The Swedish dockers’ union decides on a blockade against Israeli ships and goods

Weapons of mass destruction heading for Gaza

People ask themselves how to react to Monday’s bloodbath on the Mavi Marmara. Svenska hamnarbetarförbundet, the Swedish dockers’ union, has made a first contribution to that debate: it has decided on a blockade against Israeli ships and goods from June 15 at 00.00 hour to June 24 at 24.00 hour. Here is their press release, in Swedish and in English translation:

Varsel om blockad av israeliska fartyg och israeliskt gods
onsdag 02 juni 2010 Björn A. Borg Svenska Hamnarbetarförbundet har idag varslat om blockad av alla israeliska fartyg och gods till och från Israel som hanteras av förbundets medlemmar. Blockaden kommer att träda ikraft kl. 00.00 tisdag den 15 juni och varar till kl. 24.00 torsdag den 24 juni.

Skälet till blockaden är det exempellösa kriminella överfallet på den fredliga fartygskonvojen Ship to Gaza. Ett flertal fredsaktivister mördades av israeliska kommandosoldater och övriga deltagare internerades utan någon som helst grund.

Svenska Hamnarbetarförbundet, som stödjer Ship to Gaza, vill med åtgärden protestera mot staten Israels folkrättsliga övergrepp mot en konvoj med fredsaktivister och materiella förnödenheter till den p.g.a. en likaså folkrättslig blockad lidande befolkningen i Gaza.

Svenska Hamnarbetarförbundet kräver att de för övergreppet ansvariga ställs inför rätta, att folkrätten respekteras av staten Israel och att blockaden av Gaza omedelbart hävs.

Svenska Hamnarbetarförbundet vill uppmana andra fackförbund och övriga organisationer att ta liknande initiativ och uppmanar till en allmän blockad av israeliska varor till dess det palestinska folkets rättigheter tillgodosetts i allmänhet och i synnerhet att blockaden av Gaza hävts.

translation: Notification of a blockade on Israeli ships and Israeli goods
The Swedish Dockers’ Union has today notified its intention to enforce a blockade on all Israeli ships and goods coming from or destined to Israel that are handled by its members. The blockade will enter into force on Tuesday June 15 at 00.00 hours and it will last to Thursday June 24 at 24.00 hours.

The reason for this blockade is the unprecedented criminal agression against the peaceful convoy Ship to Gaza. Several peace activists were murdered by Israeli commando soldiers and the other participants were detained without any justification.

The Swedish Dockers’ Union, which supports Ship to Gaza, wants through this measure to protest against the Israeli government’s violation of international law by agressing a convoy of peace activists and emergency supplies to the population of Gaza, which is suffering an equally illegal blockade.

The Swedish Dockers’ Union demands that those responsible for this outrage be brought to justice, that Israel pays respect to international law and that the blockade of Gaza be lifted immediately.

The Swedish Dockers’ Union calls on other trade unions and organisations to take similar initiatives and calls for a general blockade of Israeli goods until the rights of the Palestinian people are guaranteed and the blockade of Gaza is lifted..

The press release goes on to cite the names of contact persons to be called for complementary information.

If you have information about similar initiatives, emanating from trade unions or other organisations, and consisting of a blockade, boycott, disinvestment or sanctions against Israel, please provide more information in the comments section.