This afternoon, Derek, Fathi, Eliza and I went down to the marina in Cyprus to see the Dignity. I’m not sure what I expected, a gaping hole still in the port side, a huge gash down the front, water seeping into the lower rooms. But Derek and Denis and some of the other people in Cyprus have done a supurb job of patching the wounds on this wonderful yacht.

It’s not fixed. Not close, But it will be repaired enough to go on the flotilla, June 1. She can take 16 passengers including three crew, and we will put many of the high-profile people on board. We have had several already confirm that they will be coming. The media will be on the boat as well.

When we were looking at the damage on the side, Derek asked us, “Do you want us to paint the wood along the bow and the bottom of the deck?” “No, leave it,” we insisted. Eliza turned to us and said, “Let the boat be our banner…we will paint in huge black letters…YOU CANNOT SINK OUR DIGNITY… in English and Arabic.”

And that’s what we’re going to do. Those of you on these lists are the first to know one of our media strategies… the Dignity will go back to Gaza, and the world will see what the Israeli Navy has done. Yes, the boat is safe. Yes, it can travel the distance. And… yes, it will be an announcement to Israel and to the world that the Free Gaza movement will not be sunk nor will our boats.

—
Greta Berlin
Media Team
Free Gaza Movement
310 422 7242
www.freegaza.org
www.flickr.com/photos/29205195@N02/