The Opinion Makers: Debate, Discussion and Analysis on the Israeli assault on the Flotilla of boats seeking the break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip

Columnists Ali Younes and Ray Hanania discuss and debate the controversy surrounding the Israeli assault on the flotilla of boats seeking to bring food and medicine to the 1.5 million besieged civilians living in the Israeli occupied Gaza Strip which resulted in the murder of nine civilians killed by Israeli storm troopers who dropped in on the boats in the dead of night from attack helicopters.

The world is calling for an independent investigation but Israel insists on conducting the investigation themselves. View this episode of the weekly online video program "The Opinion Makers" at:

http://vimeo.com/user3471011/videos

Or get more information at the web site

www.TheOpinionMakers.com

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Al-Jazeera condemns Israeli assault on its reporters covering Gaza aid boats

Al Jazeera Holds Israel Responsible for the Safety of its Staff Members on Board Gaza Aid Ships and Asks the Israeli Government for their Immediate Release

Doha, Qatar: May 31, 2010:  Al Jazeera is extremely concerned by the actions of Israeli armed forces who have detained Al Jazeera staff who were covering the humanitarian aid mission on the ships bound for Gaza. The ships were attacked by Israeli armed forces early Monday morning.  Al Jazeera Network has eight member of its staff on board including Abbas Nasser, Othman Battiri, Mohammed Vall, Ali Sabri, Andre Khalil, Jamal al Shayal, Waseema bin Saleh and Issam Zaatar. The Network holds the Israeli government responsible for the safety of its journalists and cameramen and asks the Israeli government to release them immediately.

Al Jazeera Network also calls upon all media organizations to act for the release of all journalists on board the ships and to ask for their freedom to practice their profession without pressure and harassment.

--ENDS—

About Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera started out more than thirteen years ago as the first independent Arabic news channel in the world dedicated to providing comprehensive television news and live debate for the Arab world. Al Jazeera was formally named the Al Jazeera Network in March 2006, transforming its operation into an international media corporation.  The Al Jazeera Network now consists of the flagship Al Jazeera Satellite (Arabic) channel, Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Documentary, Al Jazeera Sport, Al Jazeera.net (the English and Arabic web sites), the Al Jazeera Media Training and Development Center, the Al Jazeera Center for Studies, Al Jazeera Mubasher (Live), and Al Jazeera Mobile.

You can visit our websites at: www.aljazeera.net> or www.aljazeera.net/english>

For further information please contact:

Christina Aivaliotis

Press.int@aljazeera.net>