An Ilocos Region peasant group condemned the Zionist state of Israel for its recent announcement of cooperating with the Ilocos Norte local government to impart practices in modern agriculture. The cooperation in agriculture and other fields was announced after Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh’s two-day visit to the province on November 25 to 26.

The Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation or STOP Exploitation, a regional chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, or Peasant Movement of the Philippines), is certain that the Zionist Israel will not help the province’s peasant masses. “This cooperation has no other agenda but to maintain the imperialist agenda in agriculture through the loyal attack dog of the US, Israel,” the group said.

The group stated that the Marcos regime has not been content with allowing the imperialist US to use Ilocos Norte as a military base. It has now brought the war criminal Zionist Israel into the province. “Marcos is now fully offering his province and the entire country to the intervention even of the US’ lapdogs,” the group said.

In cooperating, the Zionist Israel plans to establish a farm at Mariano Marcos State University in Batac City. It also encouraged Filipino students to join the Philippine-Israel Internship Program for the Youth, a Zionist state’s training program for the agriculture sector.

Kursh also said it will strengthen ties in culture and business and deepen the connection between Israelis and Ilocos Norte people.

KMP has long condemned the strengthening ties between Israel and the Philippine government, especially amid the genocidal war being launched by the former against the Palestinian people. The most serious of these relations is the Philippines’ direct purchase of war materiel from Israel and its companies.

In recent years, the Philippines has become one of Israel’s top buyers for arms purchases. The Philippines ranks third among its largest consumers, after India and the US. An estimated 8.1% of Israel’s arms exports go to the Philippines.

Unrelenting genocide against Palestinians

While promoting cooperation with the Philippines, the Israel Zionist state continues its violent occupation of Palestinian land. Despite its ceasefire agreement with Gaza, Israeli Zionist military forces continue to bomb and kill Palestinians.

The Zionist Israel has reportedly violated the ceasefire agreement in Gaza more than 500 times since October 10, or nearly 50 days. These attacks have killed at least 342 civilians, including children.

Bombings and assaults have killed more than 69,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023.

“From the Philippines to Palestine, from fields to frontlines, we share a common struggle: to break free from the chains of landlessness, fascist repression, and imperialist plunder,” the KMP said in October. The group continues to support the Palestinian masses for a future rooted in land, justice, and liberation.