In late June, a flotilla of 10 or more boats carrying 1,000 or so people from about 20 countries from around the world was organized.

These were unarmed activists who see that Israel’s continued illegal occupation and settlement of Palestine is wrong, and were trying to raise the awareness of the world to the situation.

These people bravely put their lives in jeopardy, because last year, Israeli commandoes killed nine unarmed activists for attempting to do the same thing.

This year’s flotilla included boats from United States, Canada, Britain, etc.; the American boat passengers were 25 percent Jewish. The boats sailed to Greece, where they planned to assemble. Two boats were sabotaged, and the U.S. boat was charged under a frivolous lawsuit originating in Israel.

Under pressure from Israel and the U.S. government, Greece used armed police to prevent the boats from leaving port and arrested the U.S. captain and the activists who were fasting in front of the U.S. embassy to protest his arrest. They were later released.

They bravely continued to demonstrate in Greece through the July 4th holiday, but are now returning home.

This will not be the end because the world is becoming more aware of the injustice and flotillas will continue to challenge this illegal blockade.

I can’t believe our government was complicit in this treatment of U.S. citizens. As an American growing up during World War II, and serving during the Korean War,

I was led to believe that our government was of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Imagine what Teddy Roosevelt would have done under similar circumstances.

Kirk Palmer

Manchester