Israel Matzav

'Activists' planning new blockade run in the spring

In interviews with The Washington Times, pro-Palestinian activists said they expect the sequel to far exceed the original in the number of boats, passengers, groups involved and nations represented.

"We have at least 15 different groups right now at one or two boats each," said Huwaida Arraf, chairperson of the Free Gaza Movement, one of the leading nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the effort. "Every meeting we have, we get one or two new country-based networks or coalitions that want to join."

Huseyn Oruc, deputy president of the Humanitarian Relief Foundation — the Istanbul-based Islamic NGO whose members were killed in the clash — predicted that "it will not be less than 40 or 50 boats."

Other flotilla leaders, such as Free Gaza Movement co-founder Paul Larudee, offered more conservative estimates, saying they would be thrilled to get 20 vessels. Although Mr. Larudee said the number is "up in the air."

"I don't think anyone can give you a really accurate answer because the boats are in various stages of acquisition and preparation, and you have all sorts of intentions and various groups and in various stages of fundraising, and so on and so forth," he said.

Organizers said that Freedom Flotilla 2 will set sail sometime between March 30 and the May 31 anniversary of the bloodshed.

"May 31 would be a very good date for many reasons," said Dror Feiler, spokesman for Ship to Gaza-Sweden. "To pay tribute to the martyrs who died for the people of Gaza and human rights. From a media perspective. And also logistics: It is not too early, and we will be very well prepared. Others want to go sooner."

Labels: flotilla, Gaza plenty, IHH, International Solidarity Movement

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:34 AM