Trade Union Friends of Israel

Histadrut International Department

After the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, there was an increasing political recognition by both Palestinians and Israelis of the need for two states of two peoples who live side by side. Over time, there were negotiations yielding political and economic agreements and extending dialogue between the Israeli and the Palestinian governments as well as between the NGOs, including Israel’s General Federation of Labor, Histadrut, and the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions.

Since the signing of the Oslo Accords, the Histadrut`s policy has been to cooperate with the Arab trade unions in general, and the Palestinian trade unions in particular, and we have taken concrete steps to implement this policy.

On March 5, 1995, exactly eleven years ago, the Histadrut signed a framework Agreement for Cooperation with PGFTU, under which Israeli Occupational Services Office transfers directly to the PGFTU 50 % of the official organizational dues of Palestinian workers’ working in Israel. The other 50% of these dues are transferred to the Histadrut. An additional legal agreement was signed on February 20, 1997, provided for Histadrut attorneys to protect the rights of Palestinians work working legally in Israel. Hundred of thousands of Israeli Shekels were transferred to the PGFTU, and hundreds of Palestinian workers attained legal counseling free of charge against Israeli employers who violated their rights.

In October 2000, after the failure of negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians, the outbreak of the Second Palestinian Intifada (the Al Aqsa Intifada) caused the death and injury of thousands of people on both sides. To our great sorrow, as a result of the violence perpetrated upon Israeli’s by Palestinian terrorist organizations, relations between the Histadrut and the PGFTU ceased, and at Histadrut stopped remitting dues and providing legal services. Nevertheless, throughout the entire period of the Intifada, we continued to have telephone dialogue with PGFTU General Secretary Shaher Sa`ed, and the Histadrut continued to help legal Palestinian workers attain entry permits, subject to restrictions imposed by the security forces.

The acceptance of the "Roadmap" by the Israeli and the Palestinian governments in 2003, the election of Abu Mazen as the successor Chairman of the Palestinian Authority after the death of Arafat in 2004, and the implementation of the "Disengagement Plan" from Gaza Strip and five settlements in West Bank in 2005, raised a ray of hope for change in the Middle East and for the achievement of co-existence between the two peoples, living side-by-side in stability, security and peace.

The Palestinian elections, which were held on January 25, 2006, resulted in new situation: Hamas, which has been declared to be a terrorist organization by most of the international community, has a major role in a Palestinian administration that seeks to enjoy international legitimacy.

If Hamas abandons its extreme ideology, if it accepts the demands of Israel and the international community to recognize the right of Israel to exist; annuls the Hamas Covenant calling for the destruction of Israel; dismantles of all terrorist organizations; and accepts all signed agreements between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government, we can return to the negotiating table.

If these conditions are not fulfilled, the State of Israel will be forced to break off any relations with the elected Palestinian Government.

Notwithstanding, it is very important to make a clear distinction between the Palestinian Government and the Palestinian NGOs, which act independently, do not receive financial support from the Palestinian Authority, and, in contrast to Hamas, respect agreements signed with Israeli organizations promoting bilateral relations.

Furthermore, Israel must not ignore the needs of the Palestinian population. Increasing pressure on this population will not increase the pressure on Hamas, but rather on Israel. The international community will have greater moral force dealing with the Palestinian Authority if it acts in a humanitarian manner towards its citizens.

The Histadrut makes a clear distinction between the Palestinian government and the trade unions which are affiliated to PGFTU, headed by General Secretary Shaher Sae`d, which recognize the basic right of Israel to exist, promote co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians, oppose terror and seek cooperation with Histadrut.

The Histadrut strives to cooperate with the PGFTU, any other Palestinian NGOs that promote the peace process in our region and trade unions throughout the world in order to protect workers and pensioners and protect their rights in our region (for further information in this domain, please view the Histadrut Resolution regarding Peace and Security, which is attached to this folder).

Furthermore, we believe that there is an international responsibility to promote and strengthen the relationship between the Israeli and Palestinian trade unions, in order to promote the peace process, and also to enable the Palestinian trade unions to be a sane alternative and an appropriate answer to the Palestinian workers` needs and problems.