Greek unions to block Israeli cruise ship from docking in Piraeus

According to the 902.gr news portal, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) in Greece announced it will hold a protest demonstration on Thursday due to the scheduled docking of the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris at the port of Piraeus.

In a statement regarding the protest planned for 7 a.m. on Thursday at Gate E12 of the Piraeus port, PAME declared, “END the complicity and support for the genocide against the Palestinian people! The cruise ship carrying Israeli soldiers is not welcome! It should turn back! Greece will not be a resting place for war criminals.”

It was stated that the people of Attica are preparing to “welcome” the ship with a protest, which is expected to dock in Piraeus on Thursday after visiting various islands.

PAME called on workers and unions to show militant solidarity with the Palestinian people, who have lost more than 60,000 people, a large portion of whom are children, and are now facing Netanyahu’s plans for a full-scale invasion of Gaza.

The government bears great responsibility

The statement emphasized that Netanyahu’s recent declarations about the complete invasion of Gaza refute Israel’s “right to self-defense” argument.

PAME noted that this argument was quickly adopted by the New Democracy government and other Euro-Atlanticist parties.

The union included the following views in its statement:

“The New Democracy government bears great responsibility for its support of the killer state. Together with the Israeli Embassy, they are trying to whitewash the crimes of the killer state by using the arrival of this cruise ship, and to suppress any expression of solidarity and reaction with the Palestinian people under the guise of ‘antisemitism’.”

PAME also noted that the solidarity events developed by labor unions and the public across the country aim to support the Palestinians, who are fighting against the occupation and the plans of imperialists in the region, in every possible way.

“The Greek people and other peoples of the world demand an end to this crime,” the statement said.

Support decision from numerous unions

The Piraeus and Lavrion – East Attica Labor Centers and numerous trade union organizations have decided to participate in the protest.

Supporters include the Federation of Pharmaceutical and Allied Professions Employees (OEFSEE), the Federation of Accountants (POL), the Federation of Private Sector Employees (OIYE), the Federation of Hospital Doctors’ Associations (OENGE), the Union of Dockworkers at the Port of Piraeus (ENEDEP), the mariner unions PEMEN and STEFENSON, the Attica Metal and Shipbuilding Industry Union, the Ship Carpenters’ Association, the Attica Food-Tourism-Hotel Union, the Piraeus Sanitation Workers’ Association, the Piraeus Private Health Workers’ Union, the Chemical Industry Union, the Attica Professional Drivers’ Association, the “Allou Fun Park” Employees’ Association, the Attica Region Association of Accountants-Auditors (ELEPA), the Panhellenic Association of Former Public Enterprise and Bank Pensioners, the Attica Telecommunications-IT Employees’ Union (SETIP), the Psychiatric Hospital Employees’ Association, the Coordinating Committee for the Struggle of People with Disabilities (SEAAN), and the Attica Association of Parents and Guardians of People with Disabilities.

Protest also planned in Volos

It was reported that the same cruise ship will “visit” the port of Volos on Wednesday, August 13. For this reason, numerous unions and organizations will hold a protest, gathering at 5:30 p.m. in front of the statue on the waterfront.

The organizers of the protest in Volos declared, “The massacre against the Palestinian people must stop immediately! No support for the killer state of Israel! No to our country’s complicity in genocide! We do not accept our port and our city becoming a rest and recreation station for those who participate in or support the genocide of the Palestinian people. The cruise ship is not welcome.”