British MP George Galloway was officially deported from Cairo today (Friday), when Egyptian uniformed plain clothes police officers bundled him onto a London plane. Galloway had been trying to return to Rafah after news broke that seven of the Viva Palestina convoy members were said to be arrested.
Police – who at one point were numbered at 25 mainly plain clothes officers, refused him to return.
Several officers even followed Galloway to the toilet, rest room and a BA lounge.
Picture below is of one officer, presumed to be from Mukhabarat which was taken outside the BA lounge airside. (more…)
After days of pressure imposed by the Egyptian authorities the Viva Palestina Convoy have ‘triumphantly’ entered Gaza this evening!
Despite being attacked by Egyptian riot police at the port of Al Arish last night, the ’strong willed’ convoy of humanitarians from all over the world carrying much needed medical aid to the people of Gaza went ahead and was greeted with cheers from hundreds of well-wishers carrying flowers, warm smiles and chanting Viva Palestina!
Having agreed to Egyptian demands, the convoy of 500 people re-routed their journey from Aqaba in Jordan (some seven days ago), after receiving guarantees of a safe passage to Gaza. The recent actions of the Egyptian police are shameful.
Earlier today at the Rafah border violence broke out as hundreds of Palestinians began throwing stones across the border at Egyptian security forces, who then fired back at the protesters. This was in retaliation to the way the activists were treated by Egyptian police. (more…)
Received this in email a short time ago. **********
Press Release
4th January 2010
Viva Palestina aid convoy hours away from breaking Gaza siege
The Viva Palestina international aid convoy is just hours away from breaking Israel’s three and a half year siege of Gaza.
Despite repeated obstructions from the Egyptian government, including its refusal to allow the convoy to land in the Egyptian port of Nuweiba, convoy members hope to be in Gaza tomorrow.
198 convoy vehicles, including ambulances and vans, were loaded on to a ferry in the Syrian port of Latakia on Saturday (2nd January) and have now docked and cleared customs at the Egyptian port of El Arish.
Convoy members will fly to El Arish today from Latakia to pick up the vehicles and drive less than one hundred miles to Egypt’s Rafah border crossing with Gaza.
Since Israel imposed its near total blockade on Gaza in 2006, people, aid and vehicles have been blocked from entering the Strip.(more…)
A’asalam aleykum, wishes of PEACE upon you all. May your new year be full of joy, rewards and fulfillment of your dreams. ameen
I received this in email and pass this on to you, my gentle readers.
Viva Palestina
Email Alert 31st December 2009
New Year Emergency Appeal
On 6th December 2009 the third Viva Palestina international aid convoy set off from London. Over the next few weeks it traveled almost three thousand miles through 9 countries gaining support as it went. By 24th December, Christmas Eve, when it reached the post of Aqaba in Jordan it had grown to almost 500 people in 250 vehicles – carrying much needed medical aid for the besieged people of Gaza. (more…)
Received in email:
from: Alice Howard Viva Palestina UK – Administration Manager Tel: 07944 512 469 Email: alice@vivapalestina.org
Website: http://www.vivapalestina.org/
************* “Dear Friends and Comrades,
As a Viva Palestina Team Leader myself, for me to make the decision to leave the convoy due to a serious family medical emergency was extremely difficult and knowing what my Brothers and Sisters are going through right now will lead me back to rejoining the convoy as soon as possible!
Having travelled over 3000 miles with the convoy this time around I can only describe this as a unique experience that I did not feel in the 1st convoy to Gaza. This time the convoy was much more organised and the volunteers are more relaxed and determined in putting their full efforts forward in breaking the illegal siege with peaceful means.
Volunteer’s on route to Gaza are constantly reminded of Israel in group meetings, of the 1400 victims who died and 5000 injured of the attacks during the 22 day bombardment by Israel. The overall morale of the volunteers is high and determined with a slight anxiety of tomorrow in the air, all volunteers were constantly strong in the thought that there was going to be a possibilities of not getting into Gaza straight away and that they will need to make arrangements to sit it out.
Today volunteers are on a hunger protest to outline their disagreement with Egypt in not allowing the peaceful Humanitarian Aid convoy on Egyptian ground to drive to Gaza. - This just proves the fact that Egypt is managed and instructed by Israel to make their diplomatic moves and decisions to please only Israel, (more…)
Egypt refuses entry to Viva Palestina Gaza Aid Convoy!!
For immediate release – 25th December 2009
The Egyptian government has denied entry to the Viva Palestina Aid Convoy carrying medical and humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Hundreds of tonnes of aid, including specialised medical equipment and powdered milk for babies, is now stockpiled in the Jordanian port town of Aqaba waiting for permission to enter Egypt via the Straits of Aqaba.
The international convoy of approximately 150 vehicles and more than 400 people from 17 countries was given the news by the Egyptian Consulate in Aqaba late on Christmas Eve.
British MP George Galloway, who is travelling with the convoy, said “We feel very sad that Egypt has turned us away on Christmas Day, but we hope they will reconsider. This is a very determined convoy and we’re not going anywhere except to Gaza.”
The convoy, jointly organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in the UK, left London on 6th December. It has enjoyed safe passage through Europe, Turkey, Syria and Jordan on its way to Gaza.
It hopes to enter Gaza and break Israel’s three and a half year illegal blockade of the Strip via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on 27th December.
The date marks the first anniversary of the beginning of Israel’s three week land, air and sea assault on Gaza, which killed more than 1400 Palestinians.
Ends
Notes to Editors: For further information on the Viva Palestina convoy and updates visit www.vivapalestina.org
Press information from Alice Howard on Tel: 07944 512469 or via email: alice@vivapalestina.org ——————— Alice Howard Viva Palestina UK – Administration Manager Tel: 07944 512 469 Email: alice@vivapalestina.org Website: http://www.vivapalestina.org/
The Ummah has bowled me over with your reaction to the plight we found ourselves in. I wish to thank each and every one of you for your du’a, words of sympathy, empathy and the money you sent.
You’ve made it! You did this! Tomorrow Ma and I will be going to the bank to pay the $708, plus a little extra. SobhanAllah it’s all to His glory that you have done this. You will all remain forever in my du’a. InshaAllah I can do the same for someone else in the future. In case any is still in the mail (some had said they were mailing it) if we receive anything more it will go directly to a payment to the mortgage. We’re still waiting to hear from the underwriter so foreclosure isn’t fully staved off, just postponed for a bit of time. InshaAllah they’ll be moved to rapidly process the loan renegotiation and we will have no further issues.
Ma sends her thanks and her family is amazed that there are so many people in the world who’d take time and hard earned money to help someone they either barely know or only know online. I tell them that this is the Ummah. THIS is Islam! THIS is what the Qur’an teaches! As brainwashed Americans many find it difficult to comprehend. Your charity has helped us in so many ways. Not only Ma and I but the Ummah as a whole. I talk to a LOT of people. What do you think the non-Muslim’s reaction is to this? Positive, right? Right!
Noura, Kimmy and Erin took the ball and ran with this. These ladies are wonderful!!! I know the changes in Kim and Erin’s lives have shocked you, as they have me. This has not changed my feelings or love for them. It shouldn’t! Remember we are to love them and hold them in our hearts and du’a. What does negativity do but breed more negativity? “A smile to a brother is a charity.” Remember your rewards for kindnesses in the afterlife. Love them. Listen to them. HEAR them. Don’t lecture them and harm them with hurtful words. Judgment is Allah’s alone, not ours.
And to you who might wish to reply with a nasty extremist comment, don’t waste your time. ALL of the Prophets (pbut) taught love, kindness, gentility. The Qur’an states “There is no compulsion in religion.” Psychology teaches that if you push a person toward something they do not want they will resist. Does a shepherd drag the sheep to the field? No, they herd them gently or they will spook and run. And one more ‘ism – “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” NOT equating our dear ladies with animals, just highlighting the concept. FORCE does not work. Love does.
To all who’ve reached out to us, and to our dear sisters, in even the smallest way, may Allah reward each of you greatly in this world and the next and keep us in strong Iman. ameen
Much love to you for the sake of Allah – and our deepest gratitude
THANK YOU TO MY ANGELS! All of you who have helped with money, prayers and words of encouragement!
Some of you know we’ve been going through hard times here. Alhamdulillah, others have it so much worse. A few months ago we suddenly lost the man I’ve looked to as a second father to lung cancer. Please look back in the archives in late July for the tribute I wrote. Alvin Absher was one of a rare kind. He and his wife Ella took me in again in 2007 when I lost my home due to my own failing health and the system here in the USA for obtaining federal disability is a very very long and difficult process. I’d lost my income and was unable to keep up on my rent. When the landlord finally had enough and told me to leave Ma & Pa were there to give me shelter. They treat me like family and we’ve “adopted” each other. Loosing Pa was very hard. He died here at home as we sat with him and told him it was OK if he felt it was time to go. His last breath was taken after one of his pups got up on the bed, licked his face as she always did before bed. He took a big sigh and that was his last as he went to God. MashAllah it still brings tears to my eyes.
Except for my children most of my family is far from me in New Jersey. The distance is by my choosing. My parents “saved me” from bad decisions so often in my life that I think they foresee this decision of my conversion to Islam, marrying Mbarek and moving to Morocco as just another one that they can’t, and won’t, “save me” from. I think that maybe they don’t realize that this is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life, aside from having my children. Although it was difficult they were two of the best decisions I’ve made in my life and two of the biggest blessings. This is not a decision I’ll need “saving” from, inshaAllah. With Pa dying plans have had to change. Ma needs me. (more…)
Received in an email from Viva Palestina. These are not my words but posted here as it was received in email with minor formatting corrections to fit in WordPress themes.
Viva Palestina Email Alert
21st October 2009
December Convoy and Viva Palestina News
Dear friend/supporter,
New Arrival at Viva Palestina
We would like to welcome Alice Howard to the Viva Palestina team. Alice will be working full-time on the administration of the December convoy and she will now be the main point of contact. A further officer will be appointed imminently to oversee our finances and liaison with the Charity Commission – as Viva Palestina is now a registered charity (number 1129092)
You can now contact the office in the UK by phoning Alice on 07944 512 469 or by email at alice@vivapalestina.org
A personal and in depth plea from Keith Olbermann for changes in the health care system toward some equality from someone who can afford the best of the best and sees the imbalance in the system. I tried to add the actual video here but it’s not possible, that I can find, from MSNBC
I am lucky in my health care. I’m so ill that I qualify for state Medicaid and am fighting for Disability from the Social Security Administration. I’m on denial appeal number 3. I guess I’m not yet sick enough, old enough or drooling on myself enough for them to approve what my doctor’s say is a “slam dunk” that I’ll never work again in either my skill set or any other skill set. I’m considered unreliable in employ-ability. Between my illnesses (listed in previous posts) or my medications (that I won’t go into in this space) I am either too distracted, lose memory or am in to much physical pain (more…)
These are my OPINIONS and I have that right to speak them. I don't insult, degrade nor demean others. Please don't direct those things toward me.
Items posted here are found freely available on the internet posted here under fair-use for informational use only and retain their original copyrights.
@RayBeckerman wonderful photo - awesome bird. Not sure what kind but we have woodpeckers here in our yard. 3 months ago
@FizzyDuck oh hun, go sleep :( I've been battling insomnia lately. Had 3 days of blessed rest, now back to the short sleeps. Rest up. HUGS 3 months ago
@FizzyDuck I show up and you're leaving. :( Something I said? or maybe didn't say? 3 months ago
RT @michaelbathurst: When ur heart is heavy & good friends R hard to find. Always remember ur Twitter family is here to make U smile. 3 months ago
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©2009 Diane Saville
iadiedee@gmail.com
