Congress calls for intervention to achieve Middle East ceasfire
19 Jul 2006
At its monthly meeting in Dublin today the Irish Congress of Trade Unions unanimously passed the following resolution:
"Congress calls for an immediate ceasefire and deplores the recent escalation of violence in the middle East and particularly condemns the overwhelmingly disproportionate response of the Israeli government, which has already resulted in the deaths of several hundred civilians, men, women and children, and incalculable numbers of injured and maimed, as well as undermining the integrity of the Lebanese government.
Congress acknowledges the positive contribution to pressure for a ceasefire which has been attributed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, but urges the Government to use all available avenues to press for a just and lasting settlement of the core issue - i.e. recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to the territory as well as economic and physical infrastructure upon which to build a viable integrated State in their homeland - Palestine, in accordance with UN resolutions, thus ensuring the security and prosperity of both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples".
Members of the Executive Council felt strongly that it would be inappropriate not to avail of this last meeting before the holiday season to register strong concern about what is happening in the Middle East. The resolution was proposed by Mr Jack O'Connor of SIPTU and seconded by Ms Noirin Greene, of AMICUS.
Speaking after the meeting Congress General Secretary, David Begg said:
While condemning the rocket attacks on Haifa by Hezbollah, there was a strong sense at the meeting that Israel's actions are disproportionate. The suffering it is inflicting on the population of Lebanon and Gaza cannot be objectively justified by current circumstances".
ends