2013 January | Gaza's Ark

Monthly Archives: January 2013

January 28, 2013 From Gaza, Statements & Releases, Trade not Aid

Video: Embroidery makers of Gaza

This short video highlights one of the great tragedies of Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Palestinian industries in Gaza, like the clothing industry or the crafts industry, which once thrived, are today prevented from exporting freely to markets outside Gaza, including to the Palestinian WestBank.

Our Mission Statement: “Through Gaza’s Ark and trade deals secured between Palestinian producers in Gaza and international businesses and NGOs, a channel will be established to export Palestinian products from Gaza that are available despite the blockade.”

Trade not Aid!

After watching the video, please consider making a donation or buying a symbolic “Share in Hope” that will make you a symbolic shareholder in Gaza’s Ark.

Thank you.

January 27, 2013 In the media, Our supporters

Diana Ralph of Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) on Voice of Palestine

(January 26, 2013) This week Voice of Palestine talks with Diana Ralph, member of the national steering committee of Independent Jewish Voices Canada, about their group’s activities, including support for Gaza's Ark, the upcoming tour of Miko Peled, their campaign against the Jewish National Fund, and the historic petition Jews for the Palestinian Right of Return. Our closing piece of music is by Omayma El Khalil, They Wore the Keffiyeh, and is dedicated to all those international activists that wear the keffiyeh as a statement of support for Palestinian human and national rights.

Download an audio file of today’s entire show to listen at home on your computer or stream it from VoP's YouTube channel or directly from Voice of Palestine's audio archive.

January 26, 2013 In the media

The Kayaktivist Rides Again

by Michael Coleman

26 January 2013

Well I’m back in the Middle East and I have to say it almost feels like coming home. The first morning in Cairo I woke to the sound of the call to prayer and from that moment on I have felt welcomed and supported. I am in Cairo to sort my entry into the Gaza Strip to assist with the Gaza’s Ark project.

WHY ?

January 22, 2013 In the media

Report Fishing In Gaza-Life and Death

This entry was posted by admin on Saturday, 19 January, 2013 http://www.irishfriendsofpalestine.org/2013/01/19/603/

Irish Friends of Palestine Delegation at Gaza Seaport meeting Fishermen

Pat Fitzgerald is a Sinn Fein Councillor at Waterford County Council and John Hearne is a Sinn Fein Councillor at Waterford City Council. Both men were crew members on the Irish Ship to Gaza MV Saoirse,with Pat as the Ship’s Engineer. They both spent a week in Givon prison, in Israel, after their boat was captured in route to Gaza and boarded by the IOF Navy in 2011. Both men are professional Trawler fishermen in Ireland and members of the recent Irish Friends of Palestine Delegation to Gaza November 2012. As part of our Irish Delegation they held meetings and tours with Gaza fishermen and with Mahfouz Kabariti of the Gaza Fishermen Association. The Delegation made a presentation of engraved Derry Crystal to Mr. Kabariti and the Fisherman’s Association on behalf of Irish Friends of Palestine members who were part of the Irish Ship to Gaza Freedom Flotilla II Campaign. A personal report from Pat Fitzgerald is submitted below. For a full list of upcoming reports about our recent delegation go HERE

January 21, 2013 Statements & Releases

Freedom Flotilla Coalition embraces Gaza’s Ark campaign

Freedom Flotilla Coalition Statement

Rome, January 19-20, 2013.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition met in Rome for two days of discussion of our past work and future plans, as we continue our struggle against the illegal and inhuman blockade of Gaza. Representatives from campaigns in Canada, Greece, Norway, Spain, and Sweden, as well as from the International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza, were hosted by our colleagues in Italy.

January 19, 2013 In the media, Trade not Aid

First ever Palestinian-Egyptian automobile company sponsored by Gaza Strip Investment Fund opens

MEMO-Middle East Monitor

17 January 2013

A Palestinian-Egyptian company has just opened its doors in the Gaza Strip. It is the first of its kind operating in the modern automobile sector and falls within the framework of the Gaza Strip Investment Fund.

The opening ceremony was attended by a number of influential individuals in the industry, automotive traders, businessmen, and Gaza officials, as well as Gaza residents and singers.

January 18, 2013 In the media

Sailing for freedom

Compelling accounts of Gaza solidarity activism

RAMONA WADI

JANUARY 17, 2013

Freedom Sailors defies conventional narrative and adherence to globalist media by aligning itself with a narrative resounding with internationalism. The book provides an account replete with contrasts, highlighting the many facets of history and identifying the differing dynamics between activism and foreign policy.

Despite Israel’s alleged military withdrawal from the Gaza strip, air space and territorial waters are patrolled by the Israeli military, thus ensuring a continuity of the siege. Apartheid practices have rendered Palestinians spectators of their own dependence, as foreign policy continues to ignore the illegalities of an occupying power. Sailing on board Free Gaza and Liberty, international activism brought the Palestinians’ plight to media attention, breaking the siege on Gaza for the first time and setting the scene for further humanitarian missions.

January 18, 2013 In the media

Spain prosecutor requests ICC referral of case against Israel’s Netanyahu for 2010 flotilla attack

Submitted by Ali Abunimah on Thu, 01/17/2013 – 04:00

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A protest outside Spain’s foreign ministry in Madrid on 31 May 2010, the day of the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara (source).

(Olmo González / Flickr)

The prosecutor of Spain’s national court has formally requested a judge to begin steps to refer a case against Israeli leaders for the attack on the Gaza flotilla in 2010 to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

January 15, 2013 Fundraisers

Buy symbolic shares in Gaza’s Ark – Shares in Hope

As we state in our Mission Statement

Gaza’s Ark is rebuilding a large fishing boat in Gaza and converting it into a cargo vessel using existing resources. A crew of internationals and Palestinians will sail it out of Gaza, the only Mediterranean port closed to shipping, carrying Palestinian products to fulfill trade deals with international buyers, to challenge the illegal and inhuman Israeli blockade.

Gaza’s Ark relies fully on donations from individuals and NGOs from all over the world. We do not accept any funds from governments. We believe that people like you can make a difference. Our joint effort can make that happen. You can be part of it in a very concrete way.

Building a boat is very complex and has many different components. We will start with purchasing a fishing boat in Gaza that will then be refurbished for sailing on the high seas. Our Palestinian partners in Gaza have helped us to locate a boat and we are very close to purchasing and insuring one.

We are ready to make a down payment on the boat and start rebuilding it right away, as we raise the rest of the money to pay it in full.

We need your help now in the purchase of the boat.

We would like to offer you the opportunity to own symbolic shares in Gaza’s Ark. Each symbolic share has a unit value of $50 (Canadian).
You can buy as many units of Gaza’s Ark shares as you would like (in multiples of $50) and we will apply your contribution directly towards the purchase of the boat.
This offer is valid until we can cover the full cost of the purchase and refurbishing of the boat.

(click to enlarge)

This is how you can do it:

* Click on Buy Now button below

* In the PayPal window indicate how many shares (Quantity) you would like to purchase (each share is worth $50) and click on Update; you will see the current total of your purchase

* Give your name and address

When we receive your contribution we will e-mail you (or mail by post if you prefer) a “Gaza – A share in Hope” symbolic certificate with your name on it and the value that you have donated.

This will make a perfect gift from you. While purchasing the shares give us instructions to put the name of your dear one on the certificate.

If you contribute $1,000 (Canadian) or more, your name can appear on a plaque placed on Gaza’s Ark unless you choose to remain anonymous.

January 9, 2013 From Gaza