Jewish activists sail to Gaza, try to break blockade
FAMAGUSTA, Cyprus - A boat carrying Jewish activists from Israel, Germany, the United States and Britain set sail from northern Cyprus Sunday for Gaza, hoping to breach Israel's naval blockade there.
Richard Kuper, an organizer with the British group Jews for Justice for Palestinians, said one goal is to show that not all Jews support Israeli policies toward Palestinians. Kuper said the boat, which set sail with nine passengers and crew members flying a British flag, won't resist if Israeli authorities try to stop it.
The voyage by the 33-foot catamaran Irene - which means peace in Greek - carrying children's toys, medical equipment, outboard motors for fishing boats and books, comes nearly four months after Israeli commandos boarded a flotilla of Gaza-bound ships, including the Mavi Marmara, killing eight pro-Palestinian Turkish activists and a Turkish-American.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Andy David called the latest protest boat "a provocative joke that isn't funny." He added: "It's unfortunate that there are all kinds of organizations involved in provocations that contribute nothing and certainly don't contribute to any kind of agreement."
Yousef Rizka, an official with Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza, said: "The government positively views all attempts to break the siege on Gaza." The voyage came as Israelis, Palestinians and U.S. mediators sought a compromise that would allow Mideast talks to continue after an Israeli settlement slowdown expires at midnight.
Kuper said the activists were not seeking to support Hamas, but to send a message that Gaza civilians shouldn't be punished for the actions of their rulers. He said the activists did not seek to stir controversy by leaving from the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north.
