MV Kathrin’s cargo has caused multiple headlines
Portugal’s minority AD government is inching closer towards making a decision over the Portuguese flagged vessel – carrying explosive material for an Israeli weapons manufacturer – that has put the country into an unwelcome global spotlight.
After foreign affairs minister Paulo Rangel admitted in interview with Público and Radio Renascença that the government knows part of the cargo will end up in Israel, minister for the presidency António Leitão Amaro has said that “full clarification” has been requested and the issue is under legal analysis.
Leitão Amaro also confirmed that the German-owned MV Kathrin (registered in Madeira) is carrying material for companies that supply arms to Israel.
At a briefing at the end of yesterday’s meeting of the Council of Ministers, he acknowledged, as has Rangel, that this is “a complex legal issue” as it is a German-owned ship flying the Portuguese flag, and “going to ports that are not in Israel, but in Europe.”
These arguments have cut no ice with left wing parties, who see the government’s shilly-shallying as tacit complicity in an Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people. The Left Bloc (BE) and PCP communists are pushing for the ship to be ordered to remove the Portuguese flag, and spare the country the stain of this complicity.
Leitão Amaro was very much put on the spot by reporters yesterday, repeating much of what Paulo Rangel has already said about the ship “not going to Israel; it’s going to other countries…” and referring to Portugal’s position over arms exports to Israel generally.
“It was this government that banned arms exports to Israel,” he said. “This shows Portugal’s alignment and position (…) It’s a very balanced position and one that has led several other countries to also adopt this very balanced position.”
But this is not the interpretation of numerous bystanders, including UN special rapporteur Francesa Albanese.
Last week, the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs unanimously approved a hearing of Paulo Rangel, to give explanations on the matter. He is due to address the committee on October 15.
By coincidence (perhaps) SIC Notícias this morning is carrying graphic footage of Irsaeli soldiers “caught” (on camera) pushing the bodies of Palestinians off a roof.
“We alert to the images that could shock”, says the station – suggesting the pressure on the government right now may not be coming solely from Portugal’s left wing opposition.
Source material: LUSA/ SIC Notícias
