Green Party Watch

Colia Clark, the New York Green Party nominee for the US Senate seat presently occupied by Charles Schumer, said today that she was appalled by recent statements by Schumer supporting the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza, which is causing a humanitarian crisis there.

Schumer, speaking last week at an Orthodox Union event in Washington, D.C. said he supported the blockade out of the need “to strangle them economically until they see that’s not the way to go, makes sense.”

“How can it be that a US Senator is calling for economic genocide against the People of Gaza and Palestine when he states that the besieged and endangered people of Gaza should be, “strangled economically”? It’s urgent that the people of New York stand up to Senator Schumer for his violent speech. Senator Schumer must be sent a clear message that New York State is not in favor of any form of violence against those who seek to lift the weight of oppression from their backs. The people of New York abhor genocide through naked violence or economic genocide,” said Clark.

“As US Senator from New York, I propose to wage a campaign for a peaceful settlement of the Gaza crisis that respects the legitimate claims of the Palestinian Peoples and the right of the People of Israel to statehood. A Two State solution is the only way out of the present crisis. This means Israel dismantling all settlements in Palestinian territory and discontinuing the naked violence against Palestine in Gaza and on the open seas. Palestine must halt unprovoked assaults on the State of Israel. In the interest of the Middle East and world peace, Israel and Palestine must resolve this 62 year old dispute by uncovering ways to live in mutual harmony,” added Clark. read more »

WASHINGTON, DC — The Green Party of the United States condemns the attack by the Israeli navy on Gaza-bound humanitarian aid ships in international wates near Cyprus, which have left at least 19 human rights activists dead and at least 50 wounded.

“The attacks on the aid boats is a criminal act of piracy and a deliberate provocation,” said Dr. Justine McCabe, co-chair of the Green Party’s International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl).

“We demand immediate action from the US, including emergency orders from President Obama to cut off all aid to Israel.  The policies of the US regarding Israel and Palestine up to now have convinced Israel that it can act with impunity in committing massacres and massive human violations against Palestinian civilians.  These illegal and atrocious actions now include the murder of other countries’ citizens in international waters,” added Dr. McCabe, who recently returned to the US from Haifa, where she participated in a coalition of over 400 Jewish and Palestinian Israelis and internationals who met to promote the growing call for the one democratic state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Israel had earlier threatened to seize the Freedom Flotilla ships and arrest the activists when they entered Gaza coastal waters, but instead executed a surprise maneuver at night in international waters that resulted in death and mayhem for nonviolent activists attempting to deliver 10,000 tons of supplies to the people of Gaza.

2008 Green presidential nominee Cynthia McKinney has released a statement on the massacre (“Cynthia McKinney Mourns the Dead of the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: People of the US and the world must end Israeli impunity now!,” http://gp.org/cynthia/display.php?ID=36).  Ms. McKinney, a former member of Congress from Georgia, was one of 21 human rights activists on board the Free Gaza relief boat seized by the Israeli navy in international waters when it tried to deliver medical and other humanitarian aid to Gaza in June 2009, in the wake of Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Ms. McKinney and the other activists were held in an Israeli jail for several days.  See Green Party press releases issued between June 25 and July 14, 2009, on the party’s media page (http://www.gp.org/press.php).

“The US government’s lack of response to the seizing of the Free Gaza boat and jailing of a former member of Congress was interpreted by Israel as a license for even more extreme illegal actions,” said Starlene Rankin, co-chair of the Lavender Green Caucus (http://www.gp.org/caucuses/lavender/index.php).  ”We urge all Americans who value justice, human rights, and peace to put pressure on the White House and on their Representatives and Senators to move right now to stop all aid to Israel and seek international condemnation of these acts.”

“We also urge Americans to be wary of the justifications for Israel’s crimes that will come from politicians, media commentators, AIPAC, and other apologists for Israel.  These justifications are meant to cover up atrocities, including yesterday’s murderous attack on the Freedom Flotilla,” said Ms. Rankin. read more »

WASHINGTON, DC — Leaders of the Green Party of the United States are urging the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) not to accept Israel’s application for membership until Israel observes international law and alters its human rights policies in its treatment of Palestianians.

“Israel continues to violate the OECD’s fundamental values and should not be rewarded with increased trade — which would access to more military contracts,” said Michael Canney, Florida Green and member of the Green Party’s International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl).  ”Israel’s intractable, brutal, and humiliating treatment of Palestinians within its own borders and in the Occupied Territories, including the recent invasion and mass killings of civilians in Gaza, deserves international condemnation.  Greens have called for economic boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel until it reverses its current policies.  The OECD should deny Israel membership until the Israeli government lifts the strangling economic restrictions it has placed on the Palestinian people, cancels the construction of settlements and displacement of Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and abides by international law and the OECD’s own principles.” read more »

In a post at her Facebook page, Cindy Sheehan wrote

…listen to Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox today at 2 (Pacific) at www.CindySheehansSoapbox.com…this week’s guest is courageous shero, Cynthia McKinney and we have a listener rant from FB friend, Bro Mugwa!

Her Internet radio show webpage, Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox carries this, more detailed, announcement

This Sunday (August 16th), Cindy welcomes former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, “kidnapped” and imprisoned by the Istraelis for seven days. Maybe she was considered dangerous for her “crime”: She actually brought CRAYONS to the children of Gaza! A heinous crime indeed! Everybody knows that we should look forward and not back when it comes to trivial crimes (like sytematic torture) but intolerable evils such as distributing CRAYONS to CHILDREN (evidently) deserve the full force of (someone’s) law! What a danger to humanity! Check it out!
By the way, President Obama: Can we have some spare change – even if we’re only commoners? Where did all that promised change go, anyway? Did it get lost in all the wonderful changiness we’ve seen in everything? And what’s with all this “indefinite detention” anyway? Now we’re starting it within the USA itself? (Well, I guess that is a change.) The show will be ready this Sunday.

Click here to listen or download, beginning at 2:00 PM San Francisco time. Please note: The link will NOT work until the appointed time.

A note from Cynthia McKinney circulating on the e-mail lists:

The Viva Palestina convoy, led by George Galloway, is about to leave Gaza after having been permitted to enter for a period of 24 hours after waiting 11 days in Cairo for permission to enter Gaza. That in and of itself is a major story when expanded to include the inability of Gazans to exit The Strip–even if only to enter another part of their country, the West Bank or to move about freely in the fictional “Palestinian State.” I say fictional because it continues to dwindle even while peace talks are underway. Fictional, because Palestinian elections deemed by international observers to be free and fair, don’t count if the US- and Israel-approved party loses, and the winners get to sit for years in an Israeli jail. Fictional, because they use Israel’s currency here, the shekel, and the international roaming on our US cell phones indicates calls are from Israel.

Gaza is beautiful. Gaza is full of life, despite Israel’s Operation Cast Lead. And now, I have seen, Gaza has been bombed to smithereens. I think I’ve mastered my video camera enough to share some images with you. I’ll post them on the sites below when I return. In the meantime, my fellow Americans and citizens of the world, we have a lot to do to put right all the wrong things done in our name. Much love to all of you who helped me, guided me, prayed for me, to make this successful entry into Gaza happen.

Viva Palestina!!
Free Gaza!!

–
http://www.livestream.com/dignity
http://dignity.ning.com/
http://www.twitter.com/dignityaction
http://www.myspace.com/dignityaction
http://www.myspace.com/runcynthiarun
http://www.twitter.com/cynthiamckinney
http://www.facebook.com/CynthiaMcKinney

Illinois

In Chicagoland, controversy has arisen regarding the political affiliation of an appointment to the Lake County Board. The man appointed to fill a Democrat’s seat has been accused of (gasp) pulling a Green Party ballot on February 5th. Turns out he pulled a Democratic Party ballot on March 21 though. One sympathetic board member said: “I understand a young man with liberal social leanings and environmental concerns pulling a Green ballot. I’ve been tempted to pull a Green ballot myself.”

Also, the Chicago Tribune has a short brief on the Illinois Green Party meeting this weekend.

Maine

The Bangor Daily News has a piece featuring the Maine Independent Green Party and its growth over the last 25 years. Besides quotes from John Rensenbrink and Jonathan Carter, it puts Gubernatorial candidate Lynn Williams on record saying “The bottom line is, I’m in it to win.” It also notes that another Green, Patrick Quinlan of Gorham, has registered to run for Governor as a Green as well. Will we have a primary?

Washington

Seattle Post Intelligencer covers the lawsuit brought forth in Washington State by the Green Party and others accusing the Secretary of State of compromising ballot secrecy through the use of tracking barcodes on ballots.

Egypt

Black Agenda Report reports that Cynthia McKinney and the Viva Palestina Convoy may be proceeding now from Egypt to Gaza. The convoy, which also includes the UK’s George Galloway and Dead Prez’s M-1, has been tied up in US and Egyptian bureaucracy but may be advancing. The conditions for the Americans involved is apparently to sign papers waiving their rights to protection by their own government. Given how the US Government protected Cynthia McKinney and the others on the last two trips with the Free Gaza ships, that shouldn’t be a stretch to sign. See also Viva Palestina US.

As many of you have noted, Green Party Watch has been a source of both original reporting on this breaking story, and a source of news first developed by others. With only volunteers and no cash resources we have been able to keep you, our valued readers, as up-to-date as we could.

Even so, the corporate media, with their larger budgets and better access, have gotten a good deal of information to which we can only link.

This story from Irish Times covers Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maireád Maguire, who was on board the Spirit of Humanity when it and all crew were taken by the Israeli Defense Force. The article says Maguire remains incommunicado in an Israeli prison
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According to a post at her FaceBook page, Cynthia McKinney is on board an El Al flight headed to New York City and eventually to Washington DC.

Monday, July 06, 2009 Departure: 16:00Tel Aviv Yafo, Israel – Ben Gurion International, terminal 3 Arrival: 20:40 New York, USA – John F Kennedy, terminal 4 Airline:El Al Israel Airlines LY11 Duration 11:40 equipment: Boeing 747-400 She is coming to NY as above BUT connecting to DC for arrival there at midnight. Do not have details on the length of layover in NYC nor do I have ETA for DC. Trying to get that.

read more »

In a statement published at the Green Party website, party leaders call on President Obama and the State Department, led by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to demand the release of Cynthia McKinney and the rest of the Free Gaza 21 by the Israeli government. Pointing out that President Obama himself has called for an end to the blockade of Gaza, the Green Party called for action on behalf of those bringing just the sort of humanitarian aid to Gaza that the blockade is designed to keep out.

H/T to The Detroit Greens for the story.

The full statement can be read by clicking this article’s headline.

read more »

Fox News, the first of the corporate media to begin covering the saga of the Spirit of Humanity, carries a piece by David Lewkowict titled “Cynthia Mckinney Does it Again”. Fox News is also carrying a legitimate news piece which points out, as reported here earlier today, that McKinney and the rest are free to leave if they sign a statement that they violated Israeli territorial waters.

Former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney and several other human rights activists remain in an Israeli prison after refusing to sign a deportation form that they claim is self-incriminating.

An article by Kent A. Miles at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution quotes a Washington DC based Israeli spokesman Jonathan Peled saying that preparations are being made to deport the activists.

“It is taking slightly longer. Former congresswoman McKinney is not cooperating with the authorities” and refusing to sign a document acknowledging deportation, he said.

“It’ll take a couple more days before she is put on a plane and flown out of Israel,”

A petition calling for the release of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and the other 20 people aboard the Spirit of Humanity when it was seized by the Israeli Defense Force has been posted to a webpage maintained by the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation.

Passengers and crew abducted from international waters by the Israeli navy include:

US Campaign Advisory Board member, Huwaida Arraf; Former U.S. Congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney, Irish Nobel Peace Laurate, Mairead Maguire; al-Jazeera journalists Othman Abufalah and Mansour Al-Abi; Khalad Abdelkader; Khaled Al-Shenoo; Fatima Al-Attawi; Juhaina Alqaed; Ishmahil Blagrove; Kaltham Ghloom; Derek Graham; Alex Harrison; Denis Healey; Fathi Jaouadi; Lubna Masarwa; Theresa McDermott; Adnan Mormesh; Adam Qvist; Adam Shapiro; Kathy Sheetz

H/T to On The Wilder Side for the link.

In a posting to a webpage at her official MySpace page, reports of conversations between Cynthia McKinney and WBAIX reporter Don DeBar and her Press Secretary from her 2008 presidential bid, John Judge are posted.

Cynthia McKinney was able to get a call out to a colleague, Don Debar, she sends a message that she is fine, keep calling, faxing and emailing. Keep protesting, too! She is being held at the Ramle Prison in Israel…she has seen an attorney today provided by Free Gaza. She had no information on any of the 21 being released. Mairead Maguire is possibly being held or detained somewhere else. FREE the FREE GAZA 21! Demand that Israel return the ship along with the DANGEROUS CARGO–CRAYONS!

From John Judge:

John Judge (Press Secretary during the 2008 campaign) sent this tonight: I just got a call from former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney from inside an Israeli prison at Ramale where she and 20 other humanitarian aid workers from 9 different countries are still being held by Israeli authorities. US Embassy officials have spoken to Ms. McKinney and are aware of the situation. Four of the group are US citizens. Among them is Mairead Maguire, from Ireland, a Nobel laureate and renowned peace activist. They have named themselves the “Free Gaza 21.” They are demanding their release. They were in international waters on a boat delivering humanitarian aid to people in Gaza when Israeli Navy ships surrounded them and illegally threatened them, dismantled their navigation equipment, boarded and confiscated the ship. All those aboard were then taken off the ship and into custody, and brought into Israel and imprisoned. Immigration officials in Israel said they did not want to keep them, but they remain imprisoned. State Department and White House officials have not effected their release or taken a strong public stance to condemn the illegal actions of the Israeli Navy, enforcing a blockade of humanitarian assistance that has been condemned by President Obama.

In an article at The Irish Times, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairéad Maguire and another Irish citizen aboard the Spirit of Humanity were reportedly separated from the rest of the crew by Israeli authorities and detained in an undisclosed location. When Maguire protested her separation from the rest of her compatriots she was hand cuffed. They were later returned to join the rest of the group as they awaited deportation at Ben Gurion International Airport.

The piece, part of Akers’ series “The Sleuth”, ridicules McKinney for her efforts on behalf of the people of Gaza. Titled Where Are They Now: Cynthia McKinney Strikes Again, the piece gives scant information about the current detention of McKinney, but reaches back to 2002 to defame her.

The article does, however, provide a link to a fairly comprehensive report from 11 Alive. The article is down the page so you will have to scroll down to read it. Written by Chris Sweigart, the article includes the statement issued by the Consulate General of Israel in Atlanta.

Earlier today an Israeli Navy team boarded and took control of the cargo boat ‘Arion’ as the vessel illegally attempted to enter the Gaza Strip. In accordance with internationally recognized agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the waters along the Gaza Strip are under Israeli security control and foreign vessels are not permitted to sail into the territory. The Israeli Navy attempted to make contact with the ‘Arion,’ but its repeated warnings were ignored. No shots were fired during the boarding of the boat and the vessel was rerouted to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Humanitarian goods found aboard to boat will be transferred to the Gaza Strip, subject to authorization. We expect the vessel’s passengers to be flown home shortly.

Israel continues to make the humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza one of its top priorities. Humanitarian aid is shipped into Gaza regularly through multiple ground crossings and those who wish to transfer humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip can do so through these existing channels. In 2009 alone, the Gaza Strip has received over 300,000 tons of humanitarian supplies. Hundreds of aid trucks enter Gaza daily. In some cases, this has led to a surplus of humanitarian aid, with reports of Gaza civilians selling extra aid they possess.

Once again former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and her fellow travelers have taken it upon themselves to disregard their own safety, as well as the safety of the vessel’s crew, by leading a boat into restricted waters. Ms. McKinney ignored the available and legal means for the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip and instead chose to make a reckless political stunt.

Fox News is reporting that the authorities in Israel plan to deport Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney after taking the ship she and 20 others were using in an attempt to deliver humanitarian air to the people of Gaza. The article implies that Israel intends to keep the ship, registered in Greece.

The article quotes Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor.

“Nobody wants to the keep them here. They will be released as soon as they are checked.”

The article says that McKinney and the others, including 1977 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire, are being held at Ben Gurion International Airport and will be deported from there. McKinney and the others were on board the Spirit of Humanity, operated by the Free Gaza Movement Referring to their captivity, Free Gaza Movement founding member Greta Berlin told Ynet news, an online publication based in Israel:

They simply kidnapped the passengers. I call on the Israeli occupation forces to release our people immediately. It’s funny. What are they going to do? Deport us? The last place we wanted to reach was Israel.

In an earlier report Fox News reported that Congresswoman McKinney was demanding the immediate release of the the crew of the seized ship.

“This is an outrageous violation of international law against us,” said McKinney. “Our boat was not in Israeli waters and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip. President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that’s exactly what we tried to do. We’re asking the international community to demand our release so we can resume our journey.”