Greek Troops Capture US Aid Ship Bound for Gaza
Israel Praises Move as Greece Now Blocking All Aid Ships
Shortly after news came that the US aid ship “The Audacity of Hope” had departed from port and was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the vessel was attacked by heavily armed Greek commandos and forced to return to port.
The activists on board the ship have been forced into a military dockyard surrounded with barbed wire, and report that after expelling the journalists who were on the ship, they have so far not let anyone else leave.
The move was quickly followed with an announcement from the Greek government that all ships hoping to deliver aid to Gaza have been banned from leaving port to “prevent breach of Israel’s naval blockade.” This has a number of aid vessels from myriad countries stuck in Greece for the foreseeable future. The Greek Hellenic Coast Guard is also said to be monitoring the sea to track other ships potentially trying to deliver goods to Gaza.
The move was condemned by aid workers, but loudly cheered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who termed his Greek counterpart George Papandreou “my friend” and lauded his action against what he termed “the provocation flotilla.”
Ironically, while “The Audacity of Hope” is named for a book by President Barack Obama, the Obama Administration has loudly decried efforts to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip, and has threatened to imprison Americans who take part in such deliveries.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- No Deal: US Restarted Pakistan Drone Strikes Despite Objections - February 22nd, 2012
- Syrian National Council Demands Foreign Invasion - February 22nd, 2012
- State Dept.: Pakistani Taliban 'Not Welcome' at Truce Talks - February 22nd, 2012
- Israeli FM: Our Decision to Attack Iran None of US, Russia's Business - February 22nd, 2012
- Hunger Strike Ends, but Adnan's Detention Without Charges Doesn't - February 22nd, 2012
John_Muhammad
July 1st, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Funny this comes only a few days after Greece was visited by Israeli officials to discuss this very matter. I use the term "discuss" loosely, however; I imagine it involved much pressuring and no small amount of undoubtedly US-supplied cash directed to selected Greek politicians in order to secure their support for this illegal move.
The world knows it's not the Greeks' idea to do this- it is clearly an Israeli-inspired operation- but the Greeks will gain for themselves only the condemnation of the world for selling out to Israel. If Greece had any self-respect it would immediately reverse this decision and provide a naval escort for the flotilla to somewhat redeem itself.
Duglarri
July 1st, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Obviously Greece is in no position to resist even the most minor pressure by the US right now- and as Israel's poodle, it's sure that the chain was given a little tug so that the US would tell Greece to stop those ships or the bailout is off the table.
It's so pathetic.
andy
July 1st, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Enjoy your blood money Greece.
R.C.
July 1st, 2011 at 8:24 pm
If Greece had any self-respect, it's flunky parliament would have rejected the sell-out of it country to the international banking cartel earlier this week. I sincerely hope the Greek populace take back their country –by force if necessary.
MoT
July 1st, 2011 at 9:15 pm
Beware of Israeli's bearing gifts or Greeks receiving bailouts?
Wolfgang9
July 1st, 2011 at 11:03 pm
After they got the money from the EU (mainly from Germany) theGreek gofvernment is spending it freely. Obvuiously they are not bankrupt enough yet. No more German tax payers money for Greek police!
W9
mickperry
July 1st, 2011 at 11:39 pm
What has happened to the Turkish component of this international effort? Has it also buckled under US and Israeli pressure?
Hacklheber
July 1st, 2011 at 11:54 pm
"the sell-out of it country to the international banking cartel"
It's called having to pay back what you took on credit earlier, dude.
Dontcha like when the Government does Eurozone subsidies for ten years with carefree abandon and then suddenly it's the Bad Bankers?
R.C.
July 2nd, 2011 at 12:58 am
It was ihe malfeasance/negligence of the banks that caused this problem and they are forcing their losses onto the Greek people, so YES, the "bad bankers" are obviously a major part of the problem……dude.
Andron
July 2nd, 2011 at 1:26 am
Greece will pay the price for what they are doing to support terrorism by following Isreal and the USA in supporting GENOCIDE in Gaza.
In the end the Palestinian People will triumph.. Greece will go down the road to ruin like all tyrants before them.
Enjoy your BLOOD MONEY
Robert Shule
July 2nd, 2011 at 2:19 am
I suppose the message here is don't get yourself in debt.
Lafontaine
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:08 am
The American-Israeli police state at work around the world.
John_Muhammad
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:19 am
"" the Obama Administration has loudly decried efforts to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip, and has threatened to imprison Americans who take part in such deliveries. ""
Hm. Funny, the cargo of the AoH is only letters of support to Gaza/Palestine – it's amazing what the definition of 'aid' has morphed into these days.
On the other hand, any American prosecuted for taking part in the flotilla action will be a de facto political prisoner and an undoubtedly potential vocal thorn in the State Department's side.
Oh, wait- I'm expressing my support for the crew of the Audacity of Hope as well as the crews of all the other vessels in the relief flotilla- am I supporting The Terrorists ™ by even daring to write this? Are WE all guilty of a crime for expressing opinions in opposition to Israel? Bring it on.
MoT
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:19 am
Seems that fiction has now become flesh: Thought Crime.
zapatatio
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:35 am
The fascist bully brothers, amerika and its 51st state israel on the Worlds stage; sadly the Greek gov't is like most countries- spineless ! The Greek people would do what is right ! That time IS coming as the World-wide rebellion spreads ! All POWER to the People !!!
mike
July 2nd, 2011 at 9:40 am
A sad day for humanity and freedom.
Lewis
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:59 am
All the peoples of the former Ottoman Empire should drop past animosities and start cooperating with one another because there is no future for them in the E.U.
thedissenter
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:10 am
Ahem…Israel is the 52nd state. The State of Denial is the 51st.
jasonditz
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:13 am
letters of support? Maybe the crackdown is related to the postal monopoly then?
thedissenter
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:17 am
What a sick spectacle! At a time when Greece is both broke and in turmoil, they still have the time and money to send their armed forces to bully and kidnap a bunch of peace activists. The entire world has been infested by Mad ChristoZionist Disease.
thedissenter
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:19 am
Yep. They butted out a while back. They were under intense fire from the Zionists.
thedissenter
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:20 am
Make sure you tell yourself the same thing when China comes knocking at your door asking for their money. Oops!
jeff_davis
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:24 am
"Selling out" is right. What could the Israelis offer in this moment of Greek financial crisis that would persuade the Greek govt to act so unambiguously to terminate any Gaza flotilla activity transiting their jurisdiction? I would bet everything I own that the Israelis said to the Greeks "We will see to it, we will make it happen — and who could doubt their ability to achieve it — that the Eurozone parties bail you out."
The J*ws and money, five thousand years of the same screw up. They never learn.
Yeamani
July 2nd, 2011 at 12:50 pm
That's Amero-Zionist Disease–scripture condemns the politicizing of Christ's Gospel. American politicos are the only ones being pulled by Israeli strings. That's why vicious, bloody, destructive, proxy wars. funded by American hypocrisy, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan etc., are "sick spectacle."
WashingtonDC goddamn
July 2nd, 2011 at 1:44 pm
And the Germans got lObama-looted American taxpayers' money funneled through Obama's bailout of US and Euro banks.
WashingtonDC goddamn
July 2nd, 2011 at 1:55 pm
It looks like the Greek populace prefers to continue living on the dole — once they are sure the government will continue issuing checks, they will lose interest. They don't care where the money comes from or if strings are attached. They don't need to take their country back. They have what they voted for all along — the consequences are hard to deal with….
R.C.
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:11 pm
I disagree. The majority of the Greek populace, many of them out in the streets, have over-whelmingly REJECTED the IMF bailout and the imposed austerity which'll hand over their countries assets to the vultures for pennies on the dollar. It's their lackey parliament and politicians (much like our lackey Democrats and Republicans) who have sold them up the river. I've spoken to many Greeks who are more than willing to "suck it in" just as Iceland & Argentina did to be free of these parasites.
R.C.
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Greece won't go down, but the politicians in parliament sucking up to the IMF will. The austerity being forced on the working class is so severe this time around, that they'll be forced to replace their lackey government….just watch.
contraviews
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Greek is not only financially bankrupt, but also morrally ! In future aid ships should assemble at a Palestine friendly port. What about Tunesia or Turkey ? European ports should be avoided. This shows the awsome powerful influence the Zionists have all over the world. They control govenrments, the financial institurions and the news media.