Israel: ITUC backs general strike

The ITUC stands in solidarity with the people of Israel during their general strike which demands that the Netanyahu government reaches an agreement to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. ITUC affiliate Histadrut has also called for the action to oppose the economic policies of the government which threaten the quality of public services and significantly impact the daily lives of working people. The strike follows demands Histadrut made earlier this year in which it called for new elections, an end to the war in Gaza and the release of all hostages. The general strike follows the discovery of six hostages who were found dead having been killed a few days earlier. It is thought that approximately 100 people are still being held hostage in Gaza. ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle said: “The ITUC fully supports this general strike in Israel. A conclusion to this crisis can only be reached through negotiation. The Netanyahu government must listen to Histadrut and the working people of Israel. And Israelis are demanding new elections. The current government must therefore present itself to the Israeli people to be held accountable for its recent policies. “Along with the release of the hostages, the current negotiations must include an immediate ceasefire in the region, the safe return of all workers trapped by the conflict and an urgent increase in humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. “We must see a permanent end to the war along with a plan for the reconstruction and recovery of Gaza, the implementation on the ground of the two-state solution with security guarantees and responsibilities for both sides. A sustainable peace can only be founded on the principles of human rights, common security, respect, freedom, and democracy. “The cycle of violence only empowers extremists on both sides; it must end and must be replaced by dialogue that is grounded in equal rights, dignity, and respect for both Israelis and Palestinians. Aggression must be replaced by justice and common security in accordance with international law.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PCG: China’s bullying in West Philippine Sea undermines international law --- Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — Letting China sustain its aggression in the West Philippine Sea would make other countries doubt the strength of international law currently being asserted by the Philippines, Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. “Allowing China to blatantly disregard the established rules-based order threatens the very foundation that we all depend on,” he wrote in a post on X last Tuesday. He added, “If we permit this, countries worldwide may forget why this order was created in the first place. Nations could begin to doubt the significance of adhering to international law if powerful bullies can easily violate it.” Tarriela also said defiance of other countries to a rules-based order would result in the prevalence of cruelty. He wrote, “This could lead us back to a time when might makes right, undermining the global structures that keep human greed, savagery and barbarism in check. Such a scenario would not only invite challenges from aggressive ...
Read more

China ships maintain presence in key West Philippine Sea areas --- Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star

STAR / Michael Varcas MANILA, Philippines — While Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) have decreased in number, they have maintained a presence in three key land features where naval and coast guard ships have intensified operations in the past seven days, according to the Philippine Navy. Latest monitoring by the Philippine Navy showed armed ships of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) maintaining a menacing presence around the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Panatag Shoal and Escoda Shoal. According to the Philippine Navy, there are 17 Chinese military vessels and 28 China Coast Guard (CCG) boats spotted inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between Sept. 23 and 30, or one vessel more than in the previous week Sept.17-23. Five of the warships were seen roaming around the vicinity of Escoda Shoal, along with 10 CCG vessels and 12 maritime militia vessels (MMVs). There are also two PLAN ships in Ayungin Shoal as well as 10 CCG boats and 12...
Read more

Social media seen as cause of rising intermarriages --- Helen Flores - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) sees social media as the main reason for the rising number of Filipinos marrying or becoming partners of foreign nationals. In 2022, the CFO recorded 6,854 marriages or partnerships with foreign nationals, a 40.1 percent increase from the 4,891 “intermarriages” recorded in 2021. “First of all, what we see in the increase in the marriage rate of Filipinos or Filipinos with foreign partners is because of social media, (that) is number one; matchings; letters, introduction of their friends,” CFO chairperson Romulo Arugay said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing yesterday. Arugay said the agency has been registering a high number of intermarriages since 2007, but the figures went down during the COVID-19 pandemic. From over 6,500 Filipinos who married foreign nationals, only 600 are men, he said. Most of them are married to Americans, Japanese, Germans, Canadians and Australians, Arugay said. Arugay warned Fi...
Read more