UNISON pledges support for Palestine
UNISON delegates today agreed to support a campaign of sustained pressure to end Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
The union was discussing its position after a turbulent few weeks for the Palestinians, which have involved intense fighting between factions, the sacking of the Hamas prime minister and resumption of US and EC diplomatic ties.
Proposing the motion, Tracy Morgan of Wolverhampton General branch said that Palestinians were “living on tenterhooks” and that a renewed campaign would give them “a sense of hope”.
Some delegates were concerned that the move was too extreme and would penalise Israelis.
But Ms Morgan assured them that the intention was not to discriminate against the Israeli people themselves.
“The occupation needs to end so that everyone can live together. And I believe that Israelis and Palestinians do want to live together.”
The motion urges Israel to respect the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to establish a state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with its capital in Jerusalem.
Conference called on the NEC to:
- continue to work with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others, as appropriate;
- continue to develop capacity building projects with the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU);
- call upon the UK government to end the arms trade with Israel;
- produce UNISON material on Palestine to build knowledge among members;
- consider inviting a PGFTU delegation to the regions.
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=3414
