Anti-War Ireland statement on Israeli violence in Lebanon and Palestine
national |
anti-war / imperialism |
press release 
Thursday August 03, 2006 15:03
by Anti-War Ireland
info at antiwarireland dot org
087 1258325
ANTI-WAR IRELAND Statement on the Lebanon/Palestine Crisis
Israeli violence against the people of Lebanon and Palestine has continued unabated today. This afternoon, Anti-War Ireland issued the following statement calling for an extension of Irish solidarity with those suffering in this conflict. More specifically, AWI believes that this is an instance when international solidarity is essential between the working class of Europe, and elsewhere, and workers and their families in the Middle East. The trade union movement must play an active role in opposing US-backed Israeli military aggression.
The following is the statement issued to the media and circulated by Anti-War Ireland.
"The ongoing US-backed Israeli military aggression against the Lebanese and Palestinian people has resulted in the deaths of many hundreds of innocent civilians and widespread destruction in both countries. Anti-War Ireland wishes to reiterate its revulsion at the behaviour of the Israeli armed forces and we unreservedly condemn the belligerence of the Israeli government and its Bush administration backers.
Anti-War Ireland asks those opposed to this ongoing mass murder of civilians to participate in the solidarity events that are being organised throughout Ireland, north and south.
Anti-War Ireland calls for the immediate expulsion from Dublin of the Israeli ambassador.
Anti-War Ireland calls for a general boycott of Israeli goods, while the Israeli state continues to oppress and murder the people of Palestine and Lebanon.
Anti-War Ireland calls on Irish workers to extend tangible solidarity and support to the people of Palestine and Lebanon by arguing for, and participating in, workplace boycotts of Israeli products.
Anti-War Ireland calls on trade union activists to raise the issues of Palestine and Lebanon at their local trades councils and at their union branches, and to put forward motions in opposition to Israeli aggression and in favour of a concerted boycott of Israeli goods.
Anti-War Ireland calls on sailors, dockers, transport and retail workers to refuse to handle Israeli goods and to seek the support of their union branches in implementing this boycott."
Anti-War Ireland is currently active in Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Cobh. For further information, email info@antiwarireland.org
Comments (5 of 5)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5A vigil in solidarity with the people of Lebanon and Palestine will be held at Daunt Square in Cork city centre on this coming Saturday. Organised by the Cork branches of Anti-War Ireland, the IPSC and the IAWM, it will assemble at 2pm. Be there and show your opposition to Israeli mass murder in Lebanon and Gaza!
The western world should disengage militarily and economically from all middle eastern countries whose governments officially sanction anti-western and anti-christian teaching in mosques, schools and colleges, and media.
eg. Saudi Arabia - where christianity is actually ILLEGAL.
I wonder whether the trade union bureaucrats will ever make a stand on an issue like this. They had to be shamed into supporting the Dunnes Stores strikers when they refused to handle South African produce and, even then, their support was half-hearted.
I reckon any action, if it happens, will come from the shopfloor and not from the union 'leadership'.
The impetus would almost certainly come from workplaces, but it is essential that such a 'blacking' be general rather than localised. Hence, it is important that trade unions be involved, both at branch and national levels.
Trade unionists and labour activists shouldn't be afraid to take up issues like this. It is ordinary workers and their families who are suffering in Lebanon and Palestine. Up to 1,000 people have now been killed by Israeli military action in Lebanon and the vast majority are civilians: men, women and many, many children.
Hence, it is important that trade unions be involved, both at branch and national levels.
No chance under the current setup.
There are currently far more important issues for Irish workers
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