Full Delegation Report: 9 - 14 November 2008
The delegates
Ronnie Draper, BFAWU National President
Linda Rolph, General Secretary of Advance Union
Rob Sneddon, Community Union
Bernie Rooney, Community Union
Kevin Flood, BFAWU National Executive
Marylin French, BFAWU National Executive
Pauline McCarthy, BFAWU National Executive
Keith Mallinson, UCU National Executive
The delegation also included three members of the TUFI team: Roger Lyons, Doreen Gerson and Steve Scott.
Monday 10 November, Jerusalem
The first day began with a tour of the Old City of Jerusalem to help set the historical and religious context of the political situation and give an insight into the significance of Jerusalem for Jews, Muslims and Christians alike.
The delegation went through the Old City of David and travelled up to the Mount of Olives where they were treated to the spectacular views over the Old City and beyond. The tour also included visits to the Western Wall of the Second Temple, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Tomb of King David, the Dome of the Rock and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Lunch was kindly hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Rafi Barak, Deputy Director General with responsibility for Western Europe. He spoke about the contemporary issues affecting Israeli security, namely: the threat of Iran and the impending likelihood of it gaining a nuclear capability; the negative effect of Hamas on the Peace Process; and the threat of Hezbollah. He said that whilst talks with the Syrians were looking promising, they were still rearming Hezbollah.
Barak said that Israel’s relationship with the UK was very good at all levels and he expressed his delight at the Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP, addressing the Knesset as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the State of Israel.
After lunch the delegation took the short trip to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Centre in Jerusalem. The delegation took a guided tour through the centre which chronicled the rise of Nazism and the persecution of the Jews of occupied Europe and the full horrors of the Holocaust and its centrality in the foundation of the State of Israel and impact on Jewish cultural identity.
After a full first day, the delegation was treated to a dinner hosted by the Government Employees’ Union and their Chairman, Ariel Jacobi, and other officials.
Tuesday 11th November, The Palestinian Territories
Day two and the delegation took the coach for the journey to the Kalandia checkpoint, North of Jerusalem, and were met by representatives of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), who escorted the delegation to Ramallah and the offices of the PGFTU for meetings and a tour.
Over the past 7 years I have seen significant progress in the relationships between Israeli and Palestinian trade unionists. If both governments can follow this shining example then we will have a basis for lasting peace in the area.
Ronnie Draper, National President, BFAWU
The delegates’ first meeting was with Husain Al-Foqahaa, National Secretary of the PGFTU, and other PGFTU representatives, for a briefing on all aspects of PGFTU operations and development. One particular issue that was highlighted was the olive harvest famers and their disputes with the Israeli security services. The delegation said that they would bring this up in discussions with an Israeli Government Minister later in the week.
After the meeting, the delegates were taken to visit the Amari refugee camp administered by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The UNRWA manager briefed the delegation on the history of the camp and gave his views on the solution to the refugee issue. He then guided the delegates around the camp to meet with some of the residents.
The delegates were driven to down town Ramallah for a taste of the Ramallah life and shops.
The next meeting was with the General Secretary of the PGFTU, Shaher Sae’d. Shaher spoke about the recent agreement with the Histadrut and a new era of co-operation with their Israeli counterparts, and in particular his opposite number, Ofer Eini.
He said it would be helpful if the delegates could ask the TUC to develop activities between the PGFTU and Histadrut with training and development.
Later that evening, in honour of a visit from a representative of a UK banking union, the delegation was hosted by the Employee Committee of Bank Otsar Ha-Hayal in Tel Aviv’s spectacular Azrieli Tower.
Wednesday 12th November, Security Barrier, The Dead Sea, Jerusalem Municipality
An early start for the delegation for a busy day. First off was the drive north for a visit and briefing about Israel’s - often controversial - security barrier. Delegates met an IDF Reservist who gave a tour of the barrier. He explained the technical aspects, the route and composition of the barrier. The delegation took a tour around the Palestinian town of Qalqilya and was able to see a checkpoint in action. It was pointed out to the delegation that when the barrier is completed, the walled section will only comprise 9% in total.
Next was a long journey down to the Dead Sea and the lowest place on Earth. Delegates met with the Jerusalem Municipality Workers’ Union, a cross communal body that represents workers employed by the Jerusalem Council, many of whom were old friends of TUFI. They spoke about their determination to work across the communal divide and defend workers rights.
The delegation was given some free time to take in the spa waters of the Dead Sea and the uniqueness of floating on the salty water.
The journey back to Tel Aviv went through the Negev desert at dusk, back to Tel Aviv, straight for a meeting at the Histadrut headquarters with Israeli Welfare Minister and Labour Party MK, Yitzak Herzog. Minister Herzog spoke about the problems facing the Israeli Labor Party, the upcoming elections and his support for organised labour.
After a quick change, delegates then went to the Susanna Restaurant for dinner with the Union of Clerks and Public Service Employees (UCAPSE) in old Tel Aviv.
Thursday 13th November, The Histadrut and the Brotherhood of Teamsters
For the final day the delegation split into two groups. One group went to visit the Angel bakery in Lod and met with shop stewards, and the other group attended an historical meeting between the Chairmen of the Israeli Transport Workers’ Union, Avi Edri, the Palestinian Transport Workers’ Union, Naser Yunes, and the President of the American International Brotherhood of Teamsters, James Hoffa. The meeting was held at the Rabin Peace Centre and Dalia, Yitzhak Rabin’s daughter, was also in attendance.
A thought–provoking and well-organised trip, one which highlighted the needs of workers on both sides and vividly demonstrated the significance of a peaceful solution and its importance for both Palestinian and Israeli trade unions. If you get the opportunity to go, then do it!
Rob Sneddon, Community Union
The Teamsters had brought with them a full delegation from the US for a full week of events including the commemoration of the 13th Anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister Rabin.
After lunch the party went to Alumim Village in Kfar Saba to attend James Hoffa’s rededication of the Ein Kerem orphanage. The orphanage was initially set up with the help of the Teamsters’ Union and the late President Jimmy Hoffa Sr in the 1950s so it was a fitting and emotional rededication by the Teamster leader.
The dinner on the last night of the delegation was hosted by the Histadrut, with guest speaker, Gil Shamy, the Executive Director of the One Voice Peace Movement. Gil said that majority of Israeli and Palestinians favour a two state solution to the conflict and that it was One Voice’s role to give these people a voice to push politicians into action.
TUFI would like to thank Avital Shapira-Shabirow, Director of the Histadrut International Department for co-ordinating the delegation, the PGFTU for hosting the activities in Ramallah, and all the unions for their hospitality.
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