Abla Masrujeh of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and Ophir Elkalay of Histradut, expressed their different views on the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.  Elkalay described the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005 as a "ray of hope" in the peace process but the democratic election of Hamas as a major setback.

He demanded that Hamas condemn terrorism and defended the building of the "security fence" as a necessary measure to protect Israeli's from terrorism. But he also suggested the suffering of many Israeli citizens by describing the murder of his own brother at the hands of a suicide bomber in Jerusalem.  "Despite or pehaps because of this, I have decided to struggle for peace" he said.  "We must work together to end violence and return negotiations.

"We may disagree on a number of issues" he said "but we can agree on one thing, that only through peace and co-existence can we and the Palestinians build a future together".

Abla Masrujeh reminded delegates that she had spoken to them before in 2001.  "At that time I expressed the enormous difficulties we were facing as Palestinian workers and as Palestinian people".  "The audience was astonished but the changes we campaigned for have not been achieved.  Here I am again and the unendurable conditions are still the same".

Masrujeh spoke of pregnant women being detained by Israeli soldiers while in labour, of a family of seven that was recently killed by an Israeli missile attack on a beach, and of the 35 Palestinians that were killed in Gaza in the past two weeks alone.  And she asked "what does terror mean if these actions are not terror?

She described the plight of tens of thousands of Palestinian workers denied access to work in Israel, with more jobs lost since the election of Hamas.  Those who do find work, she said were exploited by Israeli employers.

The PGFTU reports unemployment amongst Palestinians at 60%.  Masrujeh said that 650,000 people were living below the poverty line.  She said that those in the UK had a "moral responsibility" to help.  "There are many issues that need to be resolved.  We are not talking about charity, we are demanding basic rights.  We call you to support an end to the occupation, an end to the arrogance of power and to bring down the apartheid wall".

Helen Jenner of the NEC introduced a motion that underlined UNISON's solidarity with the Palestinians and oppostion to the Israeli occupation, which has been exacerbated by the creation of the wall.

She also spoke of the need to support the PGFTU and Histradut in their difficult attempt to comminicate over the political divide.  "Although tensions still exist and the two sides disagree on policy both have recognised the importance of talking to each other" she said.

"Israeli trade unions have an important role to play.  We should be encouraging them in this role and not isolating them".

Conference vowed to: