Getting Ready for Departure!

Free Gaza Movement – Gaza Boat Lift

Update Six – Tuesday, August 19 – Nicosia, Cyprus

This may be my last update for a while, and almost certainly my last one from Nicosia, which has been our base for the past three weeks. The good news is that the boats are getting closer, the Movement people here are in high spirits, and last-minute preparations are underway. Because of space limitations on the boats and because of security concerns, I’ve decided to leave my laptop here in Cyprus; if we’re arrested (which remains the most likely scenario), I don’t want others rummaging through my files and emails. Assuming I’m in Tel Aviv, I’ll catch a flight home and have the laptop sent home separately by courier service from here. I will keep my BlackBerry with me, which will allow telephoning, emailing, and SMSing so long as we’re in cell range. Once we’re on the water it is highly unlikely that we will have individual phone service, but we will have satellite phones and some very expensive broadband capabilities.

Our next step will be to integrate ourselves with the folks who have
been bringing the boats from Greece. I think there is a pretty strong
policy consensus on how we should handle anticipated Israeli actions
against the Movement, but we still need face-to-face discussions with
the boat folks to refine the finer points. Israel has recently
increased its belligerency (threatening force by its navy), but the
Foreign Ministry has also engaged us in a battle of letters and press
releases (a battle I think we’re winning hands down; see the website
www.freegaza.org <http://www.freegaza.org/> for more details).
The international support for our efforts has been absolutely
magnificent – people are piping in from all over the world with words
of encouragement and sometimes donations. There was strong support also
during my recent visit to Saudi Arabia; one kind soul there sent me
back to Nicosia with 20 pounds of Saudi’s finest dates for the Movement
folks which we are all enjoying now (see
pictures).

From a larger perspective, the Movement has already achieved enormous
success. Our first priority – to call international attention to the
humanitarian disaster created by Israeli and United States policies
against the Gazans – is being achieved on a daily basis. In fact, the
significant delays we have suffered probably were for the best, for it
gave both us and the media an opportunity to delve more deeply into the
needless disaster that Israeli oppression has created, thus putting
Israel very squarely on the defensive. From a public relations
standpoint, Israel has reverted to its bullying tactics (does it know
any other?), thus further undercutting its public position. The
international press has uniformly been very positive (excepting, of
course, Israel and the United States).

On the lighter side, in addition to a guaranteed sun tan, it looks like
this may also be an opportunity to do some fishing. The SS Liberty
celebrated the landing of its first fish, a tuna, two days ago. I’m
told that sushi was enjoyed by all; personally, however, I’m going to
try to smuggle on a camping stove.

More as opportunities present themselves. Once we’re underway I’ll be
able to take many pictures, which I look forward to sharing. Take care,
and thank you for your continued support. Tom