Dec 30, 2008 10:41 pm US/Pacific
Berkeley's McKinney Safe After Gaza Boat Incident
BERKELEY (BCN) ―
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Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney.
CBS
Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, who now lives in Berkeley, was reported safe after an Israeli gunboat this week rammed and severely damaged a humanitarian aid ship headed to Gaza with medical
supplies, according to Green Party officials.
The Green Party of California released a statement Tuesday condemning the attack on McKinney's boat, which it said held more than three tons of medical supplies, and called for Israel, and other parties, to cease attacks in Gaza and search for a peaceful solution.
According to the Green Party, McKinney, who received 0.12 percent of the vote in the Nov. 4 election, joined the Free Gaza Group and was on board the SS Dignity when it sailed from Cyprus to Gaza in defiance of a blockade by Israel.
The Green Party statement said an Israeli gunboat rammed the SS Dignity in international waters, 90 miles off the Gaza coast, without warning.
According to the Green Party, the SS Dignity suffered significant damage and limped into a Lebanon port for repairs with no reported injuries.
Commenting on the ship-ramming incident as well as Israel's attack on Hamas in Gaza, The Green Party of California said, "We deplore the violence in Gaza, and we condemn the attacks on civilians, including those who, like Cynthia McKinney, are only attempting to help people. We urge an immediate cease-fire, and an end to the Israeli blockade that endangers humanitarian efforts."
The party added, "We urge Ms. McKinney to continue her efforts at peace, and wish her safe passage."
Responding to the comments by McKinney and the Green Party of California, Jonathan Bernstein of the San Francisco chapter of the Anti-Defamation League, a group that fights anti-Semitism, said Israel is attacking Gaza because "Hamas turned Gaza into a launching pad for sending rockets in Israel, killing people and disrupting life."
Bernstein said, "Israel has to protect its citizens."
He said Israel pulled out of Gaza in August 2005 "so there is no occupation there."
Referring to Israel's attack on Gaza, Bernstein said, "The main target is Hamas, not Palestinians."
Bernstein said, "In a major conflict like this, Israel is restricting people's access to protect them from being hurt."
He said Israel has allowed the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to bring medical supplies and other items to Gaza.
McKinney represented the 11th congressional district in Georgia from 1993 to 2003 and that state's 4th congressional district from 2005 to 2007. She left the Democratic Party in September 2007 and was the Green Party's presidential candidate in 2008.
Green Party of California spokeswoman Susan King said McKinney moved to Marin County after leaving Georgia and recently moved to the East Bay to attend a post-doctoral program at the University of California, Berkeley.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
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