The Central Executive Committee of the Worker’s Party of Ireland notes with growing concern the escalation of Israeli aggression against the Palestinians.

The US and Britain maintain the pretence of Israel as a victim rather than an aggressor in the region. They ignore the unequal power relations between the parties to the conflict, refuse to condemn Israeli actions, whether military aggression and the slaughter of Palestinian civilians, or the destruction of Palestinian agriculture and social, economic, education and health infrastructure, the denial of freedom of movement, the confiscation of scarce water resources and collective punishments. By contrast every act of resistance to occupation by Palestinians is condemned.

The Workers’ Party of Ireland condemns the current barbarous campaign by the Israeli forces against Palestinians. Since the capture of one Israeli soldier the Israeli state has murdered more than 60 Palestinians and has now extended its aggression to Lebanon. The Gaza strip has been isolated. Vital infrastructure has been destroyed and residents of Gaza are without water and electricity. Gaza is under continued Israeli bombardment and the Zionist state has seized democratically elected politicians inside the Occupied Territories. Gaza is currently facing a humanitarian crisis. Despite this the Israeli army has extended its policy of closing down and sealing off Palestinian areas. The continued Israeli occupation remains a fundamental obstacle to peace.

The Worker’s Party of Ireland demands that Israel immediately end its blockade, ceases all military action in the Occupied Territories, respects United Nations Resolutions which require Israel to withdraw from territories illegally occupied, releases all elected Palestinian officials and commences a process for the release of all prisoners held in violation of international law.

The Workers’ Party reaffirms its support for the Palestinian right of return as set out in UN Resolution 194; demands an immediate end to the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and affirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

July 19, 2006