Israeli Commandos Kill U.S. Citizen

Furkan Dogan, 19, a Turkish-American was shot and killed along with eight others when Israeli Commandos boarded a ship heading to the Gaza Strip. Furkan was shot four times in the head and once in the chest, all at close range according to a forensic report given to the Anatolian news agency. Furkan was born in the United States and moved with his family to Kayseri at the age of two, but still retained a U.S. passport. His body was returned to his family in Turkey today.

What the hell? Israel, the little niece of the Good ol’ U-S- of-A is shooting our citizens in the face? Israel’s response/excuse for the attack and deaths aboard the Mavi Marmara is that the passengers were attacking their soldiers. Have you seen what these people were using to attack? The small arms the passengers were wielding were nothing against fraking machine guns. Why shoot a 19 year old kid in the face? He could have easily been taken down with the butt of the rifle, but no, four bullets to the face was easier. Perhaps it was just to make a point to the world- Israel has no problem killing anyone at any age because the U.S. will never punish us for anything. I would never take a side in this absolutely pointless argument between the Palestine and Israel, they’ve both committed horrendous acts for whatever reasons they decide to believe, but come on, really? Really? Nobody is going to do anything about this?  At all?

You can read a more detailed article here, here and here.

(via Reddit)

Piracy Legal in Isreal?

The Israeli Army is running a blockade on the Gaza Strip and commandeering supplies intended for Palestinian refugees from any ship attempting to pass through International Waters to the “closed” area. This has been going on for a while, but only recently received media attention here in the States.

Glen Greenwald:

Israel is now not only detaining the victims of its aggression, but also threatening to prosecute and imprison them. Israeli Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said yesterday: “All those who lifted a hand against a soldier will be punished to the full extent of the law.” So when Israel seizes ships in international waters and kills anyone who resists (and others standing near them), that is an act of noble, plucky self-defense. But those who fail to submit completely to this lawless and barbarous act of aggression are the Real Criminals who will be prosecuted and imprisoned “to the fullest extent of the law.” In other words, not only is Israel — which seized ships in international waters and killed civilians — the Real Victim, but the Real Criminals are those on the ship. But doesn’t the victim of a crime usually want media coverage of what the criminal did? How odd for the victim in this case to take such extreme steps to ensure that the world cannot hear from the witnesses.