KMU condemns Israel attacks; calls on RP gov’t to suspend diplomatic ties with Israel; Labor group also chides U.S. hypocrisy

Kilusang Mayo Uno joins the strong international call to punish Israel over the vicious attack against the six-ship humanitarian envoy bound to Gaza strip.

“This inhumane attack deserves the broadest condemnation and protest from all working people and peace-loving individuals worldwide. This incident of terror in the seas is another addition to Israel’s countless crimes against humanity,” said KMU executive vice president Lito Ustarez.

A fatal raid last May 31 by the Israeli army on the flotilla carrying 700 international activists killed 15 and injured scores of people. Many activists are still detained by Israeli authorities.

“As international demands to punish Israel for this act of violence continue to build up, we call on the outgoing Arroyo administration and incoming president Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III to suspend the Philippines’ diplomatic relations with the Israeli government. The Philippine government must not condone this barbaric act by Israel,” the KMU leader said.

KMU also joined other global unions in the call for an urgent and comprehensive international investigation into the incident. “We also strongly call for the lifting of the blockade in Gaza to facilitate the peaceful resolution of the humanitarian crisis there.”

The militant labor group also chided United States’ Barack Obama government for its hypocrisy in the latest attacks by Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to meet Obama when the attacks happened.   

“For the longest time, the United States’ military and diplomatic support to Israel has intensified the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Talk is cheap. Beyond issuing statements, Obama must make immediate efforts to cut off all its military support to Israel. From 1946 to 2008, U.S. direct military aid to Israel was estimated at US$114 billion. U.S. aid to Israel is the lifeblood of Israel’s illegal occupation and aggression of Palestinian territories in West Bank and Gaza Strip.”