TUFI Trade Union Delegation to Israel and Palestine

TUFI took a delegation of trade unionists to Israel and Palestine from 1-6 November. The visit included high level meetings with Israeli and Palestinian trade unionists, parliamentarians, diplomats and opinion formers across Israel and the West Bank.

TUFI regularly organises delegations to Israel and Palestine which aim to provide a comprehensive picture of the politics and society of the region: focusing on trade union issues and Israeli-Palestinian trade union co-operation, the demographically diverse peoples of both Israel and Palestine, Israel’s security dilemmas and Palestinian progress towards statehood. 

If you are interested in finding out more about the delegation, you can read the full report, see photos on Flickr, or read some of the delegates' posts on TUFI’s delegation blog.

Tony Blair hails two major Palestinian economic developments, resulting from Israeli-Palestinian cooperation

Palestinians marked two significant economic breakthroughs on 10 November, counterpoints to the current hiatus in peace negotiations with Israel. 

As a result of an initiative by UN Quartet Representative Tony Blair, the Jalama crossing between Israel’s Gilboa area and the Palestinian city of Jenin was opened to vehicles for the first time in eight years. It is hoped that this improvement in movement and access will increase the number of visitors to Jenin and boost the local economy.   Blair praised the opening of the crossing, saying that it might look like a simple act, but it indicated something larger and more meaningful.

On the same day, Blair also announced the official launch of Wataniya, the West Bank’s second mobile phone provider. The project represents the Palestinian’s largest ever foreign direct investment. Wataniya is now scheduled to invest $700 million in the Palestinian economy over a 10 year period, creating at least 750 skilled jobs and an additional 2,000 indirect jobs.

TUFI ANALYSIS: The Histadrut, Gaining Influence

When Benjamin Netanyahu was first Prime Minister from 1996 to 1999, he became renowned for his attacks on the public sector, slashing jobs and cutting salaries.  But since the formation of his coalition government in April this year, the Histadrut (Israeli TUC) has managed to negotiate no less than twelve new labour laws.

The requirement of employers to negotiate with unions, criminal sanctions against employers not paying the minimum wage, an increase in the day-care budget, extended unemployment benefits, and the expansion of the authority of Labour Courts are just a few of the laws that have been passed.   

So how has this happened?  In April this year, the Histadrut’s Chairman, Ofer Eini, was worried about Netanyahu coming back to power and the impact it would have on workers, so he decided to fight to get the Labour Party inside government and helped broker the coalition agreement.  This key mediating role has won Eini and the Histadrut unprecedented influence on government policy. Eini now has a veto over government salary changes and the right to take part in a “roundtable” forum that sets the framework for discussions between the government, the Histadurt and large companies.

Eini’s newly inflated position is also allowing him to continue co-operating confidently with his Palestinian counterparts.  In 2008 the Histadrut and the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) signed an agreement to base future relations on negotiation, dialogue and joint initiatives to advance “fraternity and co-existence”, and since then a number of other historic agreements have been signed between unions representing major sectors - such as Transport and Construction.

If you would like to find out more about the Histadrut and recent Israeli-Palestinian trade union co-operation, please visit our website.

Scottish TUC invite Palestinian fire-fighters for training

The Scottish TUC invited a delegation of Palestinian fire-fighters at the beginning of November to take part in training and attend a conference.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) formed part of the STUC delegation visit to Israel and Palestine in March 2009, and on their return, having made links with fire-fighters in Nablus, the FBU organised the delegation visit.

The peace organisation Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine (TULIP) praised the initiative, but also suggested that it would have been beneficial to promote co-operation by also involving Israeli fire-fighters.

British Council announces funding results for British-Israeli joint science projects

The first beneficiaries of a new scheme to promote academic ties between Britain and Israel were announced by the British Council at the end of October.

The fifteen winning Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnerships (BIRAX) will share grants totalling £365,000.  Jim Buttery, Director of the British Council in Israel, said that the scheme attracted a huge amount of interest, showing “a real appetite from academics in Britain to work together with their Israeli counterparts.”

BIRAX, which directly challenges calls for a boycott of Israeli academics, is funded by the Pears Foundation, the United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA) and the British and Israeli governments.

Court typists put full stop on work

Israeli court typists have been on strike since 12 November after negotiations between their representatives and the Israeli Finance Ministry hit an impasse.

During a noisy demonstration in Jerusalem on 22 November, the striking court typists blocked roads and stopped traffic. The Histadrut (Israeli TUC) has threatened to undertake more aggressive action if the typists are not given more pay and a collective employment agreement.

Israel seizes cargo ship containing Iranian weapons intended for Hezbollah

Israel seized control of a vessel carrying arms allegedly intended for Hezbollah on 4 November near the coast of Cyprus. Approximately 300 tonnes of weapons and ammunition were discovered on the ship that is believed to have set sail from Iran and intended for either Syria or Lebanon. 

Hamas halts rocket attacks on Israel & Gilad Shalit expected to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners

Hamas announced on 22 November that it had agreed with other militant groups in Gaza to halt rocket attacks on southern Israel.

The announcement is being linked to reports that Israel is close to an agreement with Hamas for the release of an Israeli soldier captured by the militants more than three years ago. Gilad Shalit is expected to be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian militants.

Over eight thousand rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza since 2001 and on 3 November Hamas tested a missile capable of travelling 60 kilometres, putting Tel Aviv within range.

UN General Assembly endorses Goldstone report, UK abstains

The UN General Assembly voted to endorse the Goldstone Report on 5 November, with the UK, along with most other EU countries, abstaining.

The UN Human Rights Council-commissioned Goldstone Report accuses both Israel and “Palestinian armed groups” of committing war crimes during Israel’s military operation in Gaza.

The Arab League and Non-Aligned Movement drafted resolution calls on Israel and the Palestinians to undertake “independent, credible investigations” into their conduct during the conflict within the next three months. The resolution also requested that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon send the Goldstone Report to the Security Council. Ahead of the UN vote, Foreign Secretary David Miliband repeated that whilst the Goldstone Report does raise serious issues, it also contains flaws and therefore the UN should “not endorse the Goldstone Report.”

Israeli human rights group B’Tselem reported on 4 November that the Israeli military is currently investigating 21 cases of harm allegedly caused to Palestinians during Operation Cast Lead. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on 25 October that the government was establishing a taskforce, headed by Justice Minister Ya’akov Ne’eman, to ensure that the military investigations are thorough and serious.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas threatens to resign

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced in a televised speech on 5 November that he will not seek re-election.  

Asserting that his decision was not about “bargaining or political manoeuvring,” Abbas blamed the impasse in efforts to resume peace negotiations with Israel for his decision not to run again and accused the US of backtracking on its Middle East policy, by refusing to force Israel to implement a total settlement construction freeze. The Palestinian president also had harsh words for Hamas, saying that its “bloody coup” in the Gaza Strip and its refusal to sign an inter-Palestinian reconciliation agreement was a contributing factor in his decision to leave office.