Weapons shipment in Greece bound for Israel blockaded

 

Greek people win tactical victory in solidarity with Palestine and block arms shipment!

On January 13, 2009, the people of Greece won a meaningful tactical victory in the movement in solidarity with the Palestinian people, stopping the shipment of arms from the U.S. to Israel through a Greek port. The U.S. military announced that it had stopped the shipment due to “concerns from Athens,” after the Greek people mobilized, demonstrated and acted to demand that the weapons shipment to the killers of the Palestinian people in Gaza be stopped!

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine salutes the Greek people for their response to our call and the call of the Palestinian people to block this arms shipment and calls upon all popular and progressive forces in the world to follow this lead and to stop these arms shipments and in all ways possible disrupt and prevent and isolate the occupier, its institutions and its military.

On January 15, 2009, Greek activists held a protest at the port of Astakos, where the shipment was scheduled to take place, demanding an end to any Greek complicity in the US/Israeli war on the Palestinian people of Gaza and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and cause. The Greek movement has taken this issue to Parliament, to the streets, and everywhere, and won a meaningful victory.

The Communist Organization of Greece has released a series of statements, reprinted below:

The Pentagon announcement, that the shipment of US arms to Israel through the port of Astakos “will be postponed because of security reasons,” belied the pathetic Greek Foreign Affairs Minister, who was declaring that “Greece is not implicated in any such shipment”.

Communist Organization of Greece (KOE)
Statement Nr 4 / 2009
 
The movement of solidarity with Palestine marks its first tactical victory!

However, the shipment of US arms to the Zionist murderers through Astakos will not be postponed: it will be finally CANCELLED once and for all, because the Greek People, responding to the call of PFLP, proved that we will not tolerate that Greece becomes an intermediate between the international terrorists US and Israel.

The Communist Organization of Greece (KOE) calls upon the Greek People: Remain on alert! Smash all the sneaky attempts of Karamanlis’ government to assist the Israeli Neo-Nazis! All united to the protest in the portof Astakos on Thursday 15/1!

Active solidarity with the Palestinian People! Stop all the diplomatic, military, political, economic, cultural relations with Israel!
 
13 January 2009
Communist Organization of Greece(KOE)

Communist Organization of Greece(KOE)
Statement Nr 3 / 2009
 
Let’s unite and block the Ship of Death!
 
The Communist Organization of Greece (KOE) condemns the shameful implication of Greece in the plans to ship huge cargos of US arms to Israelthrough the Greek port of Astakos(Western Greece). If shipped, these arms will be used for the continuation of the genocidal Zionist aggression in Gaza. The implication of the Greek port of Astakos reveals the full complicity of the government of Karamanlis in the crime perpetrated against the Palestinian People.

The claims of the Greek government (“we know nothing about it”) are sheer lies and pure hypocrisy. The complicity of the Greek government is revealed to the whole world through the attempt to use of the Greek soil in order to supply new arms to the Israeli Neo-Nazis. This is not a a unique episode: during the genocidal USwar against Iraq, the naval base of Souda (Crete) was also used by the “liberators of Iraq”.

The dramatic call of the PFLP, addressed to the Greek people and the progressive movements, to halt the shipment of US arms to Israel must put us all on alert! The Communist Organization of Greece calls the democratic Greek people to block, this Thursday 15 January, the port of Astakos. We warn the Greek government: Do not facilitate the murderers of the Palestinian People!

Let’s support actively the martyred Palestinian People! Expel the Zionist ambassador! Shut down the Zionist embassy!

Athens, 12 January 2009

URGENT: PFLP calls for take-over of Israeli embassies, blockade of Greek port of Astakos

URGENT: PFLP calls on internationalists for ‘the broadest mass demonstrations, the escalation of popular international action, and the takeover of Israeli embassies worldwide’

An Official Communiqué of the PFLP
PFLP Press Office
January 11, 2009

pflp_communique_11_jan_09.pdf
download PDF (89.3 KB)

As aggression escalates, PFLP calls for takeover of Israeli embassies and broad popular demonstrations.

As the aggression against our people escalates, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is calling upon all international progressive forces for the widest popular participation of all sectors of society in mass demonstrations and actions in the streets in solidarity and support for the Palestinian people in Gaza, as well as the escalation and expansion of direct action, particularly the takeover of embassies of Israel and its allies.

The PFLP saluted the hundreds of thousands internationally who have continued to take to the streets, and the millions in the Arab homeland who have done so as well. Over 200,000 people marched on January 10, 2008 in London, including surrounding and attempting to enter and take over the Israeli embassy, and thousands upon thousands more marched in cities around the world,

including Paris, Athens, Nairobi, Chicago, Sao Paulo, Washington, DC, Auckland and Sydney and throughout the Arab world.

In various cities, demonstrators have surrounded Israeli embassies, as well as U.S. and Egyptian embassies, besieging them with a demand for justice and an end to the massacres and siege. In Toronto, women attempted to take over the Israeli embassy in a sit-in on January 7, 2009. These actions and others have been impacting and providing support to the steadfastness of the Palestinian resistance, and we can feel the power and commitment of such actions, which strengthens the morale of all of our people facing massacres and siege.

The occupation army has killed over 860 and injured over 3500 Palestinians as of January 10, 2009. In the past days, the occupier has attacked Palestinian journalists, shelling the homes of multiple journalists, as it continues its massacres, announcing its intention to escalate its crimes. Simultaneously, in the West Bank, it has renewed its use of live ammunition against mass protests and demonstrations, while in Gaza, it is utilizing all forms of weaponry against our people, including white phosphorous, gas cartridges causing physical exhaustion, and massive amounts of U.S.-made and funded weaponry.

In the face of all of this, the Palestinian resistance has remained steadfast, and the actions of the people around the world in support of the Palestinian cause only bolsters that steadfastness and commitment to struggle until victory. The PFLP calls for the broadest mass demonstrations and the escalation of popular international action, especially the takeover of the embassies of the occupier, in the face of crimes and massacres, as the people of the world march arm in arm with the people of Palestine against occupation and oppression and towards victory!

PFLP rejects UN Security Council resolution 1860
PFLP leadership reaffirms commitment to resist all attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause  Comrade Leila Khaled, member of the Political Bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, denounced the Israeli massacre in Gaza and rejected UN Security Council resolution 1860 on January 10, 2008, calling it a failed attempt to place the victim and executioner on equal footing that does nothing to secure the rights of our people to be free of aggression and siege.

Comrade Khaled also said that Palestinians are united against this aggression in Gaza, and that the Palestinian people and its resistance movement will continue the struggle against the occupier and will emerge victorious, despite the crimes and massacres.

In addition, Comrade Maher al-Taher, member of the Political Bureau of the PFLP and leader of its branch in exile, declared in an interview with Al-Jazeera that the PFLP will not accept any initiative, whether Arab or international, that does not include an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression in Gaza, lifting of the siege in full, including the permanent and immediate opening of the Rafah crossing, the full Israeli withdrawal and ensuring the right of the resistance of our people.

Comrade Taher said that it is impossible for our people to accept a “calm” without any requirements of the occupier, pointing out that the previous “calm” brought only additional killing and siege to our people. Furthermore, he said, it is the resilience and steadfastness of the Palestinian people that stunned the world and forced the international institutions beyond mere silence that created UN Security Council Resolution 1860, noting, however, that the resolution does nothing to secure the rights of our people.

He noted further that there is a very serious attempt by the U.S., along with other parties, to achieve politically what the occupation army has failed to achieve militarily—the defeat of the resistance, affirming that Israel’s aggression only escalated following the resolution. Comrade Taher said that it is clear that the U.S. gave the green light to Israel to carry out this massacre, but that it is clear that the world can only tolerate the killings, bombings and targeting of civilians, particularly women, children and the elderly, for so long – and that, at that point, there is a political facilitation of the goals of the US and Israel, including an attempt to destroy the Palestinian resistance and place conditions upon the Palestinian people, in an attempt to liquidate the Palestinian cause. Comrade Taher called upon the Palestinian people in the West Bank and in occupied Palestine 48 to rise up and set fire to the ground beneath the feet of the occupiers, and called upon the Arab masses to declare a general strike and to mobilize and act to impose a new reality upon the ground.

The PFLP in the Gaza Strip also issued a statement on January 10, 2009, pointing to the need for a coordinated national leadership to manage the political struggle in the same way that has been so successful for the resistance in Gaza. The statement declared that the aggression of the enemy is aimed at all of our people and that our political response also requires the utmost political coordination. Coming on the beginning of the third week of the crimes, massacres and aggression against the masses of our Palestinian people, the statement praised the unity, steadfastness and resistance of the people, saying that this is imposing upon the world the reality that the end of the massacre, withdrawal of the occupier, an end to the siege, and the protection of Palestinian national rights will be achieved.

The statement called for strengthening political coordination among all forces, as well as the formation of popular committees in all regions and districts to organize relief and support for all who need it, as well as distribute assistance in cooperation with municipalities.

The statement concluded that the resistance and resilience of the people ensure that we are on the march toward victory, and that all of the threats of the enemy, including the threat to launch “a third phase” of the aggression and massacres, will not shake our dedication to do so, and only inspires our people to accelerate the unification of our efforts.

PFLP calls on the Greek people and all internationalist forces to blockade arms shipment at the Greek port of Astakos

Urgent call to Greek people: Block the shipment of US arms to Israel through Greek port!

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine calls upon the Greek movement, the Greek people and all international progressive forces to halt the planned shipment of U.S. arms to Israel from the Greek port of Astakos. International media reports have revealed that the U.S. Navy is attempting to ship 325 20-foot containers of ammunition, over 3000 tons, in an emergency shipment of arms to aid the occupation in its ongoing war crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The PFLP is calling upon the people of the world, and particularly the Greek movement to act to stop this shipment of arms. The U.S. has been attempting to hire a merchant ship to transport the weaponry to the Israelis at Asdud port in mid-to-late January. This weaponry must not be allowed to enter the hands of the Israelis, where it will be used to massacre our people in Gaza! It must be stopped by all means!

These bombs are going to be used in Israel’s wars – against Palestinians, Lebanese, Arabs, Iranians, and the people of the region. This emergency shipment indicates that the occupier is demanding ever more weaponry in its futile war of massacres against the Palestinian people and the Palestinian resistance.

The demand of the Palestinian people, the Arab people, and all progressive forces—including the progressive forces in the U.S.—is the international isolation and the end of all U.S. aid to Israel. The U.S. government, however is Israel’s strategic partner, and is committed to partnering with Israel in its massacres and crimes against our people. If they will not stop the arms shipment, the people of Greece and the people of the world must stop it for them!

The PFLP salutes the Greek people – your unconditional solidarity and your mass demonstrations in support of the Palestinian people have sent a strong and powerful message of support, combined with aid, volunteers, and action on the ground. Your own courageous struggles for justice have inspired us and people around the world.

We are calling upon:
I. All Greek companies and all shipping companies to refuse to carry any shipment of arms to Israel. Any shipping company who carries these weapons has the blood of the people of Gaza on its hands!

II. Greek workers and all port workers to refuse to load the cargo for any shipment of arms to Israel. The strong hands of Greek workers and Greek labor should not be sullied with this dangerous cargo!

III. The Greek government to prohibit the use of its port to ship arms to the occupation state massacring our people!

IV. The Greek people, the Greek movement, and all international and progressive forces to take action to stop any such shipment from loading or leaving the port of Astakos! The PFLP is calling for your continuing unconditional solidarity and support to prevent the U.S. and Israel from using the land and ports of the Greek people a supply base for occupation, massacres, and crimes.

The Greek people have a proud history and present of struggle. The relationship between the Arab people and the Greek people is strong and powerful and we call upon you today to march with us once again toward victory and justice for the Palestinian people and block this arms shipment!
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
January 10, 2009
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Al-Masakin News Agency
http://almasakinnewsagency.wordpress.com

US to deliver 300 tons of weapons to Israel through Greek merchant marine firm

Report: US hiring merchant ship for massive arms shipment to Israel

Date: 10 / 01 / 2009  Time:  16:40

Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies – The US is seeking to hire a merchant ship to deliver some 300 tons of weapons to Israel from Greece later this month, Rueters news agency reported on Friday. Tender documents seen by Reuters show that the US Navy sought to ship 325 20-foot containers of what is listed as “ammunition” in two separate voyages from the Greek port of Astakos to the Israeli port of Ashdod. A “hazardous material” designation on the manifest mentions explosive substances and detonators. “Shipping 3,000-odd tons of ammunition in one go is a lot,” one broker told Rueters, speaking on condition of anonymity. “This [kind of request] is pretty rare and we haven’t seen much of it quoted in the market over the years,” he added. The US Defense Department had no immediate comment. The request for the ship was made on 31 December with the first leg of the charter to arrive no later than 25 January and the second at the end of the month. The tender for the vessel follows the hiring of a commercial ship to carry a much larger shipment of arms in December from the United States to Israel ahead of the first wave of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. Shipping brokers in London who have specialized in moving arms for the British and US military in the past said such ship charters to Israel were rare.