PFLP Call to Greeks: Block US Arms Shipment
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:
1. 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!
2. 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!
3. The Greek government to prohibit the use of its port to ship arms to the occupation state massacring our people!
4. 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
At least four (greek) initiatives already calling greek people for direct action on the 15th of January against the shipment of the US arms to be transported from a greek private port to Israel. These include:
International anti-war movement http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=967567
Anti-authoritarian movement, http://www.resistance2003.gr/el/news/story.php?id=184
Co-ordinating body of citizens of Astakos’,
Committee for the Solidarity to Palestinian People, http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=967617
Following is a free translation of one of the calls for action.
KARAMANLIS GOVERNMENT AT THE SERVICE OF ISREAL-US
All international media including the US pentagon confirm the information that Astakos’ port is about to be used as a sending station for arming the zionist army.
Occupation of the strip of Gaza.
One more time, the government is lying. It is lying when one the one hand is assuring us that is working and struggling for peace and on the other hand is choosing the military camp that murders women and young children.
With those that let thousands of wounded people without help due to the continuation of the inhumane occupation of the Gaza strip. Once more, Mr. Karamanlis and Mrs. Mpakogianni place our country in the military camp of the US- Israel murderers. We are calling the people of Aitoloakarnania and all greece, all of those that oppose the slaughter taking place these days at Gaza, to stop the US arms being send to Israel for use against Palestinian people.
Lets Stop the ship of death
Lets express our solidarity to the Palestinian people
Close down the Israeli Embassy in Athens
Everyone at the port of Paltigiallio (Astakos)this Thursday the 15th of January at 1:00pm.
Committee for Solidarity to the Palestinian People