The TULIP (Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine) website issued the full text of the Israeli Trade Union, Histadrut's, statement on the Gaza blockade:
Histadrut is committed to the existence of two sovereign, independent and democratic states existing in peace and mutual respect.
The partial blockade of Gaza was put in place by Israel in response to attacks by Hamas and others on people in Israel.
Histadrut recognises the impacts that this has had on the people of Gaza, and reaffirms its commitment to humanitarian assistance to improve the situation in Gaza.
The current situation is unsustainable, from the economic, political and humanitarian perspective.
Histadrut therefore supports the lifting of the restrictions in the shortest possible time frame, in conditions of real movement to achieving the two-state solution.
This can only be achieved on the basis of guarantees for Israel’s security including the inspection of cargoes, and the good will and commitment of all the parties, including the international community, to alleviate the suffering of all those affected and to bring economic progress to Gaza in parallel with genuine moves for fully-fledged democracy and peace.
I second that wholeheartedly.
The suffering of the people of Gaza must end as soon as possible but not at the expense of the lives of thousands of Israelis.
Whatever can be done, should be done.
Israel has responded to pressure and eased restrictions. Tony Blair is busy trying to find a solution to help Gaza which does not imperil Israel.
Today, however, the International Red Cross condemned the blockade as illegal and accuses Israel of collective punishment as reported by the BBC:
The whole of Gaza's civilian population is being punished for acts for which they bear no responsibility.
What! Bear no responsibility? Who the heck voted for Hamas then? That's like saying the Germans weren't responsible for the Nazis and the allies should not have bombed them.