Protesters say they'll set sail again to Gaza from Cyprus Wed.

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Protesters who defied Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip to bring aid to Palestinians last month say they are making a return voyage.

Free Gaza organizer Greta Berlin says about 20 protesters will sail Wednesday from Cyprus aboard a boat named Hope for the 20-hour trip to the Palestinian territory.

Berlin says Irish Nobel peace prize winner Mairead McGuire and an Italian
opera tenor will be among the passengers.

She said Tuesday protesters will deliver a consignment of medicine and ferry Palestinians back to the east Mediterranean island on the return trip.

Protesters sailed to Gaza last month to protest Israel's yearlong blockade of Gaza imposed after the Islamic militant group Hamas took over the territory in a violent confrontation with pro-Fatah Palestinian Authority forces."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1023697.html

[Scurrilous]

1. MK Zahalka to sail against siege

Balad chairman decides to join newest group of activists battling 'siege on Gaza' with boating tours from Cyprus to Strip. 'It's my duty as a politician to end this inhumane siege," he explains

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3601089,00.html

<snip>

"An additional activist boat is preparing to set sail on Wednesday from Cyprus towards the Gaza Strip, this time with a member of Knesset on board. Chairman of the Balad Party, MK Jamal Zahalka, explained that "this journey is part of an opening of a naval passage to Gaza, which will constitute a doorway for the residents."

He added that "the siege on Gaza is a crime and the goal of the journey is to yell out to the world against this crime."

The most recent anti-siege sailing event took place last August, when a boat of left-wing activists calling to end the siege on the Strip set sail from Cyprus. The activists were at first doubtful that they would be permitted to enter Israel's territorial waters, but the State did not prevent them from passing through.

This time, in order to raise global awareness for their mission, the activists decided to appeal to MK Zahalka to join them on the boat, to which the latter consented immediately.

"It is my duty as a politician who slaves away night and day against the siege, to board that boat and work towards ending this inhumane siege," he explained. "1.5 million people are currently being imprisoned. This is an insufferable situation and it's time to break the world's deafening silence on this issue."