(NEWS) Gaza Bound Convoy's Leader Pleads For Permit To Go Through Egypt

4:22 PM by 
"The leader of 'Viva Palestina 5' Gaza bound convoy George Galloway appealed here on Tuesday to the Egyptian President Husni Mubarak to allow him to enter Egypt.

He made the appeal during a press conference held over the 'Viva Palestina' Gaza bound convoy. 'We have no problem with Egypt, Egypt is not our enemy, our enemy is the Zionist state of Israel,' Galloway said.



On 8 January, Galloway was driven by the Egyptian police to the airport and put on a plane to London. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit released a statement reading: 'George Galloway is considered persona non grata and will not be allowed to enter Egypt again.'

'We want to focus international opinion on the crimes of Israel. Palestine is in my eyes and my hearts, and I'll be sad if I now have to stay away from it,' he added.

Galloway will lead on Friday, 144 aid vehicles carrying 380 pro- Palestinian activists from some 30 countries to the Syrian Lattakia sea-port and then sail to Egypt.

Viva Palestina movement has organized three massive land convoys to Gaza in the last 18 months, all of which have delivered their aid.

In May, Israel stormed the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, killed nine pro-Palestinian international activists and detained other 700. The assault has sparked a world-wide condemnation and increased calls to end the Gaza blockade.

Israel has been imposing a tight sea and ground blockade on 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza Strip right after Islamic Hamas movement obtained the vast majority in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections." (source)