Update from Workers Advice Centre

Date: 03 December 2004

Dear friends
I would like to bring you up to date about WAC's campaign against the attempt by the Israeli authorities to close it down.

First, here is the home page of the campaign website: www.workersadvicecenter.org/Campaign-main-page.htm

On the legal front: We are working with a lawyer who is an expert on NGO's. After reading the material, he has confirmed that there is no legal basis for a case against WAC. We have also appealed to the Minister of Justice concerning the Registrar's demand that WAC pay 30,000 NIS, half the cost of the investigation against it. We are assured by many legal experts that our position is very strong.

On the workers' front: WAC's several hundred members are fully in the picture. We are currently organizing regional meetings with them, and they are eager to take part in the campaign. To quote WAC member Muhammad Tarek: "How can they close an institution that defends Arab workers? We feel they are treating us as if we were terrorists. MA'AN (WAC) is our strength." Alla Mahajneh said that his group of 25 workers has decided to publish a petition with their names and identity numbers, announcing: "Until now the contractors exploited us, cheated us and violated our rights. For the first time there is an organization that stands up with us - we will not allow them to close WAC!" The workers will hold a demonstration next week in Tel Aviv.

Israeli public opinion: An article in Haaretz has publicized the case and helped us launch a petition. So far we have 100 signatures from among the leading lights of the academic world, as well as other NGOs and social activists. Among the signers are Prof. of Law Frances Radai, Adv. Yuval El Bashan, Dr. Anat Matar, Dr. Orly Lubin, Dr. Adel Mana, Prof. Baruch Kimerling, former Meretz head Shulamit Aloni, former Hadash MK Tamar Gozansky, head of B'tselem's Board of Directors Anat Biletzky, Ro'i Wagner of Kav La'oved, Sigal Rosen of the Hotline for Migrant Workers, and the members of the Adva Center.

Arab public opinion in Israel: Many of the leading Arab NGOs have signed a petition as organizations, among them Adalah, Hagalil, Itijah, Baladna, Musawa, and the Supreme Monitoring Committee of the Arab Population in Israel. All believe that the Registrar's accusations are politically motivated.

Palestinian trade unions: The General Sectary of the PGFTU (Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions), Shaher Sa'ad, has sent us a solidarity letter: "We are shocked to hear the news about the Registrar's decision to close down WAC (MA'AN). WAC is a very important organization and is known for its open hand to everyone who approaches it...We stand firmly with you in defending the principles of justice and democracy. We are sure you are going to win."

The General Sectary the PGFTU-Gaza, Rassem Biari calls upon the Registrar "to reconsider his decision, which is based on a hostile and interested party who wanted to create an alternative organization to WAC." It should be noted that in the past years, WAC has been working in solidarity with the PGFTU against the policy of closure, which keeps Palestinian workers from working in Israel.

On the international level: * The ILO: Mr. Bernard Gernigon, the Chief of the Freedom of Association Branch, International Labor Standards Department, ILO, sent a letter to the Israeli authorities on Nov. 19 in response to WAC's letter from Nov. 15. The ILO officer requested answers from the authorities regarding WAC's claims that its harassment contravenes Israel's obligations as a signatory to the relevant ILO Labor Conventions.

* National Trade Union Federations and other Trade Unions: -

1. Spain: CC.OO, National Federation: General Secretary Jose Maria Fidalgo sent a strong message of protest to the Israeli Embassy in Madrid. Mr. Manuel Zaguirre, Vice President of the World Confederation of Labour (WCL) and General Secretary of its Spanish branch, USO, has sent a protest message. Also Xesús Seixo Fernandez, Secretary General of the Galician-based Trade Union CIG, has sent a strong message. These three trade unions have publicized the case on their websites.

2. Italy: CGIL - Fiom in Italy has adopted the case and begun to act. Ms. Alessandra Mecozzi, International Secretary of Fiom-CGIL, has sent protest letters. Ms. Mecozzi has committed herself to distribute the information on WAC and to raise the issue in a parliamentary meeting on Dec. 11.

3. Holland: The Working Group on International Solidarity (WIS), in FNV Bondgenoten, has adopted a resolution in support of WAC.

4. Australia: The issue of WAC is expected to be raised this week at the Australian Council of Trade Unions National Executive meeting.LHMU National President, Helen Creed, to raise with ACTU President, Sharan Burrows.

5 USA:

a WBAI Radio ran an interview with WAC's National Coordinator Assaf Adiv on Monday, Nov.29.

b This weekend there is to be a labor gathering at Queens University in NY on the future of labor after Bush's victory. Many trade union activists and officials will be there. One of our supporters in NY will have a booth there.

c LaborNotes in the USA is informed. It will send out the material and take action.

d Professors Noam Chomsky of MIT and Ian Lustick of the University of Pennsylvania have sent protest letters to the authorities. (See www.workersadvicecenter.org/Campaign-protest-letters.htm.)

What you can do?

www.workersadvicecenter.org/Addresses-to-write.htm

There is also a petition that may be signed by international organizations:

http://www.workersadvicecenter.org/Petition-English.htm

We hope to hear from you.

In solidarity,

Roni Ben Efrat

Committee to Defend WAC

For further information

WWW:	http://www.workersadvicecenter.org/index.htm

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