To mark the 20th anniversary of Entertainment Weekly, the magazine ran a poll to determine which was the most popular television or film character in the last two decades. Somewhat unsurprisingly, that turned out to be Homer Simpson of the long-running television series “The Simpsons,” with Harry Potter as the runner-up, the Telegraph informs.

Israel has reiterated that a ship carrying aid and international activists will not be allowed to break its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The MV Rachel Corrie is on schedule to reach the territory early on Saturday.

The confrontation comes days after Israeli commandos stormed a flotilla of aid ships approaching Gaza, leaving nine people dead and many more injured.

The raid brought strong condemnation of Israel, especially from Turkey where most of the victims were from.

"We will stop the ship, and also any other ship that will try to harm Israeli sovereignty," Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli television.

"There is no chance the Rachel Corrie will reach the coast of Gaza."

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From Wikipedia

Rachel Aliene Corrie (April 10, 1979 – March 16, 2003) was an American member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). She was killed in the Gaza Strip by an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) bulldozer while attempting to prevent IDF forces from demolishing the home of local Palestinian Samir Nasrallah. The IDF has claimed that the death was due to the restricted angle of view of the D9 bulldozer driver. The New York Times said Corrie and others were acting as "human shields." A student at the Evergreen State College, she had taken a year off and traveled to the Gaza Strip during the Second Intifada.[1]

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Some people asked me what has Homer got to do with this affair (see toon at top)... I  have no explanation but that it was the surreal event that interfered with my screwed brains — and possibly that Homer is the most obnoxious, stupid and dangerous character on this planet but a few including this one: Netanyahu... And too many people find Homer endearing. That's sick...

Exclusive: Nine Turkish men on board Mavi Marmara were shot a total of 30 times, autopsy results reveal

Israel was tonight under pressure to allow an independent inquiry into its assault on the Gaza aid flotilla after autopsy results on the bodies of those killed, obtained by the Guardian, revealed they were peppered with 9mm bullets, many fired at close range.

Nine Turkish men on board the Mavi Marmara were shot a total of 30 times and five were killed by gunshot wounds to the head, according to the vice-chairman of the Turkish council of forensic medicine, which carried out the autopsies for the Turkish ministry of justice today.

The results revealed that a 60-year-old man, Ibrahim Bilgen, was shot four times in the temple, chest, hip and back. A 19-year-old, named as Fulkan Dogan, who also has US citizenship, was shot five times from less that 45cm, in the face, in the back of the head, twice in the leg and once in the back. Two other men were shot four times, and five of the victims were shot either in the back of the head or in the back, said Yalcin Buyuk, vice-chairman of the council of forensic medicine.

Taysir Al Burai is severely disabled. He requires round-the-clock medical care. If he were allowed to leave Gaza, he could make a full recovery. But Israel won't let him

By Catrina Stewart in Gaza City

Ramzi al Burai knows better than most what it means to be imprisoned. This week's botched commando raid on the flotilla of pro-Palestinian aid activists trying to reach Gaza has swung the global spotlight on the Israeli-imposed blockade as never before, but the Al Burai family have been living that reality for the past three years.

Their severely disabled son, Taysir, requires round-the-clock care. Neither Ramzi nor his wife can leave the five-year-old for longer than an hour. Part-asphyxiated during delivery, the boy suffers from an acute neurological disorder. He is unable to talk properly, suffers spasms and anti-convulsant medication has left him partially paralysed.

If his parents could only get him to Germany, or even just across the border to Israel, he would be able to get the specialist medical care that doctors say could lead to a full recovery. Ramzi has repeatedly appealed to the Israeli authorities to allow his son out of the tiny coastal enclave, but has been refused each time.

Group of Israeli naval reserve officers calls for commanders to be held to account

But Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to the US, said, "We are rejecting an international commission." Instead he told the Fox News Channel that Israel was discussing with the US administration "a way in which our enquiry will take place". He added: "Israel is a democratic nation. Israel has the ability and the right to investigate itself, not to be investigated by any international board."

By contrast, a group of 10 apparently senior Israeli naval reserve officers last night wrote to Mr Netanyahu demanding an external enquiry and rejecting "widespread claims" of a failure of intelligence or public relations. Instead, the officers said, "We think that the plan was doomed to failure from the beginning."

The letter added: "We protest the fact that responsibility for the tragic results was immediately thrust onto the organisers of the flotilla. This demonstrates contempt for the responsibility that belongs principally to the hierarchy of commanders and those who approved the mission. This shows contempt for the values of professionalism, the purity of weapons and for human lives."

Mr Netanyahu convened a meeting of the seven-strong inner group of senior Cabinet ministers last night, partly to discuss the form of an inquiry that US President Barack Obama said last week should be "of international standards". Officials in Jerusalem insisted that Mr Netanyahu had only told his weekly meeting of the Cabinet that earlier reports that he had accepted the UN plan were untrue, and that discussions were continuing. Israeli officials say the committee would have included representatives from Israel, Turkey, and would have been chaired by Geoffrey Palmer, the former New Zealand Prime Minister who is an expert on maritime law.

Israel insists that its troops only opened fire after coming under heavy attack with knives, metal rods, and two pistols snatched from the arriving commandos, seven of whom it says were wounded. Photographs that were published by the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet and also obtained by Reuters show bleeding and cowering Israeli troops on board the Mavi Marmara surrounded by activists.

Fair go Gus,

And I quote: Photographs that were published by the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet and also obtained by Reuters show bleeding and cowering Israeli troops on board the Mavi Marmara surrounded by activists.   

As a returned serviceman my first reaction was to defend the troops who were only carrying out the orders of their government - and then I thought - isn't this a Jewish method of gaining sympathy for their abuses of human rights?  Isn't sympathy the major shield of the Zionists and their excuse for their abuses of all civilized behavior? Defence?

The unholy US/UK/Zionist alliance has inundated the world with the propaganda of the richest but - by far; the Jewish Lobby in all of the major countries is the most powerful base for the “Protocols” of the Zionists. And that is based solely on wealth and deception?

Currently, we are experiencing it in our once independent democracy.  The insidious greed of mis-information by the Murdochracy is an example that we ignore at our peril.

IMHO, no Corporation, or Cartel, or even the 26 Corporation Unions in Australia being as one, are as powerful as the various spread and wealth of the Jewish Lobbies.

The Protocols are very probative in many ways, and having read them and tried to absorb the selfishness that they propose, and then I understand that their policy is to have no “Satan” no “hell” and no punishment for their behavior – no matter what.

Therefore, I believe that there is a distinct possibility that the world wide Jewish Congresses (call them what you like) have a very strong hold on the most advanced nations in the Western world. And I am becoming convinced that the Zionist’s testing behavior is merely the financial example of a very rich organization that has bought the rights and integrity of the Goyim.

It seems to me that a very organized group of "race" "religion" and "opportunism" without any religious "hell" to modify their intentions, does in fact, abide by their God's commandments.

And while it is our fault under the “Protocols” of the Elders, we have to admit that the weakness of non-Jewish politicians is – greed.

God bless Australia and allow us the dignity of truth.  NE OUBLIE.

By ETHAN BRONNER

GAZA — Three years after Israel and Egypt imposed an embargo on this tormented Palestinian strip, shutting down its economy, a consensus has emerged that the attempt to weaken the governing party, Hamas, and drive it from power has failed.

In the days since an Israeli naval takeover of a flotilla trying to break the siege turned deadly, that consensus has taken on added urgency, with world powers, anti-Hamas Palestinians in Gaza and some senior Israeli officials advocating a shift.

In its three years in power, Hamas has taken control of not only security, education and the justice system but also the economy, by regulating and taxing an extensive smuggling tunnel system from Egypt. In the process, the traditional and largely pro-Western business community has been sidelined.

This may be about to change.

“We need to build a legitimate private sector in Gaza as a strong counterweight to extremism,” Tony Blair, who serves as the international community’s liaison to the Palestinians, said in an interview. The views of Mr. Blair, a former prime minister of Britain, reflected those of the Obama administration as well. “To end up with a Gaza that is dependent on tunnels and foreign aid is not a good idea,” he said.

Businesspeople in Gaza say that by closing down legitimate commerce, Israel has helped Hamas tighten its domination. And by allowing in food for shops but not goods needed for industry, Israel is helping keep Gaza a welfare society, the sort of place where extremism can flourish.

“I can’t get cocoa powder, I can’t get malt, I can’t get shortening or syrup or wrapping material or boxes,” said Mohammed Telbani, the head of Al Awda, a cookie and ice cream factory in the central town of Deir al Balah. “I don’t like Hamas, and I don’t like Fatah. All I want is to make food.”

In June 2007, after winning parliamentary elections the previous year and uneasily sharing power with the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, Hamas took full control in a four-day civil war, leaving the Palestinian Authority restricted to the West Bank.

Israeli officials say they have been working for months on a change of policy, but they want to guard against helping Hamas or bringing renewed rocket attacks on Israel. Israel imposed the embargo in part to prevent Hamas from receiving rockets and other weapons, in particular from Iran.

Israeli officials are less convinced than foreign leaders about the benefits of a full-scale tilt toward the business community, but they see room for increased activity.

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Meanwhile in the other Palestine:

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Lack of progress in the Mid-East peace process is "beginning to erode" faith that a two-state solution is possible, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said.

Mr Abbas also told a Washington think-tank that the Palestinians' main demand was to end the blockade of Gaza.

Israel is under strong international pressure following a deadly raid on ships trying to break the blockade.

Mr Abbas has been on a visit to Washington which has included talks with President Barack Obama.

"I would like to express some concern that the situation is extremely difficult," Mr Abbas told the Brookings Institution.

"The hope for a two-state solution, Palestine... living side-by-side in peace with the state of Israel, this concept is starting to erode and I fear that the world is starting to distrust that we are able to reach this solution."

'End blockade'

Mr Abbas described Israel's "attack" on the aid convoy in international waters as "unlawful, unacceptable".

"Our main demand is how to end the blockade on Gaza and I believe the entire world stands with us," he said.

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Gus: Let me repeat myself.

While Hamas wants the obliteration of Israel, the only Israeli solution to the Palestine problem is not to have Palestine at all and to continue the gradual take-over of Palestinian lands by Jewish settlement till the deed is complete, say by 2120. For years this has been the secretly supported solution by the US apart from a couple of administrations. Sure, there is the odd infrigement yellow card from time to time about new Jewish settlements in "occupied territories" but these settlements have gone ahead nonetheless. "Tough titties" says Israel, while the US "has strong words" but no action...

The only solution apart from this one — which is to "absorb" the Palestinians into a "greater Israel" (Hamas will never be able to get Israel to cease to exist) — is to have a two state (possibly three with Gaza separate) solution. But this is not on Israel's radar. Israel wants the lot. Israel will create the unrest, the punishment of a people, using the full force retaliation for small skirmishes — and also help ferment the skirmishes too, so it can react with the "moral" claim of "defending itself". The Palestinian have responded in kind, but their tits-for-tats are more like fleas on an elephant hide rather than from equal adversaries. The world can see this as the years have gone by, as Israel slowly but surely takes over with no wish to share... If this is what we want, then let it be.

The slow destruction of the Palestinian people will follow, till they are absorbed, gobbled, dissolved, eradicated, or simply capitulated. It's our call...

It's the US call. as the US supply the Israel with the armament and the knouts to maintain the Palestinians, especially in Gaza, in a state of siege, of fear, of hate and desperation.

So Gus says, let the guy from Qatar help the Gazans to regain some dignity. There might still be a few skirmishes but the UN can place a proper buffer there, as less and less skirmishes will be happening, with a rise in self-esteem and Gazan pride.

But this the Israelis do not want...

The world can entice the Israeli and the Hamas to change their extremist views. We owe this to our future. And it's possible to achieve should we wish to have a "solution" to this problem.

But too many people on both sides do not wish to have a solution, though. The instability is sought after in order to forment a certain diplomatic position of a greater empire or a culture of victims. We can do better than that.

May everyone find peace.

I know you to be a fair man in favor of peace Gus but, I cannot come to terms with a result that the Illegal and murderous actions of the Zionists would be rewarded by "pleading" with those criminals to allow their victims to share in their shattered country.  Fair dinkum mate that is just not my opinion on Justice.

The Zionist "heirachy" in occupied Palestine is similar to the Vichy French Government in France during WW II except that the people of France were “allowed” to live in their conquered country provided they obeyed the strict and vicious rule of the Nazis.  That was not a solution – it was a complete abandonment of all the principles for which we Australians fought – or at least we thought we fought for - in yet another disastrous war.

Further to my argument for the Zionists to be forced (they understand that) to become under the auspices of the United Nations (NOT the U.S.) and give back to the Palestinians the land they have stolen by military oppression and then let them and the much maligned Hamas be tried for their crimes against humanity by an international body of their peers.  The peaceful and impossible "deal" with the Zionists in the West Bank is a typical example of never trusting the word of the Zionists.

The Hamas is guilty of trying to save some sovereignty by the pitiful manner of sacrificing their lives just to prove they exist.  I respect them.

Surely under all circumstances and the ultimate goal of peace, there must not be any reward for crimes against humanity - because it would be tantamount to allowing the occupying Nazis to live in the nations where they have murdered and tortured the people they had brutally subjugated.

The pseudo “Israeli” government of occupation is already facing a difficulty in calling “Israel” a “Jewish” State.  The fact is that under international law, the state of Israel does not exist – yet their media control keeps (as Goebbels said) telling the lie often enough?

All the Zionists have done is to force international lime-light to sit up and take notice which revealed by investigation, the Jewish Zionist “deals” with the British to bring the US into WW I and: their deals with Hitler to badly treat the European Jews and force them to leave for the land of Palestine where the conspiratorial Brits could accommodate them.

Does any of us remember the movie named (if we can remember correctly) “The Journey of the damned”?  Nevertheless it was a movie which depicted historically, the Nazi allowed huge Ocean Liner to export many wealthy Jews from Europe to America?  And they were forbidden to disembark in, I believe, New York. Does that fit the profile of conspiracy?

So Gus, I find the attitude of the Zionists as abhorrent and that THEY have decided that their ultimate survival depends on the entire world trashing the freedoms that our generations have fought and died for and worse – they claim that is their right!  Struth.

It has been observed by opinion, that the Zionists are the worst enemy of the Jewish people and I concur.  The massively exploited Jewish Holocaust by the Zionists has been terminally discredited, not because it didn’t happen but because it has only now been revealed that the US Jewish Lobby was instrumental in those injustices for the ultimate goal of doing just what they are doing now in occupied Palestine.

An ultimate goal which has been financed by world-wide bribes of the Goyim on the basic, but true opinion that, everyone has their price.  An age old form of Heroin type addition?

We are experiencing such an influence now in Australia and it makes me “weep for my country”.  Why hasn’t the MSM mentioned the legal limits to electioneering?  The obnoxious power of the press.

Let us shake off the US disease of political bribery being euphemistically called “lobbying”.  I would be against the $100 million “war chest” of the foreign Mining Giants even if I wasn’t absolutely positive that the Abbott Liberal rabble is right there waiting for the scraps of the possible disintegration of our elected Federal government.

God Bless Australia and may we build a $100 million to legally remove the title “The Australian” from the Zionist fascist supporter Murdoch and his "lobbied" journalists.  NE OUBLIE.

Gus: Let me repeat myself.

The only solution in the Middle East — Palestine Israeli region — is to have a two state (possibly three with Gaza separate) solution.

So I say, let the guy from Qatar help the Gazans to regain some dignity. There might still be a few skirmishes but the UN can place a proper buffer there, as less and less skirmishes will be happening, with a rise in self-esteem and Gazan pride.

The world can entice the Israeli and the Hamas to change their extremist views. We owe this to our future.

May everyone find peace.

Tony Blair says more everyday goods may be allowed into Gaza by Israel

European Union governments tonight raised questions about the credibility of Israel's inquiry into the assault on the Gaza flotilla, while announcing that Israel was expected shortly to relax its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

After several meetings with Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, Tony Blair, the Middle East envoy for the Quartet of negotiating parties, told EU foreign ministers that it should soon be possible to get many more everyday goods and building supplies into Gaza. The territory has been blockaded for three years.

"In the conversations I've had with the Israeli prime minister there is now, in principle, agreement," Blair said. "They [Israel] will maintain the blockade with respect to arms and combat material but they are prepared to let in goods that are necessary for people's ordinary lives."

Blair's suggestion that the blockade could be eased substantially within days was met with scepticism among analysts and NGOs. They predicted that the Israelis would drag out negotiations over what is and is not allowed into Gaza.

The former prime minister also pointed to the controversy around the impartiality of the inquiry the Israeli government announced into the flotilla raid by stating that the make-up of the inquiry would trigger a "strong political debate".

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Meanwhile at the video front, it appears that no media outlet of the "West" has picked up on the raw secret video from the Gaza bound ships on the Israeli raid... I posted a link to it as posted by Al Jazeera second... this YD site might have been third to do so after the original posting at : http://vimeo.com/12429821

By Middle East correspondent Anne Barker

Israel's foreign minister has ruled out any chance of a Palestinian state by 2012, in a statement that could overshadow the latest visit to the region by US envoy George Mitchell.

Avigdor Lieberman told visiting Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov that he saw no chance of meeting international aspirations for Palestinian statehood within 18 months.

He was quoted saying he can dream or express interest, but in reality Israel is still far from reaching agreements on establishing an independent state.

Mr Mitchell is due to arrive in Israel today to mediate a fifth round of indirect talks between the two sides.

Israel says direct talks are the only way to solve the conflict.

But Palestinian leaders say Israel has not offered enough to make them worthwhile.