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Jo-Ann Mort Responds

Jo-Ann Mort Responds 542937 NLFXXX10.1177/1095796014542937New Labor ForumMort research-article2014 On the Contrary New Labor Forum 2014, Vol. 23(3) 19 Jo-Ann Mort Responds Copyright © 2014, The Murphy Institute, City University of New York Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1095796014542937 nlf.sagepub.com Jo-Ann Mort Andrew Ross makes a good point about the his- leadership within Israel’s Labor Party to ensure toric role—and moral imperative—of boycott a new leadership team that includes social dem- movements. But his target is the wrong one. ocratic economic policies side by side with a This is not about taking on AIPAC or any other strong position supporting two states, justice U.S. organization for that matter. Nor is it—or for the Palestinians and engagement with the can it be—simply about taking a stand. There is Arab Peace Initiative. no simple historic precedent for this. The situa- The role of the ICFTU has been critical to tion is too urgent for symbolic gestures, and the these pro-worker (Israeli and Palestinian) stakes are too high. Justice for both peoples is efforts, in spite of actions taken toward BDS by urgent. That is why progressives must consider individual unions in various countries. It is the most tactical, and moral, tools to end the imperative that international union efforts occupation and then help build a Palestinian emphasize strengthening partnership efforts, state with a robust and fair economy. not diminishing worker power through efforts that silence workers’ voices on either side. Also, as I write this, a unity agreement Progressives must consider the most between Hamas and Fatah has been signed tactical, and moral, tools to end (which I believe is an important step toward the occupation and help build a promoting peace and two states). However, if Palestinian state. the Fatah–Hamas truce holds, it will be vital that pro-worker forces monitor Hamas for Furthermore, it is vital to get the facts cor- union violations. They have no history of sup- rect. The Histadrut, Israel’s trade union federa- port for freedom of expression of any kind tion, does not support “territorial expansion,” within their own community, including rights as Ross writes. It has never supported of women, the GLBT community, or workers Netanyahu. In fact, it has sought—and contin- who support Fatah who were purged from their ues to seek—cooperation with the PGFTU, the positions after Hamas took over. Palestinian General Federation of Trade Finally, as I stated previously, but it needs Unions. It has played a public and private role restating, it is not factual to state that there is in seeking wages for Palestinian workers in the “legalized discrimination” that “meets the UN occupation (including successfully petitioning definition of apartheid,” within the parameters the Israeli Supreme Court on behalf of of the 1949 Armistice line borders of Israel (the Palestinian workers in the occupied territories), “Green Line”). There is a heinous military securing travel access and safe passage for occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza bor- trade unionists from Gaza to the West Bank and der that must be eradicated, not simply so that advocating for a two-state solution. Its leader- Israel complies with international law but so ship does not support the current Israeli right- that both peoples have a chance for more just wing government, which, by the way, is also lives. promoting a privatizing economic policy anath- ema to workers. On the contrary, the Histadrut recently played an important private and pro- Corresponding Author: Jo-Ann Mort nounced public role in strengthening the http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png New Labor Forum SAGE

Jo-Ann Mort Responds

Mort, Jo-Ann
New Labor Forum , Volume 23 (3): 1 – Sep 1, 2014
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10.1177/1095796014542937
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Abstract

542937 NLFXXX10.1177/1095796014542937New Labor ForumMort research-article2014 On the Contrary New Labor Forum 2014, Vol. 23(3) 19 Jo-Ann Mort Responds Copyright © 2014, The Murphy Institute, City University of New York Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1095796014542937 nlf.sagepub.com Jo-Ann Mort Andrew Ross makes a good point about the his- leadership within Israel’s Labor Party to ensure toric role—and moral imperative—of boycott a new leadership team that includes social dem- movements. But his target is the wrong one. ocratic economic policies side by side with a This is not about taking on AIPAC or any other strong position supporting two states, justice U.S. organization for that matter. Nor is it—or for the Palestinians and engagement with the can it be—simply about taking a stand. There is Arab Peace Initiative. no simple historic precedent for this. The situa- The role of the ICFTU has been critical to tion is too urgent for symbolic gestures, and the these pro-worker (Israeli and Palestinian) stakes are too high. Justice for both peoples is efforts, in spite of actions taken toward BDS by urgent. That is why progressives must consider individual unions in various countries. It is the most tactical, and moral, tools to end the imperative that international union efforts occupation and then help build a Palestinian emphasize strengthening partnership efforts, state with a robust and fair economy. not diminishing worker power through efforts that silence workers’ voices on either side. Also, as I write this, a unity agreement Progressives must consider the most between Hamas and Fatah has been signed tactical, and moral, tools to end (which I believe is an important step toward the occupation and help build a promoting peace and two states). However, if Palestinian state. the Fatah–Hamas truce holds, it will be vital that pro-worker forces monitor Hamas for Furthermore, it is vital to get the facts cor- union violations. They have no history of sup- rect. The Histadrut, Israel’s trade union federa- port for freedom of expression of any kind tion, does not support “territorial expansion,” within their own community, including rights as Ross writes. It has never supported of women, the GLBT community, or workers Netanyahu. In fact, it has sought—and contin- who support Fatah who were purged from their ues to seek—cooperation with the PGFTU, the positions after Hamas took over. Palestinian General Federation of Trade Finally, as I stated previously, but it needs Unions. It has played a public and private role restating, it is not factual to state that there is in seeking wages for Palestinian workers in the “legalized discrimination” that “meets the UN occupation (including successfully petitioning definition of apartheid,” within the parameters the Israeli Supreme Court on behalf of of the 1949 Armistice line borders of Israel (the Palestinian workers in the occupied territories), “Green Line”). There is a heinous military securing travel access and safe passage for occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza bor- trade unionists from Gaza to the West Bank and der that must be eradicated, not simply so that advocating for a two-state solution. Its leader- Israel complies with international law but so ship does not support the current Israeli right- that both peoples have a chance for more just wing government, which, by the way, is also lives. promoting a privatizing economic policy anath- ema to workers. On the contrary, the Histadrut recently played an important private and pro- Corresponding Author: Jo-Ann Mort nounced public role in strengthening the

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New Labor Forum – SAGE

Published: Sep 1, 2014

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