The PCUSA’s Israel/Palestine Mission Network weighs in on Monday’s Gaza flotilla incident. One guess regarding the tenor of the statement:
The Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA) stands in strong support of the ”Freedom Flotilla” which was attacked by Israeli Defense Forces in international waters on May 31, 2010. We express our sympathy for the loss of life and hold those who were killed and injured and their families in prayer. We commend the people of the flotilla for taking on the delivery of aid in a show of non-violent solidarity with the suffering people of Gaza and deeply regret that a military action by the Israeli Defense Forces has resulted in violence and loss of life.
Non-violent solidarity in action:
In a press release on May 31, 2010, Mr. [Richard] Falk [UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories] said “Israel is guilty of shocking behavior by using deadly weapons against unarmed civilians
on ships that were situated in the high seas where freedom of navigation exists, according to the law of the seas.
About which Falk apparently knows nothing. See the San Remo Manual for the details that Falk and IPMN want to ignore.
It is essential that those Israelis responsible for this lawless and murderous behavior, including political leaders who issued the orders, be held criminally accountable for their wrongful acts.”
Because as we all know, Israelis have no right to self-defense under pretty much any circumstances.
This network supports Richard Falk in his call for worldwide action to stop Israel from flagrantly and continuously violating international law and agrees with him that “it is time to insist on the end of the blockade of Gaza. The worldwide campaign of boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel is now a moral and political imperative, and needs to be supported and strengthened everywhere.”
There’s absolutely nothing surprising here. Just wanted it noted for the record that the IPMN is ignoring inconvenient facts and propagandizing for the initiators of the violence aboard the Mavi Marmara. In other words, business as usual.
June 1, 2010 at 8:50 pm
I am shocked. Shocked I tell you.
OK, seriously, the IPMN never misses an opportunity to advance its radicalized agenda.
June 2, 2010 at 7:18 pm
I think you are ignoring the fact that the attack occurred in international waters. It is not a case of Israel “defending itself” but an instance of piracy by Israeli soldiers. Freedom of navigation in international waters is a long standing principle of international law. I think you are also ignoring the fact of the great harm the Israeli blockade is doing to the inhabitants of Gaza. Is not collective punishment a violation of the 4th Geneva Convention? In fact, Israel, a signer of that convention is violating it in many ways, such as by building settlements on conquered land.
June 2, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Nations at war that are conducting a blockade in prosecution of that war (as Israel is with Hamas) are within their rights to stop ships international waters if said ships make clear their intention is to try to run the blockade. Specifically, they have the right to stop, inspect, and if need be impound said ships. The blockade has a specific military purpose, which is to prevent the shipping of arms to Hamas, as Iran has already been caught trying to do at least twice.
As to the “collective punishment” argument, that seems to get trotted out as a hammer with which to bash Israel for pretty much any action that it takes with respect of Gaza. The fact is that the 4GC also prohibits the use of human shields, which was rampant in Operation Cast Lead, and about which the world (including the PCUSA) had nothing to say. It should also be noted that Egypt has been a party to this blockade as well, but has come in for no condemnation for its part from any of the usual suspects.
As for the settlements, I’ve said repeatedly that Israel’s policy is wrong, and has been wrong from that start. It also has nothing to do with the matter under discussion, especially since there are no longer any settlements in Gaza.
June 3, 2010 at 7:20 am
I seem to remember a time in 1962 when the US declared a blockade. We were prepared to board ships to prevent arms from reaching Cuba.
Everyone knew the blockade was in force, we announced it to the world. The USSR still sent them until they ‘blinked’. What would have happened then if the US had to board the ships, if someone was killed. WWIII ??
We don’t know, but we do know that in this case the blockade was announced to all, and has been in effect for a while. The ‘flotilla’ was warned, Israel offered a safe compromise, all steps short of firing a shot across the bows were done.
Men descending from helicopters on ropes were then attacked with sticks and steel pipes. Men in this position are vulnerable to attack when then are descending, its not like you see in the movies, at least one hand has to be free to adjust their speed of descent.
It is very easy for someone in that position to be overpowered by people surrounding you and beating you with pipes.
June 5, 2010 at 9:31 pm
I don’t know. I am not willing to say whatever Israel does is right. My theology, my reformed theology, does not make me instantly side with modern Israel in every event. I know this is more complicated than it appears, and there are more complexities to this that I don’t have all the information for, let alone the answers. This I know. The church is the Israel of God, and it started certainly with Abraham and perhaps older than that. There is only one name under heaven by which you can be saved, and there is no plan be for a particular race of people. (Modern Christianity is very confused on this issue.) The politics will sort themselves out. But this I can also say, if Israel has a right to execute a blockade in “international” waters, then Hamas, Iran, or “aid workers” have the right to run the blockade. It may not be wise, it may not be good or just, but they also have a right to defend themselves when boarding. The second video could have used more narration for me to identify all the weapons. I can also say that whoever is right or wrong, this will not stop anytime soon. I also agree that some parts of the left are very anti-Israel without thinking, and that point I can strongly agree with.
June 5, 2010 at 11:33 pm
Doug,
I agree with you on several points here. I’ll leave it to others to debate the theological role of Israel. I’m not particularly concerned with that. I am concerned when a double standard is applied reflexively against Israel. And I am concerned with the anti-Jewish elements I’m hearing in a lot of the rhetoric – including IPMN rhetoric.
I too am unwilling to say whatever Israel does is right – right and wrong don’t change according to who does them. I too find this to be more complex than it appears.
At the same time I’m disturbed at the positive portrayal of the “aid workers”. This does not seem to be an accurate depiction.