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LIST OF 12 AMERICANS DETAINED BY ISRAEL AFTER FLOTILLA RAID INCLUDE A FORMER DIPLOMAT AND AN AMBASSADOR

Posted By: NaturalWisdom
Date: Tuesday, 1-Jun-2010 17:05:15

PLEASE NOTE: The Free Palestine Movement split from the Free Gaza Movement in mid-2009. Information about the Free Gaza Movement's involvement in the the flotilla incident, including the arrest of four individuals (Sheikh Raed Salah, Sheikh Hamad Abu Daabes, Mr. Muhammed Zeidan, and Ms. Lubna Masarwa) can be found on their website. *** Americans Attacked and Abducted by Israeli Military Welcome To The Free Palestine Movement For Immediate Release May 31, 2010 Five Delegates with US-Based Free Palestine Movement Among those Attacked Contact: Jonathan Slevin: 1-571-312-7124 Free Palestine Movement Spokesman El Cerrito, CA -- Twelve Americans sailing in the six-ship Freedom Flotilla to Gaza have not been heard from since the early morning hours of Sunday, Gaza time. Within this group is the 5-person delegation of the US-based Free Palestine Movement (FPM). "Given reports coming from the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara which was leading the nonviolent, humanitarian flotilla, we must assume that all U.S. citizens in the international coalition have been abducted." Jonathan Slevin, spokesman for the Free Palestine Movement, said. The ships were sailing under U.S., Turkish, Greek, Swedish, and Irish flags. Israeli gunships surrounded the flotilla and fully-armed commandos dropped onto the deck of the Mavi Marmara from hovering helicopters, shooting at unarmed passengers. Israeli sources are now reporting 20 killed and up to 80 wounded. Israeli blackout of all communication currently prevents any confirmation of these numbers, however. Former Ambassador Edward Peck of Chevy Chase, MD, is among those Americans abducted. Among other things, he served as Deputy Director of the Cabinet Task Force on Terrorism at the Reagan White House and State Department Liaison Officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. He spent 32 years in the Foreign Service, including Chief of Mission in Iraq. His wife, Ann Peck, received this morning text message stating that her husband is well and on his way to New York, but we have not been able to confirm this. Also forcibly abducted is former U.S. Navy signalman Joe Meadors from Corpus Christi, TX. He is a decorated navy veteran and survivor of the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty. 34 Americans were killed and 173 were injured in that attack. "It came as no surprise that Israel behaved in a disproportionate way to this humanitarian mercy mission. The Israeli government has repeatedly flouted international law, denying basic human necessities to Palestinians both in Gaza under siege and in the West Bank in the shadow of the apartheid wall." said Mr. Slevin. Other Americans believed to have been kidnapped in the Israeli assault include: Gene St. Onge Oakland, CA Civil/structural engineer working with Palestinian engineers to rebuild housing destroyed in Israel's 2009 invasion of Gaza Dr. Paul Larudee El Cerrito, CA Piano tuner and FPM co-founder; also co-founded The Free Gaza Movement that first broke the siege of Gaza in 2008 Janet Kobren Oakland, CA Retired math teacher and co-founder of the FPM Huwaida Arraf Ramallah, Palestine / Washington D.C. / Detroit, MI A Palestinian with American and Israeli citizenship; received her Juris Doctor from the American University Washington College of Law, where she focused on international human rights and humanitarian law. In 2001 co-founded the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), which has twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Co-author of Peace Under Fire: Israel, Palestine, and the International Solidarity Movement. In 2007-8 taught at Al-Quds University human rights law clinic in Jerusalem, the first legal clinic in the Arab World. Katherine Elliott Sheetz Woods Hole, MA & Marin County in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, CA Registered Nurse with a master's degree in sustainable development; worked on human rights, health and food security, most often in Haiti. Mary (Ann) Wright Honolulu, HI Former US diplomat who resigned in March, 2003 in opposition to Bush's Iraq war. Retired US Army Reserve Colonel. Trip leader for 3 delegations to Gaza in 2009; helped organize the Gaza Freedom March. David Schermerhorn Deer Harbor, WA Commercial film producer and is 80 years young. Part of the Free Gaza crew on its maiden voyage to Gaza in August 2008. Explorer and adventurer who has traveled around the world on boats. Iara Lee San Francisco, CA Brazilian of Korean descent; activist, filmmaker, and founder of the Caipirinha Foundation which supports projects to secure peace with justice. Currently working on a variety of initiatives grouped under the umbrella of CULTURES OF RESISTANCE, an activist network that brings together artists and changemakers from around the world. At the center of these initiatives is a feature-length documentary film entitled CULTURES OF RESISTANCE which explores how art and creative action contribute to conflict prevention and resolution. Collaborated with numerous grassroots efforts, including the International Campaign to Ban Cluster Munitions, the Conflict Zone Film Fund, and the New York Philharmonic's groundbreaking 2008 concert in North Korea. Scott Michael Hamann Portland, ME Fatima Mohammadi Chicago, IL Coordinator of Viva Palestina-US; passenger on the Turkish Mavi Marmara boat Last Updated (Tuesday, 01 June 2010 10:54)

Articles In This Thread

LIST OF 12 AMERICANS DETAINED BY ISRAEL AFTER FLOTILLA RAID INCLUDE A FORMER DIPLOMAT AND AN AMBASSADOR
NaturalWisdom -- Tuesday, 1-Jun-2010 17:05:15

Reader adds: FORMER US AMBASSADOR EDWARD PECK HAS BEEN RELEASED BY ISRAEL AND SHOULD BE HOME ON TUESDAY
NaturalWisdom -- Tuesday, 1-Jun-2010 21:07:11

AMERICAN PAUL LARUDEE WAS BEATEN & TASERED BEFORE BEING RELEASED. STATUS OF SIX AMERICANS IS UNKNOWN
NaturalWisdom -- Wednesday, 2-Jun-2010 20:23:45