"Inside Israel," the fourth portion, contains my favourite of all of the writings in the book. "No Citizenship Without Loyalty!" is a poignant, striking essay from former IDF paratrooper and doctor of Politics and Government at Ben-Gurion Neve Gordon. His insistence on the necessity of states being loyal to citizens rather than the perverse opposite is compelling.
Doron Rosenblum talks about Israel's passive-aggressive response to the flotilla raid, while Ilan Pappé talks about the old thinking of Israeli government that contributes to the nation's decline in international stature. Yousef Munayyer's "A History of Impunity" tells us that the events aboard the Mavi Marmara are not all that surprising when one considers the history of Israel.
The fifth part of the book, "Old Friends, New Thinking," delves into the aftermath of the raid and the subsequent battle for the hearts and minds of the world's citizens. Writers like Murat Dagli and Marsha B. Cohen describe the Turkish response and the expected smear campaign by the IDF on the IHH.
Glenn Greenwald's piece on tribalism is vital reading, as is Arun Gupta's suitably cynical piece about the incessant "victimhood" of Israel.
The sixth part, "Palestine on Our Minds," compares the Palestinian struggle to that of the South Africans. Writings from Adam Shapiro, Omar Barghouti and Mike Marqusee close out the final portion of the book.
Midnight on the Mavi Marmara is a satisfying and intelligent read. This collection of writing ventures through the events of May 31, 2010, with clarity and candour. The book is thorough and precise, with varying styles adding surprising humour and justifiable anger to the mix. It's a must-read for anyone wanting to know more about Gaza, Israel, the flotilla raid, and the plight of the Palestinian people.
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