TRADE EMBARGO ON GAZA MUST BE LIFTED - IDEAS

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (Bernama) -- The trade embargo against the people of
Gaza must be lifted, according to the International Advisor of the Institute for
Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), Dr Tom G Palmer.

He said the trade embargo itself was a crime, and the incompetence and
avoidable deadly violence of the Israeli authorities in dealing with the
flotilla were further arguments that it should be lifted.

"Searching for weapons is one thing but embargoing trade and aid altogether
is another. How can the Israeli authorities expect peace from people who, in the
end, feel that they have nothing to lose?" he said in a statement here,
Thursday.

On Monday, 12 Malaysians were among hundreds of volunteers seized by Israel
after Israeli forces stormed the "Mavi Marmara" ship that was part of the Gaza
aid flotilla.

Palmer, who is also the General Director of the Atlas Global Initiative for
Free Trade, Peace and Prosperity, said that perhaps the Israeli authorities
should learn something from what happened.

"Free the trade with Gaza and let the people there work, produce and
flourish," he said.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Airlines System Employees' Union (Maseu) has urged
the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) cargo and logistics transport industries to boycott
all cargo shipments which would be onward shipped to Israel.

Maseu said it would fully support the motion on Palestine which would be
tabled at the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) World Congress in
Mexico City in August.

Its executive secretary, Mustafar Maarof, said the motion to be debated
involved the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for war crimes
committed during the conflict, and called for the immediate and unconditional
end to the Israeli blockade.

He said Maseu would also put on record its congratulations to the Norwegian
rail workers for their protest strike action against the war on Gaza and South
African Transport Workers Union (SATAWU) dockworker members who refused to
handle Israeli ships.

ITF is a federation of 570 transport trade unions from more than 132
countries, representing five million workers from the land, sea and air
transport sectors.
-- BERNAMA