June 3, 2010, - 4:14 pm

Who Are Huwaida Arraf & Adam Shapiro? Gaza Flotilla Leaders Sheltered “Mike’s Bar” Homicide Bombers

By Debbie Schlussel

A giant fact about the HAMAS Gaza Flotilla continues to be kept quiet by the mainstream media:

adamshapirohuwaidaarraf

Terrorists Adam Shapiro & Huwaida Arraf Led, Organized Gaza Flotilla

Adam Shapiro and Huwaida Arraf–the leaders of the “Free Gaza Movment” and the organizers of the HAMAS Gaza flotilla–and their organization harbored several Islamic terrorists and homicide bombers, including those who blew up a Tel Aviv Bar. They founded and head up the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).

In April, 2003, Shapiro and Arraf’s group, ISM, brought two Pakistani British Muslim terrorists into Gaza from Jordan under the guise of a fake travel and tours company. The men, Asif Muhammad Hanif and Omar Khan Sharif, spent the night with ISM and the next day at ISM’s Gaza office. Then, they blew up Mike’s Bar in Tel Aviv. Three Israelis were murdered and fifty were wounded in the attack.  Although a few Islamic terrorist groups, including Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, claimed responsibility, the two terrorists were involved with Al-Qaeda. Some sources believe that their martyrdom videos may have been shot by ISM or at ISM’s offices.  Shapiro, Arraf, and their ISM should have been prosecuted and put in prison for life at the very least for harboring the men who perpetrated the attacks, but nothing happened to them.

Nothing also happened to them when a month earlier, in March 2003, they harbored Shadi Sukiya, in ISM’s Jenin office in the so-called West Bank, along with two Kalashnikov rifles.  Sukiya was involved in several thwarted suicide attacks, including a planned suicide bus bombing in northern Israel in September 2002, another suicide attack in October 2002, and a planned suicide attack with an explosive suitcase in February 2003. And he was involved in planting explosive devices and shooting attacks against IDF troops and Jewish communities in the Jenin area. Adam Shapiro and his organization helped hide this murderer and then defended those actions.

These are the people Adam Shapiro and Huwaida Arraf helped in their efforts to murder as many innocent civilians as possible. It’s the same type of people they brought over on the “peace” flotilla from Turkey.

And, sadly, the U.S. refuses to put these two on the no-fly list or prosecute them for harboring, aiding, and abetting Islamic terrorists in mass murder.  In fact, on Tuesday, Arraf was the subject of a disgusting, gushing interview by Paul W. Smith, the pan-Islamist, half-Lebanese host of WJR, the Detroit Rush Limbaugh affiliate.  (Smith was previously a guest host for Limbaugh on several occasions.)

I’ve written about these two–Shapiro and Arraf–since 2002, when they were engaged to be married (they have since tied the knot), and all of the western media–including FOX News Channel–was describing them as peace activists. As I noted then, in my column, “Jewish by Birth, Terrorist by Choice,” they are anything but. Here are some excerpts:

On January 29th, Shapiro and his Palestinian American fiancee, Huwaida Arraf of Roseville, Michigan, praised suicide bombers’ missions and “martyrdom” in the Palestine Chronicle. “This is no less of a jihad. This is no less noble than carrying out a suicide operation. And we are certain that if these men were killed during such an action [DS: homicide bombings], they would be considered shaheed Allah [martyrdom].”

In the same article, Shapiro and Arraf wrote of their support for armed struggle. “The Palestinian resistance must take on a variety of characteristics, both nonviolent and violent. But most importantly it must develop a strategy involving both aspects . . . . Let us reiterate, we accept that Palestinians have a right to resist with arms.” . . .

Adam and fiancee Arraf urged an armed struggle, they also praised “India militants” who attacked “while Gandhi conducted his campaign” and the violent cop-killer “Black Panther Movement” that “existed side-by-side with the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.”. . .

ISM’s views and activities, which can be seen at palsolidarity.org, are the epitome of violence, including, “We recognize the Palestinian right to resist Israeli violence and occupation via armed struggle.”

And that’s not to mention that Shapiro and Arraf hung out with Yasser Arafat and defended the Taliban. Sound like “peace activists” to you?

After writing the column, Adam’s crazy brother, New York lawyer Noah Shapiro, stalked me with harassing phone calls and threatened to sue me for daring to expose his brother’s predilection for violence.  There’s a reason Adam Shapiro was named the Guerrilla News Network’s “Guerrilla of the Week” in April 2002.

Arraf, a Christian Arab from the Detroit suburb of Roseville, majored in Hebrew at the University of Michigan. But she took Hebrew only to further her cause of helping Islamic terrorists against Israel. Shapiro was a counselor and top official for “Seeds of Peace,” the Islamic-Jewish moral equivalency summer camp in New England, the alumni of which include many Islamic terrorists.

As I frequently tell people, not all Christian Arabs are the good guys. In fact, many are not, as they have chosen–a la Huwaida Arraf–to be the water-carriers and warrior-dhimmis for Islam and its terrorists. But, if tomorrow, they took over, Arraf would be the first one they’d slaughter.

In 2002, a number of Islamic terrorists involved in homicide bombings and slaughter of American and Israeli civilians and soldiers hid in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Adam Shapiro’s and Huwaida Arraf’s group helped them. When the terrorists left and were, unfortunately, given safe passage to and freedom in Cyprus, they left behind a lot of garbage in the church, including used condoms.

I wondered if Ms. Arraf and her ISM followers gave the terrorists the opportunity to use the condoms.

Either way, this woman and her equally sleazy husband have figuratively “serviced” Islamic terrorists for almost a decade. And that includes the HAMAS Gaza flotilla.

If Gaza flotilla organizers Adam Shapiro and Huwaida Arraf are so “peaceful,” why did they give shelter to Islamic terrorists who blew innocent people up?

And why on earth would Israel give them free and easy passage into Gaza? They may hold American passports, but they are terrorists plain and simple. Or, in Barack Obama lexicon, terrorist “community organizers.”




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74 Responses

Shapiro sounds like a Hebrew name. Is he Jewish?
If so, he is against his own people and an enemy of Israel who must be dealt with properly. Hope no means are spared for the defense of Israel.

Anonee Moose on June 3, 2010 at 4:37 pm

Wonder if they were friends with Rachel Corrie.

cirrus1701 on June 3, 2010 at 4:55 pm

Yes, Shapiro is Jewish! It just kills me to see blind Hebrews (Daniel Pearl’s stupid father).

As goes Israel - so goes the World on June 3, 2010 at 5:03 pm

Interestingly, the bar mentioned – Mike’s Place – which was suicide bombed in Tel Aviv is RIGHT NEXT DOOR to the American Embassy… Coincidence?

The Caped Crusader on June 3, 2010 at 5:09 pm

not related to this but i was watching glee where a pregnant girl was realizing how hard it must be to be black, and rascism and stuff and the black girl had a kefiyah that arab scarf thing around her neck!!!

southern belle on June 3, 2010 at 5:34 pm

    Has she any idea how Arabs treat Blacks?

    Miranda Rose Smith on June 4, 2010 at 4:45 am

I would like to see THEM be on the receiving end of the same terrorism they’ve perpetrated. Their extinction would be a boon to mankind.

In my opinion, evil people like Adam Shapiro & Huwaida Arraf are too dangerous to be allowed to live. I hope some day they get their just desserts and a one way ticket to Hell.

NormanF on June 3, 2010 at 5:44 pm

Shapiro is an atheist.

EM on June 3, 2010 at 5:46 pm

man those are two UGLY looking terrorists!!!!!!

BIG IRISH on June 3, 2010 at 6:29 pm

The Torquemadas are our worst enemy. Always have been and always will be.

ShmeeAvram on June 3, 2010 at 6:31 pm

I have heard this Shapiro give a speech to our local lefty radio station about how he is only trying to provide humanitarian aid and that the bad Israelis are not letting him accomplish this peace mission. I am just wondering why is this guy allowed to cause this much trouble? I think that Israel needs to take the gloves off on this clowm and other islamists who threaten the state of Israel.

Mr. M on June 3, 2010 at 7:14 pm

Palestinians must be Dumb. Why send money you could use here to make a better life for you and your family? Hezbo doesn’t need any money Iran takes care of them.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/06/03/ohio.hezbollah.couple/

Palestinians must be Dumb on June 3, 2010 at 7:55 pm

ISM are on every USA campus convincing YOUR child to be the next Rachel Corrie

Isahiah62 on June 3, 2010 at 8:07 pm

ugh.. Huwaida Arraf used to sit in front of me in 2005 during my evidence class at Washington College of Law American University. Her screen savers were all pro palestinian and she was all about ending the occupation. Needless to say, my evidence class did not go by any quicker with her horrid (biased) screen savers and the pro terrorist anti semitic websites she used to browse during lectures.

muslimsmarrycousins on June 3, 2010 at 8:13 pm

Debbie, I thought IHH had organized this flotilla. What is the relationship between IHH and ISM?

skzion on June 3, 2010 at 8:40 pm

The fact that Israelis are poor and bad at PR is pretty confounding. Debbie we should move there and straighten things out.

A1 on June 3, 2010 at 8:51 pm

    @A1
    That’s funny considering they “own” Hollywood. Oh wait, it’s all the libtard one’s who think Israel isn’t cool enough for them to hang with…they’re just not ghetto enough I guess 😉

    …yes i’m trying to be sarcastic…

    theShadow on June 3, 2010 at 9:24 pm

      Yes, I meant Israel isn’t ghetto enough for the Hollyweird libs. You know, like Palestine!

      …sigh…
      i should try to be more clear next time

      theShadow on June 3, 2010 at 9:45 pm

Mike’s Bar used to be the most chill place to hang out and listen to great music. A very peaceful place! These two should be water-boarded for their useful intel!

Steve on June 3, 2010 at 8:57 pm

Shapiro? I’m thinking to myself: that’s a Jewish name. Why would a Jewish guy sell out his people?
Probably the same reason many Russians, French, German Catholics, Danes etc., yes even Poles and Jews sold out to the NAZI’s. The same reason your politicians sell out to special interest groups like CAIR. It’s all about selfish self interest. Who gives a crap about the rest of humanity.
Did he do it for her? Blind idiot…her face looks like it was pasted together from all the wrong parts…shows you what happens when cousins marry.

theShadow on June 3, 2010 at 9:13 pm

Another excellent post, Debbie.

I also second NormanF at 5:44 pm.

JeffE on June 3, 2010 at 9:40 pm

she is the simply the enemy, he has turned his back on his people, (disloyal), is stupid, and takes rank with the 5th column, which makes him more insidious and dangerous. being merely an armchair general, were i setting fourth strategy, for him i would go with a 7.62 to the medulla oblongatta, for her, a smaller cal.

F-22 on June 3, 2010 at 10:03 pm

So that’s what happened to Igor from Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”! He married Adam Shapiro! Little ol bug-eyes.

Dear Debbie, PLEASE POST the martyr photos that were on Turkish coffins adorned with Hamas flags. They were shown briefly on the nightly news but i can’t find any online. This is unequivocal evidence that those killed, planned on that outcome and are responsible for their deaths.

Craig on June 3, 2010 at 10:52 pm

Where are all the weapons found on the flotilla (9 civilians dead defending an intruder on their ship)and the line we are told is Israel has a right to defend itself whether there is an actual threat or not…By that logic..the next time a burgular breaks into your home and you decide to defend yourself and use aggression you should think twice about it becasue you may hurt him and get blamed for catching the burgular off guard.”Just kill the Arabs” should be the motto of Israel…America’s Friend and the only democracy in the region they say…how about the video confiscated from the ship’s media on board, are we going to get to see that footage or is it too incriminating and we should settle for IDF video only?? A TRUE democracy has nothing to hide and does not control what is seen and what is not, it’s bedrock is freedom of press and let the people decide..Don’t ever think that the joke of a democracy called Israel is anywhere in the same league as our great nation..and as far as loyality..well time will show whether your American or Israeli first…keep up your hate and self destruction.

Commonsense on June 3, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    @Commononsense, who broke international law?
    It wasn’t the innocents aboard the Turkeyish ships was it?
    Oh wait, yes, it was! Any other nation would have sunk their ssss’s to the bottom, period.
    Note to Israelis: sink on sight
    dead men (I’m using the term ‘men’ loosely here) tell no tales
    Drop them bastards to the bottom and ask questions later.
    interrigation=
    …..gurrrrgle…gurrrgle

    theShadow on June 4, 2010 at 12:47 am

Common, You’re a dip shit…

hill billy on June 3, 2010 at 11:00 pm

Case in point…thank you for your kind words Mr. Hill Billy..just like your host who preys on immature ignorant parts of our society that answer with such kind words, it doesn’t take much to bring you out of the woods either

Commonsense on June 3, 2010 at 11:12 pm

    You are common and you make no sense. Your name says IT ALL!

    But thanks for giving me a chance to pray for your poor tormented soul.

    Sewsalot on June 4, 2010 at 7:08 pm

You got the ignorant part right, society would be a stretch. the world saw enough videos. the burglers in this case are hamas lying about being peace activists.

hill billy on June 3, 2010 at 11:33 pm

that piece of work shapiro was on foxnews the other day lying thru his teeth as usual.

Bill on June 4, 2010 at 12:00 am

The biggest question here is can he not see how damn uglee that beatch is?

Bill on June 4, 2010 at 12:08 am

I believe on FOXNEWS Shapiro said that she was on one of the other boats not the one the trouble was on and the BS he told were what she witnessed watching from that other boat.

Bill on June 4, 2010 at 12:13 am

Once again, Debbie, you have proven that you are the resident expert in terrorism. I admire you greatly! Thanks for everything you do.

Naomi Litvin on June 4, 2010 at 12:14 am

@theShadow
Shapiro? I’m thinking to myself: that’s a Jewish name. Why would a Jewish guy sell out his people?

SAME DISGUSTING PIECE OF FECES AS GEORGE SOROS NOW BILLIONAIRE LEFTIST WHO GOT HIS FIRST CASH STEALING JEWS PROPERTY AS HE TURNED THEM IN TO THE NAZIS!

Bill on June 4, 2010 at 12:19 am

@Bill on June 4, 2010 at 12:19 am

Exactly, there’s scum in every nation, every city, every neighbourhood, every part of society that will do anything for their own profit, no matter how trivial.
My parents are Polish WWII survivors and the stories they tell about some of their own neighbours is shocking. For instance, folks lying just to score brownie points with the NAZI’s, like a neighbour who almost sent a whole village to a concentration camp by telling the Germans they were aiding the partisans, a crime punishable by death. Luckily for the townspeople the commandant, after his interrigations (my grandmother being one) saw through the mans lies and had him hanged instead.
Seems odd, when of the two, the enemy is the better man, at least for the moment.

theShadow on June 4, 2010 at 1:29 am

Then, they blew up Mike’s Bar in Tel Aviv

It’s Mike’s PLACE. Shabbat Shalom.

Miranda Rose Smith on June 4, 2010 at 3:21 am

Now watch this – the mission statement of the flotilla, as they define it themselves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjfrNqhs19s

Sabidabi on June 4, 2010 at 5:04 am

@commonsense; thanks for a great idea. I’m going to make up a bunch of bumper stickers that say “Kill a Muslim for Peace” Should be a great seller at the local flea market.

kenny komodo on June 4, 2010 at 5:49 am

This was just passed down to me, “MV Rachel Corrie has changed its course to Turkey, Turkish army men are going on board and the ship will be escorted to Gaza with Turkish navy warship and the Turkish air force.”

Atlee Yarrow on June 4, 2010 at 6:10 am

Debbie,

You typically spread horrible lies.

What proof do you have that these two were harboring the terrorists that blew up Mike’s Pub in Tel Aviv?

Stealthjihad on June 4, 2010 at 7:19 am

Thank you, Debbie. Once again you prove what an invaluable resource you and your site are. Thank you for giving us the facts and background that so few know, or bother to share. I’ll continue to be spreading this information widely.

Keep up the great work!

David on June 4, 2010 at 9:33 am

Israel continues to suppress evidence related to the raid, releasing only a heavily edited video that does not address some of the most important questions. If Israel has the moral and legal high ground, why does is it afraid to release the full video and why did it confiscate the videos and pictures taken by the passengers on the flotilla?

Remember James O’Keefe and his ACORN video? The full, unedited video revealed that the reality was exactly the opposite of what his heavily-edited production claimed.

Clark on June 4, 2010 at 10:50 am

This shapiro will be the first they will butcher after he is no longer useful, what a traitor . By the way O bama has really screwed up the balance of power in the mideast. His waffling has empowered all these moonbats states. He is humpty dumpty and if he wants to catch up to repair his multiple missteps he is going to cost more American lives. He has no International credibility.
Turkey figures yep Obama is a mark.

deserteagle on June 4, 2010 at 11:22 am

This is what’s wrong with this country and the world at large and the reason our nation and the world have apparently gone crazy. Ignorant people and those who lack even a modicum of it assign themselves online names like “commonsense” and then revel in their ignorance and anti-Semitism (Oh, hell! That’s too benign a term for their pathology – it’s Jew-hatred, plain and simple, Jews and white American men being the only two groups who can be relentlessly slandered and libeled without fear of the perpetrator being decried as racist, or worse).

Here is the legal substance of the Law of Blockade which fully legitimizes not only the Israeli blockade of Gaza (which categorically does NOT preclude the delivery of humanitarian aid) and the Israeli actions in response to a declared attempt to break it:

The law of blockade was derived from established international law and codified in the 1909 Declaration of London. It was updated in 1994 in a legally recognized document, the “San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea”. According to San Remo, a blockade must be declared and notified to all belligerents and neutral states, access to neutral ports cannot be blocked, and an area can only be blockaded which is under enemy control. All of these criteria have been met during the course of the Gaza blockade and, since the terrorist Hamas gang is the ruling entity of Gaza and Israel is engaged in armed struggle against them, the blockade is legal, according to all leading maritime legal authorities.

Furthermore, despite the fact that Israel intercepted the Gaza-bound fleet in international waters, her actions were still legal as under the law of a blockade, intercepting a vessel applies globally if a ship is bound for a “belligerent” territory. Gaza is indeed “belligerent territory” as the Hamas terrorists have openly stated their intention to destroy the State of Israel and have such a statement in their written charter and are openly attacking Israeli territory.

Moreover, Israel was completely within her legal rights to stop and board the vessels as their stated goal was Gaza, “belligerent territory.” Too subtle though for those who claim they possess “common sense” though is the fact the stated goal of the vessels was to break the blockade which, as outlined above has heretofore been deemed legal by the appropriate ruling legal authorities. Therefore, the organizers of the flotilla were the violators of international law, not the Israelis.

Israel was also within her legal rights to use firearms in response to an attack by knives, iron bars or other potentially lethal weapons as the Law of Blockade clearly states that the blockaders’ response to lethal attack is not limited by any so-called principles of “proportionality.” In other words, there is no limitation in terms of response to violent attack by the blockade runners. Only a stupid terrorist would bring a knife to a gun-fight anyway but, this was an obvious attempt to provide the “international community” an opportunity to once again criticize Israel for a “disproportionate response.” They have, of course not missed this opportunity to do so.

Any body who doubts the truth or accuracy of this legal assessment can turn off MSNBC, use your New York Times to its best utility (wrap some fish innards in it or line your bird cage) and read the international law themselves. Simply Google or Bing the reference above. Ninety-nine percent will not as they’ve decided it’s easier just to be told what to think rather than find out the truth.

Israel acted legally in this incident but, that notwithstanding the anti-Semites will ooze forth from the burrows, as our own Secretary of State has done to condemn Israel. This places Israel in the position of realizing she stands alone against the forces of darkness arrayed against her. She will respond according to this realization and, despite the Obama promise of peace, war will inevitably ensue.

May God bless and protect the State of Israel. May God save the United States from her abrogation of Leadership of the Free World. Without these two nations, there will be no “Free World.”

Tom in Michigan on June 4, 2010 at 11:30 am

holding up acorn as a paradigm of video victimhood kills dead an already flimzy argument…

hill billy on June 4, 2010 at 11:34 am

…and God bless Krauthammer….http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060304287.html

BLESS ISRAEL on June 4, 2010 at 12:26 pm

You should check out The Flotilla Choir “We Con The World” video on Youtube.

hermster on June 4, 2010 at 12:28 pm

@Tom in Michigan
Israel’s right to blockade Gaza is questionable because of Israel’s own official relationship with Gaza: it claims not to be occupying Gaza or to be at war with Gaza or to have any internal responsibility for Gaza. It also claims that it is not actually blockading Gaza. In 2009 the Prime Minister’s office said that Israel was imposing “sanctions” and that was in no way imposing a blockade. So if it’s not a blockade in the first place, how can it legally defend it as a blockade? (I haven’t read up on “sanctions,” but I am sure that there are legal conditions for them as well.)

I think the biggest problem Israel has in claiming the legal or moral high ground is that it keep describing the nature of its conflict in different terms, usually whichever term is most advantageous at the moment. So when being called upon to “lift the blockade” Israels says it’s not a blockade, but when trying to stop the flotilla Israel claims that it is a legal blockade after all.

I’m not claiming Israel does not have a right to defend itself, or that the flotilla was “peaceful” or much more than a publicity stunt. But I will not accept that Israel is automatically legally or morally justified in any action it takes.

Based on the reading I’ve been doing lately (yes I have read the San Remo Manual and several articles by legal experts with differing points of view), I disagree with your assessment, but I appreciate the information you’ve provided and your reasoning. However, you seem to be characterizing anyone who disagrees with Israel’s actions as anti-Semetic or Jew-hating. I don’t think that’s a fair statement to make and it does not describe me. One interesting thing that anyone with Internet access can find is that there is far more debate and questioning of the appropriateness of Israel’s actions within Israel than there is in the U.S., where there is near-uniform support for Israel’s actions.

Clark on June 4, 2010 at 12:29 pm

    Clark, the disagreement within Israel is limited mostly to the 500 or so Israeli readers of Haaretz and the Muslims that unfortunately are allowed to live there.

    The slippage you identify regarding San Remo relates to the attempt to apply laws of war to non-state actors. The laws of war relevant to state actors can’t even be applied to Gaza specifically because Gaza is not a state. However, Israel is free to slaughter stateless belligerents (like pirates and Fakestinians) that come to attack. These belligerents already violate laws of war by not dressing in military garb, by using human shields, etc., etc.

    The appropriate response to such a flotilla is to shoot it out of the water, then to implement measures that lead to the expulsion of Muslims from Eretz Israel. Alas, the Israeli government desperately wants Muslims around, in part to kill National Zionist Jews and to keep Israel from being too Jewish.

    skzion on June 4, 2010 at 12:44 pm

@hill billy,
I’m not defending ACORN, but O’Keefe created a video that depicted the exact opposite of reality. The unedited full video is available on YouTube. If you watch it and watch O’Keefe’s video, you can see how carefully and deceptively he made his edits.

I’m not willing to accept the IDF’s video as evidence of much of anything until it is available in an unedited form, and neither should anyone else.

Clark on June 4, 2010 at 12:33 pm

Surely Osama would spare Adam for his very West (Bank) Side Story Love Affair. It’s difficult to imagine a more exquisite example of race treason.

The Zionists are a conflicted bunch yet this Adam of suburban wherever USofA has earned the gold medal for his curious life mission.

Cuus Umaak on June 4, 2010 at 1:09 pm

Clark, ACORN is a lying, cheating, swindling, drain on society. Any videos of this organization, edited or not is tip of a dastardly iceberg.

Both sides had abundant time to film and spin and edit to suit their narrative on the islamic terrorist ship episode. After reviewing video interpretations from both sides of the issue, I conclude its the same pattern, different venue, islam attacks, Israel repells.

You are majoring in minor and missing the bigger picture.

hill billy on June 4, 2010 at 1:25 pm

Dear Debbie,

Thank you again for your divine work.Please see the following link, which demonstrates the kind of anti-Semitic slurs that those “Humanitarians” on that ship used in responding to the
communication contact from the IDF:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3899131,00.html

Zion-Israel on June 4, 2010 at 1:29 pm

@hill billy,
It was my understanding that the Israeli military confiscated all video equipment and photography on board the ships. If there is a video from the passengers during the fighting, or any unedited video from either side, I’d be interested in seeing it. Can you provide a link?

BTW, I never claimed ACORN was a righteous organization, but if you look at the unedited video, or read the report from the California Attorney General, you can see that what O’Keefe tried to portray (an organization assisting prostitution and human trafficking) was not at all true. I’m not posting here to defend ACORN, but to make the point that it’s very easy to present selectively edited “objective” video that portrays the very opposite of reality.

Clark on June 4, 2010 at 1:36 pm

@Zion-Israel,
I notice that the accompanying text says, “The IDF released on Friday an audio reproduction of the moments before Monday’s raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.”

“An audio reproduction”? What does that mean?

Is it merely a poorly written way of saying, “This is the audio from the moments before the raid”? A quick perusal of the site shows that it’s reasonable well-written and I don’t see other awkward or similarly poor English constructions.

Maybe it means what it sounds like: not the actual audio from the conversation… a “reproduction,” a re-enactment.

Having heard lots of radio communications, this recording sounds too perfect, too clear to be believable.

Again, I would welcome the chance to see or hear unedited recordings of the events.

Clark on June 4, 2010 at 1:46 pm

@Clark. Since you’ve addressed me directly, I will reply. My comments will be blunt but, I am replying with all respect to your rights to opinion and free speech. However, I find your reasoning specious, at best. You interpretation of what constitutes a blockade is convoluted and ignores both the legal facts and the facts on the ground. To whit:

1. Israel is NOT occupying Gaza. They left Gaza in 2005 in the foolish belief the Palestinians would accept this as an expression of peaceful intent. The Palestinians responded in typical fashion rampaging through the streets burning and looting former Jewish-owned buildings, especially synagogues. Thousands of missiles have been randomly fired into Israeli civilian areas since without the slightest bit of outrage expressed by either the cesspool-on-the-Hudson, the UN or “Peace” flotilla types. Israel’s “official relationship” with Gaza does not exist except to the extent a state of hostilities exists between the two entities.

2. The Gaza Strip is one of the territorial units comprising the Palestinian Territories and is in actual physical and administrative control of the terrorist organization Hamas, an Islamist terrorist group backed by the Islamist terrorist state of Iran which wrested civil and parliamentary control from its rival terrorist organization Fatah through the ill-advised elections in 2006 (some people are indeed unworthy of democracy, despite George Bush’s declaration to the opposite effect) and also took de facto control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority by violently removing the Palestinian Authority’s security forces and civil servants from Gaza. Hamas has stated from its initial charter its goal of destroying the Nation of Israel and has ever after acted accordingly. It is therefore, a “belligerent.”

3. “Internal authority” for Gaza is a moot point as Israel abrogated any authority upon its departure and the ceding of authority to the Palestinians (see #2 above to see how that worked out). The issue is not Israeli control but rather blockade of a “belligerent” entity. That entity need not necessarily be a “state” entity, under international law. The blockade must however, be a state action, which this one is, in order to be legal.

4. Denying this is a blockade almost defies a response because it is indeed a declared blockade which has been heretofore recognized as valid on that and other points I outlined above. Moreover, by any reasonable definition, it is a blockade in fact. On September 19, 2007 the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip a “hostile entity.” This declaration confers legitimacy to Israel’s right to blockade as she has the right under international law to blockade “belligerents.” Furthermore, parsing this as “sanctions” despite the wording of the first Israeli declaration of intent is mere word-smithing as the Israeli statement to which you apparently refer was, “…to restrict the passage of various goods to the Gaza Strip” – ipso facto, a blockade. Although I am generally not adept at analogies; arguing this is not a blockade is tantamount to arguing a war is not a war because Congress has not declared it so; Congressional declarations of war being the exception rather than the rule.

5. Human rights groups (however misguided) in Israel have indeed opposed the blockade. It is their right as they, unlike all their neighbors except the Iraqis (thanks to the United States and her allies) live in a democracy. I respect their opinion regardless of their numbers. It does not change mine.

6. Lost in all this, as the media in this country have completely ignored the fact is Egypt has also maintains a blockade of Gaza. This, of course is of no interest to the “freedom flotilla” ilk as their efforts have nothing to do with “freedom” but rather their intention to assist our terrorist enemies, Hamas while harming our friend and ally, Israel.

7. Please kindly provide the references to the “differing points of view” on this blockade. Assuming they are not from Islamist “legal scholars” or others with a specific axe to grind against Israel, I will read them and do my best to apply their assertions to my own analysis. If they are from any leftist anti-Semites don’t waste your time or mine.

8. Regarding anti-Semitism; the vast majority of Israel’s critics are exactly that (although, as I stated above I’m taking off the gloves and many are just Jew-haters, as far as I’m concerned until THEY prove otherwise. I, by the way am not Jewish lest you think my objections are based upon my own religious or ethnic background). Some anti-Semites take a softer or harder tone depending upon their individual courage or the courage of their convictions or, more commonly whatever approach they think will allow them to better pedal Jew-hating. In any event, anti-Semites, Islamists and all their running dogs and fellow travellers no matter how soft and squishy they try to present themselves are my enemies and, they should be yours as well.

Finally, if you are indeed not an anti-Semite as you claim, you should feel no need to defend yourself in this regard. If you are indeed not an anti-Semite, stop splitting sematic hairs and twisting the legal issue to fit your preconceptions and realize this is the beginning of an existential final battle for the State of Israel. I have chosen the side I will support and, it is the inevitable victor; Israel.

Bluntly but hopefully respectfully yours,

Cheers!

Tom in Michigan on June 4, 2010 at 2:28 pm

    Bravo Tom! Just like I told Debbie a few weeks ago… YOU ARE WELCOME in my camp or home anytime!!

    Sewsalot on June 4, 2010 at 7:12 pm

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