Cyprus MP: Israel 'terrorist state'

Cyprus MP: Israel 'terrorist state'
Cyprus MP Eleni Theocharous (Photo: Famagusta Gazette)AGENCIES 01.JAN.09
Cyprus
MP Eleni Theocharous has said that the dignity of Europe, which has not
reacted to the Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip, has been
tarnished, just as "SS Dignity" has been damaged by the Israeli navy.

Speaking
upon her return home, after SS Dignity, which tried to break the
Israeli blockage of Gaza to take humanitarian aid to the Palestinians,
was intercepted and hit by the Israeli navy, Theocharous said: "One way
or another, Israel has never displayed dignity in these issues.

"Israel
is behaving like a terrorist state, using the support of superpowers
and the military machine it has created, in order to slaughter peoples
under its occupation," she said.

On Monday, SS Dignity,
carrying three Cypriots, including Theocharous, and other volunteers
sailed from the southern port of Larnaca for Gaza to take humanitarian
and medical aid.

The Israeli navy intercepted the boat and hit its left side, forcing
it to change course and head for Lebanon.

The mission was, for the time being, aborted and the three Cypriots
returned home by air, via Beirut.

Theocharous said that the boat was travelling on its course, in line
with international law.

"We
did not violate any rule and the interception occurred in international
waters, 73 kilometres west of Haifa, and this is a violation of
international law and a crime against humanity. What happened was
attempted murder," she said.

Describing the dramatic moments
of the collision, Theocharous said, "we were thrice thrown from one
side of the boat to the other and in the end we landed on the floor."

She
said the decision to sail to Lebanon was kept secret. Nevertheless, the
destination of the boat was not kept secret, because as soon as the
boat changed course, CNN announced that the mission was heading to
Lebanon.

Theocharous praised the representations of the
Cypriot government about the incident, thanks to which the boat was
allowed to moor in Lebanon.

SS Dignity is being guarded at
Tyre port in Lebanon on the instructions of the Lebanese president,
after representations made by the Republic of Cyprus.