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

Israel and the Palestinians to resume direct talks

Peace Talks Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to resume direct negotiations for the first time in 20 months. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have been invited by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, on behalf of US President Barack Obama, to Washington on 2 September to start the talks. They have agreed to place a one-year time limit on the direct negotiations, which will cover all core issues including Israeli settlements and the borders of a two state solution, the status of Jerusalem and the rights of Palestinian refugees.

Obama has also invited King Abdullah of Jordan and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to attend. Clinton stated that the Egyptian and Jordanian leaders have a “critical role” in ending the Middle East conflict. Quartet Representative Tony Blair has also been invited to the talks.

Mr Netanyahu welcomed the US announcement, saying that "reaching an agreement is a difficult challenge but is possible". The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said that the talks should be productive, however President Abbas has threatened to withdraw if Israel’s current moratorium on West Bank settlement construction is not extended beyond September, when it is due to expire. Hamas’ leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, said the talks will lead to nothing and that instead of talking to the Israelis, the Palestinians “should trust God”.

Quartet Representative says crucial response to de-legitimisation of Israel is to deal with legitimate criticism

Speaking at Israel’s Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya on 24 August, Quartet Representative Tony Blair warned of the threat of ongoing efforts to de-legitimise Israel. He asserted that there were a growing number of people who claim to support a two-state solution yet refuse to acknowledge or appreciate Israel’s point of view on a number of crucial issues, such as its legitimate desire to prevent rockets being imported into Gaza or its fear that ending the occupation of the West Bank could lead to a dangerous security power vacuum in the territory.

Mr Blair asserted that “a crucial response to de-legitimisation is to deal with the legitimate criticism”, which means “Israel should be constantly looking for ways to compensate [the Palestinians] for the indignity which inevitably results from the security measures taken and should seek to avoid any unnecessary indignities”. In this vain, he called for more to be done to “improve the daily lives of Palestinians”, pointing to the success of recent measures to improve West Bank freedom of movement and the capability of the Palestinian Authority’s security forces.

The full speech can be read here.

International transport workers’ federation adopts positive balanced resolution on Israel/Palestine

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) passed a resolution at its congress in Mexico City at the beginning of the month praising joint Israeli-Palestinian trade union work and welcoming a recent statement made by the Israeli trade union federation (the Histadrut) calling for the establishment of two independent democratic states.

As well as calling for a “lifting of the blockade on Gaza in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1860 (2009) and the opening of all Gaza ports, and for Israel to end the occupation of the West Bank and to remove all settlements” the motion also rejects boycotts of Israel and instead calls for “universal recognition of Israel’s right to exist, next to an independent viable Palestinian state, acknowledging that this is essential to achieving a peaceful solution”.

The motion was proposed by Nasser Younis of the Palestine General Union for Transport Workers and seconded by Bob Crow of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.

Israeli and Palestinian industry ministers meet to develop economic links

Israeli Industry, Trade and Labour Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer met with his Palestinian Authority (PA) counterpart, National Economy Minister Hassan Abu Libda, in Tel Aviv on 12 August to discuss how economic links between Israel and the PA could be improved. This was the first such meeting in five years.

Mr Ben-Eliezer asked Mr Abu Libda to put an end to a PA sponsored boycott of Israeli settlement goods and expressed opposition to the PA’s intention to pass a law making it illegal for Palestinians to work in Israeli-owned businesses in the West Bank. Mr Abu Libda asked for Israel’s cooperation in the PA’s request for observer status at the World Trade Organisation.

Following the meeting Mr Ben-Eliezer said both sides were “at a historic moment, with the chance to create a positive atmosphere at the start of direct negotiations between the sides”.

Peace would enable Palestinian economy to grow by 20% a year

The Palestinian President’s top economic adviser, Mohammad Mustafa, has said that the Palestinian economy may grow up to 20 percent annually if there is peace with Israel. In an interview on 3 August in Ramallah, Mr Mustafa, the chairman and chief executive office of the Palestine Investment Fund, said: “If people see serious negotiations, we can improve the business environment and investment opportunity... if they see an agreement, the sky is the limit. We’ll talk about 15 to 20 percent growth easily.”

Palestinian economic growth accelerated to 6.8 percent last year from 5 percent in 2008, which the World Bank described as impressive though “precarious” because it relied on $1.4 billion in support from foreign donations.

Israel removes concrete barrier in East Jerusalem following improvements in the security situation

The Israeli army has begun removing a concrete security barrier which has separated East Jerusalem’s Jewish neighbourhood of Gilo from the Arab district of Beit Jalla since 2002. The security barrier was erected during the second Intifada to protect Gilo residents from regular sniper and machine gun fire but is no longer deemed necessary.

Israel announced on 10 August that it would relax a number of West Bank security policies during the Muslim festival of Ramadan, to allow for improved Palestinian freedom of movement. The accommodations include extending the operational hours of the crossings near Jenin, Ramallah and Bethlehem. Israeli soldiers have also been briefed to act with “special consideration” for West Bank residents during the festival and, where possible, refrain from eating, drinking and smoking in public “so as to demonstrate a high level of respect and understanding”.

Histadrut stops privitisation of Israeli postal services during successful budget talks

The chairman of the Histadrut, Ofer Eini, has won concessions from the Israeli Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz at his meeting on the biennial state budget for 2011-12, including the removal of items calling for the privatisation of the Postal Company Ltd from the economic arrangements bill.

The Histadrut was also pleased with the agreement under which people over the age of 75 will pay only 10% of medical prescription costs, down from the current 15%. They also welcomed the £70 million that would be added over the next year to old age pensions. The Ministry of Finance had sought to freeze the extra pensions.

Histadrut serves up wage agreement with caterers

The Histadrut has signed a collective wage agreement with Chefa Meals & Service Limited, the Israel's largest catering company. It is the first such agreement in the local catering industry and will provide employment security for workers. The chairman of the Histadrut’s Food and Pharmaceutical Union, Hertzel Yaka, said: “The agreement with Chefa represents a model for adoption for other catering companies in Israel to improve the labour conditions of catering employees in the country.”

Histadrut organises El Al security workers after global campaign

Security workers at Israel’s national airline, El Al, have recently formed an organising committee which has unionised a third of the workforce. Committee members identified which workers were flying to which destinations and handed out material explaining why a union was needed plus a form to join the Histadrut.

The Histadrut has now approached the company asking for the opening of negotiations on wages and working conditions for workers who were previously employed on an individual contract basis.

Histadrut wins big bonus for overworked staff at job centres

The Histadrut has announced that it has secured a one-off payment for all employees of the country’s employment service. The grant was negotiated to compensate workers for the extra work they’ve had to do following cuts in staffing.

TUFI TUC 2010 Fringe Event: "What can Trade Unions do to Aid Peace?"

TUFI is holding a fringe event at this year’s TUC Congress in Manchester. The event is titled “What can Trade Unions do to Aid Peace?” and will take place on Tuesday 14 September 2010 from 12.30pm to 2.00pm in Room 8 of the Manchester Central Convention Complex. Invited guest speakers include:

Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress
Avital Shapira-Shabirow, Head of International Department, The Histadrut (Israeli TUC)
Paul Usiskin, UK Friends of the Abraham Fund Initiatives
Alon Roth-Snir, The Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of Israel
Roger Lyons, Former President of the TUC and Chair of TUFI

If you are going to be at Congress this year, please do come along. A buffet lunch and tea and coffee will also be provided. (Admittance is strictly to conference pass holders only. Passes and other accreditations are available from: www.tuc.org.uk/congress)

Israeli diplomats on strike

Israeli foreign ministry workers announced on 24 August that they will step up their industrial action in protest against their employment terms and conditions. The diplomats say they are fighting to bring their salaries and working conditions in line with those of the defense forces and the intelligence community.

As a result, embassy workers will refuse to assist in any aspect of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming visit to Washington, where he will launch direct negotiations with the Palestinians. However, the foreign ministry believes that the prime minister's office will be able to carry out the visit without the help of the embassy, as much of the logistics of the summit will be done by the White House.

The strike has already caused tension between the foreign ministry and Israel's foreign intelligence agency, The Mossad. During Netanyahu's recent trip to Greece, diplomats accused the intelligence service of breaking their picket line after it stepped in to help organise the visit.