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GUESTS: Greta Berlin, one of the founders of the Free Gaza Movement, Omar Offendum, member of the Arab-American hip hop group N.O.M.A.D.S.

International criticism of the Israeli blockade of Gaza continued to mount last week as a former U.S. President and a Nobel Peace Laureate weighed in. In Wales, Jimmy Carter described the blockade, in place since Hamas came to power one year ago, as “one of the greatest human rights crimes now existing on Earth.” He also characterized the European Union’s lack of support for the Palestinian people as an embarrassment. Echoing Carter, South African Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu ended a three day trip to Gaza under siege by criticizing the international community for its “silence” and “complicity” regarding the blockade. Palestinians in Gaza have suffered cuts in electricity and gas, and had less access to water and food as a result of the siege. Seven Gaza students hoping to study in the U.S. on Fulbright scholarships have been unable to leave the region. Locally, members of the Free Gaza Movement here in Southern California are planning to break the siege by sailing into Gaza in defiance of Israel’s control of the territory. Joining Palestinians and Israeli as well as participants from fifteen other countries, the sailors will leave on August 1st in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

There will be a fundraiser on Saturday June 7th at 9 pm at Side Bar, 1114 N Pacific Ave, Glendale CA 91202. For tickets call 818-241-4542.

For more information about the trip to Gaza visit www.freegaza.org. Tax deductible contributions to fund the trip can be made to The Free Gaza Movement, 405 Vista Heights Road, El Cerrito, CA 94530.