Law Suit to Stop 2nd Flotilla to Israel

It has just been reported that a civil lawsuit has been filed against the 14 ships which are preparing to participate in a second international flotilla to attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. The UStoGaza organization has been raising money and gathering passengers to include a vessel from the US called ‘The Audacity of Hope.’ The plaintiff in the suit that has been filed in the NYC Federal Court is Dr. Alan Bauer, a Harvard-educated biologist and terror victim injured in a 2002 Jerusalem bombing.

Here is PJTV’s exclusive interview with Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, a Human Rights activist and one of the lawyers advising Dr. Bauer in this civil law suit.

“The audacity of this flotilla is outrageous,” said Ms. Darshan-Leitner. “First, the stated need for these ships is entirely unnecessary given that humanitarian aid can come to the Gaza Strip through the now open Egyptian border. Secondly, invoking the name of President Obama’s book for media attention proves that this is nothing more than a publicity stunt, not a humanitarian mission. Finally, this action is entirely illegal – no U.S. citizen or entity is permitted to make a naval advance against a country with which the United States is at peace.”

The grounds for the lawsuit are based on Neutrality Act of 1794 that mandates no naval expedition can be made against a friendly nation by ship whose voyage is paid for by funds raised on U.S. soil. “Hopefully, this civil lawsuit will deter the participants in this publicity stunt,” said Ms. Darshan-Leitner, “but if they decide to go forward, and the Court finds in favor of Dr. Bauer, the owners of these ships risk losing possession of their vessels.”