ITUC General Secretary says that Israeli-Palestinian trade union co-operation has an important role

Guy Ryder, the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), has said that Israeli-Palestinian trade union co-operation has an important “contribution to make in promoting peace and mutual understanding in the Middle East.”    

In meetings held over two days (16-17 February) with senior Israeli and Palestinian trade unionists in Israel and the West Bank, Mr Ryder said that “with the peace process effectively in stalemate at present, the ITUC’s working together with our Israeli and Palestinian affiliates is especially important.”   He stressed the important role of the Palestine General federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and welcomed indications that the Palestine Authority (PA) would establish an economic and social council to “institutionalise” social dialogue. 

Mr Ryder also met with Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the PA, to discuss the economic problems confronting Palestinians and the government’s plans to tackle employment services, vocational training and other labour issues. 

Britain and the Palestinian Authority aim to help develop Palestinian institutions

Britain and the Palestinian Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 11 February, agreeing to work together on a set of programmes to tackle poverty and improve governance in the Palestinian territories.

The UK confirmed its plans to spend £82 million in 2009-10 and £74 million in 2010-11.  Speaking at the Palestinian prime minister’s office in Ramallah on 11 February, Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander said “it is vital that we continue our joint efforts to build and maintain strong Palestinian institutions capable of delivering high-quality services to their people. The UK is committed to this task and our support is making a real difference.”

Palestinian president hints at indirect peace negotiations with Israel as Clinton pushes for talks to start soon

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the US wants to see a quick resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.  Clinton told a US congressional committee on 24 February that “it’s absolutely essential that they begin to talk about the issues that divide them."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has reportedly agreed to a US proposal for indirect peace talks, or “proximity talks”, between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority, with US Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell acting as a mediator, shuttling messages between negotiating teams in separate rooms.

If talks resume, they will be the first since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama each took office.  The central issues in the six-decade conflict are: the delineation of borders; the fate of Jewish settlements on the West Bank; the status of Jerusalem, which both sides claim; and the rights of Palestinian refugees.

More faked British passports used in assassination of founder of Hamas’ armed wing

Six more British citizens had their passports cloned by the killers of a senior Hamas official, Dubai police said on 24 February as they revealed a total of 15 new suspects in the assassination.  The latest information brings to 26 the total number of suspects wanted in connection with the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, 12 of whom entered the Gulf state using the stolen identities of real British nationals.

Mr Al-Mabhouh was murdered in his Dubai hotel room on January 19 2010.  Local police have said that they are “99 per cent certain” that it was carried out by Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency.  Israel has refused to confirm or deny the reports, citing its “policy of ambiguity” on intelligence matters.  

Mr Al-Mabhouh was a senior Hamas military commander, a founder of Hamas’ armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and is believed to have been involved in the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip.  In 1989 he claimed responsibility for abducting and killing two unarmed Israeli soldiers.

UN nuclear watchdog accuses Iran over nuclear weapons

The United Nations' nuclear watchdog has increased pressure on Iran by publicly describing concerns over atomic weapons for the first time.  In a report released on 18 February, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it feared that Tehran could be working on a "nuclear payload for a missile" in its bluntest report yet on Iran’s uranium enrichment programme. 

The report said that Iranian scientists had already begun refining uranium to 20 per cent, in a clear breach of UN obligations, and had increased its low-enriched uranium stockpile by about 250kg to 2,060kg since November — enough for one or two nuclear bombs if enriched to 90 per cent purity.

The US is already leading a push for the UN Security Council to impose a fourth round of sanctions on Iran because of suspicions it may be developing nuclear weapons. And Russia joined the West in their support for tougher sanctions against Iran when they announced on 17 February that it is to delay further the delivery of its S-300 advanced air defence missiles to the country.  

Starting salaries in the Israeli construction sector to be above the minimum wage

Israeli trade union leaders have signed a collective agreement to raise the starting salary in the construction sector to nearly 12% more than the national minimum wage. 

The agreement was signed on 21 January by the Chairman of the Histadrut, Ofer Eini, the President of the Association of Construction and Builders, Nissim Boublil, and the Construction Workers' Union Chairman, Yitzhak Moyal.   As well as increasing the basic salary, the agreement will also add many other benefits, such as: a comprehensive pension from the first day of work, compensation for the cancellation of work due to poor weather and an annual quota of holiday and sick days.

All the benefits in the agreement will also apply to workers employed by contractors, Palestinians and migrant workers employed in the sector.  

In Brief: Israeli Industrial News

- Bank workers in dispute

Israel Discount Bank employees continued their industrial action throughout February, with IT workers striking one morning every week.  The employees are demanding that the bank officially hire 750 temporary workers, granting them full rights as regular full-time workers.  The union representing the employees has said it wants to ensure that the bank does not use the temporary workers to replace the current full-time staff. 

- First ever outsider named to Histadrut post

The Histadrut (Israeli TUC) has appointed someone outside the federation to take up the second most important position at the organisation.  After personally holding the post of Trade Union Division chairman for four years, the Chairman of the Histadrut, Ofer Eini, has appointed Daniel Avi Nissenkorn to the position.  

This is the first time in the Histadrut's history that the Trade Union Division will be headed by an individual appointed on a professional basis, rather than someone who has risen through the ranks of the workers’ committees or elected by Histadrut members.

- Saucy workers barricade plant

Employees at Miluz Limited, the manufacturer of the "Tal" brand tomato paste, barricaded the food plant in northern Israel on 15 February to protest against the sacking of 37% of the company’s employees. The protesters fear that the lay-offs are an attempt to cut the company's workforce ahead of the closing and sale of the plant.

- Water Authority strike ends

A long strike by Water Authority workers in Israel has come to an end.  After sixty days, the Histadrut and government officials came to an agreement that will give workers a pay-rise and ensure the preservation of their social benefits. The walkout initially started after tensions between management and staff boiled over regarding additional responsibilities for no extra pay.  

- Histadrut saves textile factory from closing

The Histadrut has helped save the large Mulitan textile factory in Israel by providing a £350,000 loan to assist with the sale of the financially-troubled company. 

The local District Court approved the deal on 1 February after the Histadrut agreed to use its emergency fund, which it set up to help troubled factories during the recession. 

The Office relocates to Israel

The Israeli version of David Brent has been unveiled, as the character swaps Slough for Tel Aviv.  Ricky Gervais's character of the hapless boss is reborn - with less hair - as Avi Meshulam, played by actor Dvir Benedek, as BBC sitcom The Office relocates for TV audiences in Israel.

The show, created by Gervais and Stephen Merchant, will be named Super Office.  Gareth becomes Yariv, Dawn is Dana and her love interest Tim becomes Yossi.

The show will also feature some new characters, including: Abed, "an intellectual Arab with a gentle soul"; Abba, a softly-spoken accountant of Ethiopian origin; and Leah, a highly Orthodox Jewish woman who is "constantly pregnant."

Gervais said: "I am thrilled and amazed that Israel are making The Office with local writers, directors and actors."