A new international trades union movement committed to work for peace between Israel and Palestine has been launched this week “to challenge the apologists for Hamas and Hizbollah in the labour movement”.
Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine (Tulip) has been started by the Community union in Britain, the Australian Workers Union and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union in America.
The new movement was welcomed by Jeremy Newmark of the Stop The Boycott campaign, who said: “Tulip is a practical initiative which shows that trade unions use their power in good ways, bringing Israelis and Palestinians together and improving lives — a contrast with those unions that have adopted divisive boycotts.”
Michael Leahy, general secretary of the Community union, said: “Boycotts and sanctions are not progressive solutions. They only hurt the most vulnerable in both societies.”