Israeli Apartheid

The letter below has been sent to the Letters Editor of the Pretoria News in response to the Article “Al Qaeda link in attack on cop” which appeared as the lead article in the Tuesday late edition.  (21st December 2010)

The letters Editor – Pretoria News

My response to the article is as follows:

It is a well known fact that in journalism, it is the undercurrents and pressures within this profession that determines not only the news but the quality of the news itself.  Journalists seem to be in love with the word Al Qaeda and terrorism linked to it. It is also about the terror of power and the power of terror.

The Media Review Network remains hugely sceptical about the report in the Pretoria News: Al – Qaeda Link in attack on cop”. (Tuesday 21st December 2010). To link the attempted robbery to Al Qaeda is not only disingenuous but sensationalism in the extreme.

The article raises many questions. How did the Provincial Police Management arrive at the conclusion that there was a possible Al Qaeda link without having questioned the suspect that was arrested?  If police knew that they received terrorist training, why were they not apprehended and questioned? Why wait for the “terrorists” to attack a luxury estate before taking action?  What happened to the bag at the back of the bakkie? How did Graeme Hosken conclude who the owner of the bag was when five of the six men escaped? Who did he speak to? 

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How Cynthia McKinney honored America on the 4th of July from an Israel Jail
FRANKLIN LAMB

Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney returned home today after 6 days being held by the government of Israel while attempting with 21 colleagues to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza on the vessel, the Spirit of Humanity.

“Don’t sign Miss Cynthia don’t sign!”  So chanted a boisterous group of Palestinian teens and pre-teens in Beirut’s Shatila Refugee Camp demonstrating support for the Freegaza Humanity boat abductees on the 4th of July.

The students understood that those illegally arrested while in International waters had been offered a “get out of Jail Free” pass if they confessed in writing to violating Israel’s territorial waters.

The Spirit of Humanity boat, trying to bring emergency humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, was the topic of a lively discussion during a Sabra Shatila Foundation summer school civics lesson on “International law and the Question of Palestine”. The students were interested in the plight of some of their relatives and countryman in Palestine and the continuing siege of Gaza. Some had just finished their Baccalaureate exams and were wondering how they could continue their education given the severe impediments the government of Lebanon places on Palestinian civil rights, and their post exam relief seemed to energize them for the discussion.

A couple of the students had met Cynthia during her recent visits to Lebanon. When they learned that as a Congresswoman, she had introduced articles of impeachment against Bush, was a consistent anti-war voter during her twelve years in Congress, and that no member in Congress had achieved a more consistent, principled, voting record of issues of civil and human rights, including Palestinian rights, they really connected with the subject of the Freegaza aid boat, the Spirit of Humanity and her travails. “Those supporters of Palestine should not accept a false confession and should stay in Jail if necessary. They are patriots” was a commonly expressed sentiment.

Read More »How cynthia mckinney honored america on the 4th of july from an Isarael jail