éirígí Tir Chonaill

Immediate Action Needed on Israel

10/06/2010

éirígí have again called for immediate action on Israel after Israeli forces once again boarded and seized a humanitarian aid ship bound for Gaza. The Irish registered aid vessel MV Rachel Corrie was carrying over 1000 tons of medical and construction supplies to Gaza which has been under blockade since January 2006.

Speaking during a rally of up to 2000 people in Dublin last Saturday (June 5th), which was held to protest against Israel's siege of Gaza and the killing by Israeli forces of at least 9 aid workers who were part of the aid flotilla, éirígí Tir Chonaill spokesperson Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig said it was now time for the Dublin government to take immediate action against Israel.

“The arrogance of Israel to once again board an aid ship, kidnap its passengers and steal the aid supplies on board in a blatant act of piracy goes beyond belief” he said. “People should be under no illusion that the Israeli forces would have again seriously injured or even murdered more aid workers on the MV Rachel Corrie, just as they had done only days before, if wasn't for the fact that the world's media was watching them. But they still found it expedient to board the ship, to capture and detain humanitarian aid workers and steal what doesn't belong to Israel even though they were under such scrutiny.”

“Only days before, the foreign minister in Leinster House Micheál Martin said Israel's actions were nothing more than kidnapping and indeed Taoiseach Brian Cowen said that the aid ships should be allowed to continue unhindered to Gaza and if any harm came to any Irish citizens there would be serious consequences. Well unfortunately Irish citizens were harmed and the aid was stopped from making its way to Gaza and its time for everyone to insist the Dublin government are true to their word on this one and make sure Israel pay for their barbaric crimes” said Mr Mac Giolla Easbuig.

“Its good to hear that other organisations around the world are taking action on this, such as the Swedish Port Workers Union who are to blockade all Israeli ships and cargo handled by their union members and also that other governments are taking action against Israel. Its also good to know that more activists are planning to try break Israel's siege of Gaza by bringing more aid in another flotilla in the months ahead. The government in Leinster House must now take cues from such bravery and stand up to Israel and their crimes by taking action against them.”

He concluded, “Just as Donegal County Council voted unanimously in favour of a motion calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and his staff from Ireland, so should Leinster House. All trade agreements should end and I would call on all unions in Ireland to follow the example of their counterparts in Sweden and elsewhere in calling for a complete cessation of dealings with Israel in any form. I would also call on all businesses to end all dealings with Israel and not handle any Israeli products, shopkeepers not to stock any goods sourced in Israel and for the general public to boycott all Israeli goods and products. We can all make a difference to the terrible situation the Palestinian people are forced to endure and we should always remember that bad things will continue to happen if good people remain silent. If we turn a blind eye to blatant state sponsored terrorism such as that of Israel's then we are complicit in it. Brian Cowen should be true to his word and act immediately to make sure this brutality doesn't continue or go unchecked. The time to act is now.”