Pink Floyd’s support for Women’s Boat to Gaza puts pressure on Israel

Last Updated: October 8, 2016By
2010: An Israeli naval vessel patrols beside one of six ships bound for Gaza. The raid launched against those ships left nine civilians dead [Image: Reuters].

2010: An Israeli naval vessel patrols beside one of six ships bound for Gaza. The raid launched against those ships left nine civilians dead [Image: Reuters].

Judging from some of the comments This Blog has received lately, it seems many people will feel that the members of Pink Floyd have gone over to the Dark Side (of the moon?) with their joint statement.

No. They are absolutely right to oppose Israel’s military action against a peaceful humanitarian aid mission to Gaza.

Israel started the blockade in 2007, on the grounds that it was necessary to prevent Hamas from importing weapons.

But it is widely believed that the blockade is unlawful, for humanitarian reasons. The first Freedom Flotilla, in 2010, carried humanitarian aid and construction materials but was stopped by the Israeli navy in a raid in which nine passengers were killed and dozens injured (although for fairness, I should add that nine soldiers were also injured).

Whatever Israel was planning to do with the women who were arrested by its navy in international waters, it seems likely they will be released quickly after public interest was stimulated by the band’s statement.

It seems people are unwilling to remain Comfortably Numb (sorry) when their musical idols stand up for a cause.

Perhaps pro-Israeli voices will claim that the intervention of these musicians is unwelcome in a serious political issue, pointing out that Roger Waters has already caused controversy with previous comments about the behaviour of that country’s government.

Slated as an anti-Semite by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, who offered no argument to support his claim, Mr Waters responded at the time: “If Rabbi Boteach can make a case for the Israel government’s policies, I look forward to hearing it.

“It is difficult to make arguments to defend the Israeli government’s policies, so would-be defenders often use a diversionary tactic, they routinely drag the critic into a public arena and accuse them of being an antisemite.”

Considering the result of the raid in 2010 and the humanitarian argument for aid to be supplied to Gaza, it seems clear that the survivors of Pink Floyd have a strong case this time.

So Shine On, You not-so Crazy Diamonds.

It’s 11 years since Pink Floyd reunited to play the Live 8 concert in London, but now the three remaining members have put their differences behind them in common cause. That cause, however, is not music.

Instead, David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Roger Waters have joined together – in word only – to offer their support for the Women’s Boat to Gaza, a group of women from around the world who set sail from Barcelona to Gaza last month, sponsored by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a group opposed to Israel’s “siege of Gaza”. The Women’s Boat was intercepted by the Israeli navy earlier this week, and the crew arrested. They are expected to be deported soon.

Pink Floyd’s Facebook page carried a post on Wednesday expressing the support of David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Roger Waters for the women. The same post appeared on Waters’s Facebook page, though not on Gilmour’s.

“‘Pink Floyd reunites to stand with the Women of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla’

“David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Roger Waters stand united in support of the Women of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, and deplore their illegal arrest and detention in international waters by the Israeli Defense Force.”

The Freedom Flotilla said it expected the women to be released quickly, not least because of the attention Pink Floyd’s support had drawn to their cause.

Roger Waters has campaigned on behalf of the Palestinian cause since visiting Israel in 2005. He has called for a cultural boycott of Israel and for institutions to divest themselves of their interests in the country.

Source: Pink Floyd unite to support the Women’s Boat to Gaza | Music | The Guardian

ADVERT




Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(
but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Donate Button with Credit Cards

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.


The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in eBook format here:

HWG eBook

Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:

SWAHTprint SWAHTeBook

latest video

news via inbox

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

4 Comments

  1. Jonathan L Trapman October 8, 2016 at 9:33 pm - Reply

    Roger Waters is a man of integrity and truth – Pink Floyd have done what so many in places of influence have crawled away from in cowardice, lily livered acquiescence and pusillanimous perfidy .
    There is nothing appropriate in a terrorist created political entity simply creating more illegal acts as if they are justified to do these things with impunity.
    Cuckoos who take over the nest, throw out the rightful families of that nest and then laud over it as if their own by theft have NO RIGHTS at the beginning and now.

    Muscle does not make legal criminal acts. Ownership of other nests through covert and blackmail ways does not make any occupied nest legitimate.

    Pink Floyd recognize this and the world ought to applaud its siding and mount the pressure to identify the true criminal elements.

    • Anna Zimmerman October 9, 2016 at 8:24 am - Reply

      Hello Jonathan, agreed! I’m only amazed that readers of ‘Vox’ would object to the Floyd’s compassionate stance.

  2. Sahara October 9, 2016 at 3:52 pm - Reply

    You are absolutely correct, Jonathan.

  3. shaun October 12, 2016 at 9:05 pm - Reply

    From listening to Pink Floyd’s many albums I’ve long suspected group members had integrity and compassion. For me this goes a long way to confirming that assessment.
    As to the Israeli Palestinian conflict all peoples have human rights and these should be respected by all states. From what I know injustice flows from both states. Of course Israel’s military supremacy means its crimes are much, much greater and, I would suggest, also gives it the ability and responsibility to lead the peace process and humanitarian behaviour. Once again, from what I’ve seen, read and heard it has not taken that role.

Leave A Comment