Posted on 07/05/2011 2:24:50 PM PDT by Eleutheria5
The captain of the US 'Audacity of Hope' arrested for violating a Greek ban on sailing to Gaza from its ports was freed on Tuesday, Reuters reports.
Greek authorities last week banned ships destined for Gaza from leaving Greek ports "for their safety".
American John Klusmire, 60, was charged during a hearing on Tuesday with breaching the ban and putting lives at risk after being intercepted last week at sea by the Hellenic Coast Guard.
When ordered to return to port Klusmire, ferrying mostly American passengers, refused, leading to a two-hour stand off that ended when Greek commandos boarded his vessel.
Nine passengers of the 'Audacity' were arrested while staging an impromptu protest outside the US embassy in Athens. Three remain in custody.
“Our boat's captain is out of jail. The charges have not been dropped, but he is free to go anywhere, no bail, no restrictions,” the US ship's website announced late Tuesday afternoon.
The flotilla, which organizers hope will consist of 8-9 ships carrying about 350 passengers, has been beset with financial, diplomatic, and mechanical troubles since the outset. It was originally planned to include 15 ships in the flotilla.
But the chances of any of the ships arriving in Gaza seem increasingly remote due to the vigilance of the Greek coastguard and the rigid enforcement of the government's ban.
(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...
Bogus stands made everywhere What I accomplish, I don't care But I'll dream away On the good ship AH prop
A better rhyme for Hope might be Dope.
Just like those human shields who took the double decker bus to Iraq..
All my ship mates are smokin’ dope
It’s the only way with reality they cope
And we dream away
On the good ship AH prop
You so clever.... beat me by a matter of seconds.
I wish they would arrest the author.
Klusmire was probably even wearing a tall, pointy, lefty hat to stand above all others.
Patience.
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