Former US lawmaker Cynthia McKinney, who is in an Israeli jail for trying to take humanitarian aid to Gaza, says the White House has done nothing to secure her release.
Speaking to Press TV from inside the Israeli jail, she said US taxpayers paid for Israel's 22-day war on the Gaza Strip.
“Operation Cast Lead was made possible by the US taxpayers' gift to the Israeli war machine in the form of F16s, helicopters gunship, white phosphorous, depleted uranium, cluster bombs and anything that kills," she told Press TV from inside the Israeli jail on Saturday.
McKinney has been in Israeli custody since Tuesday when she and 20 other humanitarian activists were arrested by the Israeli Navy while trying to take humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.
She also criticized US President Barack Obama and his special envoy for their policies in the region, saying she was seeking to do what "neither President Obama nor his special envoy has done and that is to visit Gaza in the aftermath of Operation Cast Lead."
McKinney along with her group refused to sign a document admitting they violated Israel's blockade soon after they were taken to custody.
Family, friends and supporters say Cynthia McKinney believed she was in international waters and was free to pass.
"The Israelis hijacked us because we wanted to give crayons to the children of Gaza," McKinney said.
They are due to appear in an Israeli court on Sunday.
Press TV
Transcript of telephone interview with McKinney, posted as well at Press TV:
The following is the transcript of Press
TV's phone interview with former US congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who
is currently held in an Israeli jail for trying to take humanitarian
aid to Gaza.
Q - You are currently in Israeli custody, on what grounds have you been detained?
A - Well that's a very interesting question, because we have
violated no laws. And its interesting that the twenty-one of us, who
were onboard the Spirit of Humanity had our boat commandeered, we were
hijacked, we were then taken to Israel which was not our intended
destination. And we became the Free Gaza 21. I became Ramleh prisoner
number 88794 and I am in right now Ramleh Prison.
Q - How is the situation over there? How do you feel? Is
there any sort of pressure against you? Violence whatsoever, as you can
see violations?
A - Well it's clear that there is a unique justice system
here in Israel. Starting with our abduction, and as some have said who
were part our group 'our kidnapping', with respect to our intended
destination we were taking -- I personally had collected -- crayons,
coloring books, number 2 pencils, pencil shapers, water colors and
paint brushes to take to the children of Gaza. And now I find my self
being deported from a country I had no intention to visiting.
We were given literature legal documents that were in Hebrew, and
of course I speak no Hebrew. And this all started because I wanted to
do something that neither President (Barack) Obama nor his special
envoy has done and that is to visit Gaza in the aftermath of Israel's
Operation Cast Lead. Unfortunately Operation Cast Lead was made
possible by US taxpayers' gift to the Israeli war machine, in the form
of F-16s, helicopter gunships, white phosphorus, depleted uranium,
cluster bombs and anything that kills, the United States seems to be
willing and able to hand over to the Israelis, who are more than happy
-- it seems -- to use them against Palestinian people.
Q - Are you in easy contact with your lawyer to speak to your lawyer?
A - Well now that's very interesting question as well as to
the extent of communication that we've had with our lawyers. In fact
while we were being detained at Bignorian airport the lawyer was inside
the building trying to find us but the Israeli authorities would not
give any information as to where we were or, you know were just in the
same building and we had a brief interview with someone representing
the Ministry of Interior, and it was at that point that I told that
gentleman that we knew that the lawyers were looking for us inside the
building it was after that point that we were given a very short
10-minute opportunity to speak with our lawyers, which was absolutely
insufficient and now I'm learning as I sit next to Mairead Maguire
Nobel Laureate from Ireland, and I sit next to Teresa McDermott from
Scotland, and not everyone even got their ten minutes.
Q - What is the position of the US administration right now in regards to what is happening to you?
A - It's interesting that we have had a call from the
Foreign Ministry of Ireland for the release of their nationals. There
are two people from Ireland who are among our 21. We also learned just
today that the king of Bahrain sent a private jet to pick up five
members of our group who were from Bahrain, and they have been received
extremely warmly, as you can imagine, by the people of Bahrain and of
course by the king himself.
We, as of now, have not heard anything that our administration has
said about our particular plight but that well said it might be is not
surprising as you might recall president-elect Obama allowed the 22 or
so days of Operation Cast Lead to go without even him mentioning a
word.
Q - What is your message to the international community? What do you want to say about what happened to you?
A - First of all we are very thankful for the outpouring of
support that we have learned has taken place all over the world, from
Atlanta to New York to Los Angeles, San Francisco. We just leaned today
that there was a demonstration in support of us in Haiti. We've had
demonstrations all throughout Europe in support of our position so we
thank the people of the world who are paying attention to what we were
trying to accomplish and who have responded so supportively.
I have, on several occasions, called for the congress of the United
Stated and our president to not sign into law any legislation that
carries one dime or one weapon for the Israeli military. And I renew
that call, in addition to the call for President Obama and his special
envoy to visit Gaza. I have also called repeatedly that the president
and the congress acknowledge the elected representatives of the people
of Palestine, and that also carries with it the responsibility to
engage Hamas.
I remember that it was one Israeli leader who said, "You can't make
peace with your friends you have to engage you enemies," and if there
is going to be peace in the region everyone had to be engaged.