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June 2010 Special Edition
Israeli raid on international aid flotilla
Prof. Stephen Zunes comments on Israeli attack on the humanitarian flotilla
Stephen Zunes, professor of politics and international studies at the University of San Francisco have written a number of articles addressing the Israeli attack on May 31 on an international humanitarian aid flotilla sailing in international waters. The first article examines the Obama administration’s decision to block the United Nations Security Council from criticizing Israel for its actions and other ways in which the administration and Democratic Congressional leaders are bucking the tide of international public opinion condemning the assault. Read More
The second article compares U.S. support for the Salvadoran junta in the 1980s with U.S. support for Israel’s rightist government today. Read More
The third article looks at the overwhelming response by prominent Democratic members of Congress in support of the Israeli action. Read More
The fourth article examines the effort by the chair of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism to have the participants and supporters of the humanitarian effort prosecuted on terrorism charges and the reaction by the peace and human rights community to the flotilla attack and the threats of prosecution. Read More
Updated June 25, 2010
Israel's Dubious Investigation of Flotilla Attack
By Stephen Zunes: Few decisions of the Obama administration have outraged the peace and human rights community as much as its successful efforts to block an international inquiry into May's Israeli aid flotilla attack. Instead, supported by leading Republican and Democratic members of Congress, the Obama administration has thrown its weight behind an investigative committee handpicked by right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu to examine the incident. Read More
Pavlovian Congress Jumps to Israel's 'Self-' Defense
By Stephen Zunes: In a letter to President Barack Obama date June 17, 329 out of 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives referred to Israel’s May 31 attack on a humanitarian aid flotilla in international waters, which resulted in the deaths of nine passengers and crew and injuries to scores of others, as an act of “self-defense” which they “strongly support.” Similarly, a June 21 Senate letter — signed by 87 out of 100 senators — went on record “fully” supporting what it called “Israel’s right to self-defense,” claiming that the widely supported effort to relieve critical shortages of food and medicine in the besieged Gaza Strip was simply part of a “clever tactical and diplomatic ploy” by “Israel’s opponents” to “challenge its international standing.” Read More
Who controls America?
By Prof. Arthur Kane Scott: The financial oligarchy exercises incredible political influence on Washington decision-makers by dominating ex-officio appointed bodies that in reality shape the foreign and domestic policies of the United States but fall outside the constitutional structure. This pattern of supra-governmental bodies setting national policies makes a mockery of the principle of the sovereignty of the people. Read More
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