Update from Phil (sent by phone):
Looks like were getting in. At egypt emigration. Police let us thru checkpoints. Feeling good, though who of all our number didn’t get okd? A Palestinian trying to go home, papers out of order. Who doesn’t feel rage at such a scene.
OK, Phil, easy does it. Good news, but be careful. Remember Rachel Corrie.
prepare to be shocked!
congratulations. We all hoped you'll make it.
Great news.
Phil, Could you look into the water situation? The Israelis are reputed to be stealing water from the aquifer under Gaza, causing salt-water intrusion damaging the long-term viability of Gazan water supplies. I wonder which segment of Israel (agriculture, industry, residential, etc) is getting this water, and if it really satisfies an Israeli need (not that this justifies theft), or is merely punitive. How many people don't have access to clean drinking water? Is there enough power to pump water up into highrise apartment buildings? What is the situation for agricultural irrigation? Is lack of water reducing food production? What about the educational system? Is conservation being taught? If so, how widely is it being practiced? Are water deprivation issues a major component of hardship? What exactly are the direct causes of Palestinian hardship? What role, if any, does Israel play in each? Strength, honor, and God go with you, Colin
off-topic post: Larry Franklin plead guilty and was sentenced to 12 1/2 for his role in the AIPAC spy case. He has still not started serving his sentence. What's up with this? It is EXTRAORDINARY. Has someone intervened on his behalf to ensure he will never be ordered to report to prison? There is probably a story here. Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Locator http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Tran...
Colin, I think that Larry Franklin's bargain was that he could postpone his prison sentence until he testified against Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman. With their charges dropped he will wait till he dies of the old age.
AIPAC spy case? Are members of Aipac under indictment or have they been convicted of spying? Did I miss an arrest of Aipac members while I was sleeping?
To all of the groups that are in Gaza or trying to get into Gaza. I thank you . You are bearing the weight of this atrocity for us all. I send you all the best and strongest thoughts. As well as images of hope. Stay safe.
His deal was for a deferral of incarceration until after the trial, with a reduction of sentence to three years if he cooperated with prosecutors and testified against Messrs's Rosen and Weissman. He did not do so. He should be serving his 151 months. Nevertheless, I fear you are right that it is old age that will finally close this case. 'Deals' with Federal prosecutors are never legally binding. There was an incident last year (I think) where Justice Department officials overruled a deal made by prosecutors, and they were really torqued claiming correctly that if defendants could not rely upon deals, then their powerful prosecutorial tool of 'turning state's evidence' would be eviscerated making their jobs much, much harder. I think Larry Franklin is not in jail because Judge Ellis has not ordered him to report. I believe it is the case that if he has not yet been ordered to report, then he is not in violation of the law. It is certainly far more than highly anomalous for a defendant who has plead guilty and been convicted of felonies to be ignored once a case is closed. Judge Ellis is either violating the law or committing judicial negligence punishable by disbarment, or both. I think this is yet another example of extremist Zionists being above the law. I would love to see evidence of Mr. Franklin's incarceration, and be proved wrong. Note that the following is hardly a source hostile or even neutral towards Franklin and his co-defendants. Maybe Jane Harman slipped Larry Franklin a file in a cappucino http://blogs.jta.org/politics/article/2009/04/22/...
Did you come up with that insightful analysis on your own?. You must be either a Law professor with a keen understanding of the intricacies of the law or an absolute buffoon. I think I will go with the later. It just goes to show any moron can give their opinion.
Nice try thedhimmi. Being well-educated, intelligent, conversant with research, internet-capable, and being well-familiar with government paper-trails, documentation, and accountability, I don't need a law degree to figure out very simple things. For example, defendants and Justice Department officials cannot just ignore on a whim a legally binding sentence handed down by a Federal judge. There must legal action to change the sentence. I am not even sure if this is legal, but his sentence may be able to be modified by the presiding judge who sentenced him in the first place. Otherwise, he would need to appeal, or be pardoned or have his sentence commuted by Pres. Obama. If any of these actions had taken place, it would have required at least one public document that no one has yet seen. The defense and their supporters were very vocal, and very correct, to insist that there would be no secret trial. Have you changed your mind?
Messrs. Franklin, Rosen, and Weissman were charged under the same indictment. http://www.fas.org/irp/ops/ci/franklin0805.pdf AIPAC members were under indictment. That makes it the AIPAC spy case, which is how it was labeled in numerous press accounts. Nice try with the old Orwellian memory hole.
Larry Franklin was also fined $10,000. Has this been paid? There should be a public document for that, too. Do you think felons sentenced to a fine don't get a receipt showing that they actually satisfied that part of their sentence?
He's not well-educated, intelligent because the Muslims are keeping him a dhimmi. He was probably never allowed to go to school because of his dhimmi status.
If Mr. Franklin is in violation of the law, I wonder whether we can make a Citizen's arrest? :)
Phil-consider the Free Gaza boats if you are unable to get in from Egypt–____They leave from Cyprus after the government of Cyprus guarantees the boats to be "clean"–the boats broke the siege last summer (first boat in 41 years to enter port from international waters) and made several trips after that. Another trip is planned soon. Will keep going in an attempt to set up shipping lane to the port of Gaza.__http://www.freegaza.org/
I wonder whether anyone else is fishing in the Palestinian waters that the Israel government is blockading? If so, are they bottom-trawling? Palestinian fishermen hemmed in http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090526/FOREIG...
Take pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I read somewhere that Franklin paid his $10,000 fine; according to an update to the WSJ Online May 2 last account " final determination of Mr. Franklin's case is expected in the coming weeks." This could drag on forever as the AIPAC spy case itself did, only to vanish by AIPAC influence on our government.
Yeah… I bet they made him walk in the road too, and take his kippa off every time a Muslim rode past. On a horse.
Colin, exactly right. Franklin was kept from reporting to prison so he could "assist" in the prosecution of Rosen & Weissman. Gee, now that those guys got to skate, there doesn't seem to be a rush to get Franklin into the federal icebox. Question: what would have happened if Jonathan Pollard had been arrested for espionage in this day and age? Would he, too, have eluded incarceration because AIPAC flexed its corrupt muscle?
Citizen, there are still honest elements in our law enforcement circles such as the FBI who are still committed to seeing Franklin serve his time. It would be unprecedented if a sentenced felon never had to report to federal prison. No judge can commute a sentence already handed down, especially if the guy pleaded guilty.
"Judge Ellis is either violating the law or committing judicial negligence punishable by disbarment, or both." Do you really believe a Jurist of Judge Ellis' stature would break the law and face disbarment to keep Franklin out of jail? Does this make sense to you? Franklin probably has to be resentenced due to the deal he made with the Prosecutor and he is out on bail until the resentencing.
Aipac is going to free Franklin. Make him a national hero. Best of all, there's not a thing you can do about it except cry.
Sure, if he could get away with it. He has demonstrably been on the side of the defense throughout the entire trial, throwing out numerous obstacles which the prosecution stalwartly overcame. Except for the last: an obviously incorrect ruling that required the prosecution to prove the defendants had to have wanted to give illegal assistance to Israel AND to harm the United States. The first was trivial to prove and the second well nigh impossible. The law clearly states or not and. According to the law, the prosecution need only have been successful proving one of the two. According to Judge Ellis' law, they had to prove both. His ruling was patently incorrect. Don't take my word for it. Our laws aren't secret. If you are interested in the truth, show a shred of initiative. Read the charges in the indictment, then look up the relevant laws on the Department of Justice website containing the United States Code. It doesn't take a JD from Harvard to figure out, merely a first grade level mastery of the English language. The mystery is why the prosecution appealed everything but the central issue which eviscerated their case. Someone in the Justice Department obviously wanted the case closed. It was reported in the press (JTA I think) that the prosecution team was having discussions with officials higher up their chain of command. My guess is that the decision was made by Obama political appointees as a gift to the Lobby to assuage their ire somewhat while the President made other decisions that they didn't like. Whatever the reason, letting Franklin off the hook would send the signal that it's ok to break the law if you are doing it for Israel. USA v. Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman ("The AIPAC Case"): Selected Case Files http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/aipac/franklin_facts.p... The Indictment http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/aipac/franklin_facts.p... United States Code http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/aipac/franklin_facts.p... Does this man deserve to skate? http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/aipac/franklin_facts.p...
Judge Ellis was totally fair. His rulings were appealed and unanimously upheld by the appeals court. Franklin is going to go to prison. Rosen and Weissman will sue the government for their absurd prosecution and get millions of dollars.
Right. Jews uber alles. In the long run, they reap the whirlwind, hence their history.
Sorry, I am a lawyer. I know what I was taught in law school, and what I learned in real life…
Colin Murray Thank you for your posts. They are truly enlightening to those that care about Phil' enthusuasms.
So his incarceration is deferred indefinately, as the trial will not take place. Whether he will NOT serve 12 years or he will NOT serve 3 years is, at this point, surely academic. I am morbidly fascinated with impunity of some people who fall into "more equal than others" category.
You really need to read Stephen Lendman's summary of the UNHRC report on the human rights situation in Gaza: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va...
The Israelis are having problems with the coastal acquifer because they're using too much water. "Stealing" here doesn't mean they start drilling under Gaza. Rather if you extract too much water from your own well the well nextdoor will go dry as well. Near a coast the equivalent of going dry is becoming salty. Also if you take away water upstream, even if this upstream is underground, people downstream will have less. The water situation is one reason they need the westbank, especially Ariel. 30% of westbank water goes to Israel proper while another 50% is for the settlers. The remaining 20% is sold to the Palestinians and kept under full Israeli control. Palestinians are not allowed to drill wells.
Here is the real situation on the ground. Israeli water management is very sophisticated adn they know full well that pumping undergraound water sources near the sea promotes seepage of brackish water, rendering wells unpotable. It is the PALESTINEANS who are pumping the underground aquifers. Israeli water is mostly from the Kinneret lake, far inland, far from the Med coast. The Pals are guilty, and, as always, you are blaming the Israelis. Let's put it simply: YOU would not want Palestineans as your neighbors. Face it.
If Gaza is so wonderful, why not just stay there!!! An anarchists delight..
When in Gaza, make sure to look up a friend of mine, Gilad Shalit. He was kidnapped three years ago and has been held captive in Gaza by Palestinean terrorists in violation of Geneva Conventions and accepted human rights understandings and deprived of ICRCRC (International Commitee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent) visits. I am sure that the various "human rights" activists you hang out with are all working diligently to ensure humane treatment for Gilad and for his speedy and safe release. You ARE doing this for Human Rights, aren't you?
When your Nazi State releases the minors they keep imprisoned as well as the 1000s who are in detention centers without paper work, as well as carry out justice on the soldiers who regularly commit atrocities on the Palestinians under Occupation (only 40% of complaints by Palestinians are heard, and only 6% go to trial of some kind with Israel virtually always handing out lenient sentences) then Hamas will consider releasing an enemy soldier/thief/Occupier. Until then, shut the fuck up, sanctimonious douche.
This really feels like a momentous occasion: Weiss in Gaza, almost like Eichmann in Jerusalem for the blogging age.
I was waiting for the Nazi insults. I realize you want to think it's because of the Jews that you are a failure, but really it's your own fault. Get educated, work very hard and someday you will be able to live like a Jew. Crying about being a loser is not going to help you.
Again Strahl, I am in fucking awe of your fucking rich vocabulary! May I remind you that the fucking douche-bag Hamas are in fucking violation of the fucking rules of war as they relate to POWs in the case of Gilad Shalit. But then, I'm sure that you are fucking aware of this fucking sanctimonious douche. Take care and God bless.
This classical model terrorist would kill Phil in a kosher minute: http://www.counterpunch.org/cloughley05262009.htm... You know, never not take advantage of an opportunity?
I am left wondering why groups are not simultaneously trying to enter Gaza through Israel since Israel is actually the country controlling most of Gaza borders and the country who has been the mastermind behind the siege of Gaza..???? It is nice that groups are trying to enter Gaza through Egypt but they have to do also be doing same through Israel which shares a much larger border and in which Gaza is considered as a part of…
Important note about water in Gaza: I lived near Gaza City in the 1960's and am an eyewitness. Under Egyptian rule, Gazans had no fresh water or sewage treatment and suffered many deaths from cholera. It was under Israeli rule (that you call "occupation") that Gazan Arabs first got fresh water, sewers and public health administration. What's more, Israel has recently DISENGAGED itself from Gaza but STILL EXPORTS WATER to Gaza, despite the worst drought ever; Israel most certainly does NOT have spare water to supply to foreign entities. Israel should be CONGRATULATED for it's humane generosity with regards water to Gaza and not villified. Hint: Why do the Gazans want to stay connected to Israel and NOT want to re-attach themselves to Egypt? I do hope your mondo reporters will pose this question to the locals in Hamastan, now that they are there. Right????
Not a single fragment of a single sentence in your vulgar comment has any connection to reality. You repeat vague slanders and wild accuations. I deal exclusively with facts and logic; you clearly have a problem with both of these. Thank you for convincing the gentle reader of your affliction with antisemitic disease. I hope you get better soon.
good job y'all
Don't you get it? Phil is afraid that if he goes to Israel he'll realize what a bunch of shit Arab lands are in comparison.
Under Egyptian rule, Gazans had no fresh water or sewage treatment and suffered many deaths from cholera. It was under Israeli rule (that you call "occupation") that Gazan Arabs first got fresh water, sewers and public health administration. They also got ethnically cleansed off 1/4 of Gazan land, including the best arable 40% of farmland, to make way for Israeli colonies. Do you think Israelis are not smart enough to minimize the risk from infectious diseases from immediately adjacent populations whose cheap labor was desired? I lived in Seattle, and the city provided inoculations to as many homeless people as they could. They did not do this out of the goodness of their hearts, but because the numerous homeless in Seattle constituted a pocket or reservoir of infectious diseases that threatened the health of the rest of the population. You still get points for doing right, but not a full score because it was done for selfish reasons. Israel would not have assisted Gazans with anything if they had not conquered Gaza in 1967 and starting planted colonies. What's more, Israel has recently DISENGAGED itself from Gaza but STILL EXPORTS WATER to Gaza, … Readers, what Jake is calling 'disengagement' was actually the extraction of Israeli colonies. Israel still controls borders and airspace, including control of movement of people and commercial goods. It is still the occupying power. It is obligated under the international agreements which it has signed to care for the occupied population. Given that more than half of Gazans are refugees or descendants of refugees of earlier Israeli ethnic cleansing, it is disingenuous to call water transferred from Israel to Gaza 'exported'. That water is theirs, and they would have direct access to it if they had not been ethnically cleansed. Israel should be CONGRATULATED for it's humane generosity with regards water to Gaza and not villified. If I steal from you and give back a fraction of what I have stolen, I expect to be CONGRATULATED. Hint: Why do the Gazans want to stay connected to Israel and NOT want to re-attach themselves to Egypt? LOL. Please present a shred of evidence that "Gazans want to stay connected to Israel". The connection they have with Israel is that Israel is imposing upon them a calibrated-misery blockade. Why would you expect them to want to live under the Egyptian government? It has played an instrumental role, facilitated by $2 billion in bribes from unwitting American taxpayers, in helping Israel carry out its blockade. Maybe they want to live under a Palestinian government and have control over their own destiny rather than rely on Israeli or Egyptian governance, under which they have long suffered? I do hope your mondo reporters will pose this question to the locals … I'm all for it. There is nothing like hard data to validate or falsify one's conjectures.
And send Jake back in time to the Warsaw Ghetto.
Strahl, I agree with Jake and JES that your language is inappropriate. Personal attacks are not acceptable. If you let your ire over injustice scramble your brain, you are handing the extremists a victory of sorts. Take a chill pill, guy.
Phil has been to Israel.
Not really. He spent a few hours in Lod before going to the West bank and east Jerusalem. Surely Sandy isn't implying that east Jerusalem is Israel!
Get educated, work very hard and someday you will be able to live like a Jew… Dhimmi Hendrix, are you for real? I can't believe people write crap like this and believe it.
Rowan, any time you want to start considering my "drug model" of Zionism, I'm ready to tell you about it. " I can't believe people write crap like this and believe it" you say, But there's a simple explanation. Just look up (if life hasn't afforded you the oppurtunity to observe it personally, you are a lucky man) the stages of emotional and character degradation induced by cocaine or amphetamine abuse. Those stages correspond almost perfectly to those exhibited by Zionist-supporters. "Dhimmi" is presenting the grandiosity phase of the affliction, but soon he'll swing to the paranoid, he'll swing like a pendulum do (as the song says). Along with a steady breakdown of empathy and ethics, a coarsening of any moral sensibilities. Rowan, you remark that Dhimmi does not even try to present a positive or appealing picture of a Zionist. Of course not. He's too high, and too far gone, to even do hasbara! This is his brain on ziocaine!
"Aipac is going to free Franklin. Make him a national hero." In America? The land of anti-Semitism? Not a chance!
Colin Murray's posts are indeed excellent, and have been since the first post I read of his. His patient correction of the Zionist canards actually extends much more credit to them than they deserve. Colin, none of these wanna-be hasbaraists care a fig for the facts. And as their aproach very clearly shows, they don't care about trying to influence people or win friends for Zionism. It is solely and completely about the emotional high they get through Zionism-support and kvetching.
Watch yourself, Motti. You are getting ready to reveal that some Jews are more equal than others. You don't want to do that.
All men are created equal, Looser, you know that!
"All men are created equal, Looser, you know that! " Unless they are Ashkenazi
What I find most irritating is "Jake"'s claim that Shalit is a personal friend of his. This is just cheap rhetoric, and an insult to Shalit's family, when you think about it.