Israel is frightened of Pikachu

Via Mondoweiss, Al Jazeera journalist Aymen Mohyeldin attended an IDF "press conference" (read: propaganda service), wherein the contents of the flotilla which Israel illegally boarded in international waters, murdering civillians, was revealed. Remember, the official Israeli line was that these ships were stocked with 'war materials' to be given by the 'terrorists' on-board to Hamas, or some other such nonsense:

Pathetic, cruel, and monstrous.

Let everyone remember: This is the face of Israel

Yesterday, when it was not raiding ships in breach of international law off of Gaza, Israel was shooting unarmed protestors in the face in the West Bank:

(Via The International Solidarity Movement)

Israel's latest act of terrorism

Yesterday morning, Israeli commandos, in international waters, raided the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, a humanitarian convoy carrying aid for the blockaded Gaza strip, and which was attempting to break Israel's illegal seige. Israel responded with the use of deadly force, shooting at the civillians on board. As of this morning, between 9-16 civillians are reported dead; the true number is not known, as Israel has since towed the remaining boats, and their passengers, back into Israel, where they will likely be deported.

Since yesterday, Israel has faced thunderous international condemnation for it's illegal and brutal acts. Richard Falk, the UN special rapporteur for the Occupied Territories, has gone on record as calling for a boycott and sanctions against Israel. Numerous European states, including Greece and Ireland, have summonded their respective Israeli ambassadors to demand answers.

Israel, as is typical, is on propaganda overtime seeking to control the narrative:

During the boarding of the Mavi Marmara, the demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs. Additionally two of the weapons used were grabbed from an IDF soldier. The demonstrators had clearly prepared their weapons in advance for this specific purpose. In fact, flotilla leaders stated (Sunday, May 30) that violence was premeditated.

Two things should be noted when reading this statement from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs: One, this is the IDF-so not only do they have an interest in making sure that their narrative is the one which gains traction, they also, as anyone familiar with Israel-Palestine knows, have a history of lying. Two, since this boat was in international waters, those on board had every right to defend themselves, as Andrew Sullivan notes.

So, what we have here is an act of state terrorism, perpetrated in the early morning hours, against a convoy of civillian ships, by a state which is infamous for brutality and the massacring of civillians.

Israel has released proof, including a contextless video (available at the Ministry link above), and pictures of the supposed 'weapons' on board the flotilla:

Lawrence of Cyberia shows similar 'weapons' found in her house:

(I wonder when she can expect an IDF raid at her house, being the dangerous terrorist that she is)

There have also been numerous protests around the world, including Turkey, Britain, The US, and Canada. Here is footage of one from my hometown of Toronto, featuring Naomi Klein:

Also worth watching is Norman Finkelstein's take on the matter on Russia Today:

They're all going to laugh at you, Pt.1

Fascist Agendas

Ibrahim maintained that any new government might need at least a year to consider all options and formulate its positions. "I believe that an Israeli government that has a fascist agenda cannot proceed or convince the international community of such an agenda, especially after Israel has just carried out a war on Gaza."

Negotiations with the Occupation.

Hamas awaits Israeli reply on truce

Once again, we see a clear example of how negotiations with Israel work. Hamas, the supposed "terrorists", engage in multilateral diplomacy:

A Hamas delegation met Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman in Cairo late on Monday as Egypt continued bids to broker an extended truce with Israel over Gaza, the state MENA news agency reported.

It said the Islamist delegation was preparing to return to the Gaza Strip and Syria to await Israel's final say on a long-term truce.

 while Israel continues its collective punishment of an entire people.

Israeli warplanes targeted smuggling tunnels on Gaza's border with Egypt on Monday after two rockets were fired from the Palestinian territory, witnessessaid. Israel says armed groups use the tunnels around the border town of Rafah to smuggle weapons into the Hamas-run enclave.

Anyone with any logic knows these accusations, reported without question here in the West, are patently false. Gaza has been under a blockade since the supposed Israeli "withdrawl" of 2005. (A withdrawl which has left Gaza a wall-less prison of 1.5 million people, as Israel still controls the airspace, ports, and all but one border crossing). These tunnels, crude as they may be, by and large used to smuggle in not weapons, but desperately needed food and medical supplies, which Israel has cruelly denied the 1.5 million Palestinians access to.

Hamas has accused Israel of backtracking on a deal after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Saturday ruled out lifting the blockade of Gaza, a key Hamas demand, until the Islamists release captured soldier Gilad Shalit.

And what of the tens of thousands of Palestinian political prisoners, Mr. Olmert? When will they be released? People who have been arrested and jailed for years, without charge or trial, a violation of the most basic legal principles?

 I suppose that those lives are trivial, while the life of one occupying soldier must have the highest of considerations in any negotiatons between oppressor and oppressed.