Israelis Intercept Iranian 'Aid' Ship Bound for Gaza; Free Gaza Kooks Launch Again

Yes, I'm sure it was all just food and medicine. Considering Iran is the chief sponsor of Hamas, I have a sneaking suspicion there may have been more than just "aid" on board.

The Israeli navy intercepted an Iranian ship loaded with medicine, food and clothing destined for Gaza and forced the vessel to Egypt instead, Iran's state television reported Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in a gesture of support with the Palestinians in Gaza, Iran's top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a religious opinion, or fatwa, declaring the purchase of any Israeli goods or trade with Israeli companies to be forbidden.

Israel's offensive in Gaza, which Palestinian medical officials say has killed more than 940 Palestinians since Dec. 27, has sparked outrage in Iran and throughout the Muslim world. Israel has said it launched its campaign to stop rocket fire aimed at civilians in southern Israeli towns by the militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. Iran is Hamas' main backer, providing it political and financial support, though Tehran denies sending the organization weapons.

Meanwhile, a boatload of leftist crackpots has once again set sail from Gaza, just begging to be torpedoed.

International activists left Cyprus for Gaza on Wednesday in a renewed bid to deliver about five tons of donated food and medical supplies to the Palestinian territory despite an Israeli naval blockade.

Free Gaza group organizers replaced a faulty generator on their 66-foot (20-meter) Greek-flagged vessel and set sail from Larnaca port with 21 passengers.

The group aborted the trip to Gaza on Monday after rough weather and engine trouble 40 nautical miles (72 kilometers) southwest of Larnaca forced their return.

Bin Laden Joins World Left, Condemns Israel

The dead body formerly known as Osama bin Laden has shockingly issued a call for jihad against Israel for defending themselves against terror attacks. Hmm. This all sounds so familiar. He also sent his regrets he couldn't be marching with his peeps in San Francisco and Manhattan, but the fact he's dead prevents him from doing so.

Osama bin Laden has called for a new jihad over the Israeli offensive in Gaza, through an audio recording posted on Islamist websites in which he questioned America's stomach for the fight.

The authenticity of the recording could not be verified immediately, but it appeared to be a typically provocative message from the al-Qaeda leader, taunting the United States as it prepares to hand the presidential baton from George W Bush to Barack Obama.

"God has bestowed us with the patience to continue the path of jihad for another seven years, and seven and seven years," bin Laden said on the tape dated in the current Islamic month. "The question is, can America continue its war with us for several more decades to come? Reports and evidence would suggest otherwise."

Evidence also suggest you and your boys are gettiing their heads kicked in around the globe.

The tape, entitled A Call for Jihad to Stop the Aggression against Gaza, came as the reported death toll from the 19-day Israeli offensive against Hamas rose to 971. Thirteen Israelis have been killed so far.
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The bin Laden tape was posted on websites often used by al-Qaeda to propagate their message and the voice resembled previous messages from the al-Qaeda leader. On it, bin Laden also condemned Arab governments for preventing their people from acting to "liberate Palestine".

In his latest message, bin Laden also said: “Our brothers in Palestine, you have suffered a lot . . . the Muslims sympathise with you in what they see and hear. We, the mujahidin, sympathise with you also . . . We are with you and we will not let you down. Our fate is tied to yours in fighting the Crusader-Zionist coalition, in fighting until victory or martyrdom.”

Well, then martyrdom it shall be.

Oh Well: More Boat Woes for 'Free Gaza' Kooks

The joke of it is they're wasting their time since the Israelis aren't going to let them go by anyway.

But these hapless morons can't even get a properly functioning boat.

A couple weeks ago they were saddled with whackjob Cynthia McKinney, although there are no reports she was on board this time.

Activists sailing to Gaza with medical supplies in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade had to turn back to Cyprus on Monday when their vessel developed engine trouble, organisers said.

Members of the U.S. based Free Gaza Movement had planned to take doctors, aid workers and European parliamentarians on a small ferry to Gaza, where Israel has mounted an offensive to rout Hamas fighters.

The group said the Greek-flagged boat had suffered problems with a generator about three hours off the Cypriot coast.

"The boat is on its way back. The problem is going to be repaired and we are going to go back (to Gaza) as soon as the boat is in shape to go," a representative of the Free Gaza Movement told Reuters.

Earlier, activists said they were determined to get into the Palestinian enclave.

"We cannot wait until Israel decides to stop the killing and then open up Gaza for the international community and aid workers to pick up the pieces," Huwaida Harraf, one of the organisers, said.

"We insist on the right to enter, we are not going to let the violence Israel may use against us stop us," she said.

It's a pretty long ride they have in front of them.

The trip, with parliamentarians from Greece, Spain and Belgium on board, was expected to take about 25 hours. Free Gaza has sent regular shuttles of aid to Gaza from Cyprus since August.

Hopefully they make it about 24 hours of the way before the Israelis sink it.