The President of Mercosul Parliament upholds commercial sanctions against Israel

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Agência Brasil de Fato 01/16/2009
Fernando César Oliveira

The Member of Brazilian Parliament Dr. Rosinha (Workers’ Party), president of Mercosul Parliament, upheld this Thursday the adoption of commercial sanctions against Israel on the part of international community on account of the military attacks against Palestinians in Gaza Strip.

Since last December 27th, within nearly three weeks of attacks, the Israeli army have already killed more than one thousand Palestinians, and hurt approximately another 4 thousand. According to medical sources, at least 40% of the dead are civilians.

“To force an effective cease-fire, and even prevent new attacks in the future, Israel should be the target of immediate economic sanctions by other countries and by the blocks of international community”, considers Dr. Rosinha. “What we see so far are the UN resolutions being ignored, while the massacre continues”.

The president of Mercosul Parliament quoted a recent article published by the Canadian journalist and writer Naomi Klein in the British newspaper “The Guardian”. In the text, she compares Israeli’s occupation in Palestine to the apartheid in South Africa, country which was the target of commercial blockades due to its racial segregation regime. “Cold commercial calculus led many companies to withdraw from South Africa two decades ago,” concludes the text. “It is exactly this kind of calculus that represents our most realistic hope in bringing justice to Palestine after so long absence”.

Dr. Rosinha also disclosed that he is going to work against the approval of, by the Brazilian National Congress, the message that deals with the free-trade agreement between Mercosul and Israel. Signed in December 2007, the agreement follows the procedures in the Brazilian Legislative since October of last year.

In March 2008, the Brazilian deputy had already presented, in the ambit of Mercosul Parliament, a proposal of recommendation concerning the agreement Mercosul-Israel. “Contrary to what did the European Union and Canada when they signed treaties with Israel, Mercosul is not prohibiting the import of products that come from illegally occupied territory,” observes Dr. Rosinha.

“The current text of the Brazilian Constitution does not allow the Legislative to veto an agreement, but we can simply put it off or, in this specific case with Israel, we can introduce restrictions”.

Translated from Portuguese (for the translation, please see About page)
For the Original Text in Portuguese click here

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