Israel-bound oil tanker blocked in Italy is registered in Malta
'Action not rhetoric' - ADPD hails Italy blockade of Seasalvia in port of Taranto
A tanker that was blocked by Italian port authorities from loading 30,000 tons of crude oil bound for Israel is registered in Malta.
The Seasalvia, an oil tanker built in 2013, was blocked from entering the port of Taranto in southern Italy earlier this week. The tanker was due to load crude oil bound for Ashkelon where Israeli authorities want the Global Sumud Flotilla to dock instead of heading to Gaza. Reports suggest the oil was destined for the Israeli airforce.
Italian media reported that Eni, the owner of the refinery that was meant to pump the crude oil into the holds of the ship chartered by Shell, unilaterally revoked authorisation for the vessel to dock at its pier. Two grassroots unions, Usb and Cobas, together with a number of other associations and residents organised protests in the port.
According to reports, port workers in Genoa and other cities had declared during demonstrations in Italy in recent days that if the boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla were attacked, they would “block everything”.
In a statement on Friday, ADPD the Green Party lauded the Italian unions for blocking the Maltese-flagged ship, saying they took action while the Maltese government used rhetoric.
“Despite Prime Minister Robert Abela's rhetoric about the oppression of Palestinians and the genocide by Israel, Abela does not take action where it can have real effect. Malta has one of the largest shipping registers in the world and can take strong action involving the supply of resources to the Israeli genocidal machine,” the ADPD said.
It suggested the government “can withdraw the registration of Malta-flagged ships supplying fuel, weapons and other resources to Israel”.