Muslim Advocacy Group Launches Campaign Against Israel's Blockade

By Alexa Gitler
Talk Radio News Service

Officials with a Muslim advocacy group in Washington, D.C. announced Wednesday the launch of a new campaign aimed at educating government officials as well as the public about what they say is a humanitarian crisis occurring in the Gaza region.

During a news conference, MAS Freedom, an entity of the Muslim American Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Islam, criticized the Israeli government for continuing to enforce an economic blockade along the Gaza strip. According to officials with the group, the decision to create a campaign, entitled, ‘End The Embargo, Let Gaza Live,' came in response to an incident earlier this week in which at least nine people were killed and dozens wounded after Israeli military forces stormed a humanitarian flotilla making its way to Gaza.

“We have the responsibility to speak truth to power, to call upon our President to do what is morally right in a crisis that we can influence as taxpayers, and citizens of the United States,” said Ibrahim Ramey, the group's civil and human rights director.

“We will continue to protest, demonstrate, petition our government, and do all the things that are necessary until the siege of Gaza ends," added Mahdi Bray, executive director of MAS.

Ramey said that the new initiative will use a petition drive and a post card campaign in an attempt to send a message to President Barack Obama and others in his administration that they must pressure Israel and Egypt to end the blockade.

Netanyhu Spokesman Defends Israel's Military Actions

By Alexa Gitler-Talk Radio News Service

Mark Regev, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyau, defended the Israeli military's recent actions, explaining that "the naval blockade on Gaza ... is a matter of life and death for Israel."

"As a country, we cannot allow unregulated naval access to the Gaza Strip," Regev said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday. Regev added that the blockade is an important component in preventing the delivery of rockets and other weapons that could then be used against Israel.

The spokesperson explained that Israel’s policy regarding supplies entering the Gaza strip is that once they are inspected by Israeli forces and are deemed acceptable, they are free to enter the area.

"On average, every week some 15,000 tons of aid reach the Gaza Strip and as far as I know there is no shortage of food, nor of medicines or any vital humanitarian supplies,” Regev said.

In regards to the incident, in which at least nine people were killed and dozens wounded after Israeli military forces boarded a humanitarian flotilla Monday, Regev repeated claims that the soldiers were provoked.

“When there finally was the intervention on the high seas, they chose the path of violence. It wasn’t our side that initiated the violence, it clearly came from those on the boats,” Regev stated.

Regev said that despite the conflict, Israel will continue the peace talks with the Palestinians.

“We seek peace and reconciliation with our Palestinian neighbors, I think containing the threat that Hamas poses can be an important element in moving forward."

Top Senate Democrat Leads Charge To Protect Privacy For Military Families

By Alexa Gitler
Talk Radio News Service

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) met with reporters Friday to discuss his plea to urge the Supreme Court to protect the right of military families to a peaceful private funeral. “The Synder family, as well as other military families have been robbed of the proper chance to say goodbye and that needs to end,” Reid said.

The funeral of Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, an American soldier who died in combat in Iraq in 2006, was marred with ugly, hateful protests by a Kansas church.

Reid, along Joe Davis of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Phil Riley of the American Legion and Steve Stobridge of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), filed a brief with the Supreme Court on Friday seeking the prohibition of protesting during military funerals.

According to Riley, the brief “is not a freedom of speech issue...but a right to privacy that must be respected.” 48 U.S. state legislatures have agreed to sign on to the brief, which also has bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate.

“I have a responsibility to provide for the common defense and to take care of the military,” Reid said. “The very least we can do for the families during their time of mourning is to make sure their privacy is respected.”

Democrats Launch Campaign To Inform Seniors On Health Care Reform

By Alexa Gitler-Talk Radio News Service

House Democrats will soon launch a campaign aimed at informing older Americans about the benefits of the health care reform law.

“This week a brochure will be mailed out to 40.2 million seniors outlining the new changes to Medicare under [the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act],” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said during a press conference Wednesday.

“The purpose of this brochure is for older Americans who have faced misinformation about health care due to political reasons to be informed,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said.

The brochure features detailed information about what benefits stay the same for seniors, what changes will be seen immediately, and changes that will be seen in the future. It also features important information about coverage for people who have pre-existing conditions and the expansion of health coverage for young people.

“This is only the beginning of an aggressive outreach plan. Our hotline and website will continue to be up and running and hopefully we can set the record straight,” Pelosi said.

House Will Pass New Spending Bill, Says Top Democrat

By Alexa Gitler-Talk Radio News Service

“We will have enough votes,” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Tuesday in response to the House's plans to vote this week on $190 billion in new spending.

Dubbed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act by Sander Levin (D-Mich.), the bill includes $1 billion for summer jobs for teens, whose current jobless rate is 25.4%, and $47 billion to extend unemployment insurance to nearly two full years.

“It is our job to promote job growth in the current economy, and we have had significant success digging out of a deep hole,” Hoyer said. “Extending unemployment insurance is necessary coming out of a presidency which resulted in a loss of 8 million jobs.”

Hoyer is hopeful that Republicans will join and give their support for the spending, however many Republicans have been very critical of the amount of spending done by the Obama administration since he was elected into office.