April / May 2010 Update
TUFI’s monthly update looks at important trade union issues in Israel and the Palestinian territories, the Middle East Peace Process, regional developments, domestic Israeli and Palestinian affairs and primary issues affecting British trade union policy on Israel
First round of Middle East indirect peace talks completed
Indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians are finally under way after months of political deadlock. The first round of talks ended with the United States (US) confirming its envoy George Mitchell would return to the region within weeks.
The US urged both sides to keep up the effort after Mr Mitchell met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday 9 May. Mr Mitchell will now shuttle between the two sides, with hopes that direct talks can start within four months.
The talks went ahead a day after receiving the backing of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Arab League.
The start of indirect talks in March was halted by a row over the building of 1,600 new Israeli homes in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he hoped the indirect talks would quickly move to direct negotiations:
"We are neighbours of the Palestinians and they are our neighbours. Over time one cannot assume that that we will reach decisions and agreements on critical issues such as security and our national interests and their interests if we don't sit in the same room."
The Histadrut calls for positive trade union action at ICTU Middle East Conference
The Histadrut has called on all trade unions throughout the world to support the Histadrut and the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) in their joint efforts and ventures.
Speaking in Dublin on 16 April at an Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) conference, titled The Middle East - The Way Forward for Trade Union Solidarity, the director of the Histadrut’s international department Avital Shapira-Shabirow invited international trade unions to visit Israel and Palestine and support joint Histadrut-PGFTU activities.
Ms Shapira-Shabirow said she was “disappointed” and “frustrated” with ICTU’s own position towards boycotting Israel and urged it instead to focus efforts on activities that would assist workers in the region. She said the Histadrut would not cease in its efforts to promote peace and mutual understanding between Israelis and Palestinians, adding that it was their duty to be an example and a model for Israeli and Palestinian political leaders.
The Histadrut starts negotiations on public sector pay
The Israeli treasury and the Histadrut (Israeli TUC) opened negotiations yesterday (16 May) on a new collective bargaining agreement for over 700,000 public sector workers. The process is expected to last six months.
The Israeli newspaper, Ha'aretz, reported on 16 May that the Histadrut is expected to request raises of 7%, while the Finance Ministry’s red line is thought to be 3%.
The last agreement covering 2004-2008 gave public employees a 5% raise spread over the period.
Israeli parliamentary committee calls for more Arab-Israelis to be employed in the civil service
An Israeli parliamentary committee has released a report critising the government for not doing enough to employ more Arab-Israelis in the civil service.
The findings of the report were published on 15 May by Ahmed Tibi, an Arab-Israeli member of Israel’s parliament. The report said the percentage of Arab workers in the public sector was only six percent, well short of the government’s target of 10 percent by 2012. Only one department, the Department of Culture and Sport, has managed to reach the government’s target quota.
OECD members vote unanimously to invite Israel to join
Israel has been accepted as a full member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The OECD said that it had unanimously voted for Israel to join after it met specific criteria as a developed, open economy.
Joining the OECD is thought likely to boost Israel's economic standing and help attract investment. Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz hailed the move as "historic because it gives legitimacy to Israel as an advanced and developed country."
Hamas detains Palestinian protestors critical of regime
Hamas militants detained a group of Palestinian political activists on 27 April for distributing leaflets criticising the regime.
The leaflets, which were being handed out by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), urged Hamas to stop violating freedoms, oppressing political opponents and imposing taxes on small businesses in the enclave.
Another group, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), has urged peaceful protests against Hamas’ taxes. In a statement, the DFLP expressed concern over the “draconian” tax laws, calling the measures out of step with the needs of Palestinians, and called for “popular action and peace protests to stop these measures."
UK academic union to debate hosting international guest found guilty of hate speech
The University College Union’s Oxford University branch has submitted a motion critising the union for inviting Bongani Masuku to the UK in December last year.
Mr Masuku, a South African trade unionist, was invited to discuss boycotts against Israel. However, before the invitation, the South African Human Rights Commission found him guilty of hate speech.
The Oxford University motion states that “these remarks were publicly available on the internet well before UCU’s invitation to Masuku was issued” and calls for the union to dissociate itself from Masuku’s “repugnant views”. It also calls for disciplinary action to be taken against the elected members responsible for the official invitation.
To read the full motion click here.
British Jews set up taskforce to work with Israeli Arabs
A new Jewish community initiative to promote understanding and equality for Israel’s Arab citizens is now up and running with the announcement of its first coordinator, Dr Alice Wood.
The United Kingdom Task Force on Arab Citizens of Israel was set up last year by a broad coalition of Jewish organisations, to deepen UK Jewish engagement and understanding of issues facing Israeli Arabs and to leverage communal resources to provide effective solutions for furthering their rights.
The London-based body also hopes to encourage member organisations to work with and empower Israeli partners to strengthen civil society activity, including the strengthening of Jewish and Arab leadership.
TUFI invited to attend GMB and CWU annual conferences
TUFI has been invited to exhibit at both GMB and CWU’s annual conferences in the coming weeks. This should be a great opportunity to engage with delegates, answer questions about the Middle East Peace Process and promote positive joint Israeli-UK-Palestinian trade union projects.
If you are planning on attending the GMB or the CWU conference, please do come along to TUFI’s stand to find out more about our activities.
Gaza surfers ride on wave of goodwill
US filmmaker Alexander Klein has made a documentary about Israeli groups working to help Palestinian surfers in Gaza.
The film, called God Went Surfing with the Devil, tells the story of Israeli organisations, such as Explore Corps and Jewish Surfing for Peace, that have sent surf boards and wetsuits to Palestinian surfers, hoping to extend the hand of friendship
Mr Klein said that "so much of the Middle East narrative is a conflict narrative... here was a story about young guys who could have been coming together to shoot at each other, but instead all they want to do is surf together."