1 August, 2006
After nearly three weeks of relentless bombing and ground attacks by Israel in Lebanon, the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine & General Workers’ Unions (ICEM) today added its voice to the calls for an immediate cease fire by both Israel and the militia of Hezbollah.
The ICEM believes that Israel’s actions have reached an unbearable level, particularly after the killings on 30 July of 56 civilians and children in Qana, southern Lebanon, by an Israeli air strike.
“The ICEM condemns the totally disproportionate use of military force by Israel in Lebanon,” stated General Secretary Fred Higgs. “Israel has effectively imposed collective punishment on all Lebanese people and destroyed the viability of the Lebanese state by destroying the country’s infrastructure.”
Higgs stressed, “There must be an internationally-imposed cease fire immediately so that a genuine and lasting peace for the region can commence.”
The ICEM says the abusive way in which Israel is punishing the Lebanese people in hopes of destroying Hezbollah has created a humanitarian crisis that can only be addressed with the immediate cessation of lethal force and the acceptance by all parties to begin a process for a lasting peace.
Across the Middle East Region as a whole, peace will only be achieved with resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, including the formation of a viable, independent Palestinian state.
The ICEM is the Global Union Federation for the energy, chemicals, mining and other industrial sectors with affiliated trade union unions in both Lebanon and Palestine. The ICEM has 20 million members worldwide through its 403 affiliated trade unions in 122 countries.
Click here for an Arab translation of this news release.
Click here for an Arab translation of the Global Info article on an ICEM visit to Palestine.