Mariam delayed but undeterred

Organizers say the aid ship Mariam (pictured) is delayed
but its trip has not been cancelled

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/139706.html

All-female vessel Mariam, which was to take aid to the Israel-blockaded Gaza, remains committed to the mission though non-cooperation has delayed its departure.

"The trip has not been cancelled but delayed," one of the organizers, Samar al-Hajj, was quoted by AFP as saying.

The group of more than 50 women was to set sail for the Gaza Strip from Lebanon on Sunday, laden with relief supplies for the impoverished coastal sliver, which has endured more than three years of an all-out Tel-Aviv imposed blockade.

It was, however, denied permission to berth at Cyprus coast.

Yasser Kashlak, another of the organizers, said the rejection had followed Tel Aviv's pressure.

The initiators are currently trying to find Greek and Turkish mid-route stops.

The humanitarian campaigners are to make the visit despite Israeli threats of confronting Gaza-bound relief missions.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has called the move an "unnecessary provocation," urging US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, US National Security Adviser James Jones, and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to stop the ship from setting sail.

The developments come amid continued international condemnation of Israel's May 31 attack on the Turkish-backed Freedom Flotilla aid convoy, which had likewise aimed to break the blockade.

The assault in international waters killed nine Turkish activists.

Lebanon snubs Israel's aid ship threat

About 60 Lebanese and foreign women activists plan to carry aid
to Gaza in a bid to break the siege of the Strip


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/139494.html


The Lebanese transport minister has ignored the latest threat of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak to stop a Lebanese aid ship bound for Gaza.


"We will not respond to the wishes or requests of Barak, and what he says is of little relevance to us," Ghazi Aridi told AFP on Friday.

"We will continue to exercise our sovereignty and make the decisions we find appropriate," he added.

Earlier on Friday, the Israeli minister threatened to intercept the Mariam aid ship, which is scheduled to depart from the northern Lebanese port of Tripoli on Sunday.

Barak called on the Lebanese government to "exercise responsibility and prevent the sailing," saying that Israel would allow the vessel to sail, instead, to an Israeli or Egyptian port.

The ship cannot travel directly to Gaza since Lebanon is still technically at war with Israel, and it should pass through a third country -- in this case, Cyprus.

However, Cyprus has said that it was maintaining a ban, which prevents ships from departing from its ports to Gaza.

The Bolivian-flagged cargo ship would be carrying around 60 Lebanese, American and European women, as well as cancer drugs, according to organizers.

The mission comes after Israeli commandos attacked the Gaza Freedom Flotilla aid convoy in international waters on May 31.

The assault left nine Turkish activists on board the Turkish-flagged M.V. Mavi Marmara dead and about 50 other members of the six-ship convoy, injured.

Lebanese Mariam to set sail to Gaza

Activists of Mariam ship, planning to sail to Gaza Strip


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/139396.html


A Lebanese aid ship will kick off its journey to the Gaza Strip on Sunday to deliver humanitarian relief to the besieged people of Gaza.


The ship Mariam is scheduled to leave Lebanon's northern port of Tripoli for Cyprus on Sunday, an organizer said Thursday.

Since Lebanon is still technically at war with Israel, the ship cannot travel directly to Gaza, it should pass through a third country -- in this case, Cyprus.

The Mariam would be carrying around 60 Lebanese, US and European women, as well as cancer drugs, organizer Yaser Qashlaq told Reuters.

A second ship, the Naji al-Ali, would also sail a couple of days later, he added.

Israel, which has imposed a blockade on Gaza since June 2007, has threatened to stop the vessels from reaching the coastal enclave.

The mission comes after the Israeli military attacked the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters on May 31.

The assault left nine Turkish activists on board the Turkish-flagged M.V. Mavi Marmara dead and about 50 other people, who were part of the team on the six-ship convoy, injured.

Israel also arrested and later released nearly 700 activists from 42 countries who were on board the ships, which were attempting to break the siege of Gaza in order to deliver 10,000 tons of humanitarian assistance to the long-suffering people of the territory.