engage in full and open communication and education about this issue; and therefore

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City and County of San Francisco hereby joins the global community including international human rights organizations, The Elders, over 50 nations, and thousands of Bay Area residents in condemning the Israeli Defense Forces’ military attack on the Freedom Flotilla on May 31, 2010 that resulted in the death of at least nine people including a United States citizen; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, The City and County of San Francisco expresses our condolences for families of those killed in the raid on the Flotilla and wishes a speedy recovery for those injured; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City and County of San Francisco urges President Barack Obama and Congress to strengthen their ongoing diplomatic efforts to create lasting peace in the region and call for an independent investigation into the events surrounding the 1 raid on the Freedom Flotilla and, in particular, into the raid itself, the use of force and rules of engagement by the Israeli Defense Forces; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City and County of San Francisco urges President Barack Obama and Congress to continue their work addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, actively seek an end to the blockade, and work towards genuine peace and security for all peoples in the region.

SOURCE:
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=76796
[Please note that the San Francisco Sentinel supports Israel, and frequently condemns the puffed-up pretentiousness that so often informs public discourse in Baghdad by the Bay.]


WRITE!

Feel free to let the supervisorial windbags know your opinion. Their contact information can be found on miss Chou's eloquent post, here: http://proisraelbaybloggers.blogspot.com/2010/06/condemn-israel-yet-another-san.html


The other supervisors, of course, also need to be advised. Their contact info likewise is available. Let them know that you oppose so fractious and divisive a resolution, and feel that in a city with major budget issues and societal problems there are far more important things that should occupy their time - that's why they were elected.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

HAMAS HOLLAND CHIEF SEIZED BY... JEWS

What the Dutch SHOULD have done years ago, the Israelis did this past weekend; they arrested a dangerous terror-supporter. A Dutchman. A financier of terrorism. A notorious Netherlander of Palestinian ancestry, who moved in the same circles as many "exemplary" Dutch citizens like Gretta Duisenberg, former prime minister Andreas (Dries) van Agt, parliamentarians Anja Meulenbelt and Harry van Bommel.


Here's the Telegraaf article:


Hollandse Hamasleider was erbij
Door Bart Olmer
AMSTERDAM - De Nederlander Amin Abou Rashed (43), die door Israëlische commando's is gearresteerd aan boord van de 'Vrijheidsvloot' voor de kust van Gaza, is volgens inlichtingendiensten een kopstuk van terreurorganisatie Hamas.


[Dutch Hamas leader was there - By Bart Olmer
Amsterdam - The Dutchman
Amin Abou Rashed (43), arrested by Israeli commandos on board of the "Freedom Flotilla" in front of the coast of Gaza, is, according to intelligence services, a head of the Hamas terror-organization.]


SOURCE: http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/6841211/__Hollandse_Hamasleider_was_erbij__.html?p=36,1


QUOTE:
Gisteravond laat maakte Israël bekend dat alle opgepakte zeshonderd buitenlandse actievoerders binnen twee dagen zullen worden vrijgelaten. Onder hen zijn twee Nederlanders: Rashed en Anne de Jong (29).

[Yesterday evening Israel announced that all arrested foreing activists will be released within two days. Among them are two Dutch people: Rashed and Anne de Jong (29) .]


QUOTE:
De van oorsprong Palestijnse Rashed heeft een Nederlands paspoort en opereert vanuit Rotterdam.
In zijn strijd tegen Israël verloor de Nederlandse activist eerder een arm. De Nederlander wordt aangewezen als een van de organisatoren achter de 'vredesvloot' door de officiële website van de Moslimbroederschap, een beweging die strijdt voor islamdominantie.


[The originally Palestinian Rashed has a Dutch passport and operates out of Rotterdam. In his fight against Israel the Dutch activist earlier lost an arm. The Dutchman is identified as one of the organizers behind the "Freedom Flotilla" on the website of the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization that battles for Islamic domination.]


NOTE: Rotterdam is one of the bastions of the European Arab community as well as the radical pro-Hamas activists in the Netherlands. The Muslim Brotherhood has been implicated in numerous terror attempts, terror attacks, and the financing and material support of terrorists and terror organizations. Tariq Ramadan, grandson of the founder, is the frequent apologist for their activities, although he maintains that he is not a terror supporter - many Europeans passively (or passionately - depends on their politics) allow him his plausible deniability. The Muslim Brotherhood is funded by rich Arabs in the Gulf, politicians and businessmen in many Arab countries such as Egypt and Jordan, and sluiced proceeds from the drug trade in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey.


QUOTE:
"Rashed is de leider van de Hamas in Nederland", zegt een inlichtingenbron. "Hij komt onder een alias, namelijk Amin Abou Ibrahim, voor in meerdere inlichtingenrapporten. Hij werkte voor de beruchte Nederlandse stichting al-Aksa, die werd verdacht van fondsenwerving voor de terreurorganisatie Hamas. Hij is ook zeer actief in de Stichting Palestijns Platform voor Mensenrechten en Solidariteit (PPMS)", aldus de inlichtingenman.

["Rashed is the leader of Hamas in the Netherlands", says a source. "Under the alias Amin Abou Ibrahim he shows up in a number of intelligence reports; he worked for the notorious Dutch Al Aqsa Foundation, suspected of raising funds for the Hamas terror-organization. He is also very active in the foundation 'Palestinian Platform for Human Rights and Solidarity", according to the intelligence spokesman.]


QUOTE:
Hamas heeft als financieringsbron wereldwijd islamitische 'liefdadigheidsinstellingen'. De Nederlander Amin Abou Rashed wordt genoemd in relatie tot de Holy Land Foundation, een beruchte liefdadigheidsorganisatie die in Amerika werd opgerold voor het financieren van Hamas.

[Hamas has, as their source of funds, numerous Islamic "charitable foundations" around the world. The Dutchman Amin Abou Rashed is named in connection with the Holy Land Foundation, a notorious charitable organization that was terminated in the United States because of their financing of terror.]


Unfortunately, the "tolerant" Dutch harbour many more people like him. According to many people in that country, such folks enrich Dutch society and provide a refreshing alternative point of view.

[All quotes above from this article: http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/6841211/__Hollandse_Hamasleider_was_erbij__.html?p=36,1]



In other news, from that same estimable source (De Telegraaf), we find out that some member of the Hamas Flotilla wished to die a martyr's death.


Turken Gazakonvooi wilden martelaar worden
ANKARA - Drie Turkse mannen die in de nacht van zondag op maandag omkwamen bij een Israëlische aanval op een scheepskonvooi, streefden ernaar te sterven als martelaar. Dat hebben hun nabestaanden woensdag gezegd tegen Turkse media.

[Three Turkish gentlemen who perished between Sunday night and Monday morning during an Israeli boarding of a ship convoy yearned to become martyrs. That is what their relatives told Turkish media.]

SOURCE: http://www.telegraaf.nl/buitenland/6845765/__Turken_wilden_martelaar_worden__.html?p=7,1


One of them prayed for years to become a martyr, according to his wife. The second was an adherent of a radical Islamic organization, the third worked for terrorist-linked IHH and reportedly had ties to AlQaeda.

I am so happy for them that they succeeded. Kudos. Many more. Dude.

GRETTA DUISENBERG

Anja Meulenbelt and her ilk are not the only anti-Semitic cretins in the Netherlands
Surely you remember Mrs. Gretta Duisenberg?

Let me refresh your ire by quoting that woman.


Gretta, talking about the abduction of the soldiers:
"Ik keur die ontvoeringen goed. Dit is hun (Hezbollah) enige manier om gevangenen vrij te krijgen. Wat me razend maakt is dat Nederland nu geen troepen wil sturen omdat ze bang zijn een jood te raken."
[Translation: 'I approve of the abductions, this is the only way to get prisoners released. What infuriates me is that the Netherlands doesn't want to send troops now because they're scared of hitting a Jew'.]


Gretta, talking about Hamas notable Osama Hamdan:
"Wat een vriendelijke man, hè? Je hoort gewoon dat hij meent wat hij zegt. Israeli’s daarentegen liegen altijd. Dat zie je aan die koppen. Schoften zijn het."
[Translation: 'What a friendly man, eh? You can just hear that he means what he says. Israelis, on the other hand, always lie. You can tell that from their heads - they're scum. ']


Lest you think that it is only neurotic swamp-trull gorgons getting their soiled knickers in a twist or spewing slime, here's ex-ambassador Jan Wijenberg talking about the recent conflict:
"...Israel is een terreurstaat en dit is het bewijs".
[Translation: 'Israel is a terrorist state, and this is proof'.]

That's a diplomat? Sheesh!


Both Mrs. Duisenberg and ambassador Wijenberg are leaders in the PPMS, a Dutch pro-Palestinian organization.

======================================================

ADDENDUM

There's a picture of human rights activist and Jew-hater Gretta Duisenberg together with Dutch Hamas leader Amin Abou Rashed and the Dutch ambassador in Cairo last year here:
http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/6841211/__Hollandse_Hamasleider_was_erbij__.html?p=36,1

The caption reads:
Amin Abou Rashed (rechts) zat vorig jaar in Cairo aan tafel met Gretta Duisenberg en de Nederlandse ambassadeur.
Foto: Floris Scheplitz

[Amin Abou Rashed (right) around the table with with Gretta Duisenberg and the Dutch Ambassador in Cairo last year.]

Looks cozy, doesn't it?