[R-G] Action Alert: Protests in front of Israeli embassies tomorrow

[Sid Shniad]

Press Release 

Thursday 2nd July 2009 

Action Alert: Protests in front of Israeli embassies tomorrow 

London, 2 July, (ECESG) - The European campaign to end the siege on 
Gaza (ECESG) called today for international human rights organizations 
and lobbying groups to organize large protests in front of Israeli 
embassies across Europe in solidarity with activists of Freegaza 
Movement. Activists onboard of the humanitarian boat were kidnapped by 
Israeli naval forces while they were sailing in a peaceful mission to 
end the siege. 

The call aims at creating factual movements on the ground to release 
"the spirit of humanity" activists. Additionally, head of ECESG, Dr. 
Arafat Madi contacted EU officials and MPs to urge on moving to 
release the activists immediately. 

British Baroness, Jenny Tonge, expressed her deep anger and concerns 
towards the Israeli doing. She said that, “I shall take up the 
matter with the Foreign office.” 

Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has described 
the Israeli government’s decision to board and hijack a peace boat 
on route to Gaza carrying medical aid as contemptible, adding; “The 
piracy of the Israeli Navy in boarding the boat in international 
waters and towing it towards Israel this is yet another astounding 
example of just how beyond reproach this administration believes it 
is.” 

The boat was boarded by highly-profiled people like Mairead Maguire, 
winner of a Noble Peace Prize and a former U.S. congressperson, 
Cynthia McKinney. The vessel was forcibly taken to one of the Israeli 
seaports under direct threats from naval boats. 

Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize was taken against her will and 
isolated from the rest of the team. The Israeli army cared about 
neither her old age nor her position. Two activists were released only 
while the rest are in Israeli detention of Ramallah. The exemplary 
punishment against the activists is a small glimpse of what's 
happening to 12 thousand Palestinians in Israeli jails. 

ECESG is organizing a number of protests in various European 
countries to call on releasing the kidnapped peace activists. 

Actions’ Timetable 

Israeli Embassy in Roma, Italy 

Location: Via Michele Mercati, 14 

In front of the Israeli embassy 

3rd of July 2009 

12:30 pm 

Embassy of Israel in Copenhagen, Denmark 

Lundevangsvej 4 

2900 Hellerup 

12:30 pm 

Israel Embassy, Sweden 

Torstenssonsgatan 4 

Stockholm 

Sweden 

12:30 pm 

Embassy of Israel 

Chancellery 

Alpenstrasse 32 

P.O.Box 

3006 Bern 

12:30 pm 

Israeli Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands 

Embassy of Israel in The Hague, Netherlands 

Ambassade van Israel 

Buitenhof 47 

2513 AH Den Haag 

12:30 pm