Branch Secretary of the Australian Maritime Union (AMU) Paul Keating spoke for fellow members in solidarity with the Palestinian community and faced off with police, when he and several hundred protestors blockaded Sydney's Port Botany on Sunday to protest Australia's export of military aid to Israel.
The protestors' target is ZIM Shipping, a well known Israeli company that trade unionist Ian Rintoul says is very supportive and connected with the Israeli state.
"It offered its services to the Israeli state for the conduct of the genocide. Zim Shipping has actually been a target of protests at ports all around the world in the United States and Italy, Europe [and elsewhere in Australia]".
Keating called on all of the other workers' unions to stand with the AMU and for Prime Minister Albanese to place sanctions on Israel for what the International Court of Justice has called a plausible case of genocide. He told the police chief at the scene: "This is an international working class issue", and in his speech reiterated:
"On behalf of the MUA, we stand with our communities and throughout the generations we fought against the establishment who have supported apartheid, like we saw with South Africa, like we’ve seen with the wars that have forced ordinary working class men and women like ourselves and our communities into the most desperate of situations. We oppose war. Peace is union business, and this is our business".
Deputy Leader of the Greens Mehreen Faruqi also spoke in favour of the blockade and condemned the government's current policy.
"It's been 169 days of Israel's genocide on Gaza. 169 horror-filled days for Palestinians. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been slaughtered by Israel. More than 1 million Palestinians are being starved by Israel. Famine and disease loom large in the ruins of Gaza. That's the reality on the ground right at this moment. And how bereft, how bereft of humanity, of morality, of head and heart can the Labor government be to not do anything to stop these war crimes, this collective punishment, these atrocities and this genocide? How ruthless and cruel can you be to aid, abet and arm Israel?"
The blockade was short-lived, broken up by police. Keating and 18 others were arrested and now face fines of up to AUS $22K and two years jail for obstructing traffic in the maritime zone.
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