Abbas Calls Free Gaza Movement a Silly Game

The Free Gaza Movement is sending the Dignity on its fifth mission to Gaza with envoys on board from civil society organizations in Qatar. The boat also carries journalists, human rights observers, and Palestinians who want to return home and have been prevented from doing so by the Israeli occupation.

On the eve of this voyage, the Free Gaza Movement would like to correct a few the statements made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a December 11 interview with Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper. In that interview, Abbas suggesting that our efforts are coordinated with the Israelis – that the Israelis check the passports of the passengers aboard our ship and officials from the Israeli Embassy in Larnaca, Cyprus, check our boat before we leave the port.

And as a result of this interference, President Abbas stated that ours is a "silly game" and that we are not really breaking the siege.

We do not coordinate any of our actions with the Israelis. Israel has grossly abused its authority as an occupying power by collectively punishing the people of Gaza and denying them basic human rights. As such, we neither seek Israel's permission, nor submit to their searches, to assert the right of the Palestinian people to have access to the outside world, which includes the right to invite and welcome us to Gaza.

So, why do we get in, while other efforts are stopped by the Israeli authorities? Because we remove the "security" pretext with which Israel tries to justify its brutal actions and inhumane policies towards the Palestinian people. Amongst other things, we publicize our passenger list; we depart from Cyprus, a neutral European country; and we submit to a search by the Cypriot Port Authorities to verify that we are not carrying anything that can be considered a threat to Israel's security. We sail from Cyprus waters, into international waters, directly into Gaza's territorial waters, without entering Israeli waters. Israel realizes that it cannot stop us without using force against us, because we will not be turned around easily.

President Abbas' statement that we coordinate with the Israelis was misinformed. However, Abbas was correct when he said that we are not really breaking the siege on Gaza. Our boats cannot break the siege alone. Our hope is that we have started something that others can build on. We have shown that the concerted efforts of ordinary civilians working together in the name of justice can confront and successfully challenge Israel's brutal policies and hope we have inspired other people to break their silence over Israel's war crimes in the Gaza Strip and throughout the occupied Palestinian territory. From the continued and accelerated Judaization of Jerusalem and the rabid violence of the settler movement, to the vicious racism of Israeli politicians, Israel is committing massive violations against the people Gaza and Palestine as a whole. The world must stand up to this.

The Free Gaza Movement will continue to send boats to Gaza to challenge Israel's imprisonment of 1.5 million Palestinians, and we will continue to work for freedom and justice for all of the Palestinian people. We do not need Israel's permission and we will never ask for it. We do need President Abbas, the Arab world, and the entire international community to join us.

[Source]

Why are you NOT hearing anything about Free Gaza Boats in mainstream media? WHY??

Photo by Mike Cushman, you can see more from the 4th Dignity Trip here

people's issues with weight

3 scenarios, two in the same day and one earlier that left me wondering about people [mainly women] in this part of the world.

#1
today on my way out of the registration office at the university of Jordan, busy with the papers in my hand and actually not seeing anything from the surrounding except the thoughts in my head and how screwed this place is (this is another story) .. a girl comes from a distance saying:


her: Talaaaaaaaaaaaaaa,, Hiiii,, [hugs and kisses]
me: what a nice coincidence, loong time x, how have you been girl??? [ have not seen her in a year or so, IT graduate, we were members of voluntary work during my second year]
her: im good, leish heik nas7aneh , you were thinner !! [$$!!##@@]
me: ooh yea, i know, i have been busy with my school project, stressed a bit, i dont know really
her: aah heik intu il handaseh, something happens to your heads past 3rd year! is there a hope that you will lose the weight after graduation (with a laughter)?!! [ the unpredictable million dollar question..]
me: !!!! yeah, i guess. what have you been doing now? working? [ changing the subject ]
her: no, im not working.
me: been working and quit?
her: no. i didnt [me having weird thoughts..]
me: did you get engaged?
her: YEAH [she puts on the widest smile ever]
me: congrats, thats awesome.. who is the lucky guy?
her: he is mom's relative and we still have sometime before getting married, we are building a house, you know, living preparations. [why doesnt she wanna work then, didnt ask her ofcourse..]
me: im happy for you, hope all goes well with you, good to see you. [we exchanged phone numbers and said goodbye]

my point is its the people who have issues with how you look like. ITS NOT YOU..


#2
1:30 pm, Dakhleeieh circle

took a cab to get back home.

cab driver: where you are heading to?
me: jabal amman, 2nd circle. [ yallah tell me its not where you wanna go to so i find another cab]
cab driver: fine, (after the car moves) but i wont drop you past the second circle, "Allah bi3eenek w btemshi shwai"
me: why is that !!!
cab driver: i will get stuck in the traffic jam if i get to where you want..
me: !!!!! [ if im not wrong its your job to drive me home, right? i didnt say anything]
cab driver: there are many reasons to walk, the weather is fine and you will get to burn some cholesterol
me: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [ screw you ]
cab driver: if there was no jam, i will see if i would drop you in.
me: fine.


he didnt drop me home. if i took public transportation, it would have been more decent.


what i think. people in Jordan do not mind their own business, they dont think before speaking. they are not considerate. and above all, why on earth they think that a chubby girl needs pity or by any chance needs to be patted for gaining weight. people are sick.

if it makes them feel good about themselves, let it be. i call this 3oqad nafsieh.

i love myself. mind you.


#3
my second cousin's birthday, 2 years old. my cousin's mother in law comes up to me


CMiL: tsk tsk tsk.. leish heik 3amleh bi 7alek ... 7aram 3aleiki.
me: [smiling, i dont see her except on birthdays and holidays.. hi]
CMiL: after you have gained weight, you proved that all the females in your family are easily pro getting fat.. [cruella got her moment of victory]
me: ma3lesh auntie, barja3 ban7af.

i call these kind of people, Rude & Waqe7een. may God give them something worthy to obsess with. Amen.

WHEN JUSTICE FAILS!! IM SO BAFFLED MR SECRETARY GENERAL

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s statement to the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, in New York, 1 March:

Since last Wednesday, there has been a deeply alarming escalation of violence in Gaza and southern Israel, and a terrible civilian death toll. The scenes from Gaza today have been particularly disturbing.

Some 117 rockets have been fired from Gaza at southern Israel, (really is this your opening statement! excuse for killing 90?) including 26 rockets today. These rockets have been fired at several civilian centres and have extended as far north as the Israeli city of Ashkelon. According to press reports and Israeli Government sources (sure they are saying the truth Ban, the holy word of the holy) the rockets fired at Ashkelon are not home-made Qassams, but rather are rockets of advanced Katyusha-like design, allegedly smuggled into Gaza when the border with Egypt was breached. (i bet they have nuclear heads too, sheesh!) One Israeli civilian (Katyusha like design eh?) has been killed in Sederot and five civilians were reported injured in Ashkelon today, including women and children.

During this same period, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has undertaken attacks from the air and by land on targets in the Gaza Strip. An estimated 90 Palestinians have been killed (i guess those were friendly fires?), among them many civilians, and injuries are in the hundreds. According to United Nations estimates, 59 Palestinians have been killed today, including 39 civilians, among them three women and five minors, including an infant. Let me stress that there are many conflicting reports on the numbers of casualties, and these figures are not confirmed (sure if your source is the Israeli government! doncha think?). Additionally, there has been heavy property damage. (no worries, Abbas promissed peggy would fix it!)

Israeli land incursions are taking place near Jabalya and the northern Gaza Strip. Two Israeli soldiers are reported to have been killed in the fighting. The IDF reports that it destroyed a truck carrying 160 rockets. (Katyusha ones too?)

United Nations sources report at least four incidents of Israeli fire against ambulances and medical personnel. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has issued a call for diesel, in order to operate its ambulances. All United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools have been closed, and many families are trapped inside their houses by the violence, unable to obtain medical aid or reach safety. I call on Israel to facilitate full access to hospitals and medical centres for the injured.

At the outset of this escalation, I have made clear publicly my deep concern, and I have been diplomatically engaged to press for a calming of the violence. I have spoken today to Palestinian President Abbas, Israeli Foreign Minister Livni and League of Arab States Secretary-General Moussa. (the ones who sealed the deal against Hamas? but are concerned with the consequences?) United Nations agencies on the ground, especially UNRWA, are continuing their efforts to assist people in grave distress. ( shu biddo yla7e2 la yla7e2!)

In light of these deeply disturbing developments (r u kidding me? i guess it could have been worse according to Matan!), I would like to make the following clear:

I condemn Palestinian rocket attacks and call for the immediate cessation of such acts of terrorism, (killing one and injuring 5) which serve no purpose, endanger Israeli civilians and bring misery to the Palestinian people. I call for an end to these attacks. (HOLY COW!! MAN HOW MUCH CORRUPTION IS THERE IN YOUR ORGANISATION)

While recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself, I condemn the disproportionate and excessive use of force (i dont understand how you give excuse for killing in the name of security, i dont think this is what human rights call for) that has killed and injured so many civilians, including children. I call on Israel to cease such attacks. Israel must fully comply with international humanitarian law and exercise the utmost restraint. Incidents in which civilians have been killed or injured must be investigated and accountability must be ensured.

I am deeply concerned at the possibility of the violence escalating. I have offered our strong support for all efforts to bring about an end to the violence and a period of calm. I call on all parties to step back from the brink of even deeper and more deadly clashes.

I am also extremely concerned at the impact of these developments on the negotiation process. (are you questioning your pet Abbas if he feels anything for what have the friendly fires of Israeli did to wipe Hamas?) I call on all members of the international community, important stakeholders and Security Council members to exercise their influence on the parties to stop the violence and to allow humanitarian relief. All parties should rededicate their commitment to the peace process.

is there anything in this world that cannot be bought?? i hope Abbas enjoys his 7.7 billion promises which i doubt he will ever get hands on.

Wake Up America, Wake Up for Once!

my VERY (you missed it sammy) arrogantly foolish friend who still feels (and i doubt he is capable of feeling) that my King is a Racist and wishes me the best by not being Honor-Killed since am a Jordanian Woman ; watch your mouth habiby (sweetie in arabic) and don't stoop low, i spoke my mind, its my right! and going beyond that i told you why. you have eyes, you can read! i replied with this post since you dedicated a post for my name while you got an honorable mention at my blog, lucky you! you are truly exceptional.

The dude has a commentator saying:

"It doesn't matter who the US President is, it's up to Israel. Now, the problem is that Israeli politicians are weak and unreliable. They envision a protectorate, not a truly independent country.The is the real problem!"

Poor Olmert wasn't Evil enough for ya! did you read the UN Evironmental Report for the Destruction your WAR caused to the Middle East if humans are so much unworthy?? did you compare the photos of Sedrot to the photos of Gaza! band aids Vs Shattered Flesh and Starving Isolated Nation,, Should i speak of the TOO MANY CANCER CASES WE SUFFER IN JORDAN BECAUSE OF YOUR DEMONA. Do i need to say more??
The more i read, the more you prove me right, 57 years old fool && SEXIST.

you and people like you have distorted the image of my Arab and Islamic culture with naked amplified and twisted lies, Poor Americans they can't see the other side of what is going on, your writings are no where near clean journalism, UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT INDEPENDANT PALESTINE AS MUCH AS YOU WANT AN INDEPENDANT ISRAEL BUT YOU DONT WANT THAT.