Handheld users: view this page better on http://m.socialistparty.org.uk
Obama
Israel/Palestine: "An act of piracy in international waters"
Joe Higgins MEP challenges US Ambassador on IDF killings
CWI Reporters, Brussels
www.socialistworld.net, website of the committee for a workers' international, CWI 01/06/2010
Today, during an exchange of views with William E. Kennard, the US Ambassador to the EU, at the International Trade Committee in the European Parliament, Joe Higgins, Dublin Member of the European Parliament for the Irish Socialist Party (sister party of the Socialist Party in England and Wales), challenged the ambassador about the weak US response to the slaughter of peace activists yesterday by the Israeli Defence Force.
"In the period of the '60s, '70s and '80s, the US was known for having a policy of so-called value-free trade relations, with a record of trade with and support for brutal dictatorships across the world.
I question whether this has changed under the Obama administration? Will the trade relations of the US with Israel change after what happened yesterday with the killing of at least nine peace activists on boats destined for Gaza?"
In response, the ambassador said that President Obama had issued a statement expressing his great regret and emphasised the need to get the "full information" about what had happened.
Joe Higgins declared: "It is perfectly clear what has happened - it was an act of piracy in international waters".
See also www.joehiggins.eu
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
Related links:
Iran: Tensions with the US and its allies are ratcheted-up
Israel: General strike over job security
Socialist MEP among Gaza peace activists kidnapped by IDF
Youth protest movement grows in Israel
How can the national rights of Palestinians be achieved?
Israel: Mass movement erupts against the rule of capitalism
Clegg's text message plans make us LOL!
US embassy protest remembers Trayvon Martin
Million Hoodies March against racist murders in the US
Ireland: Mass movement against household tax and austerity
Ireland: Spectacular election result for socialists
Blair's toadying surpasses all clichés
The Queen's Speech - What readers thought
Llanelli and West Wales Socialist Party: USA: Is Obama a socialist?
Riot cops assault Occupy protesters
Irish Socialist MEP Paul Murphy speaks out: solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza will continue