Cynthia McKinney, the Israeli Navy, and $4 billion worth of natural gas off Gaza (Videos)

Gaza Strip

Former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney on the Israeli Navy’s circuitous route to shore, with the "Spirit of Humanity" in tow, after her arrest with 21 other human rights activists while trying to deliver medical supplies, building materials and childrens’ toys to Gaza:

On June 30th 2009, Israeli Naval gunships surrounded the "Spirit of Humanity-", a boat used by the Free Gaza Movement, in international waters 60 miles off the coast of Israel, and arrested twenty-one activists, from 11 countries, including former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who had boarded the "Spirit of Humanity" in Larnaca, Cyprus, with medical aid, toys, and building supplies, hoping to carry them to Gaza’s besieged Palestinian population.

They had hoped not only to deliver aid, but also to challenge the illegal blockade imposed by the Israeli government on Gaza.

Upon her release and return, Cynthia McKinney spoke to WBAIX, from New York’s JFK Airport, where she reported that the Israeli Navy had towed the "Spirit of Humanity," not directly to Port Ashdod, but, on a circuitous route, bypassing Gaza. This, she said, suggested that the Israeli Navy is engaged in activity that they do not want observed in the coastal waters off Gaza, known to be the site of billions of dollars worth of natural gas reserves.

Barack Obama, in his speech proposing U.S. reconciliation with the Moslem world, in Cairo, Egypt, on 06.03.2009, said nothing of the estimated $4 billion worth of natural gas off the Coast of Gaza, or the oil and natural gas in Iraq, Iran, or Sudan, or, the pipeline projects to move Central Asian oil and natural gas through through Afghanistan, and other parts of Central Asia.

Israel has two oil and natural gas drilling platforms north of Gaza, which some believe they are using to slant drill into Gaza’s natural gas reserves.

War and Gaza’s natural gas: A Ramattan TV interview with Alfred Lambremont Webre, international lawyer in Vancouver.