Written by David Gespass   

The following is a letter written on behalf of the National Lawyers Guild to the Greek Embassy concerning the Audacity of Hope:

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing on behalf of the National Lawyers Guild and our several thousand members to protest the heavy-handed and inexcusable actions by the Greek government in preventing the Audacity of Hope to sail to Gaza. While we understand the intense pressure that can be brought to bear by the United States government and the particularly difficult situation that Greece finds itself in today, that cannot be an excuse for a lack of principle on so important an issue as the decades-long illegal occupation and siege of Gaza. You can be assured that millions of Americans oppose Israel's actions and will stand by Greece if it resists US pressure.

If, on the other hand, you are not subject to such pressure and have made the independent decision to keep the boat from leaving, we call on you, in the strongest possible terms, to reconsider. The entire flotilla has taken great care to insure that no one participating will engage in any act of violence. It offers no threat to Israel other than as a means of exposing the bankruptcy, illegality and inhumanity of its policies towards the Palestinian people. The Lawyers Guild has consistently opposed American presidential administrations that have betrayed principle with their unquestioning support of everything Israel does and we do not wish to add the Greek government to the list.

I note as well that our organization has not reached the conclusions it has without considerable discussion and research. We have sent several delegations to Palestine to investigate conditions there. Most recently, a delegation visited Gaza immediately after Operation Cast Lead and produced a damning report documenting Israeli attacks on civilians and even United Nations facilities. We stand behind the courageous passengers on the Audacity of Hope and believe that people -- and governments -- of good will everywhere should do the same.

The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937 as the country's first integrated national bar association. For nearly three quarters of a century, we have defended and supported all those struggling for human rights and dignity. Today, the demand for justice for the Palestinian people is a critical battleground in that struggle. We call on Greece to join it by the simple act of allowing the boat to leave on its journey.

David Gespass
President
National Lawyers Guild
nlg.org