SOURCE PJTVA civil lawsuit has been filed today against 14 ships, including at least one American-registered vessel named The Audacity of Hope, which are set to participate in a reprise international flotilla against Israel. Dr. Alan Bauer, a Harvard-educated biologist and terror victim injured in a 2002 Jerusalem bombing, is the plaintiff in the suit that was filed in Federal Court in New York City.
PJTV has an exclusive interview with Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, a Human Rights activist and one of the lawyers advising Dr. Bauer in this civil suit.
"The audacity of this flotilla is outrageous," said Ms. Darshan-Leitner. "First, the stated need for these ships is entirely unnecessary given that humanitarian aid can come to the Gaza Strip through the now open Egyptian border. Secondly, invoking the name of President Obama's book for media attention proves that this is nothing more than a publicity stunt, not a humanitarian mission. Finally, this action is entirely illegal - no U.S. citizen or entity is permitted to make a naval advance against a country with which the United States is at peace."
The grounds for the lawsuit are based on Neutrality Act of 1794 that mandates no naval expedition can be made against a friendly nation by ship whose voyage is paid for by funds raised on U.S. soil. "Hopefully, this civil lawsuit will deter the participants in this publicity stunt," said Ms. Darshan-Leitner, "but if they decide to go forward, and the Court finds in favor of Dr. Bauer, the owners of these ships risk losing possession of their vessels."
Click here for the PJTV interview of Ms. Darshan-Leitner, more information on the global satellite network operator Inmarsat which is providing services to the vessels in the flotilla, and a number of actions the public can take to express their concerns about the flotilla.
