Statement by San Francisco Dock Workers Local:
For International Labor Solidarity to Stop Zionist
Repression and Build a Just Peace
[The following resolution was adopted by Local 10 of
the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (San Francisco) on April 18,
2002.]
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local
10 joins the ranks of labor organizations, solidarity activist, peace and
religious organizations around the world calling for an immediate cease-fire
along with the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from occupied
areas of Palestine. There must be an immediate end to the violence against
innocent civilians on both sides, Palestinian and Israeli.
We believe that only a viable political solution,
recognizing the right of Palestinian self-determination, can put a halt to the
growing numbers of deaths and injuries to both peoples. The escalation of
violence in Palestine and Israel has consequences not only to those two peoples,
but also to working people internationally. At the same time, we strongly
condemn the suicidal attacks for which Hamas takes credit and call on
Palestinian and Israeli working people to join hands in unity and end this
bloody ethnic violence instigated by their common nationalist oppressors and the
forces of capitalist globalization.
ILWU Local 10 strongly condemns the Zionist bombing of
the headquarters of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions in Nablus
on February 17. Furthermore, we
condemn the Israeli government’s brutal wave of terror against the Palestinian
population, led by Prime Minister Sharon, who himself is responsible for the
massacre of Palestinian refugees near Beirut some 20 years ago [at the Sabra and
Shattila refugee camps]. Most recently, this onslaught has destroyed thousands
of homes of Palestinians, sometimes with their living occupants still inside.
The Israeli military has been methodically destroying
not only the infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority but also the cultural,
medical, and educational infrastructure of the Palestinian people. Thousands of
Palestinians have been arrested and detained. Others have been massacred by
Israeli soldiers, as occurred last week in Jenin.
The U.S. government bears responsibility for Israel’s
actions. Without the billions of dollars in U.S. military and economic support
and the political backing by successive U.S. administrations, both Democrat and
Republican, the Israeli government could not have engaged in its many decades of
repression of the Palestinians.
We call for the halt of all military aid to the State
of Israel and join with the international labor movement in calling for an end
to the bloodshed and building a foundation of peace with justice for all.
Richard Mead, President, ILWU Local 10, San Francisco,
California
Clarence Thomas, Secretary-Treasurer
Trent Willis, Business Agent
Jack Heyman, Business Agent