Editor's Questions: Why, among the 15 boats in Freedom Flotilla II, was the Dignite/Karama permitted to leave for Gaza when the others are still being "detained in different Greek ports, through bureaucratic obstruction, sabotage, sudden restrictions and withdrawals of flags?" Could Sarkozy, a known Zionist, have something to do with this to achieve face-saving for the Israelis and a coat of fresh paint to cover France's recent history of anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian actions? Could this be an opportunity for Israel to show their humanity by allowing a single boat to enter Gaza? Could Israel, Greece and France have agreed to allow this single boat to leave port without the other 14 as it poses no serious threat to the blockade, all the while providing the cover described in the questions above? After all, a fleet of 15 boats deliver much more aid and international press than one carrying 12 passengers. This report says the reason for the release of this boat is that Paul Panigiris, mayor of the Greek archipelago Kastellorizo, was born Palestinian and that the people of the island are sympathetic to Palestinians. Panigiris and the people of this tiny island apparently wield a lot of power in international relations!

Here is a list of the 12 passengers on the Dignité (the report below says there are 10 passengers but on a separate page, Free Gaza lists 12 in addition to crew):

.Stéphan Corriveau, Coordinator of Canadian boat to Gaza .Dror Feiler, spokesperson of Ship to Gaza-Sweden, President of the European Jews for a Just Peace, artist, musician, composer .Jérôme Gleizes, France, Europe Ecologie Les Verts .Jacqueline Le Corre, France, Médecin-Collectif 14 de soutien au peuple palestinien, member of Parti communiste francais .Jean Claude Lefort, former MEP, French Communist Party –PCF .Claude Léostic, spokesperson of Un bateau français pour Gaza .Yamin Makri, France, Collectif 69 de soutien au peuple palestinien .Omeyya Naoufel Seddik, Tunisian, Fédération des Tunisiens pour une citoyenneté des deux rives (FTCR), and Ligue tunisienne des Droits de l'Homme (LTDH), Phd in Political Science .Thomas Sommer-Houdeville, spokesperson of Un bateau français pour Gaza, Researcher, Political Sciecnce, Middle East Studies, at the Institut francais du proche Orient .Vangelis Pissias, spokesperson of Ship to Gaza-Greece, Professor at Technical University of Athens .Amira Hass, Israeli journalist - Haaretz .Ayyache Derradji, Journalist from Al Jazeera .Stéphane Guida, Cameraman from Al Jazeera .Captain Zacharia Stylianakis, Captain .Mariners: Hilaire Folacci, Yannick Voisin and Navigator, MarinerJo Leguen

It will be interesting to see what kind of reception the French boat receives by the Israelis when it enters Palestinian waters. There's little doubt that at least some kind of Israeli objection will be staged but it's highly doubtful that Israeli commandos will board the Dignite/Karama by helicopter in the dead of night and kill these people as they killed the Turkish peace activists the Mavi Marmara, May 31, 2010.

- Les Blough, Editor

The French boat "Dignité/Karama" (Dignity) left the Greek island Kastellorizo around 8:30PM local time on Saturday July 16, 2011, heading south. The ten passengers onboard view themselves as representatives of the whole Freedom Flotilla II - Stay Human. The rest of the Flotilla's ships have been detained in different Greek ports, through bureaucratic obstruction, sabotage, sudden restrictions and withdrawals of flags.

The Dignité, sailing under a French flag, left Corsica on June 25th, and has, over the past weeks, been in Greek waters. It has now left- so far without being followed by the Greek coast guard or Navy.

Among the delegates on board is Jacqueline Le Corre, member of the French Communist Party, Jean Claude Lefort, former French Member of the European Parliament, as well as representatives of the Canadian, French, Greek and Swedish initiatives within Freedom Flotilla II. Onboard the Dignité are also renowned Israeli journalist Amira Hass, reporting for Haaretz, and a team from Al-Jazeera TV. (A full list of passengers may be found on our website).

Kastellorizo, in the far east of the Greek archipelago, is only miles from Turkish mainland. A substantial part of Kastellorizo's population fled during the Second World War to Gaza, where they stayed for years. The present mayor of the island, Paul Panigiris, was born in Gaza, and feels strongly, as do many other people from Kastellorizo, for a population that once hosted them and is now under siege.

The action of Dignité is not a mini-version of Freedom Flotilla 2, but a first wave that will be followed by others. It is a message to the Israeli government, to the international community and to the besieged people of Gaza: The Free Gaza Movement and the coalition of Freedom Flotilla II are not giving up until the inhumane and illegitimate blockade of Gaza is lifted.

Gaza, we are coming!

Contact on Dignite:
Phone: 00870 7764 16715 or 0046 707 229 165
Email: dror.feiler@gmail.com or cleostic@free.fr

Source: Free Gaza Movement