and the freedom flotilla that was supposed to sail to Gaza but never left Greece? Who was responsible for stopping it? It was a collaborative effort but one of the unsung heroes is none other than Governor Rick Perry.
"I love what you do. It’s amazing what you do. If you ever need help combating Israel’s enemies, I’m here to assist."
Shurat HaDin is an Israeli law group that practices something they call lawfare. As Freedom Flotilla II gathered in Greece in preparation for it voyage to Gaza Shurat HaDin began a series of legal maneuvers to prevent it. First it contacted all of the major maritime insurance agencies and informed them they might be criminally liable for “aiding and abetting” a terrorist organization if they provided insurance. Most of the insurance companies responded positively and the flotilla was without insurance. Next they contacted the satellite providers in the area that would be needed for GPS navigation and, very importantly, communications to facilitate media coverage. Not wanting to be involved in litigation for providing services to an illegal enterprise they refused satellite usage to the flotilla.
Shurat HaDin discovered American flotilla activists were potentially in violation of the Neutrality Act, which prohibits U.S. citizens from taking part in a hostile act against an allied country. They put Attorney General Eric Holder on notice but just to drive the point home asked Governor Rick Perry to write a letter to Holder. Why Rick Perry? Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, who together with her husband founded Shurat HaDin had met Perry in Israel. At a mission Perry told her, "I love what you do. It’s amazing what you do. If you ever need help combating Israel’s enemies, I’m here to assist."
With the US Justice Department on board, the group discovered that Greece also had a Neutrality Act that prohibited boats from leaving Greece to sail to a hostile territory such as Gaza. Again with the lawsuits, Greece complied and began inspecting the boats for safety and other violations. Eventually six or seven boats were deemed not to be seaworthy. By the time Code Pink found out what was going on they were in a box. There was nothing they could do but cancel the flotilla. Undoubtedly a group as shrewd as Shurat HaDin could have made it without Rick Perry's help but they didn't have to thanks to his courage and loyalty. Should Perry face Obama in 2012 it's a safe bet that every conservative Jew in New York and Florida will know this story. See Commentary Magazine for more.
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