Audacity & Hypocrisy - Gaza "Activists" Ignoring Arab Dictators' Brutality

As we marked the fifth anniversary of Gilad, Shalit’s kidnap and incarceration in dungeon like conditions, the International Red Cross condemned Hamas for its refusal to allow it access to the kidnapped Israeli, a flagrant breach of international law; while the G8 leaders and human rights organisations called for his release.

At the same time, aboard ships with such eloquent names as “The Audacity of Hope” and “Tahrir”, international, pro Palestinian activists along with a host of self-proclaimed “social activists” prepare to take part in a new flotilla aimed at breaking Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. 

One American, Jewish “activist” stated in a recent article that “I simply cannot sit idle while my country aids and abets Israel’s siege, occupation and repression of the Palestinians. I would rather use my personal influence and power, in concert with other members of American civil society, to actively and nonviolently resist policies that I consider abominable.” He went on to say “We are committed to acting out of Jewish ethical traditions, while holding Israel to the same standard as any other state in the international system – no more, no less”.  Talk about audacity...

Perhaps if before they set sail, there are still vessels to be named in the flotilla, I might suggest appropriate names such as, “The Height of Hypocrisy”, “The Self Righteous Indignant” or my personal favourite, “The False Friends”.  For the truth of the matter is that these so-called activists are far more interested in the delegitimization of Israel than in the human rights and well-being of Palestinians, living in Gaza.

Recently the deputy director of the Red Cross in Gaza, Mathilde Redmatn stated that “There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza”.  With Israel relaxing its land blockade last year and Egypt’s recent reopening of the Rafah crossing, there can be no reasonable justification for such a flotilla, other than the self-serving and self-righteous desire for conflict with Israel.

The UN, the Red Cross and a host of western governments have called uponthe flotilla organizers not to sail.   Given recent developments in the region, eventhe Turkish organization which led last year’s ill fated flotilla, the IHH hasseen fit to cancel its participation in the flotilla.  However flying the flag of self-righteousindignation, the flotilla will not be deterred.   Sadly this is an all too recurring theme among “left wing liberals” in the world in recent years.

At the time, what has become known as the Second Lebanon War in2006, stirred great anti Israel protest.   In the UK and elsewhere demonstrations against Israel’s attempt to defend itself after being attacked; resounded to the chant, “we are all Hezbollah“.  So too, in 2009, the chant of “we are all Hamas” rang out as once more the indignant “anti Zionists” furiously objected, as Israel once more looked to defend itself from thousands of rockets fired at its civilian population, this time from Gaza.  

Apparently it was the level of civilian casualties (the vast majority were actually combatants) which incurred the wrath of concerned citizens all over Europe and the globe, but only at the hand of Israelis. The hundreds of Palestinians opportunistically murdered at the time by Hamas, apparently were less deserving of “left wing liberal” concern.

Fast forward to 2011… After the incredible events which saw the fall of dictators in Tunisia and Egypt. Dictators in the region are fighting back.  In Yemen, Bahrain and Libya, the gloves are off. Desperate regimes are slaughtering thousands of their own citizens in an attempt to stem the flow of change in the region and cling to power at all costs.

Claims of rape being used as a military “tactic” and thousands dead in Libya, led to NATO military action in favour of the rebels.  However in Yemen and Bahrain there has been no such intervention, unless you count Saudi Arabian troops entering Bahrain to help the government quash any and all opposition; thus the wanton rape, murder and torture continues.  

Sadly the streets of the Western world remain silent and empty. There are no mass rallies in condemning Arab dictators.  There are noflotillas or truck convoys planned to come to the aid of Arabs sufferingterrible human rights abuses at the hands of their own leaders.   It appears that unless such death and horror offer the opportunity to attack the Jewish state, Arab civilian lives are not that important after all to the “liberal left” in the wider world. The death and torture of thousands just doesn’t warrant the effort… I wonder why?

And then there is Syria…

Apparently over the past three months, Syrian authorities have murdered over 1,400 of their own people and the killing goes on. Eyewitness testimony has confirmed that Syrian authorities are getting help to “put down” the “insurrection”.   

Syrian deserters who have fled to Turkey have told horrendous stories of how they were forced at gunpoint by Iranian troops and Hezbollah fighters, to shoot civilians and that had they refused, they would be shot in the back of the head. In fact there are confirmed reports of Syrian soldiers being killed for refusing to shoot civilians.  

Syrian civilians who have fled into Turkey and Lebanon (over 12.000 to date) tell of the murder and destruction brought upon them by the regime. Furthermore, Syrian soldiers have seen fit to document their criminal activities on film, with horrendous scenes of massacre and torture proudly displayed for all to view online and on our news channels.

The fact that these so-called “social activists” are not setting sail for either of the Tripolis in Libya or Syria, or to the port of Aden in Yemen, or to Bahrain, reveals a sad and lamentable truth.

To all those who so “bravely” look to combat the Israelis on the high seas for the sake of a perverted view of reality and cheap publicity, in the process, taking much-needed media attention away from the real abuses in the region, and to those who demonstrated and chanted how they “are all Hamas” in 2009 and “all Hezbollah” in 2006, your silence, inaction and blatant hypocrisy in the face of the current, genuine atrocities are contemptible.

They send a clear and ominous message.  Ordinary Arabs who have the audacity to fight for their democratic freedom, and the hope that all right thinking people throughout the world will support their desperate struggle, are shocked, horrified, and are dying. However, dictators throughout the region and in particular, the Syrian regime and its allies are comforted by your inaction, relieved at your silence and extremely grateful to know that still, blindly and without reservation you “are all Hamas, you are all Hezbollah”.