Hedy Epstein and the Gaza Flotilla: A Final Act of Hypocrisy

Hedy Epstein, soon to be 87, was sent by her family from Nazi Germany to England via the Kindertransport, and thus escaped the "Final Solution," although her parents died at Auschwitz. Over the years, she has sought to make use of her "Holocaust survivor" status in order to bolster her credibility when engaging in anti-Israel activities.

Epstein is among the "activists" seeking to sail on the Audacity of Hope to Gaza. She seemed almost in tears when the Greek coast guard forced her ship back to port, declaring (see video clip, http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/07/04/israel.gaza.flotilla/index.html?hpt=hp_t2):

"I'm hurting. I'm sad. I'm angry. I want to go to Gaza."

Indeed, every effort should be made to allow Hedy to live out her days in Gaza, where children are taught that the Holocaust never happened and that Jews are the children of "pigs and monkeys." Even J Street's Ben-Ami issued a statement denouncing Holocaust denial by Hamas (http://blogs.jta.org/politics/article/2009/09/01/1007583/j-street-blasts-hamas-holocaust-denial):

"J Street unequivocally condemns Holocaust denial by Hamas officials, most recently in an open letter to UNRWA Chief John Ging stating that the group refuses to 'let our children study a lie invented by the Zionists'.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshal remarked to the The New York Times that Hamas needs to be 'part of the solution' but it is difficult to take that seriously while Hamas officials continue to perpetuate and promote Holocaust denial."

Let's all take up a collection and help wheel Hedy into Gaza!

In related news, the Tahrir, the so-called "Canadian" ship participating in the flotilla, was towed back to port in Cyprus, after seeking to disobey orders from the Greek government and head for Gaza. The Tahrir sought to use kayakers to interfere with the Greek coast guard and make their escape. According to an article in Haaretz (http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/gaza-bound-tahrir-crew-warned-ship-may-be-in-danger-1.371470#article_comments), the drama queens on board the Tahrir are now claiming that their ship is in danger:

"The Tahrir's steering crew said in a statement to Haaretz that Greek supporters holding a vigil on the pier notified the passengers aboard the ship that their safety may be at risk."

Their safety "might be at risk"? True, the ship is now without electricity, and at night they might stub a toe in the darkness.

Also, these valiant graying "activists" are complaining that they can no longer flush the boat's toilets. Maybe this will serve to illustrate to them how Sderot's children have felt, some of whom wet their beds at night rather then risk being caught outside their concrete-walled safe rooms when rockets from Gaza fell.

The absurdity here is that notwithstanding their intentions, these radical leftists have contributed mightily to the standing in Israel of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who has made them look like the duplicitous chumps they are.