Thursday 3rd June - What's Happening

Japan: Following up on Japan's political future after Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigns. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) demanding a general election be called  

 

Taiwan: Tests new missile, designed to hit targets up to 2,000 kilometers away, from Chiupeng, a base in southern Taiwan.

 

Myanmar: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao pays official visit to Myanmar, the highest ranking Chinese official to visit the country since then-President Jiang Zemin in 2001.

 

India: Hillary Clinton and Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna chair the opening day of the first U.S-India Strategic Dialogue (NB India’s government is committed to moving forward with a civil nuclear cooperation accord with the United States) 

 

India: Russia will transfer its Nerpa nuclear-powered attack submarine for a 10-year lease to India later this year

 

Pakistan: Governor of the State Bank Of Pakistan Salim Raza resigned “for personal reasons”

 

Russia: Volunteer Cosmonauts go into the 'container' to start their 500 days training, simulating time on a trip to Mars at the Institute of Biomedical Research.

 

Afghanistan: Afghanistan holds second day of Jirga to discuss ways to end a nine-year war now in its deadliest phase.

 

Kyrgyzstan: Uzbekistan has begun to withdraw its armored personnel carriers and military vehicles from the Uzbek enclave of Sox, Kyrgyzstan, AKIpress reported.

 

Iran: Follow up on the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) new major plan for converting 45 billion of its euro reserves into dollar and gold ingots, Press TV

 

Iran: Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will give a speech at Ayatollah Khomeini shrine to mark the 21st anniversary of the death of the leader of the Islamic revaluation.

 

Iran: Iran officially denied a claim in the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) report on Iran that important nuclear equipment was missing from a Tehran facility, Iranian ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh said

 

Iran: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pardoned 81 jailed opposition supporters who  had been found guilty of participating in the unrest following the June 2009 presidential election.

 

Armenia: Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian said Turkey's involvement in settling the conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh is not welcome, and that Russia’s involvement is preferred.

 

Turkey: A group of experts from State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) travels to Turkey to prepare for an Azerbaijani-Turkish gas agreement ready to sign by the time Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visits Turkey on June 7.

 

Turkey: Turkey's top court will decide whether to hear an appeal by the opposition to stop government plans for constitutional change from going to a referendum in September.

 

Turkey: International Istanbul Music Festival

 

Oman: Authorities evacuate the off shore island of Masirah as Tropical cyclone Phet barrells toward the coast of the Gulf Arab state of Oman, strengthening quickly on its way to becoming a powerful category five storm.

 

Jordan: Jordanian Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communication Nabil Sharif said the Jordan Hashimite Charity Organization will send an aid convoy carrying food and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip

 

Gaza: Stratfor reports a Turkish patrol ship is circling the area near the Gaza coast, but is not entering territorial waters. However, there is no sign of readiness on the part of the Turkish navy to provide escorts to aid ships making their way to the Gaza coast.

 

Gaza: The humanitarian aid ship MV Rachel Corrie is still making its way to Gaza. It's unclear when the ship will reach its destination. The ship has a total of 19 people on board - six Malaysians, five Irish (including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire) and eight crew members.

 

Egypt: The Muslim Brotherhood will support an effort by Mohamed ElBaradei to reform Egyptian politics, according to Mohamed Saad el-Katatni, who said the Muslim Brotherhood would help ElBaradei get signatures on a petition to amend the constitution and emergency law in Egypt.

 

“Southern Sudan”: Nine people were killed in clashes between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and tribesmen in Unity state. The clashes occurred in the Mayom district between the SPLA and fighters loyal to Galwak Gai.

 

Ukraine: President Viktor Yanukovich gives state of nation speech (now 100 days in office)

 

Cyprus: Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu hold latest meeting in reunification talks. Also, huge secrurity measure as Cyprus prepares for a visit by Pope Benedict  

 

Greece: Greek Chapter of the "Gaza Freedom Movement" which organized the "freedom flotilla" stage protest rally against Israel.

 

Greece: Public transport workers go on 24 hour strike over government economic austerity measures which affect pensions and income.

 

Germany: There are plans to discuss reducing Germany's budget deficit at a government meeting from June 6-7 by reducing the size of the army.

 

EU: European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned Portugal it must bring down its deficit and said the 750 billion euro fund set up by the European Union and International Monetary Fund was created as a preventative measure

 

UK: British Prime Minister David Cameron called the raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla "completely unacceptable" and said Israel should end its blockade of the Gaza Strip, as the blockade strengthens Hamas' influence there

 

Spain: Secretive annual conference meets in Sitges, Spain. World's top industrialists, European royalty and politicians gather, as they have for more than half a century, to, it is alleged, discuss international policy behind closed doors and away from the world's media.

 

US: Israel's right to self-defense justifies an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla, House of Representatives Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said. Hoyer also said the Obama administration and Congress will try to prevent any condemnation of Israel by the U.N. Security Council.

Canada: Appeal hearing is held in the case of the Bil'in village in the West Bank who are trying to hold Canadian companies accountable for building settlements on their land. The villagers of Bil’in launched a lawsuit against two companies registered in Quebec - Green Mount International and Green Park

Posted via email from luay's posterous

Thursday 3rd June - What's Happening

Japan: Following up on Japan's political future after Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigns. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) demanding a general election be called

Taiwan: Tests new missile, designed to hit targets up to 2,000 kilometers away, from Chiupeng, a base in southern Taiwan.

Myanmar: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao pays official visit to Myanmar, the highest ranking Chinese official to visit the country since then-President Jiang Zemin in 2001.

India: Hillary Clinton and Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna chair the opening day of the first U.S-India Strategic Dialogue (NB India’s government is committed to moving forward with a civil nuclear cooperation accord with the United States)

India: Russia will transfer its Nerpa nuclear-powered attack submarine for a 10-year lease to India later this year

Pakistan: Governor of the State Bank Of Pakistan Salim Raza resigned “for personal reasons”

Russia: Volunteer Cosmonauts go into the 'container' to start their 500 days training, simulating time on a trip to Mars at the Institute of Biomedical Research.

Afghanistan: Afghanistan holds second day of Jirga to discuss ways to end a nine-year war now in its deadliest phase.

Kyrgyzstan: Uzbekistan has begun to withdraw its armored personnel carriers and military vehicles from the Uzbek enclave of Sox, Kyrgyzstan, AKIpress reported.

Iran: Follow up on the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) new major plan for converting 45 billion of its euro reserves into dollar and gold ingots, Press TV

Iran: Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will give a speech at Ayatollah Khomeini shrine to mark the 21st anniversary of the death of the leader of the Islamic revaluation.

Iran: Iran officially denied a claim in the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) report on Iran that important nuclear equipment was missing from a Tehran facility, Iranian ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh said

Iran: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pardoned 81 jailed opposition supporters who  had been found guilty of participating in the unrest following the June 2009 presidential election.

Armenia: Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian said Turkey's involvement in settling the conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh is not welcome, and that Russia’s involvement is preferred.

Turkey: A group of experts from State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) travels to Turkey to prepare for an Azerbaijani-Turkish gas agreement ready to sign by the time Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visits Turkey on June 7.

Turkey: Turkey's top court will decide whether to hear an appeal by the opposition to stop government plans for constitutional change from going to a referendum in September.

Turkey: International Istanbul Music Festival

Oman: Authorities evacuate the off shore island of Masirah as Tropical cyclone Phet barrells toward the coast of the Gulf Arab state of Oman, strengthening quickly on its way to becoming a powerful category five storm.

Jordan: Jordanian Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communication Nabil Sharif said the Jordan Hashimite Charity Organization will send an aid convoy carrying food and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip

Gaza: Stratfor reports a Turkish patrol ship is circling the area near the Gaza coast, but is not entering territorial waters. However, there is no sign of readiness on the part of the Turkish navy to provide escorts to aid ships making their way to the Gaza coast.

Gaza: The humanitarian aid ship MV Rachel Corrie is still making its way to Gaza. It's unclear when the ship will reach its destination. The ship has a total of 19 people on board - six Malaysians, five Irish (including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire) and eight crew members.

Egypt: The Muslim Brotherhood will support an effort by Mohamed ElBaradei to reform Egyptian politics, according to Mohamed Saad el-Katatni, who said the Muslim Brotherhood would help ElBaradei get signatures on a petition to amend the constitution and emergency law in Egypt.

“Southern Sudan”: Nine people were killed in clashes between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and tribesmen in Unity state. The clashes occurred in the Mayom district between the SPLA and fighters loyal to Galwak Gai.

Ukraine: President Viktor Yanukovich gives state of nation speech (now 100 days in office)

Cyprus: Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu hold latest meeting in reunification talks. Also, huge secrurity measure as Cyprus prepares for a visit by Pope Benedict

Greece: Greek Chapter of the "Gaza Freedom Movement" which organized the "freedom flotilla" stage protest rally against Israel.

Greece: Public transport workers go on 24 hour strike over government economic austerity measures which affect pensions and income.

Germany: There are plans to discuss reducing Germany's budget deficit at a government meeting from June 6-7 by reducing the size of the army.

EU: European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned Portugal it must bring down its deficit and said the 750 billion euro fund set up by the European Union and International Monetary Fund was created as a preventative measure

UK: British Prime Minister David Cameron called the raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla "completely unacceptable" and said Israel should end its blockade of the Gaza Strip, as the blockade strengthens Hamas' influence there

Spain: Secretive annual conference meets in Sitges, Spain. World's top industrialists, European royalty and politicians gather, as they have for more than half a century, to, it is alleged, discuss international policy behind closed doors and away from the world's media.

US: Israel's right to self-defense justifies an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla, House of Representatives Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said. Hoyer also said the Obama administration and Congress will try to prevent any condemnation of Israel by the U.N. Security Council.

Canada: Appeal hearing is held in the case of the Bil'in village in the West Bank who are trying to hold Canadian companies accountable for building settlements on their land. The villagers of Bil’in launched a lawsuit against two companies registered in Quebec - Green Mount International and Green Park

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My Press Review for 3rd June

Iraqi Christians: Better off than other Iraqi refugees?

Arab Christians in the US and elsewhere help facilitate the resettlement of Iraqi Christians fleeing violence in Iraq. Is the Western media overplaying the challenges facing Christians in Iraq?

UN criticises US on drone attacks

The use of targeted killings with drone aircraft poses a growing challenge to the international rule of law, a UN official says.

Volunteers to begin 'Mars exile'

Six men are about to lock themselves into a mock spaceship in Moscow to simulate an 18-month mission to Mars.

Saudi bride contracts ask for age

New wedding contracts will require Saudi brides to give their ages in an attempt to prevent children being married.

Fears for Gaza-bound Irish ship

An Irish woman onboard a ship carrying aid to Gaza says the crew expects Israeli forces to board the vessel.

Turning garbage into cash is fresh industry for some

It's hard to live a day in Beijing without realizing trash is everywhere. Lining the streets, stuffed in crevices of couches, floating in the rivers and streams - approximately 152 million tons of it each year throughout China according to a recent report.

China says no thanks to US defense chief

China has ruled out a stopover by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who had hoped to make improved military ties with Beijing the centerpiece of his trip to Asia this week....

Saudi court to probe MTV 'sins'

Saudi Arabia's religious police are investigating three young Saudis who challenged the country's strict laws in a TV programme.

Libyan executions are condemned

Human rights campaigners condemn the Libyan execution of 18 people, mostly foreigners from Nigeria and Egypt.

Apple boss defends iPhone factory

Steve Jobs defends conditions at an electronics manufacturer producing Apple products, following a spate of suicides.

London salt water plant opens

The Duke of Edinburgh opens a water desalination plant which aims to combat water shortages in the capital.

Confused by Metro law? You will be

Penalty for bringing a weapon on a train is Dh200, but for sleeping in waiting area it's Dh300, and don't even think about chewing gum.

Pirates grab QSM Dubai in Gulf of Aden

The European Union's anti-piracy force says Somali pirates have hijacked a cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden.

When poets rocked Russia’s stadiums

Since the collapse of the Soviet empire in 1991, Russian poetry has begun to resemble American poetry in ways that are both fascinating and sad. What’s fascinating is how talented, and how different from one another, Russia’s young poets are

Russia says 20-year population fall may be turning

Russia may have bucked a post-Soviet population decline, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday after announcing a 1.5 percent rise in the number of births during the first quarter.

Ireland's unemployment rate hits 16-year high

Ireland's unemployment rate has reached a 16-year high and the total number of welfare claimants has climbed to a new record high, government statisticians reported Wednesday in the latest sign that the country remains in the grip of recession.

Beijing ‘renting’ Russian border area for Chinese farmers

Beijing has rented 426,600 hectares of Russian territory in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast and Khabarovsk Kray for agricultural use by Chinese farmers, the Xinhua News Agency Reports, a 42 percent increase in the size of such Chinese holdings inside Russia and one likely to infuriate many Russian nationalists.

Mother of seven emerges as favourite for German presidency

Germany is on course to be ruled by two women after a mother of seven emerged as the favourite to become the country's president alongside Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Women considering abortions offered £3,700 to keep their babies

Italian women considering having an abortion will be offered €4,500 (£3,700) to keep the baby.

Germans fall out of love with Europe

Germany is increasingly resentful of being seen as the cashpoint for its cash-strapped southern neighbours

Accounts of Turkish returnees reveal Israeli mistreatment

Peace activists returning to Turkey say that Israeli commandos beat them during a deadly raid on an aid flotilla that was trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza earlier this week, adding to the accounts from citizens of several nations that evidence ill treatment at the hands of Israeli authorities.

Ergenekon general Ersöz testifies via video conference

Retired Gen. Levent Ersöz, who has been hospitalized at İstanbul University’s faculty of medicine hospital for several months, testified on Wednesday from his hospital bed live via video link in the trial of Ergenekon, a criminal network accused of working to overthrow the government.

French bid for euro zone "government" gains ground

French-inspired plans to create an "economic government" for the euro zone took a step forward on Wednesday when European Council President Herman Van Rompuy threw his weight behind the idea.

New Israeli Tack Needed on Gaza, U.S. Officials Say

The Obama administration considers Israel’s blockade of Gaza to be untenable and plans to press for another approach, U.S. officials said.

Nation's debt hits $13 trillion

The federal government is now $13 trillion in the red, the Treasury Department will announce Wednesday -- marking the first time the government has sunk that far into debt.

Will US revoke the right of American citizenship to foreigners born here?

A bill in the House of Representatives would change the 14th amendment to the US Constitution that grants anyone who is born on US soil the right of American citizenship. Efforts to revoke birthright citizenship could make it the new flashpoint in the debate over immigration.

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Notice: This email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of our firm shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it.

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My Press Review

US to allow Somalis to sue ex-PM

The US Supreme Court rules that a former Somali prime minister can be sued over claims of torture and extrajudicial killings.

 

US begins criminal probe of spill

Oil firm BP says its latest attempt to cap the oil spill is under way, as the US government announces a criminal investigation.

 

 

Horst, why?

German president's shock resignation a blow to Merkel

 

Doubt cast on Israel raid account

Activists on ships raided by Israeli commandos cast doubt on Israel's version of events that led to at least nine deaths.

 

10% of children too fat: Study

One in three children in Beijing are overweight, a report by the municipal government has shown, a trend that worries health professionals.

 

Egypt opens border as new aid ship sails for Gaza

Egypt opens its border with the Gaza Strip in a clear rebuke to Israel, as activists say they have launched another aid ship.

 

Four shot as violence mars Egypt vote

The president had promised elections would be free and fair but they are marred by charges of irregularities and police intimidation.

 

Israeli MP tells of her terror on aid ship

 ‘They wanted many deaths to terrorise us and to send a message,’ says Haneen Zoubi.

 

Viktor Yanukovych’s first 100 days

Taras Kuzio writes:Attempting to see into Viktor Yanukovych’s mindset is not easy, although there are many clues from his social, economic, regional and political background. These factors have been ignored by the majority of Western analysts and journalists writing about Ukraine

 

African mining may be driving tuberculosis epidemic

 

Poor living and working conditions for miners of gold, diamonds and other precious metals have contributed significantly to tuberculosis (TB) epidemics across Africa, scientists said on Tuesday

 

 

Russian mayor accused of beating elderly woman

The mayor of a Russian town is accused of beating a 69-year-old woman who was slow to open the door when he showed up at his office late at night, Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday, June 1.

 

Euro hits new 4-year low against dollar

The euro hit another four-year low against the dollar on Tuesday as worries that European banks could still face large loan losses next year added to concerns about the continent's economic outlook.

 

Japanese PM Yukio Hatoyama resigns over broken Okinawa base promise

Japan's prime minister Yukio Hatoyama has resigned after breaking an electoral pledge to move US troops off Okinawa.

 

McDonald's releases gay advert

McDonald's has released its first ever TV advert targeting homosexual men.

 

Dominique de Villepin turned into comic-book hero

Dominique de Villepin, France's flamboyant former prime minister has become the unlikely hero of an acclaimed comic-book that he hopes will boost his presidential chances against Nicolas Sarkozy.

 

Tintin ban is 'like book burning'

Legal attempts to ban Tintin in the Congo for racism are a form of "book burning", according to lawyers acting for the estate of Hergé, the Belgian cartoon hero's creator.

 

Maths formula proves giraffes can swim

Mathematics has proven that giraffes can swim - even though they wouldn't be very good at it and nobody has ever seen them do it.

 

Russians Buyers Drive Up London's Home Prices

London luxury-home prices climbed in May for the seventh straight month, driven on by an increase in the number of Russians targeting London property, a brokerage said.

 

Similarities between PKK, Israel attacks raise suspicions

The common characteristics of an assault carried out by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and an Israeli attack on a humanitarian aid convoy in international waters have raised suspicions over whether the two incidents are related.

 

Aid ship returnee: What we experienced was inhumane

One of the peace activists returning to Turkey after Israeli forces raided their aid flotilla has said they were exposed to maltreatment by commandos during the assault.

U.S. base projects continue in Iraq despite plans to leave

On Nov. 17, 2008, U.S. and Iraqi officials signed a security agreement requiring all U.S. troops to leave the country by the end of 2011. But in the 18 months since, contruction projects have gone on, with the U.S. spending millions to build facilities it hopes to leave very soon.

Nuclear equipment missing from Iranian lab, IAEA report says

An apparatus that could be used to extract plutonium for an atomic bomb is gone, the United Nations watchdog agency says.

 

 

 

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Wednesday 2nd June - What's Happening

China: China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) preparing for  first round of strategic talks in Beijing on June 4

 

South Korea: Governor and mayoral elections.

 

India: A severe heat wave has hit India with temperatures reaching nearly 50 degrees. The heat has killed hundreds and has left the capital, as well as the Punjab and Haryana states with serious water shortages.  

 

Afghanistan:  Afghanistan will hold a jirga, to discuss ways to end a nine-year war now in its deadliest phase. President Karzai and nearly 1500 delegates to attend the gathering which includes diplomats and former Mujahuddin leader.

 

Kazakhstan: The return to earth of the Soyuz TMA-17 mission with Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi, U.S. astronaut Timothy Creamer and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov on board. 

 

Turkey: High level security summit including Prime minister, Defence minister, Top army Generals and Head of Turkish secret service takes place in capital Ankara to discuss latest Israeli attack to the ships of the Gaza flotilla.

 

Turkey: Afghan-Iraq Investment Summit (to June 3).

 

West Bank: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas opens The Palestine Investment Conference 2010, followed by an address by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.  

 

Israel: Netanyahu said that international condemnation would not stop Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, saying opening up Gaza would be dangerous for Israeli citizens because Gaza is a “terror state” funded by Iran. He also described the flotilla which Israel raided as a “violent force.”

 

Gaza: The humanitarian aid ship Rachel Corrie is pressing ahead towards Gaza and is expected to arrive in the next few hours. The ship has a total of 19 people on Dennis Halladay (UN former head of food for oil program in Iraq) and Mairead Muguire Irish Nobel prize winner on board.

 

Egypt: Egypt says it will open its border with the Gaza Strip to let Palestinians cross following a storm of international criticism of Israel's bloody enforcement at sea of its blockade on the enclave.

 

Egypt: Secretary General of the Arab Lague Amr Moussa meets with Arab foreign ministers to discuss response to Israeli commando assault on the Gaza aid flotilla.

 

Bosnia: The conference on the European Union and the Balkans will be held in June in Sarajevo to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the end of war in Bosnia.

 

Italy: Annual military parade at Fori Imperiali with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa (0800).      

France: Jean-Marie Messier, the flamboyant former Vivendi boss who became a symbol of corporate hubris when he nearly bankrupted the entertainment group with a massive acquisition spree, goes on criminal trial in Paris on Wednesday. 

 

France: France will spend 300 million euros ($368 million) over three years to train 12,000 African soldiers, according to officials at the Elysee Palace at a Franco-African summit

Iran: Iranian forces moved about five kilometers (three miles) into the Kurdistan region in Iraq and established military camps. Bases were established in the Weze and Kani Rash villages in the town of Choman. Approximately 220 families in the Iran-Iraq border villages have fled.

 

Belgium: Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, speaks at think tank event 

Belgium: Standard and Poor’s downgraded its outlook of Belgium’s Brussels capital region from stable to negative and warned that Brussels’ budgetary performance and debt positions were deteriorating

 

Dominican Republic: World Summit on the Future of Haiti.

Brazil: Brazil’s foreign minister said that while Brazil will oppose any new sanctions imposed on Iran by the U.N. Security Council, it will respect them if they are approved

US: The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expanded to the area of the Gulf of Mexico that is closed to fishing, Dow Jones reported

US: The U.S. Commerce Department set final antidumping duties and countervailing duties on Chinese steel gratings of 136.76 percent to 145.18

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Free Gaza Flotilla Facts

Israeli soldiers invaded these ships in international waters, breaking international law, and, in killing civilians, committed a war crime. The counter-claim by Israeli commanders that their soldiers responded to an imminent “lynch” by civilians should be dismissed with the loud contempt it deserves.

The Israeli government approved the boarding of these aid ships by an elite unit of commandoes. They were armed with automatic weapons to pacify the civilians onboard, but not with crowd dispersal equipment in case of resistance. Whatever the circumstances of the confrontation, Israel must be held responsible for sending in soldiers and recklessly endangering the lives of all the civilians onboard, including a baby and a Holocaust survivor.

Israel has no right to control Gaza’s sea as its own territorial waters and to stop aid convoys arriving that way. In doing so, it proves that it is still in belligerent occupation of the enclave and its 1.5 million inhabitants. And if it is occupying Gaza, then under international law Israel is responsible for the welfare of the Strip’s inhabitants. Given that the blockade has put Palestinians there on a starvation diet for the past four years, Israel should long ago have been in the dock for committing a crime against humanity.

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