Many labor organizations throughout the world have expressed their support for Israel in recent days, in light of the murderous terrorist attack by Hamas that began last Saturday. Several organizations sent direct messages to Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar David in which they expressed their condolences and support for Israel's right to defend itself, as well as admiration for the strength of the civil mobilization to action.
Along with prominent support from a number of European and American organizations, there are also organizations that chose to condemn the "attack from both sides." These unions received criticism from the Director General of the International Relations Division at the Histadrut, Peter Lerner.
Support from Cyprus, Germany, Italy and the US
"We wish to express our sincere concern and our firm opposition to the attacks against Israel by Hamas, which have already been condemned by the UN Secretary General as well as unanimously by all the member states of the European Union. We sadly stand by your side, and condemn the extremism, violence and aggression against civilians that has led to death, injuries and abductions. We all hope that the international community will promote and enforce international law and justice against Hamas, so that peace, security and stability will prevail," the letter read.
The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) also sent a letter of support for Israel to the chairman of the Histadrut, in which it announced that the trade unions in Germany express their sympathy with Israel in light of the brutal attacks by Hamas in recent days.
"We think of all those who lost their lives, are held hostage or mourn the loss of relatives, and of all those who fight and work hard to save lives, maintain infrastructure and maintain Israel's security,” their letter stated.
"We promised you: never again. We as trade unions advocate for peace, freedom, democracy and a diverse society and oppose every form of terrorism. We continue to fight antisemitism in Germany and around the world,” they continued.
In a letter to the Israeli Teachers' Federation, the president of the German Education Union (GEW), Maike Finnern, also expressed solidarity with Israel and deep sorrow for the murderous attack by Hamas.
"We are shocked and very saddened by the terrible attacks on Israel. We send our condolences from the bottom of our hearts and follow the news with great concern," Finnern wrote. "We remember the victims, and think frequently about all those who were taken hostage and those who lost their loved ones. We stand by Israel and our colleagues and friends in the Teachers' Federation."
In their letter, the German Education Union condemned the Hamas attacks and announced that they would stand by Israel, writing: "If there is anything we can do, please tell us."
The leaders of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) condemned the attack on Israel in a statement they published: "We stand unequivocally with the Israeli people against the heinous and inhuman attack by Hamas against innocent civilians, including young people who were massacred during a party, families, babies and the elderly," they wrote in their statement, also referring to the words of the President of the United States.
"President Biden's quick response in support of Israel is welcomed. We call on the US Congress to offer strong support to the White House in its efforts to calm the region. We are very concerned about the safety of the Israeli people, including the abductees currently in Gaza," they continued.
Along with the support for Israel, the AFT added: "We are also concerned for the safety of the Palestinian citizens who are now caught in the crossfire – when it was reported that there were many dead and over 2,500 injured in Gaza due to intense Israeli airstrikes, and a complete cut off of electricity, gas, water and food to the Gaza Strip." They ended their statement by reaffirming that "Israel has every right to defend itself."
The Italian General Confederation of Labor (CGIL) also expressed support for Israel in a letter sent to the Histadrut.
"The confederation strongly condemns the armed attack by Hamas against Israel," wrote confederation president Maurizio Landini, adding that the members of the organization "follow with great concern the recent dramatic developments, and wish to express our deepest condolences to the victims and their families."
Landini also wrote that "only by condemning war and violence can we commit to building justice, respecting the rights of self-determination of both peoples, coexistence and a just and sustainable peace."
The Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) also expressed support for Israel in a letter to the Histadrut: "We are aware of the deliberate and sudden attack by Hamas on Israel. We strongly condemn the violence of Hamas and stand by Israel and its people."
NTUC stated that out of 49 Nepalese agricultural students who were in the area under a government agreement, ten have lost their lives and some are still missing.
"As you know, many Nepalese also work in Israel as caregivers," NTUC pointed out. "The government of Nepal announced a day of mourning on Tuesday."
The president of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), Plamen Dimitrov, sent a letter to Bar David in which he unequivocally condemned Hamas.
"The horror and human suffering taking place in Israel since the attacks by Hamas terrorists have rightly shocked the world,” he wrote. “On behalf of all my friends and on my own behalf I would like to express our deepest condolences to Israel and its people. There is never any justification for terrorism. Israel has every right to defend itself against acts of war and terrorism."
The Agro-Industrial Workers' Union of Ukraine (AIWUU) wrote: "Since February 24, 2022, we have been experiencing the military invasion of the Russian occupiers and feeling the war crimes of Russian terrorists. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Israeli Food and Pharmaceutical Workers’ Union and with all the people of Israel, and fully support their right to live and work in a country free from terrorism.
"We condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas and Hezbollah on the civilian population in Israel," they emphasized. "There is no justification for terrorism. The terrorists must stop their attacks, lay down their weapons and release all the hostages. Hundreds of civilian casualties will in no way solve the controversial problems in the Middle East but will only lead to further escalation. As in our situation, here too we call on the international organizations to intervene, put an end to the attacks as soon as possible and punish the perpetrators."
"A Call that Diminishes the Depth of the Tragedy"
In contrast, the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) issued a statement that did not condemn the murderous attack by the terrorist organization Hamas, rather condemning "the harm to civilians on both sides by Hamas and Israeli forces.
"Also, we condemn the retaliatory attacks by Israeli forces, including the shelling of residential buildings and civilian infrastructure," they added. "Israel's stated intention to impose a complete blockade on Gaza, which includes cutting off the electricity and water supplies, amounts to collective punishment and a serious violation of international humanitarian law."
A similar announcement was also published by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), in which they wrote that the confederation "totally condemns attacks on civilians," and that "the latest outbreak of violence could turn into an all-out war, with devastating consequences for Israelis and Palestinians as well as for the region."
They also wrote that "[t]he ITUC calls on all parties and the international community to work for peace. The decades-old conflict can only be brought to a just outcome through dialogue, respect for international law, in particular human rights law, and full implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions to bring about a two-state solution."
To these messages, Peter Lerner, director general of the International Relations Division at the Histadrut, responded in a tweet that the ITUC's call for "peace and dialogue" may seem noble on the surface, but that it is a response that is "obviously inadequate considering the reality on the ground.
"The glaring omission of the horrors the Israelis face is a testament to the neglectful attitude of the ITUC and the global union," Lerner wrote. "Their failure to clearly address and support Israeli workers in the midst of this chaos speaks volumes for the organization's misplaced priorities. A generic call for peace after such horror is not only bland, but it also diminishes the depth of the tragedy."
This article was translated from Hebrew by Lily Sieradzki.
