Israel expels activists as Gaza pressure grows
June 7, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
JERUSALEM: Israel on Monday threw out the latest group of activists who had tried to breach its blockade of Gaza as pressure grew for an international probe into the naval raid that killed nine Turks.
Seven of the 19 activists from another aid ship, the Rachel Corrie, which tried to run the Gaza blockade last week were expelled from Israel to Jordan on Sunday. The remaining 12 were due to be flown home overnight, officials said.
Five Irish nationals, including Nobel Peace laureate Mairead Maguire, were expected to leave on a flight to Dublin on Monday. Until then, they were waiting in a special section of the airport, but were not being allowed to use their mobile phones, immigration officials said.
Israeli forces took control of the boat on Saturday as it tried to reach Gaza, in a peaceful operation that contrasted with the May 31 raid when commandos stormed a Turkish boat packed with more than 600 passengers.
Rachel Corrie activists, crew to be expelled Sunday: Israel
June 6, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
JERUSALEM: All activists and crew on board the Rachel Corrie aid ship which tried to run the Israeli blockade of Gaza would be expelled from Israel on Sunday, an Israeli immigration official said.
“Everyone on board the boat will be expelled on Sunday after they signed a waiver renouncing their right to appeal to an Israeli judge,” said Sabine Haddad.
She said six Malaysian nationals and a Cuban would leave Israel through the Allenby crossing into Jordan, while the remaining 11 people would fly out of Israel from Ben Gurion international airport near Tel Aviv.
Immigration officials earlier said the process had been delayed after the five Irish nationals, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire, had initially refused to sign the waiver.
Israeli forces intercepted and seized control of the Rachel Corrie on Saturday as it tried to reach the Gaza Strip, without the use of force as on Monday when nine people were killed commandos stormed an aid flotilla.
The Irish-owned 1,200-tonne vessel was escorted into the southern Israeli port of Ashdod, and the activists and crew were taken to the Holon immigration centre near Tel Aviv for questioning.
Gaza blockade-runners transferred to airport: Israel
June 5, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
JERUSALEM: Pro-Palestinian activists who tried to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip have been transferred to Ben Gurion international airport for deportation Sunday, an Israeli spokeswoman said.
The expulsion of the 11 activists and eight crew from the Rachel Corrie aid ship, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire, has been delayed by their “refusal to sign a waiver of an appeal against such a measure before Israeli courts,” said an Israeli immigration service spokeswoman.
“We are trying to convince all of the passengers and members of the crew to sign the document. Otherwise, in accordance with the law, they risk having to wait up to 72 hours for a judge to decide their fate,” she added.
Israeli forces intercepted and seized control of the Rachel Corrie on Saturday as it tried to reach the Gaza Strip, without the use of force as on Monday when nine people were killed commandos stormed an aid flotilla.
The Irish-owned 1,200-tonne vessel was escorted into the southern Israeli port of Ashdod, and the activists — five Irish nationals and six Malaysians — and crew were taken to the Holon immigration centre near Tel Aviv for questioning.
Israeli officials say they plan to deport the activists as soon as possible.
Israel allegedly sabotages Irish aid ship Rachel Corrie
June 5, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
GAZA: Pro-Palestinian campaigners behind the latest seaborne attempt to break the blockade on the Hamas-controlled enclave said that they had lost all contact with the vessel.
The Free Gaza Movement said that it assumed Israel must have sabotaged systems on board the ship, whose passengers include a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a former UN assistant secretary-general.
As a result they plan to pull it back to port and pack it with celebrities and journalists, in a direct challenge to Israel.
The cargo ship, laden with building supplies, cement, medical and educational equipment and wheelchairs as well as Irish and Malaysian activists, set off on Saturday despite warnings from Israel that it would halt any attempt to break the blockade.
On Monday nine people were killed when Israeli commandos boarded the Turkish-registered Mavi Marmara, which was part of a flotilla of six ships attempting to dock at Gaza.
Named after a 23-year-old American activist who was crushed to death by a bulldozer during a protest in Gaza in 2003, the Rachel Corrie was nearing the coast when the systems went down.
Those on board include Mairead Corrigan Maguire, the Nobel Peace laureate and founder of the Northern Ireland Peace People and Denis Halliday, a retired Irish diplomat who was once United Nations assistant secretary-general.
Audrey Bomse of the Free Gaza Movement said: “The situation is we lost all contact with the boat.
“We assume this was sabotage by the Israelis.”
She went on: “As a result of these threats, we”re going to pull Rachel Corrie into a port, add more high-profile people on board, and insist that journalists from around the world also come with us.
“We”re hoping communications get turned back on so we can inform them of the decision.”
It is thought organisers are considering sending another boat alongside the Rachel Corrie if communications are not restored.
Yesterday the ship was about 250 miles from the spot in international waters where the six boats were boarded in Monday”s raid by Israeli commandos.
Aid ship intercepted by Israel
June 5, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
GAZA: Israeli forces seized an Irish-owned ship bound for Gaza on Saturday, boarding the Rachel Corrie some 55 km (35 miles) out in the Mediterranean, a spokeswoman for the campaign group supporting the ship said.
It was unclear whether there was any violence, although those aboard had said in advance they would not resist. An Israeli military spokeswoman said she had no information.
Israel had said it would not let the ship through. The vessel, named after an American pro-Palestinian activist killed in the Gaza Strip in 2003, was seized five days after a convoy of six was halted, including a Turkish ship on which 9men were killed by Israeli commandos who stormed aboard.
Among those aboard the Rachel Corrie, campaigners said, were Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire from Northern Ireland and Denis Halliday, an Irish former senior official at the the United Nations.
US seeks to avert new violent clash with Gaza-bound ship
June 4, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
WASHINGTON: The United States said Friday it was trying to help avert another violent clash at sea involving Israel as an Irish aid ship headed for the Gaza Strip.
“Everybody wants to avoid another confrontation and avoid a repeat of Monday”s… tragic events,” State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.
“We are working with the Israelis. We”re working with the Palestinian Authority, other international partners. We”re looking to see how we can best accomplish this,” Crowley said.
“We have been in touch with the Irish government,” he said.
At the White House, National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said the MV Rachel Corrie should dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod.
“It remains a US priority to provide assistance to the people of Gaza,” Hammer said.
“In the interest of the safety of all involved, and the safe transmission of assistance to the people of Gaza, we strongly encourage those on board the Rachel Corrie and other vessels to sail to Ashdod to deliver their materials to Gaza.”
The Irish government urged Israel Friday to show restraint over an Irish aid boat preparing to defy an Israeli blockade and deliver supplies to Gaza.
Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said the Rachel Corrie was steaming ahead towards Gaza after a proposed compromise deal under which it would have delivered its cargo via Israel was rejected by those on board the vessel.
Crowley said Jack Lew, a senior State Department official, had “an extensive conversation” with Martin on Thursday.
“We would hope to see the Rachel Corrie and other vessels… work with Israeli authorities to deliver these materials to Gaza. That”s part of the conversation that we”re having,” Crowley said.
“And we hope in the meantime that everybody here will make responsible decisions and avoid unnecessary confrontations,” he added.
A senior State Department official told reporters on condition of anonymity meanwhile that Washington would like to “see a change in approach” allowing for an increase in the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“And we”re discussing a range of options,” the official said, adding that Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou “called in today and had some ideas on how this might happen.”
“There”s a deep international interest in improving the humanitarian situation of Gaza,” he said, citing interest in the United States, Europe and in the Middle East.
rachel corrie
June 4, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs announced Friday that it had reached an agreement with the Israeli government on the ‘Rachel Corrie’, by which it would dock at Ashdod and submit the aid it was carrying to inspection, but that the ship’s crew had refused.
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement it believed this would be the best way to convey humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip in the future as well, until the lifting of the siege.
“The Government has made clear that it believes that the Rachel Corrie should be allowed to proceed to Gaza and to unload its humanitarian cargo. Those on board the Rachel Corrie have indicated that they are ready to accept inspection of their cargo at sea, prior to docking in Gaza,” the statement said.
“However, the Israeli government has stated that it is not willing to allow any breach of their naval blockade of Gaza.”
The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting to discuss an Israeli naval raid on an aid flotilla.
At least nine passengers were killed, and dozens of others were injured, when Israeli commandos stormed ships bringing aid to the Gaza Strip early Monday. The flotilla, led by a Turkish ship, was in international waters about 60 kilometers off the coast of Israel when it was intercepte
The ship is carrying school supplies, printing paper, children’s shoes, wheelchairs, sports equipment and fire extinguishers, organisers said. Israel bars cement and other building materials from entering Gaza, saying they are often used for building tunnels to smuggle in weapons and explosives.
The Corrie is attempting to reach Gaza four days after the Freedom Flotilla was intercepted, leaving eight Turkish nationals and one US citizen dead.
Speaking at Friday prayers in Gaza City, the de facto Hamas prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, told crowds of worshippers that Israel’s blockade of Gaza was in its final stages.
“Now not only Gazans speak of the blockade, but also the [UN] security council and the international community. Everyone is demanding the siege be lifted.”
baccalaureate
May 16, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Holly Springs Baccalaureate service held June 6
The Holly Springs Baccalaureate service for the class of 2010 will take place on Sunday, June 6 at 4pm. at Hope Community Church, 821 Buck Jones Road, in Raleigh. the Baccalaureate is an inspirational, interdenominational service. it is being hosted independently by parents to honor the achievements of Holly Spring graduating seniors. it will be a celebration of God’s faithfulness to them in their past high school journey and a time of motivation for them toward even greater achievements in their future endeavors. Participation is strictly voluntary. Families and guests of seniors are graciously invited. the service will be comprised of a cap and gown procession, music, various student performances, a motivational speaker and a time of prayer and reflection. a reception with light refreshments will follow in the cafe at the church. Seniors are asked to arrive by 3:30 to form the cap and gown procession. when submitting your RSVP to hshsbaccalaureate@gmail.com , please include your senior student in the total # that will be attending. we are gratefully accepting donations by check made payable to to HSHS Baccalaureate to help defray expenses. Please mail your check to: HSHS Baccalaureate 202 Premier Dr. Holly Springs, NC 27540. your participation is welcome in this uniquely spiritual graduation service.
source: idisappoint
CW connection: ‘Supernatural’ star weds ‘One Tree Hill’ actress
May 16, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
CW connection: ‘Supernatural’ star weds ‘One Tree Hill’ actress
Call it the love network. CW network stars Jensen Ackles (Supernatural’s Dean Winchester) and Danneel Harris (One Tree Hill’s Rachel Gatina) were married Saturday in Dallas, reports People.com.
Ackles, 32, and Harris, 31, dated for three years and costarred in the 2007 romantic comedy Ten Inch Hero.
trap or die 2 mixtape
May 4, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
This mixtape will serve as the prequel to “TM 103″ which drops this summer. Tape has features from Clipse, Plies, Trick Daddy, Scarface, Birdman & Bun B. Download link after the jump!
