The Flotilla

Scheduled to arrive to Gaza on thursday, the 10th Freedom Flotilla will be carrying "only letters of support" to the civilians within. In the lead-up to the arrival the team of humanitarian workers, journalists and other activists will have spent up to a month trying to get Israeli government officials to inspect their cargo to assure the legitimacy of their pure humanitarianism. Many of these workers say that they expected that Israel would not agree to inspect because they want the flotilla to retain it's vague terrorist image.

As Ray McGovern, one of the organizers and most recognizable activists on the boat, puts it: "it is a public relations nightmare". Israel has increased it's PR budget this year to an unprecedented $26 billion (U.S. Dollars). The flotilla that will try to come onto Gaza shores is not only an attempt to supply and free the Gazan people but it is a cry to bring world attention to Gaza's problem and Israel's influence. The fact that the officials refuse to participate in voluntary inspections further shows that they are not interested in the facts of the case or weather or not this is a real threat. Labeling humanitarian workers as "terrorists" is a convenient way to dismiss the actual message they are trying to get across.

Until Israel and the people of the outside world decide to look deeper into issues, rather than frame them as "Good and evil", we will not see a responsible dealing with the oppressed Palestinians. Until We all do this the Palestinians will be the ones to suffer.

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=74&jumival=743

http://pulsemedia.org/2010/08/23/we’ll-take-over-the-world-ministry-of-foreign-affairs-allocates-100-million-shekel-for-state-branding/