Posted on 07/07/2009 7:56:20 AM PDT by SJackson
Former Georgia Rep. Cynthia McKinney was released from Israeli custody Monday after being detained for trying to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
In an interview with the Atlantic Journal-Constitution, McKinney's mother Leola said the former congresswoman was released from Israeli custody and taken to Ben Gurion International Airport.
McKinney and 20 activists from the "Free Gaza Movement" were arrested June 30 when their boat attempted to sail from Cyprus to Gaza to deliver three tons of aid to Palestinians -- a move meant to bring attention to the blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt on the territory after terror group Hamas seized power there two years ago.
McKinney, who was the Green Party's candidate for president in 2008, claimed in a statement that she was arrested and imprisoned in a jail in Ramla, Israel, "because we wanted to give crayons to the children in Gaza."
"If Israel fears for its security because Gaza's children have crayons then not only has Israel lost its last shred of legitimacy, but Israel must be declared a failed state," McKinney said.
Israel's navy spokesman said last week it took custody of the boat when it tried to pass through a blockade. Officials said they would free the crew and passengers as soon as they were checked, but McKinney and the others say they refused to sign deportation forms because it would have entailed admitting they violated Israel's blockade.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I wouldn’t wish her on our worst enemy, let alone our ‘friends’.
What, no crayons for the Israeli children?
Dang, I was hoping Israel would keep her for a few 100 years
If you'd like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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“Whatever happened, there was no harm done,” Lowery said. “She was not carrying munitions, but medicine. We hope Israel will show compassion and release her and let her go on to deliver the much-needed medicine to the Gaza Strip. … If she were carrying guns, that would be a different thing. [But] she was carrying humanitarian aid.”
Reverend Lowery fails to mention the aid has already been delivered, after inspection. So he doesn't have to hope.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304770155&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull>Hamas threw Medicine Grenades at IDFMedicine bottles, transferred to the Gaza Strip as humanitarian aid by Israel, were used by Hamas as grenades against IDF troops during Operation Cast Lead. Pictures of the grenades were obtained exclusively by The Jerusalem Post.
The medicine bottles were manufactured by the Jerusalem Pharmaceutical Company, which is based in el-Bireh, a town adjacent to Ramallah, and the global pharmaceutical company Shire.
The medicine bottles were filled with explosives, holes were drilled in the caps, and fuses were installed. Once Hamas fighters lit the fuses, they had several seconds to throw the grenades at soldiers. The IDF also found small explosive devices that used medical syringes to hold their fuses.
The medical grenades were discovered in northern Gaza by troops during last month's three-week battle against Hamas. The grenades were taken to military explosives experts, and then disassembled and studied.
One bottle turned into a grenade originally contained a drug called Equetro, which is used by people who suffer from episodes associated with bipolar disorder. Another bottle had contained a vitamin supplement called Super-Vit.
"This is another example of Hamas's cynical use of humanitarian supplies to attack Israel," a Defense Ministry official said Thursday. "Israel facilitates the transfer of the supplies to the Gaza Strip, and Hamas uses the supplies to create weapons."
Sorry boys, she’s all yours.
I wish our justice department would prosecute her under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act since she went over there and violated another country’s laws.
Cynthia... the hamsters in your head need their litter changed...
No, though it was delivered so I assume all was OK. You might note the link in post 24 as to what they do with medicines bottles. And medicines themselves are often confiscated by Hamas and sold. Of course it the ships weren't stopped, they'd be smuggling arms in no time.
Rather than being incarcerated in jail, she should’ve been placed permanently in the Haifa Zoo.
Dear God, why are they returning this shrew to us???
Hey Israel - we don’t WANT her!!
Given the fact that Gaza is run by a designated terrorist organization, I wouldn't be surprised if she's run afoul of those laws as well. BHO will make her Palestinian Czarina.
McKinney and 20 activists from the “Free Gaza Movement”
Funny how there never seems to be a Free Cuba, Free N Korea, Free Iran or Free Burma protest from any of these so-called activists.
Would her arrest qualify her to be on a watch list...was she charged with anything, will there be some kind of legal action anything that could be used to denied entrance into the country...
Oh, darn!
Who pays for these trips that these idiots take? You know she didn’t.
Fine, if you must return her then drop her off somewhere in the mid Atlantic. We'll pick her up momentarily.
If by the country you mean the US, no, since she's a citizen. But it's an interesting question, and probably depends on the specifics of the court case. You might recall that Cat Stevens is barred from entering the US. He was caught at Ben Gurion airport with a suitcase of cash for Hamas. Wasn't jailed, simple hearing like Cindy's, and expelled from the country. I don't know if he's on the no fly list, but in retrospect it may turn out to have been better for Cindy to sign the admission of guilt on the immigration form and leave the country rather than opt for the judicial system. Couldn't happen to a nicer person.
But what about all those sharks that still follow the slave routes, like Major Owens said.
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