"What's a coordination?" Lara asked.
"You need to call to get permission to go to Gaza."
"Permission from Gaza?"
"No, permission from Israel."
"Why do I need permission from Israel to go to my own land?"
The soldier didn't seem to understand the question.
We hope that the flotilla and upcoming new boats will continue to raise awareness of the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. But the people in Gaza don't need sympathy. They need freedom, and they need justice. They don't need food; they need the ability to cultivate, catch, export, and import their own food. They don't need our money; they need the ability to thrive and to grow their own economy. They don't need our "help." They need our support, which is exactly what the flotilla was and is all about.
My friend Lara doesn't need permission to visit her land. It is her right--period. The fact that Israel consistently denies the rights of Lara and millions of other Palestinians to access their land in Gaza, the West Bank, or anywhere in historic Palestine does not make their rights questionable or debatable. They are non-negotiable, like any human right. It's as simple as that.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
