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Difference between revisions of "Kenneth O'Keefe"

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''This article contains content from Wikipedia. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Kenneth_O%27Keefe_(2nd_nomination) It was nominated for deletion on Wikipedia]''
 
''This article contains content from Wikipedia. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Kenneth_O%27Keefe_(2nd_nomination) It was nominated for deletion on Wikipedia]''
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[[Image:Ken okeefe.jpg|right|Ken O'Keefe]]
 
[[Image:Ken okeefe.jpg|right|Ken O'Keefe]]
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'''Kenneth Nichols O'Keefe''' (born '''Kenneth Roy Nichols''' July 21, 1969) is an Irish-American activist and former [[United States Marine Corps|US Marine]]. He lead the [[human shield action to Iraq]] and was a passenger on the [[MV Mavi Marmara]] during the [[Gaza flotilla raid]]. He said that he participated in defending the ship and claimed that he disarmed two Israeli [[Commandos]].<ref name="AUTOREF9" /><ref name="AUTOREF10" />
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'''Kenneth Nichols O'Keefe''' (born '''Kenneth Roy Nichols''' July 21, 1969) is a naturalised [[Ireland|Irish]], [[Palestine|Palestinian]] and [[Hawaiian sovereignty movement|Hawaiian]] citizen and activist, he is also an ex-[[U.S. Marine]] who served in the 1991 [[Gulf War]] and subsequently spoke out about the use of [[depleted uranium]] as a [[crime against humanity]] and the US military using soldiers as "human guinea pigs" with experimental drugs that were directly linked to [[Gulf War syndrome]].<ref name="back2iraq" /><ref name="AUTOREF2" /><ref name="AUTOREF" /><ref name="AUTOREF4"/> He is an American born citizen who renounced his [[US citizenship]] on March 1, 2001. He is also a [[social entrepreneur]] utilizing direct action marine conservation,<ref name="AUTOREF4" /><ref name="AUTOREF3" /> but he is more widely known for leading the [[human shield action to Iraq]] and as a passenger of the [[MV Mavi Marmara]] in which he participated in defending the ship and disarming two Israeli [[Commandos]] during the [[Gaza flotilla raid]].<ref name="AUTOREF5" /><ref name="AUTOREF6" /><ref name="AUTOREF7" /><ref name="AUTOREF8" /><ref name="AUTOREF9" /><ref name="AUTOREF10" />
  
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==Human Shield Action to Iraq==
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On January 7, 2004, O'Keefe burned his US [[passport]] in protest of [[American Imperialism]] and called for US troops to immediately withdrawal from [[Iraq]]. He replaced his US passport with a [[World Passport]], subsequently proclaiming himself a "Citizen of the World" with "ultimate allegiance to my entire human family and to planet Earth." <ref name="AUTOREF11" />
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In December 2002, O'Keefe started the [[human shield action to Iraq]] group. Intended to "make it politically impossible for them to bomb" Iraq by placing western civilians as "shields" at non-military locations, about 75 activists traveled over land from London to Bahgdad in two [[double-decker bus]]es.<ref name="www.theage.com.au">{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/07/1046826530928.html?oneclick=true |title=Body blow as human shields ordered out - theage.com.au |publisher=www.theage.com.au |accessdate=2010-12-29 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2771529.stm |title=BBC NEWS | Middle East | Volunteer 'human shields' flock to Iraq |publisher=news.bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2010-12-29 }}</ref> Critics of the human shields argued that their mission would only protect [[Saddam Hussein]]. O'Keefe  argued that the "people of Iraq" would suffer the most from a war and publicly acknowledged Hussein as a "violent dictator".<ref name="back2iraq"/> At its height about 300 human shields were in [[Baghdad]], but due to challenges internally, with the Iraqi dictatorship and O'Keefe's [[deportation]] from Iraq, the numbers dwindled.<ref name="www.theage.com.au"/><ref name="AUTOREF37" /> Failing to achieve the primary objective of preventing the invasion, volunteers attempted to protect seven sites (Al Daura Electrical Plant, Baghdad South Electrical Plant, 7 April Water Treatment Plant, Al Daura Water Treatment Plant, Tejio Food Silo, Al Daura Oil Refinery and Al Mamun Telecommunications Facility).  The communications site was destroyed the day after the volunteers pulled out.{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}
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==Gaza Flotilla involvement==
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==Marine conservation in Hawaii==
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In June 2010, O'Keefe was on board the ''[[MV Mavi Marmara]]''. During the [[Gaza flotilla raid]], O'Keefe was among the passengers who clashed with the Israeli military. In the course of the clash, O'Keefe claims to have been involved in providing initial [[first aid]] to a seriously [[wounded]] passenger and disarming two Israeli [[Commandos]]. He says he helped to disarm one commando of his assault rifle gun and aided in subduing another, personally taking possession of a 9mm [[pistol]] from the second commando, removing the "real bullets" or live ammunition from the pistol and giving the bullets to others while hiding the weapon. He explained that it was his hope that the weapon could be used as evidence in any subsequent trial. O'Keefe said of the experience that it was like "combat but without combat weapons" and that "We had in our full possession, three completely disarmed and helpless commandos" who were "surrounded by at least 100 men"; "we could have done anything with them." He said that "woman provided basic first aid, and ultimately they were released, battered and bruised for sure, but alive.  Able to live another day."<ref name="Al-Jazeera_Youtube" /><ref name="AUTOREF51" /> O'Keefe was among those arrested and detained in Israel.
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In 1995 O'Keefe earned a [[scuba diving]] instructor certification and in 1996 he created a [[social enterprise]] 'to protect and defend the marine environment we operate within". To date his scuba diving operation has conducted 13 [[ghost net]] recoveries and over 55 rescues of endangered [[Green Sea Turtle]] wrapped in [[monofilament]] fishing line. O'Keefe pioneered these rescues with over 40 such rescues personally, he also taught others his methods and led a campaign to create a marine sanctuary (Pupukea MLCD) on the [[North Shore (Oahu)|North Shore]] of [[Oahu]].<ref name="AUTOREF12" /><ref name="AUTOREF13" /><ref name="AUTOREF14" /><ref name="AUTOREF15" /> In 1998 and 2000 he crewed with the [[Sea Shepherd Conservation Society]] (SSCS) in [[anti-whaling]] and sealing campaigns in which he was mentored by [[Captain Paul Watson]]. In 2000 he became the regional director for SSCS in [[Hawaii]], earned a [[US Coast Guard]] captain's license and was branded the 'ecopreneur' by Skin Diver Magazine, the worlds largest selling scuba diving magazine.<ref name="AUTOREF16" />
  
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O'Keefe and another activist say he was beaten at the Tel Aviv airport when he resisted deportation, while still in Israeli custody. He claims that a policeman hit him on the head with a truncheon and that he was choked until he almost blacked out. He said he spent two more days in a detention facility in the airport after the incident. O'Keefe said the Irish consul general tried to convince him to agree to leave and asked him to wash the blood off his face but he refused.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/magazine/rough-passage-1.315481 Rough Passage, ''[[Haaretz]]]''</ref><ref name="AUTOREF53"/> A video showing his bloodied face was released upon his arrival in Istanbul.
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==Involvement in Hawaiian independence==
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In 1999 O'Keefe became an active supporter of the [[Hawaiian sovereignty movement|Hawaiian Independence Movement]] and began the process of formally renouncing his [[US citizenship]].<ref name="AUTOREF17" /> In November 2000 he naturalized as a Hawaiian citizen, served as the election commissioner for the Hawaiian Kingdom elections and professed his allegiance to the [[Kingdom of Hawaii]] and a "reinstated Hawaiian government". On November 30, 2000 O'Keefe (at the time known as Kenneth Nichols) was issued with a bench warrant for his arrest in the amount of $11,000. O'Keefe claims that this warrant was unlawfully issued and that this was proof of US government persecution. He officially entered this claim into his asylum request in The Netherlands.<ref name="AUTOREF18" /><ref name="AUTOREF19" /><ref name="AUTOREF20" /><ref name="AUTOREF31"/><ref name="AUTOREF22" /> In January 2001 he produced 'The United States of Hypocrisy',<ref name="AUTOREF23" /> an attack on [[American imperialism]] that charges current administrations of the United States with continuing fraud by ongoing theft of Hawaiian national lands. He also charged the US Government with carrying out an unstated policy of [[genocide]] in Hawaii by the measuring of "[[blood quantum]]."  In his film former president of the [[American Indian Movement]], [[Russell Means]], claims that only two other nations have used blood quantum, "[[Nazi Germany]] to measure [[Jews]] and [[Romani people|Gypsies]]" and the "[[Apartheid]] regime to identify blacks in South Africa." O'Keefe's charge in the film is that the US measuring of blood is intended to eliminate [[Hawaii]]an nationals by making citizenship status contingent upon a 50% [[blood quantum]]. He says that, over time, the Hawaiian people ([[kanaka maoli]]) will have diminished [[blood quantum]] below 50% and the policy of genocide will be complete, allowing the US to take [[adverse possession]] of Hawaiian national lands.<ref name="AUTOREF24" />
  
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On 6 June, the [[Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF) charged that O'Keefe is an "anti-Israel extremist" and "operative of the Hamas Terror organization".  According to the IDF he was entering the Gaza Strip in order to "form and train a commando unit for the Palestinian terror organization."<ref name="AUTOREF56" />
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In 2006 he returned to Hawaii and was elected  as a representative of District 6 in Oahu, serving one year in the [[Hawaiian_sovereignty_movement#Kingdom_of_Hawai.60i|Hawaiian Legislature]]. During that time he wrote resolutions calling for the ratification of international [[human rights]] treaties in Hawaii, including the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]].  He also wrote and lobbied for a resolution that would outlaw [[weapons of mass destruction]] in Hawaii; that resolution was subsequently approved in June 2007.<ref name="AUTOREF25" /><ref name="AUTOREF26" /><ref name="AUTOREF27" /><ref name="Al-Jazeera_Youtube" />
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O'Keefe said "If they had a supposed terrorist in their possession, why the hell did they let me go?" He confirmed that he had held meetings with Prime Minister [[Ismail Haniyeh]] and other senior [[Hamas]] officials.<ref name="Al-Jazeera_Youtube" />
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==Road to Hope==
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==Seeking political asylum in The Netherlands==
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In October 2010 O'Keefe joined the [[Road to Hope]] [[humanitarian aid]] [[convoy#Humanitarian aid convoys|convoy]] to Gaza. Organizers were attempting to transport the convoy from the port of [[Darnah, Libya]] to [[el-Arish]], Egypt on board the Strofades IV. The ship left port unexpectedly without any of the aid and only a fraction of the activists after the ship's captain and activists got into an argument over payment.<ref name="cnn-limbo">{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/11/13/gaza.aid.ship/?hpt=T2 |title=Gaza-bound ship in limbo in Greece - CNN.com |publisher=cnn.com |accessdate=2010-12-29 }}</ref>
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In the aftermath of [[9-11]], in November 2001, O'Keefe left his family and business in Hawaii to seek [[political asylum]] in the Netherlands, claiming increasing [[persecution]] from US agents over his political activities.<ref name="AUTOREF32" />  O'Keefe's claim was determined to require a long procedure that typically takes several years for a final decision. While in the asylum procedure he lived in a [[refugee]] camp in the north of The Netherlands, in [[Stadskanaal]]. Initially he represented himself, but later he secured [[pro bono]] services of Dutch asylum attorney, Pieter Bogaers. Understanding that the process would take years and seeing the upcoming invasion of [[Iraq]] he removed himself from the asylum process and initiated the [[human shield action to Iraq]] in December 2002.<ref name="AUTOREF31" /><ref name="AUTOREF32"/><ref name="AUTOREF29" /><ref name="AUTOREF30" /><ref name="AUTOREF33" />
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Organizers of the convoy claim that despite paying for the ship, O'Keefe, nine fellow convoy members and seven [[Libya]]n police officials were "kidnapped" from the port of Dernah, by the captain of the ship who "went nuts".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/12/gaza-convoy-britons-held-greek-ship |title=Gaza aid convoy Britons held on Greek captain's ship | World news | guardian.co.uk |publisher=guardian.co.uk |accessdate=2010-12-29 }}</ref> The ship owners claim that the activists had boarded the ship without any contract or charter. Due to a "tense atmosphere" aboard the ship, and receiving no response from the Libyan authorities, the captain feared for the safety of the ship and decided to sail for international waters.<ref name="cnn-limbo" />
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The ship eventually docked at [[Piraeus, Greece]] after being boarded by Greek commandos. All the activists were allowed to disembark after they were found to have committed no crime.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/greece-allows-gaza-activists-to-disembark-from-ship-1.324652 |title=Greece allows Gaza activists to disembark from ship - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News |publisher=www.haaretz.com |accessdate=2010-12-29 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2010-11-12/world/gaza.aid.ship_1_gaza-bound-ship-convoy?_s=PM:WORLD |title=Greek commandos board Gaza-bound ship - CNN |publisher=cnn.com |accessdate=2010-12-29 }}</ref>
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==Human Shield Action to Iraq==
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The [[human shield action to Iraq]] intended to exploit the greater value put on western life{{Clarify|date=July 2010}} and render the 2003 invasion of Iraq politically untenable by placing the western civilians as "shields" at locations that are legally protected by the [[Fourth Geneva Convention]].<ref name="back2iraq"/><ref name="AUTOREF36"/><ref name="AUTOREF35" /> Critics of the human shields argued that their mission would only protect [[Saddam Hussein]]; O'Keefe  argued that the "people of Iraq" would suffer the most and publicly acknowledged Hussein as a "violent dictator" and "mass-murderer"; he was not greeted positively by the dictator when he later arrived in Iraq. At its height about 500 human shields were in [[Baghdad]], but due to challenges internally, with the Iraqi dictatorship and O'Keefe's [[deportation]] by order of Saddam, the numbers dwindled to approximately 100 at the beginning of '[[Shock and awe|Operation Shock and Awe]]'.<ref name="AUTOREF36" /><ref name="AUTOREF37" />  Failing to achieve the primary objective of preventing the invasion, volunteers attempted to protect seven sites (Al Daura Electrical Plant, Baghdad South Electrical Plant, 7 April Water Treatment Plant, Al Daura Water Treatment Plant, Tejio Food Silo, Al Daura Oil Refinery and Al Mamun Telecommunications Facility). The communications site was destroyed the day after the volunteers pulled out.<ref name="hs_sites" /><ref name="AUTOREF38" />
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<!-- note: humanshields.org does not claim "success", saying "It is difficult to know to what extent this action had an effect" - we should not claim it for them. -->
  
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==P10K and international observers in Palestine==
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In 2004 O'Keefe founded P10K and attempted to organize a group known as the "P10K Force", a group of 10,000 Westerners intended to act as [[Election monitoring|international observers]] in the occupied [[Palestinian territories]] and help bring peace with [[Israel]].<ref name="AUTOREF39" /> P10K secured endorsements from [[Noam Chomsky]], former Palestinian President [[Yasser Arafat]], Dr. [[Hanan Ashrawi]], [[Tanya Reinhart]] along with [[Refusal to serve in the Israeli military|Israelis who refuse to serve in the IDF]]{{Specify|date=July 2010}}.<ref name="AUTOREF40" /> O’Keefe sought meetings with leaders within the main resisting factions of [[Hamas]], [[Islamic Jihad]] and [[Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]] in order to obtain an ‘[[Agreement in principle|Agreement in Principle]]’ that would effect a [[ceasefire]] in return for the arrival of the 10,000 international observers within the ‘P10K Force.’ He was arrested for attempting to enter Gaza.<ref name="AUTOREF41" /><ref name="AUTOREF42" /><ref name="AUTOREF43" /> The [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] offered to release him if he signed an agreement stating that he would not attempt to re-enter Gaza; O'Keefe refused and spent twenty days in jail before being [[deported]] as a security threat. While in Israeli custody he initiated a [[hunger strike]], alleging he was being beaten and denied access to an [[lawyer|attorney]] and use of a phone to call his family.<ref name="AUTOREF44" />
  
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<ref name="back2iraq">{{cite news|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/dec/29/iraq1|title=Back to Iraq as a human shield|publisher=The Guardian UK|date=2002-11-29|accessdate=2010-06-14 | location=London}}</ref>
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==Free Gaza Movement==
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In 2007 O'Keefe joined the [[Free Gaza Movement]] and in July 2008 he arrived in Greece to serve as a captain and first mate in the transport of two boats to [[Gaza]] via [[Cyprus]]. The Free Gaza mission was an open challenge to the Israeli [[blockade of Gaza]].  Ultimately he was one of 46 <ref name="UN" /> who succeeded in reaching Gaza by sea despite Israeli threats all the way up to departure from Cyprus. The boats arrived in Gaza on August 23, 2008, the first boats to sail into Gaza for 41 years, tens of thousands of [[Palestinians]] greeted them as they arrived. {{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} O'Keefe piloted one of the two boats, the 'Free Gaza,' into the [[Port of Gaza]]. <ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.freegaza.org/sv/boat-trips/passenger-lists/57-first-trip-to-gaza/179-ken-okeefe-irelandusa|publisher=FreeGaza.org|accessdate=date=2010-06-14}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url= http://kenokeefe.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/free-gaza-arrives-august-23-2008/|publisher=Ken O'Keefe's Blog|accessdate=date=2010-06-14}}</ref>
  
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<ref name="AUTOREF9">{{Cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/gaza+activist+aposbeaten+in+israeli+jailapos/3669527|title=Gaza activist 'beaten in Israeli jail'|publisher=Channel 4 News UK|date=2003-11|accessdate=2010-06-20}}</ref>
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==Aloha Palestine==
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O'Keefe and [[Lauren Booth]] co-founded [[Aloha Palestine]], a [[social enterprise]] to conduct '[[safe trade]]' with Palestinians in [[Gaza]]. Aloha Palestine is supported by [[Noam Chomsky]], [[Tony Benn]], UK MP [[Jeremy Corbyn]], the [[14th Dalai Lama]] of Tibet and [[John Pilger]].
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;Safe trade
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{{Blockquote|'The commercial exchange of non-hazardous items that pose no danger to [[society]]. [[Trade]] conducted transparently and fairly that develops [[prosperity]] while fostering [[stability]] and building security in the region where it is conducted.'<ref name="AUTOREF45" /><ref name="AUTOREF46" /><ref name="AUTOREF47" />}}
  
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<ref name="AUTOREF10">{{Cite web|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00sz5sj/HARDtalk_Kenneth_OKeefe_Gaza_flotilla_activist/|title=HARDtalk - Kenneth O'Keefe - Gaza flotilla activist|publisher=BBC HARDtalk|accessdate=2010-07-03}}</ref>
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==Gaza Flotilla involvement==
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In June 2010, O'Keefe was on board the ''[[MV Mavi Marmara]]'' as the [[Managing Director]] of Aloha Palestine CIC, a [[social enterprise]] intending to conduct [[Safe trade|SafeTrade]] with [[Palestinians]] in [[Gaza]]. In the ensuing [[Gaza flotilla raid]], O'Keefe was among the defenders of the ship and the mission to deliver aid to Gaza. In the course of defending the ship O'Keefe was involved in providing initial [[first aid]] to a seriously [[wounded]] passenger and disarming two Israeli [[Commandos]]. He helped to disarm one commando of his assault rifle gun and aided in subduing another, O'Keefe personally taking possession of a 9mm [[pistol]] from the second commando. He removed the "real bullets" or live ammunition from the pistol, giving the bullets to others while hiding the weapon. It was his hope that the weapon could be used as evidence in any subsequent trial. O'Keefe said of the experience that it was like "combat but without combat weapons" and that "We had in our full possession, three completely disarmed and helpless commandos" who were "surrounded by at least 100 men"; "we could have done anything with them." He said that "woman provided basic first aid, and ultimately they were released, battered and bruised for sure, but alive.  Able to live another day."<ref name="Al-Jazeera_Youtube" /><ref name="AUTOREF48" /><ref name="AUTOREF50"/><ref name="AUTOREF50" /><ref name="AUTOREF51" /><ref name="AUTOREF52" /> O'Keefe was among those arrested and detained in Israel.
  
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<ref name="Al-Jazeera_Youtube">{{Cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx03ZTt7Zuk|title=Al Jazeera talks to US activist named by Israel as a 'terrorist' |publisher=Al Jazeera|accessdate=2010-07-01}}</ref>
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According to fellow [[activist]] Fintan Lane, O'Keefe was severely beaten by Israeli security officials in [[Tel Aviv]], and  had to be hospitalized before his deportation on 3 June.<ref name="AUTOREF53" /> A video showing his bloodied face was released upon his arrival in Istanbul.<ref name="AUTOREF54" /> O'Keefe's own testimony is that "One policeman hit me on the head with a truncheon and blood started to run down my face" and "one of them started to choke me and the others kicked me in the ribs. There were four or five of them on me. I couldn't breathe. Just as I started to black out, they got off." He said he spent two more days in a "detention facility in the airport" after resisting deportation. The Irish consul general tried to convince him to agree to leave and asked him to wash his face but he refused saying that "This is the way I was treated and I will keep the blood on my face. That's how I will stay, or that's how I will leave.'" <ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/magazine/rough-passage-1.315481 Rough Passage, ''[[Haaretz]]]''</ref> Ultimately he was released, battered and bruised for sure, but alive.
  
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<ref name="AUTOREF37">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,80955,00.html|title='Human Shields' Booted After Criticizing Iraq's Instructions|publisher=Fox News|date=2003-03-13|accessdate=2010-06-20}}</ref>
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On 6 June, the [[Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF) charged that O'Keefe is an "anti-Israel extremist" and "operative of the Hamas Terror organization".  According to the IDF he was entering the Gaza Strip in order to "form and train a commando unit for the Palestinian terror organization."<ref name="AUTOREF56" />
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O'Keefe said "If they had a supposed terrorist in their possession, why the hell did they let me go?" He confirmed that he had held meetings with Prime Minister [[Ismail Haniyeh]] and other senior [[Hamas]] officials, <!-- the last democratically elected representatives of Palestine, [who are? makes no sense] --> to "broker a relationship between the Palestinian government and the Hawaiian Government".<ref name="Al-Jazeera_Youtube" /> O'Keefe says the designation of [[Hamas]] as a terrorist organization by Israel is like the designation of the [[African National Congress]] and [[Nelson Mandela]] by the South African [[apartheid]] regime as terrorist. He compares his situation with that of [[Nelson Mandela]], who [[Margaret Thatcher]] and [[Ronald Reagan]], likewise considered a terrorist.<ref name="AUTOREF57" />
  
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<ref name="AUTOREF51">{{Cite web|url= http://vodpod.com/watch/3777381-dual-irish-palestinian-citizen-ken-okeefe-was-on-board-flotilla|title=Ken O'Keefe|publisher=Press TV|date=2010-06-07|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref>
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==Road to Hope==
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In October 2010 O'Keefe joined the [[Road to Hope]] [[humanitarian aid]] [[convoy#Humanitarian aid convoys|convoy]] to Gaza. Along with nine fellow convoy members and seven [[Libya]]n police officials, he was kidnapped from the port of [[Darnah, Libya|Derna]], Libya, by the captain of the ship which had been supposed to transport the convoy to Egypt. The kidnap victims were eventually deposited in Greece.<ref name="AUTOREF58" /><ref name="AUTOREF59" />
  
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<ref name="AUTOREF53">{{Cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0603/breaking16.html|title=Activists claim Israeli officials beat them|work=[[Irish Times]]|date=2010-06-03|accessdate=2010-06-07}}</ref>
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==References==
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<ref name="AUTOREF">{{Cite web|url=http://worldcitizen.uk.net/biography.htm|title=Biography|publisher=Ken O'Keefe's official website|accessdate=2010-07-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.socialenterpriselive.com/section/news/people/20100603/social-entrepreneur-among-captured-gaza-aid-convoy|title=Social entrepreneur among captured on [[Gaza]] aid convoy |publisher=Social Enterprise|date=2010-06-06|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="back2iraq">{{cite web|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/dec/29/iraq1|title=Back to Iraq as a human shield|publisher=The Guardian UK|date=2002-11-29|accessdate=2010-06-14 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF2">{{Cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsbkovJ1iVU|title=Ken O'Keefe Press TV - January 4, 2009 (Part 1) |publisher=Press TV|date=2009-01-04|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF3">{{Cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbGODNIJaQg|title=Sea Turtle Rescues Ken Nichols O’Keefe Hawaii|publisher=Animal Planet|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.socialenterpriselive.com/section/news/people/20100603/social-entrepreneur-among-captured-gaza-aid-convoy|title=Social entrepreneur among captured on [[Gaza]] aid convoy |publisher=Social Enterprise|date=2010-06-06|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF5">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2010/may/31/israel-troops-gaza-ships|title=Israeli attack on Gaza flotilla sparks international outrage|publisher=The Guardian UK|date=2010-05-31|accessdate=2010-07-04 | location=London | first=Adam | last=Gabbatt}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF6">{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/world/middleeast/01flotilla.html|title=Deadly Israeli Raid Draws Condemnation|publisher=New York Times|date=2010-05-31|accessdate=2010-07-04 | first=Isabel | last=Kershner}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF7">{{Cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/7798765/Gaza-flotilla-attack-William-Hague-attacks-Israel-over-arrests.html|title=Gaza flotilla attack: William Hague attacks Israel over arrests|publisher=Telegraph.co.uk|date=2010-06-02|accessdate=2010-07-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF8">{{Cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053133047995359.html|title=Israel attacks Gaza aid fleet |publisher=Al Jazeeera English|date=2010-05-31|accessdate=2010-07-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF9">{{Cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/gaza+activist+aposbeaten+in+israeli+jailapos/3669527|title=Gaza activist 'beaten in Israeli jail'|publisher=Channel 4 News UK|date=2003-11|accessdate=2010-06-20}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF10">{{Cite web|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00sz5sj/HARDtalk_Kenneth_OKeefe_Gaza_flotilla_activist/|title=HARDtalk - Kenneth O'Keefe - Gaza flotilla activist|publisher=BBC HARDtalk|accessdate=2010-07-03}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF11">{{Cite web|url= http://www.rense.com/general47/formermarineburns.htm|date=2004-02-07|title=Former Marine Burns His US Passport In Baghdad|publisher=Rense.com|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF12">{{Cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLz9VzS1V-Y|title=Deep Ecology Hawaii - Green Sea Turtles |publisher=YouTube|date=2010-06-14|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF13">{{Cite web|url= http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100604/NEWS01/6040345/Israel-detains-activist-O-Keefe|title=Israel detains activist O'Keefe - Son of Hawaii resident involved in airport scuffle while being deported|publisher=Honolulu Advertiser|date=2010-06-14|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF14">{{Cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XZIOo-P1b4|year=2000|title=Ken Nichols O'Keefe BBC's 'Tiger Tiger' - Turtle Rescues |publisher=BBC|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF15">{{Cite web|url= http://www.oahuscubadive.com|title=Deep Ecology Hawaii|publisher=Official website of Deep Ecology|date=2010-06-14|accessdate=2010-07-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF16">{{Cite web|url= http://www.oahuscubadive.com/endorsements.html|title=Deep Ecology Hawaii Endorsements|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF17">{{Cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVTmX1BPdpw|title=Ken Nichols O'Keefe - Dec. 1999 - Hawaiian National|publisher=YouTube|year=1999|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF18">{{Cite web|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20060823062701/www.uksociety.org/Ken%27s+Pics/CT+11-30-02/pages/a-CT-11-30-00_jpg.htm|title=Unlawful Bench Warrants for Ken O'Keefe Page 1|publisher=uksociety.org|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF19">{{Cite web|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20060823062718/www.uksociety.org/Ken%27s+Pics/CT+11-30-02/pages/b-CT-11-30-02_jpg.htm|title=Unlawful Bench Warrants for Ken O'Keefe Page 2|publisher=uksociety.org|accessdate=2010-07-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF20">{{Cite web|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20060823062636/www.uksociety.org/Ken%27s+Pics/CT+11-30-02/pages/c-CT-11-30-00_jpg.htm|title=Unlawful Bench Warrants for Ken O'Keefe Page 3|publisher=uksociety.org|accessdate=2010-07-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF22">{{Cite web|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20060822215931/www.uksociety.org/d_groninger.htm|title=Ken Nichols O'Keefe Speaks Against US Navy LFAS (Low Frequency Active Sonar) July 2001 |publisher=Groninger Dagblad|date=2002-01-07|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref>
  
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<ref name="AUTOREF23">{{Cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbRXF64YotE|publisher=Universal Kinship Society|title=The United States of Hypocrisy|date=2001-01|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF24">{{Cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbRXF64YotE |title=The United States of Hypocrisy|publisher=Ken O'Keefe|date=2001-01|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF25">{{Cite web|url= http://kenokeefe.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/hawaiian-independence-equals-american-imperial-withdrawal/|title=Hawaiian Independence Equals American Imperial Withdrawal|publisher=Ken O'Keefe's Blog|date=2008-06-18|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF26">{{Cite web|url= http://hawaii-gov.net/contact/|title=Hawaiian Independence Equals American Imperial Withdrawal|publisher=http://hawaii-gov.net|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF27">{{Cite web|url= http://hawaii-gov.net/information/media-kit/manifestation-of-authority/|title=Manifestations of Authority|publisher=http://hawaii-gov.net|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="Al-Jazeera_Youtube">{{Cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx03ZTt7Zuk|title=Al Jazeera talks to US activist named by Israel as a 'terrorist' |publisher=Al Jazeera|accessdate=2010-07-01}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF29">{{Cite web|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20060822220312/www.uksociety.org/d_nieuwsblad.htm|title=Vluchteling Kenneth Nichols uit de VS: 'Amerikanen verkrachten de planeet|publisher=Niewwsblad van het Noorden|date=2002-01-10|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF30">{{Cite web|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20060822220055/www.uksociety.org/d_de_volks_1.htm|title='In Irak zag ik hoe Amerika de wereld onderdrukt'|publisher=de Volkskrant|date=2002-11-27|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF31">{{Cite web|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20060822220344/www.uksociety.org/d_de_gelderlander.htm|title=Politieke strijd van Amerikaan gaat door|publisher=de Gelderlander|date=2002-11-27|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF32">{{Cite web|url=
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http://web.archive.org/web/20060822215931/www.uksociety.org/d_groninger.htm|title=Ken Nichols O'Keefe Speaks Against US Navy LFAS (Low Frequency Active Sonar) July 2001 |publisher=Groninger Dagblad|date=2002-01-07|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF33">{{Cite web|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20060822220208/www.uksociety.org/d_vrij_2001.htm|title=Asiel voor een Amerikaanse activist|publisher=Vrij Nedeland|date=2001-11|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF35">{{Cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ac3hhxEql4|title=Ken O’Keefe HardTALK |publisher=BBC|date=2003-02|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF36">{{Cite web|url= http://www.zcommunications.org/the-human-shield-movement-by-stefan-simanowitz |title=The Human Shield Movement|publisher=Z Magazine|date=2003-11|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF37">{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,80955,00.html|title='Human Shields' Booted After Criticizing Iraq's Instructions|publisher=Fox News|date=2003-03-13|accessdate=2010-06-20}}</ref><ref name="hs_sites">{{Cite web|title=Human Shields Put Bush on Notice|work=Human Shield Action to Iraq official website|url=http://www.humanshields.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=16|accessdate=30 January 2005 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20031223121428/http://www.humanshields.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=16 |archivedate = December 23, 2003}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF38">{{Cite web|url= http://www.humanshields.org/|title=HumanShields.org|publisher=HumanShields.org|accessdate=2010-06-21}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF39">{{Cite web|url=http://www.p10k.net/ |title=P10K website|accessdate=2010-06-14 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070826150045/http://www.p10k.net/ |archivedate = 2007-08-26}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF40">{{Cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070626172859/www.p10k.net/endorsements.htm|title=P10K website|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF41">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmaq.net/en/node/17199|title=Activist on Hunger Strike in Israeli Jail|publisher=Centre for media alternatives|date=2004-06-14|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF42">{{Cite web|url=http://ramallahonline.com/?p=1973|title=P10K Founder Beaten in Israeli Jail|publisher=Ramallah Online|date=2004-06-16|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF43">{{Cite web|url=http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/293410.html|publisher=IndyMedia UK|date=2004-06-14|title=Activist on Hunger Strike in Israeli Jail for attempting peace talks with Hamas|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF44">{{Cite web|url= http://www.gcnlive.com/wp/2010/06/14/gaza-freedom-flotilla-update-ken-okeefe-humanitarian-or-terrorist-in-his-own-words/|date=2004-02-07|title=Gaza Freedom Flotilla Update – Ken O’Keefe: Humanitarian or Terrorist? In His Own Words|publisher=Genesis Communications Network|date=2010-06-14|accessdate=2010-06-14}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF45">{{Cite web|url= http://pulsemedia.org/2010/06/19/ken-okeefe-interview-and-the-aloha-palestine-initiative/|title=Ken O’Keefe interview and the Aloha Palestine initiative|publisher=Pulsemedia.org|date=2010-06-19|accessdate=2010-06-20}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF46">{{Cite web|url=http://alohapalestine.com/|title=Aloha Palestine CIC website|publisher=AlohaPalestine.com|date=2010-06-19|accessdate=2010-06-20}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF47">{{Cite web|url= http://current.com/news/92482457_aloha-palestine-what-is-it-about-part-two.htm|title=Aloha Palestine; what is it about|publisher=Current TV|date=2010-06-10|accessdate=2010-06-20}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF48">{{Cite web|url=
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http://pulsemedia.org/2010/06/06/ken-okeefe-we-the-defenders-of-the-mavi-marmara/|title=Ken O’Keefe: ‘We, the defenders of the Mavi Marmara, are the modern example of Gandhi's essence’|publisher=KPulse.org|date=2010-06-06|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF50">{{Cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z82VocK-C8c&feature=related|title=Gaza activist denies 'terrorist' tag|producer=Al Jazeera|date=2010-06-07|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF51">{{Cite web|url= http://vodpod.com/watch/3777381-dual-irish-palestinian-citizen-ken-okeefe-was-on-board-flotilla|title=Ken O'Keefe|publisher=Press TV|date=2010-06-07|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF52">{{Cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMBw4xGLem4|title=Flotilla survivors speaks about Israels illegal attack|producer=RT - Russia Today|date=2010-06-11|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF53">{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0603/breaking16.html|title=Activists claim Israeli officials beat them|work=[[Irish Times]]|date=2010-06-03|accessdate=2010-06-07}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF54">{{Cite web|url=http://pulsemedia.org/2010/06/06/ken-okeefe-we-the-defenders-of-the-mavi-marmara/|title=Ken O’Keefe: 'We, the defenders of the Mavi Marmara, are the modern example of Gandhi's essence'|publisher=Pulse Media|date=2010-06-06|accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF55">{{Cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/idf-five-gaza-flotilla-activists-linked-to-hamas-al-qaida-1.294546|title=IDF: Five Gaza flotilla activists linked to Hamas, Al-Qaida|work=[[Haaretz]]|date=2010-06-06|accessdate=date=2010-06-07}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF56">http://idfspokesperson.com/2010/06/06/intel-specific-flotilla-passangers-linked-to-al-qaeda-hamas-and-other-terror-organizations-6-june-2010/</ref><ref name="AUTOREF57">{{Cite web|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00sz5sj/HARDtalk_Kenneth_OKeefe_Gaza_flotilla_activist/|title=
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HARDtalk - Kenneth O'Keefe - Gaza flotilla activist|publisher=BBC HARDtalk|accessdate=2010-07-01}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF58">{{Cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/12/gaza-convoy-britons-held-greek-ship|title=Gaza aid convoy Britons held on Greek captain's ship|publisher=The Guardian newspaper|accessdate=2010-11-20}}</ref><ref name="AUTOREF59">{{Cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/11/13/gaza.aid.ship/?hpt=T2|title=Gaza-bound ship in limbo in Greece|publisher=CNN|accessdate=2010-11-20}}</ref><ref name="UN" >{{Cite web|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27814&Cr=palestin&Cr1|title=Gaza: UN expert welcomes landing of ships carrying human rights activists|publisher=UN News Centre|date=25 August 2008|accessdate=5 July 2010}}</ref>
  
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<ref name="AUTOREF56">http://idfspokesperson.com/2010/06/06/intel-specific-flotilla-passangers-linked-to-al-qaeda-hamas-and-other-terror-organizations-6-june-2010/</ref>
 
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==References==
 
 
{{Reflist|2}}
 
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==External links==
 
==External links==
 
*[http://www.worldcitizen.uk.net World Citizen] Ken O'Keefe's official website
 
*[http://www.worldcitizen.uk.net World Citizen] Ken O'Keefe's official website
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Okeefe, Kenneth}}[[Category:1969 births]][[Category:Living people]][[Category:Activists]][[Category:American anti-war activists]][[Category:Irish anti-war activists]][[Category:Naturalized citizens of Palestine]]
  
 
[[Category:1969 births]][[Category:Living people]][[Category:Activists]][[Category:American anti-war activists]][[Category:Irish anti-war activists]][[Category:Naturalized citizens of Palestine]]
 
[[Category:1969 births]][[Category:Living people]][[Category:Activists]][[Category:American anti-war activists]][[Category:Irish anti-war activists]][[Category:Naturalized citizens of Palestine]]

Latest revision as of 04:31, 10 January 2011

This article contains content from Wikipedia. It was nominated for deletion on Wikipedia

Ken O'Keefe

Kenneth Nichols O'Keefe (born Kenneth Roy Nichols July 21, 1969) is a naturalised Irish, Palestinian and Hawaiian citizen and activist, he is also an ex-U.S. Marine who served in the 1991 Gulf War and subsequently spoke out about the use of depleted uranium as a crime against humanity and the US military using soldiers as "human guinea pigs" with experimental drugs that were directly linked to Gulf War syndrome.[1][2][3][4] He is an American born citizen who renounced his US citizenship on March 1, 2001. He is also a social entrepreneur utilizing direct action marine conservation,[4][5] but he is more widely known for leading the human shield action to Iraq and as a passenger of the MV Mavi Marmara in which he participated in defending the ship and disarming two Israeli Commandos during the Gaza flotilla raid.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

On January 7, 2004, O'Keefe burned his US passport in protest of American Imperialism and called for US troops to immediately withdrawal from Iraq. He replaced his US passport with a World Passport, subsequently proclaiming himself a "Citizen of the World" with "ultimate allegiance to my entire human family and to planet Earth." [12]

Marine conservation in Hawaii[edit]

In 1995 O'Keefe earned a scuba diving instructor certification and in 1996 he created a social enterprise 'to protect and defend the marine environment we operate within". To date his scuba diving operation has conducted 13 ghost net recoveries and over 55 rescues of endangered Green Sea Turtle wrapped in monofilament fishing line. O'Keefe pioneered these rescues with over 40 such rescues personally, he also taught others his methods and led a campaign to create a marine sanctuary (Pupukea MLCD) on the North Shore of Oahu.[13][14][15][16] In 1998 and 2000 he crewed with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) in anti-whaling and sealing campaigns in which he was mentored by Captain Paul Watson. In 2000 he became the regional director for SSCS in Hawaii, earned a US Coast Guard captain's license and was branded the 'ecopreneur' by Skin Diver Magazine, the worlds largest selling scuba diving magazine.[17]

Involvement in Hawaiian independence[edit]

In 1999 O'Keefe became an active supporter of the Hawaiian Independence Movement and began the process of formally renouncing his US citizenship.[18] In November 2000 he naturalized as a Hawaiian citizen, served as the election commissioner for the Hawaiian Kingdom elections and professed his allegiance to the Kingdom of Hawaii and a "reinstated Hawaiian government". On November 30, 2000 O'Keefe (at the time known as Kenneth Nichols) was issued with a bench warrant for his arrest in the amount of $11,000. O'Keefe claims that this warrant was unlawfully issued and that this was proof of US government persecution. He officially entered this claim into his asylum request in The Netherlands.[19][20][21][22][23] In January 2001 he produced 'The United States of Hypocrisy',[24] an attack on American imperialism that charges current administrations of the United States with continuing fraud by ongoing theft of Hawaiian national lands. He also charged the US Government with carrying out an unstated policy of genocide in Hawaii by the measuring of "blood quantum." In his film former president of the American Indian Movement, Russell Means, claims that only two other nations have used blood quantum, "Nazi Germany to measure Jews and Gypsies" and the "Apartheid regime to identify blacks in South Africa." O'Keefe's charge in the film is that the US measuring of blood is intended to eliminate Hawaiian nationals by making citizenship status contingent upon a 50% blood quantum. He says that, over time, the Hawaiian people (kanaka maoli) will have diminished blood quantum below 50% and the policy of genocide will be complete, allowing the US to take adverse possession of Hawaiian national lands.[25]

In 2006 he returned to Hawaii and was elected as a representative of District 6 in Oahu, serving one year in the Hawaiian Legislature. During that time he wrote resolutions calling for the ratification of international human rights treaties in Hawaii, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He also wrote and lobbied for a resolution that would outlaw weapons of mass destruction in Hawaii; that resolution was subsequently approved in June 2007.[26][27][28][29]

Seeking political asylum in The Netherlands[edit]

In the aftermath of 9-11, in November 2001, O'Keefe left his family and business in Hawaii to seek political asylum in the Netherlands, claiming increasing persecution from US agents over his political activities.[30] O'Keefe's claim was determined to require a long procedure that typically takes several years for a final decision. While in the asylum procedure he lived in a refugee camp in the north of The Netherlands, in Stadskanaal. Initially he represented himself, but later he secured pro bono services of Dutch asylum attorney, Pieter Bogaers. Understanding that the process would take years and seeing the upcoming invasion of Iraq he removed himself from the asylum process and initiated the human shield action to Iraq in December 2002.[22][30][31][32][33]

Human Shield Action to Iraq[edit]

The human shield action to Iraq intended to exploit the greater value put on western lifeTemplate:Clarify and render the 2003 invasion of Iraq politically untenable by placing the western civilians as "shields" at locations that are legally protected by the Fourth Geneva Convention.[1][34][35] Critics of the human shields argued that their mission would only protect Saddam Hussein; O'Keefe argued that the "people of Iraq" would suffer the most and publicly acknowledged Hussein as a "violent dictator" and "mass-murderer"; he was not greeted positively by the dictator when he later arrived in Iraq. At its height about 500 human shields were in Baghdad, but due to challenges internally, with the Iraqi dictatorship and O'Keefe's deportation by order of Saddam, the numbers dwindled to approximately 100 at the beginning of 'Operation Shock and Awe'.[34][36] Failing to achieve the primary objective of preventing the invasion, volunteers attempted to protect seven sites (Al Daura Electrical Plant, Baghdad South Electrical Plant, 7 April Water Treatment Plant, Al Daura Water Treatment Plant, Tejio Food Silo, Al Daura Oil Refinery and Al Mamun Telecommunications Facility). The communications site was destroyed the day after the volunteers pulled out.[37][38]

P10K and international observers in Palestine[edit]

In 2004 O'Keefe founded P10K and attempted to organize a group known as the "P10K Force", a group of 10,000 Westerners intended to act as international observers in the occupied Palestinian territories and help bring peace with Israel.[39] P10K secured endorsements from Noam Chomsky, former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, Tanya Reinhart along with Israelis who refuse to serve in the IDFTemplate:Specify.[40] O’Keefe sought meetings with leaders within the main resisting factions of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in order to obtain an ‘Agreement in Principle’ that would effect a ceasefire in return for the arrival of the 10,000 international observers within the ‘P10K Force.’ He was arrested for attempting to enter Gaza.[41][42][43] The IDF offered to release him if he signed an agreement stating that he would not attempt to re-enter Gaza; O'Keefe refused and spent twenty days in jail before being deported as a security threat. While in Israeli custody he initiated a hunger strike, alleging he was being beaten and denied access to an attorney and use of a phone to call his family.[44]

Free Gaza Movement[edit]

In 2007 O'Keefe joined the Free Gaza Movement and in July 2008 he arrived in Greece to serve as a captain and first mate in the transport of two boats to Gaza via Cyprus. The Free Gaza mission was an open challenge to the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Ultimately he was one of 46 [45] who succeeded in reaching Gaza by sea despite Israeli threats all the way up to departure from Cyprus. The boats arrived in Gaza on August 23, 2008, the first boats to sail into Gaza for 41 years, tens of thousands of Palestinians greeted them as they arrived. Template:Citation needed O'Keefe piloted one of the two boats, the 'Free Gaza,' into the Port of Gaza. [46] [47]

Aloha Palestine[edit]

O'Keefe and Lauren Booth co-founded Aloha Palestine, a social enterprise to conduct 'safe trade' with Palestinians in Gaza. Aloha Palestine is supported by Noam Chomsky, Tony Benn, UK MP Jeremy Corbyn, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and John Pilger.

Safe trade

Template:Blockquote

Gaza Flotilla involvement[edit]

In June 2010, O'Keefe was on board the MV Mavi Marmara as the Managing Director of Aloha Palestine CIC, a social enterprise intending to conduct SafeTrade with Palestinians in Gaza. In the ensuing Gaza flotilla raid, O'Keefe was among the defenders of the ship and the mission to deliver aid to Gaza. In the course of defending the ship O'Keefe was involved in providing initial first aid to a seriously wounded passenger and disarming two Israeli Commandos. He helped to disarm one commando of his assault rifle gun and aided in subduing another, O'Keefe personally taking possession of a 9mm pistol from the second commando. He removed the "real bullets" or live ammunition from the pistol, giving the bullets to others while hiding the weapon. It was his hope that the weapon could be used as evidence in any subsequent trial. O'Keefe said of the experience that it was like "combat but without combat weapons" and that "We had in our full possession, three completely disarmed and helpless commandos" who were "surrounded by at least 100 men"; "we could have done anything with them." He said that "woman provided basic first aid, and ultimately they were released, battered and bruised for sure, but alive. Able to live another day."[29][48][49][49][50][51] O'Keefe was among those arrested and detained in Israel.

According to fellow activist Fintan Lane, O'Keefe was severely beaten by Israeli security officials in Tel Aviv, and had to be hospitalized before his deportation on 3 June.[52] A video showing his bloodied face was released upon his arrival in Istanbul.[53] O'Keefe's own testimony is that "One policeman hit me on the head with a truncheon and blood started to run down my face" and "one of them started to choke me and the others kicked me in the ribs. There were four or five of them on me. I couldn't breathe. Just as I started to black out, they got off." He said he spent two more days in a "detention facility in the airport" after resisting deportation. The Irish consul general tried to convince him to agree to leave and asked him to wash his face but he refused saying that "This is the way I was treated and I will keep the blood on my face. That's how I will stay, or that's how I will leave.'" [54] Ultimately he was released, battered and bruised for sure, but alive.

On 6 June, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) charged that O'Keefe is an "anti-Israel extremist" and "operative of the Hamas Terror organization". According to the IDF he was entering the Gaza Strip in order to "form and train a commando unit for the Palestinian terror organization."[55] O'Keefe said "If they had a supposed terrorist in their possession, why the hell did they let me go?" He confirmed that he had held meetings with Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and other senior Hamas officials, to "broker a relationship between the Palestinian government and the Hawaiian Government".[29] O'Keefe says the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization by Israel is like the designation of the African National Congress and Nelson Mandela by the South African apartheid regime as terrorist. He compares his situation with that of Nelson Mandela, who Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, likewise considered a terrorist.[56]

Road to Hope[edit]

In October 2010 O'Keefe joined the Road to Hope humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza. Along with nine fellow convoy members and seven Libyan police officials, he was kidnapped from the port of Derna, Libya, by the captain of the ship which had been supposed to transport the convoy to Egypt. The kidnap victims were eventually deposited in Greece.[57][58]

References[edit]

[3][4][1][2][5][4][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][23]

[24][25][26][27][28][29][31][32][22][30][33][35][34][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][59][60][61][48][49][50][51][52][53][62][55][56][57][58][45]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Back to Iraq as a human shield. The Guardian UK. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ken O'Keefe Press TV - January 4, 2009 (Part 1). Press TV. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Biography. Ken O'Keefe's official website. URL accessed on 2010-07-04.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Social entrepreneur among captured on Gaza aid convoy. Social Enterprise. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sea Turtle Rescues Ken Nichols O’Keefe Hawaii. Animal Planet. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Gabbatt, Adam Israeli attack on Gaza flotilla sparks international outrage. The Guardian UK. URL accessed on 2010-07-04.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kershner, Isabel Deadly Israeli Raid Draws Condemnation. New York Times. URL accessed on 2010-07-04.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Gaza flotilla attack: William Hague attacks Israel over arrests. Telegraph.co.uk. URL accessed on 2010-07-04.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Israel attacks Gaza aid fleet. Al Jazeeera English. URL accessed on 2010-07-04.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Gaza activist 'beaten in Israeli jail'. Channel 4 News UK. URL accessed on 2010-06-20.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 HARDtalk - Kenneth O'Keefe - Gaza flotilla activist. BBC HARDtalk. URL accessed on 2010-07-03.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Former Marine Burns His US Passport In Baghdad. Rense.com. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Deep Ecology Hawaii - Green Sea Turtles. YouTube. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Israel detains activist O'Keefe - Son of Hawaii resident involved in airport scuffle while being deported. Honolulu Advertiser. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 (2000). Ken Nichols O'Keefe BBC's 'Tiger Tiger' - Turtle Rescues. BBC. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Deep Ecology Hawaii. Official website of Deep Ecology. URL accessed on 2010-07-04.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Deep Ecology Hawaii Endorsements. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 (1999). Ken Nichols O'Keefe - Dec. 1999 - Hawaiian National. YouTube. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Unlawful Bench Warrants for Ken O'Keefe Page 1. uksociety.org. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Unlawful Bench Warrants for Ken O'Keefe Page 2. uksociety.org. URL accessed on 2010-07-04.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Unlawful Bench Warrants for Ken O'Keefe Page 3. uksociety.org. URL accessed on 2010-07-04.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Politieke strijd van Amerikaan gaat door. de Gelderlander. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Ken Nichols O'Keefe Speaks Against US Navy LFAS (Low Frequency Active Sonar) July 2001. Groninger Dagblad. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 The United States of Hypocrisy. Universal Kinship Society. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 The United States of Hypocrisy. Ken O'Keefe. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Hawaiian Independence Equals American Imperial Withdrawal. Ken O'Keefe's Blog. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Hawaiian Independence Equals American Imperial Withdrawal. http://hawaii-gov.net.+URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Manifestations of Authority. http://hawaii-gov.net.+URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Al Jazeera talks to US activist named by Israel as a 'terrorist'. Al Jazeera. URL accessed on 2010-07-01.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Ken Nichols O'Keefe Speaks Against US Navy LFAS (Low Frequency Active Sonar) July 2001. Groninger Dagblad. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Vluchteling Kenneth Nichols uit de VS: 'Amerikanen verkrachten de planeet. Niewwsblad van het Noorden. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 'In Irak zag ik hoe Amerika de wereld onderdrukt'. de Volkskrant. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Asiel voor een Amerikaanse activist. Vrij Nedeland. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 The Human Shield Movement. Z Magazine. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Ken O’Keefe HardTALK. BBC. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 'Human Shields' Booted After Criticizing Iraq's Instructions. Fox News. URL accessed on 2010-06-20.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Human Shields Put Bush on Notice. Human Shield Action to Iraq official website. Archived from source December 23, 2003. URL accessed on 30 January 2005.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 HumanShields.org. HumanShields.org. URL accessed on 2010-06-21.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 P10K website. Archived from source 2007-08-26. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 P10K website. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Activist on Hunger Strike in Israeli Jail. Centre for media alternatives. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 P10K Founder Beaten in Israeli Jail. Ramallah Online. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Activist on Hunger Strike in Israeli Jail for attempting peace talks with Hamas. IndyMedia UK. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Gaza Freedom Flotilla Update – Ken O’Keefe: Humanitarian or Terrorist? In His Own Words. Genesis Communications Network. URL accessed on 2010-06-14.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Gaza: UN expert welcomes landing of ships carrying human rights activists. UN News Centre. URL accessed on 5 July 2010.
  46. ↑ Error on call to template:cite web: Parameters url and title must be specified FreeGaza.org. URL accessed on date=2010-06-14.
  47. ↑ Error on call to template:cite web: Parameters url and title must be specified Ken O'Keefe's Blog. URL accessed on date=2010-06-14.
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Ken O’Keefe: ‘We, the defenders of the Mavi Marmara, are the modern example of Gandhi's essence’. KPulse.org. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 Gaza activist denies 'terrorist' tag. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Ken O'Keefe. Press TV. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 Flotilla survivors speaks about Israels illegal attack. URL accessed on 2010-06-04.
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Activists claim Israeli officials beat them. Irish Times. URL accessed on 2010-06-07.
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 Ken O’Keefe: 'We, the defenders of the Mavi Marmara, are the modern example of Gandhi's essence'. Pulse Media. URL accessed on 2010-06-08.
  54. ↑ Rough Passage, Haaretz
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 http://idfspokesperson.com/2010/06/06/intel-specific-flotilla-passangers-linked-to-al-qaeda-hamas-and-other-terror-organizations-6-june-2010/
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 HARDtalk - Kenneth O'Keefe - Gaza flotilla activist. BBC HARDtalk. URL accessed on 2010-07-01.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Gaza aid convoy Britons held on Greek captain's ship. The Guardian newspaper. URL accessed on 2010-11-20.
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 Gaza-bound ship in limbo in Greece. CNN. URL accessed on 2010-11-20.
  59. ↑ Ken O’Keefe interview and the Aloha Palestine initiative. Pulsemedia.org. URL accessed on 2010-06-20.
  60. ↑ Aloha Palestine CIC website. AlohaPalestine.com. URL accessed on 2010-06-20.
  61. ↑ Aloha Palestine; what is it about. Current TV. URL accessed on 2010-06-20.
  62. ↑ IDF: Five Gaza flotilla activists linked to Hamas, Al-Qaida. Haaretz. URL accessed on date=2010-06-07.

External links[edit]

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