The Israeli navy this morning attacked and crippled The Dignity, a Free Gaza boat on a mission of mercy to besieged Gaza, in international waters. Former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney is aboard (just a few years after the Israel lobby rammed her in Georgia). Check out the news at that link. Free Gaza says there are 15 civilian passengers representing 11 different countries on the boat. 3 tons of medical supplies. 3 doctors-- from England, Cyprus, and Germany.
A few weeks ago Norman Finkelstein imagined a Gandhian means of electrifying international support for a Palestinian state: that hundreds of Palestinians would approach the apartheid wall with sledges and picks to enforce the ruling of the International Court of Justice. Many would be cut down, with great bloodshed, but even the U.S. would open its eyes. (Though Finkelstein added that he did not feel that he could prescribe that path, sitting in Brooklyn.) Now it seems to me that this Gandhian moment is happening before our eyes, in Gaza. Students at the Islamic University, destroyed as they flee classrooms. Relief supplies, turned away.
And Israel is as insensible about its character and place in history as the Raj was. Raj lasted 90 years. How long do we give Zionism? (Thanks to Ira Glunts.)
The first Crusader state, the County of Edessa, was founded in 1098 and lasted until 1144.
The Principality of Antioch, founded in 1098, lasted until 1268.
The County of Tripoli, founded in 1104, with Tripoli itself conquered in 1109, lasted until 1289.
The Kingdom of Jerusalem, founded in 1099, lasted until 1291, when the city of Acre fell.
Interesting parallels.
When the Soviets shot down Flight KAL-007 over Sakhalin in Sep. 1983, killing U.S. Rep. Larry McDonald, it was considered a grave incident.
By contrast, when our 'friends' (wink, wink) the Israelis menace a former U.S. representative, there won't be a peep of protest — any more than there was when our 'friends' massacred 34 U.S. soldiers on the USS Liberty in 1967.
A country so co-opted that it can't even identify its enemies probably deserves to be looted and trashed, a process which is taking place before our very eyes.
At least Palestinians fight back against their enemies … while sucker-bait Americans just bend over and whimper.
Shades of the USS Liberty. The Israelis still feels entitled to do whatever the hell they want, international law, human rights, and anything else be damned.