The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) rejected two proposals against Israel following the war in the Gaza Strip. Thanks to the intensive efforts of the Israeli Social Workers’ Union, the proposals to expel or suspend Israel from the international organization were rejected.
In the vote on expulsion, 56 countries participated: six abstained, 34 voted against expulsion, and 16 voted in favor. In the vote on suspension, 54 countries participated: four abstained, 23 voted against, and 27 voted in favor. The proposal did not pass, as the organization’s bylaws require a 75% majority of the votes for a decision to suspend a member.
“In recent weeks we worked hard and prepared for the discussion,” said Inbal Hermoni, Chair of the Social Workers’ Union. “We met with representatives of social workers’ organizations from various countries, presented our positions, and addressed the questions and concerns that were raised. We succeeded in convincing them that the Social Workers’ Union in Israel is committed to peace and dialogue as a means of resolution, and reflects the political complexity and polarization of the Israeli society in which it operates.”
In the explanatory statement published on the organization’s website, it was written that the organization is “committed to healing, unity, and professional integrity.” The organization emphasized that the vote in favor of Israel does not diminish the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and does not ignore the political and historical contexts of the region. It further stressed that it recognizes the Israeli trauma following the massacre and kidnappings on October 7, alongside the tens of thousands of Palestinian fatalities, most of them women, children, and the elderly.
“We welcome the trust placed in us to continue being part of the global community of social workers,” Hermoni said, “and we long for a just peace for all the residents of the region.”
