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Vermont Responds to Israel's Flotilla Massacre



The humanitarian aid ship, Mavi Marmara, set off toward Gaza from Cyprus on Sunday, May 30, to deliver much-needed aid supplies. The following day, the Israeli military violently seized the ship in international waters. The Israeli government said the ship was embarking on "an act of provocation" against the Israeli military, stating the flotilla would be breaking international law by landing in Gaza.

The aid ship, carrying more than 600 international passengers and thousands of pounds of humanitarian aid cargo, never had a chance to deliver crucial supplies to the people of Gaza.

After helicopter commandos descended on the ship, shooting at close range, killing nine people and injuring dozens more, they detained all passengers and put them under arrest, confiscating all cameras and footage taken of the assault by passengers, as well as money, personal property and passports. No photos or video footage from the passengers has been released. So far the only video and photos to be seen are those provided by the Israeli military. For a fair investigation of the assault, the military must release the photos and video taken by passengers.

In response to this assault, dozens of people gathered in Burlington, Vermont on May 31 to mourn the dead and to express their sadness and outrage over Israel’s blatant lack of respect for international law.

Two days later more than fifty citizens visited Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy’s office to insist that the US government not remain silent about the mishandling of innocent people in Gaza and the West Bank, humanitarian aid workers and human rights activists by the Israeli government anymore. Citizens stated that "The US is alone in our support for Israel" and demanded that the Senator not be complicit in Israels crimes against humanity any longer.
Citizens also demanded an end to military aid to Israel.

Senator Leahy is a leading member of the Appropriations Committee which authorizes funding for Israel amounting to more than $300 billon a year. Over $2 billion of that goes directly to aid the Israeli military.

The Leahy Amendment, introduced by the Senator as an amendment to the 1997 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, prohibits US security assistance to foreign military or security units “against whom exist credible allegations of gross violations of human rights.” Leahy should insist that his own amendment be applied to the Israeli military.

Remaining silent on this issue is no longer acceptable. If left unchallenged by the public and the US government – Israel's sole sponsor in the world – the military and political leaders of Israel will be emboldened to continue their aggression against aid workers and other civilians.

For more information please visit:
Vermonters For a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel: http://www.vtjp.org/
Global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement: http://bdsmovement.net/

Israel ballet interrupted in Burlington, Vt. - No tutu is big enough to cover Israel's War Crimes



On Friday, February 19, 2010, American and Israeli human rights activists interrupted a performance by the Israel Ballet at the Flynn Theater in Burlington, Vermont, unfurling banners which read "Sponsored by Apartheid Israel" and "No tutu is big enough to cover War Crimes".

The Israel Ballet is currently touring the U.S. as part of an official state campaign, dubbed "Brand Israel" to use the Arts to revive its sagging image abroad in the wake of unanimous condemnation from the major human rights organizations and, most recently, the U.N. "Goldstone Report".

Territorial Domination in the West Bank

In July 2009 I visited Israel and Palestine, interviewing Palestinians and Israelis in an attempt to better understand the conflict.
I toured Illegal settlements and outposts in the West Bank with Dror Etkes. He heads the Land Advocacy Project for Yesh Din, a group opposing the continuing violation of Palestinian human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Dror is an Israeli citizen who has, for the past 7.5 years, made it his mission to be a local expert on settlement expansion and Palestinian land grabbing. He seems to know every road in the West Bank. He is exact about how many homes are in each settlement and knows which are slated for evacuation.
In Tel Aviv I interviewed Human Rights Attorney Michael Sfard. He represents Israeli Human Rights organizations, Peace groups, Palestinian communities and individuals. Many of his legal cases deal with Palestinian land grabbing by settlers.

Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied territories of Palestine is about more than constructing houses for Jewish settlers. Palestinian farmland is being turned into industrial space and illegal outposts on Palestinian land are protected by Israeli military. Roads, if Palestinians are allowed to drive on them, are often
blocked without warning.



Thank you to Anouar Brahem and Meiron Egger for their musical contributions!