Condemn Israel's attack on the Gaza flotilla

Socialist Alliance statement June 3, 2010.

Socialist Alliance condemns the completely unwarranted and murderous attack by Israeli armed forces on the civilian flotilla carrying aid to Gaza.

Not since the French Secret Service blew up the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour in 1985 has there been such a brazen act of international piracy by a sovereign state.

Governments all around the world have condemned the criminal actions of Somali pirates in international waters off the horn of Africa, and have even sent naval armadas to confront those pirates. The international community must unreservedly condemn this criminal act of piracy on the high seas.

We demand the Rudd government condemn the killings of unarmed civilians without any equivocation; break off diplomatic relations with Israel and demand that future aid convoys be allowed to land unimpeded, and the aid delivered to the people of Gaza.

The Rudd government must also demand that the siege of Gaza, imposed in 2007, be lifted immediately and that Israel recognise the democratically-elected Hamas government of Gaza.

PM Kevin Rudd said he "condemns any use of violence under the sorts of circumstances that we have seen" and, ridiculously, has called on Israel to hold an "independent" inquiry into the incident.

Rudd also rushed to add that he understood the "unique security challenges facing Israel" and that he made his criticisms as a "friend of Israel".

The Socialist Alliance condemns the Rudd ALP government's hypocritical equivocation in the face of the near-universal condemnation of this latest Israeli attack.

Only the US government, which has neither condemned the attack nor called for the lifting of the blockade of Gaza, has a worse position.

Israel has repeatedly violated international law and must be bought to justice for these and other war crimes. The shameless double standards applied by the US and Australian governments to the Israeli state's serial flouting of international law makes them accomplices in crime.

Australia should follow the example of Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua in cutting diplomatic, military and security ties with Israel. It should join the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign to isolate the apartheid and war-making state of Israel.

For more information contact Pip Hinman 0401 760 577

(See here for a model motion you can move in your trade union.)

(Click here for statements by progressive organisations from around the world.)

Stephen Smith must condemn Israel’s attack, break diplomatic ties, says candidate for Perth

Perth Socialist Alliance media release May 31

Click here for Arabic translation.

Socialist Alliance candidate Alex Bainbridge who is running for the seat of Perth, currently held by Stephen Smith, has called on the Australian government to immediately condemn Israel’s attack on the Gaza peace flotilla.

“Australia must condemn outright Israel’s attack on the flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza,” said Socialist Alliance candidate for the seat of Perth, Alex Bainbridge.

“Stephen Smith’s response to date – to express regret and shock about the deaths, to ‘proceed calmly’ and to call on Israel to provide a detailed explanation – is inadequate,” said Bainbridge.

“Israel has engaged in an act of piracy in international waters against unarmed peace activists bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza – there is no way of justifying that assault,” said Bainbridge.

“Stephen Smith has called on Israel to ‘ease’ its blockade of Gaza which is another way of supporting the continuation of that blockade in a modified form,” said Bainbridge.

“In reality, any form of blockade against Gaza is an infringement of human rights – the blockade should be ended and Australia should call for this explicitly,” said Bainbridge.

“This shocking attack is a direct consequence of Israel’s attempt to besiege the people of Gaza who want nothing more than an end to the unjust occupation of Palestine,” said Bainbridge.

“Israel’s actions are so shocking that Australia should break diplomatic ties immediately until the flotilla and its passengers are released and allowed to travel unimpeded to Gaza,” said Bainbridge.

“Emergency protest actions are happening everywhere and I will be attending and promoting the Perth protest action at 5pm at Wesley Church in the city today,” said Bainbridge.

Emergency protest actions in Australia:

Sydney: Protest on Tuesday June 1, 5.30pm, Town Hall, organised by Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine.

Melbourne: There will be a protest on Tuesday June 1, 4.30pm at the State Library.

Perth: A snap protest will be held Tuesday June 1, 5pm, Wesley Church, cnr William & Hay Sts, Perth. Organised by Friends of Palestine.

Brisbane: A protest will be held on Tuesday June 1, 5-7pm, Brisbane Sq, Cnr Queen and George Sts.

Adelaide: Details coming soon - keep checking back here!

Canberra: Tuesday June 1, 5pm, outside Israeli Embassy, 6 Turrana St, Yarralumla. Plus also a rally in Garema Place on Thursday 3 June at 4.00 pm (organised by Australians for Justice and Peace in Palestine)

Newcastle: Tuesday June 1, 4pm, Sharon Grierson's office, Hunter St