Pro-Palestinian activism to break the illegal siegeGlobal Research Editor's NoteThe following article by Julie Lévesque is Part I of a review of the lone humanitarian ship to Gaza,
The Spirit of Rachel Corrie which reached Palestinian territorial waters before being brutally intercepted by The Israeli Navy.
The mission was organized by the Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) based in Kuala Lumpur.
For several years now Global Research has been actively collaborating with the PGPF in a broad initiative to criminalize war. It is in this context of continued collaboration that Global Research's Julie Lévesque participated in this important endeavor.
Contrary to the Freedom Flotilla, which was the object of active media debate and discussion, the planning of the
Spirit of Rachel Corrie mission was not made public.
The Israeli authorities were taken totally by surprise.
The Spirit of Rachel Corrie was within less than one kilometer of the Gazan coastline. The Israeli navy acted in a totally improvised fashion, firing at the crew and the passengers until the
Spirit of Rachel Corrie retreated into Egyptian territorial waters.
In an act of tremendous courage and determination, the
Spirit of Rachel Corrie, led by PDGF's Matthias Chang, challenged the legitimacy of the Israeli government. It managed "to put a hole" in the blockade of Gaza as well as deliver by land, its humanitarian cargo.
Part I of this report focuses on two courageous Irish activists, Derek and Jenny Graham, who played a central role in leading both last year's
Rachel Corrie and this year's
Spirit of Rachel Corrie.
Michel Chossudovsky, Global Research, July 18, 2011
Comment: This is a response by an individual from Ghana: