Pro-Palestinian unionists to picket Israeli ship
Pro-Palestinian trade unionists will picket a West Australian port terminal to disrupt an Israeli container ship.
MSC Eleni
Unionists for Palestine and Friends of Palestine WA said they would picket Patrick Terminal at Fremantle at 10pm on Friday.
A container ship from Israeli company ZIM is due to be stationed at the port at the time.
The protesters are calling on the port’s maritime workforce to stop work on the ship so the loading and unloading of the vessel will be delayed.
The groups claim the Israeli company is complicit in the war in Gaza.
“As long as ZIM supports Israel’s ongoing war crimes, we will continue to disrupt their business,” Unions for Palestine’s Grace Brooks said.
“In doing so, we stand in solidarity with Palestinian trade unions who have called on the international labour movement to end all forms of complicity with Israel’s crimes.”
Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters set up similar picket lines at the Fremantle port last month to stop another ZIM ship from sailing.
Twenty-three people were also arrested at the NSW Port of Botany in November, after about 300 people held similar protests against the Israeli company.
A pro-Palestinian convoy also went to the WA offices of federal senators and MPs on Thursday, calling for an end to the war in Gaza.
The activists demanded senators Sue Lines, Louise Pratt and Glen Sterle, and MP Zaneta Mascarenhas condemn Israel’s actions and support any resolution for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
AAP
Get rid of them. They have no right to interfere with shipping. What is wrong with our authorities?
I’d love to see these unionists going to Iran and start a strike. They’d be hung the following day.